And of course, this is by no means meant to be a strict and steady guide to everywhere you can or should go in Baja. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us!). “So he’s now moving on to the beach…maybe he wants to build a development or something there. ... Is it going to be packed? This is also the first place you’ll find a Walmart in Baja California Sur, a Home Depot, Auto Zone…La Paz has a lot of familiar faces and if you find yourself sneaking into a Little Caesars or Burger King, just do the deed and get out as quickly as possible. Intrepid as we were about packing our family into our Volkswagen Bus and spending a few months galavanting around the Mexican peninsula of Baja California, we’ve personally come out unscathed. Camping Near Ligui, Baja California Sur. Tom and I have spent several winters boondocking on the paradise beaches of Baja, and it’s our favorite dry camping location in North America! You might even score a smooch if the whales find you particularly amiable. It is also a 15-minute walk to some natural hot springs in tide pools. Baja is a skinny peninsula bordered by the pounding Pacific Ocean on one side and the vibrant Sea Of Cortez on the other. Bahía Concepcion: Also called “The Brick Oven”. It was a peak life experience for us that you can only experience in Baja. Saved from therollingpack.com. We had to let go of cringing at every scratching noise we heard as we crept along with our beautiful camper. 5. Virtually every small town on Mex 1 has a varying number and size of speed bumps called topes. We traveled without a schedule, enjoyed boondocking and found things to like at every spot. This led us to take some very rough roads passable only at very slow speeds in four-wheel drive. There are no services save a few trash cans spread throughout the campground, so you’ll learn to dig a hole (six inches deep!) Agua Verde is a fishing village, so pangas (modest-sized, outboard-powered, fishing boats) are going in and out. It is notorious for cops looking for a “mordida”, aka a bribe, and we fell victim to this…though we also broke the law so take it with a grain of salt and toss it over your shoulder if you find yourself luckier than us. 1. We paid $25 per person, and were able to pay an English-speaking, Mexican government worker right there on the spot. Stock up on supplies in Mulegé before heading this way though, as there is little in the way of groceries, gas or otherwise once you’re in this area. In the past we have used, “The Magnificient Peninsula” guidebook by Jack Williams. Are We All Gonna Freakin Die?! Located in Bahia de Los Angeles, on the Sea of Cortez, this is one of the few campgrounds in the northern state of Baja California that RVers identify as a winter destination. Lucky us! 101, Baja California Peninsula (photos, ideas) 2016. The following are the 2020 TCM Readers’ Choice Nominees for Best Truck Camper, Best... We have discovered the most sweltering truck camper on planet Earth. Camping near San Quintin, Baja California. I almost did not travel to Baja because I bought into the fear mongering that people express about this most wonderful place with wonderful people. Nor is there any less beauty in Baja Norte. RV Parks Near Niceville, Florida. Our biggest communication problem was interpreting road signs, so we found it very helpful to bring along a list of sign translations. It is helpful, but not necessary to speak a little Spanish. While they have one specifically for Baja, it’s well worth it just to buy the entire Mexico edition…just in case you decide to cross over to the mainland. A mining town, it is a very real and working city that boasts colorful buildings and plenty of restaurants serving what–by this point in your journey–you’ll have come to know intimately as Baja-style food. It had a small RV park which has since burned down. There are three places to camp, the southern-most one which gives you the best chance of shade among some small trees and also comes with a pit toilet and very primitive shower, the “main” area where most of the surfers hang out which has no amenities, and the open land a little further north which puts you off of the beach itself but just behind some dunes and cliffs, giving you a break from any possible wind but more or less immediate access to the water should you choose to venture in. Boondocking in Baja? We used, “Traveler’s Guide to Camping Mexico’s Baja” by Mike and Terri Church for planning the occasional night in a civilized full-service campground. We traced the eastern shore southbound to Cabo and the western coastline heading north. You know you’re in Mexico there. Even so, we knocked our roof rack off (those cacti don’t give an inch) and lost plenty of vent caps. You pull into the port, and there are two options: left or right. Fellow truck campers share their favorite beach boondocking spots, snowbird friendly campgrounds, unprecedented whale watching experiences and real life stories of traveling and camping throughout Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. Free RV Camping in Southern California, The Boondocking Directory With plenty of sunshine and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, RV camping in Southern California is sublime. They have been traveling to Baja for decades and update the book regularly. We also now carry a supply of vent caps. It also has other very helpful information on driving in Baja. Baja California. La Paz is my favorite! Baja and its people are awesome! Locals and tourists are all mixed together. Groceries: Small towns all have tiendas with a stock of basic necessities such as fruits, veggies, room temperature eggs, beer and soda. Find a Free Campsite. Often times there are miles and miles of potholes around the area of Cativiña, some years extending over 100-miles towards Guerrero Negro. So, we did. Two states on the peninsula; Baja California and Baja California Sur. Boondocking, also known as dry or primitive camping, means parking your RV in a campsite without any hookups of any kind, whether electric, water, or sewer. When we were there it was around $50 for processing, and then another fee depending on how old your vehicle is. Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, we've got you covered.You can simply use your smart phone's GPS to find camping near you or even use our trip planner to plan your route from coast to coast.. Our community provides the best free camping information available. Now I hear that there is a very nice full-service marina there. This little fishing village gone tourist town is a nice, easy slide into what much of your experience can be like in Baja. It is also very important to note that (as of 2017), if you have a newer diesel truck, ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) was not available in Baja California Sur, at least not until you get to the Cabo San Lucas area. We used to mix tent camping and staying in hotels, but I have only been once with my truck camper. We could start there.”, Angela agrees, but wants to phone a friend, or ten. If you’re not planning on leaving Mex 1 you really don’t need a map, but if you’re planning on getting off the beaten track you’ll probably find the National Geographic Baja Map Pack helpful. They’re just doing their job. We're going build a house. And it’s unlikely that anyone comes, as no one ever showed up to ask us for money for camping here. While the U.S. State Department currently declares La Paz particularly dangerous, we couldn’t have felt safer there. There were two buildings, Baja Ferries and TMC. Coffee shops serving the real deal when you ask for a latte, craft beers, sushi…if you’ve grown tired of what most of Baja north of here has to offer, you’ve come to the right place. I went out two days in a row. They rightfully own the land but it’s been held up in court for a few years now, and this guy has enough power that it doesn’t seem like anything is going to go back to anything resembling justice any time soon. Apparently in days past if you were staying within a certain amount of miles of the border, and not for more than a few days, you didn’t need this, but as far as we’ve been told, everyone now requires this permit. Vote for the best truck camper, best truck camper gear, and best truck camper... Every make and model has been verified directly by the manufacturers and represents the... nuCamp RV has produced a video showcasing the 2021 Cirrus 620. While some campgrounds technically offer dry camping, the term “boondocking” generally refers to camping off the grid in a free location you have discovered away from an organized campground. Do not miss camping on the beach at Ojo de Liebre campground. So there you have it, even the artsiest, gringo-ized towns can still come packed with a little Mexican cartel action. Can you string a few syllables together? We used to mix tent camping and staying in hotels, but I have only been once with my truck camper. Boondocking, also known as dry or primitive camping, means parking your RV in a campsite without any hookups of any kind, whether electric, water, or sewer. Camping near La Paz, Baja California Sur. Everyone should visit Agua Verde. Be calm and polite, but stay with them and open only one door at a time, and then close it before showing them the next one. 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