BajaNomad - Safety question camping @ Volcanoes and Point of San Quintin

Safety question camping @ Volcanoes and Point of San Quintin

Isignay - 3-21-2018 at 12:12 PM

Is it safe to camp on the beach by the volcanoes and or the volcano point? Would like to go explore the surf spots in the area, but wasn't sure if I should day trip it and stay at a motel or if it was safe to camp.

fishbuck - 3-21-2018 at 12:30 PM

Both ways are good.
It's nice to sleep in a bed. And drive out after breakfest in the morning. About 20 minute drive.
Contact Terra Peninsular. They own the area and it is fenced and gated with a ranger. Permission is required to camp but it's free.
Should be safe.
Let us know if you make it back

tiotomasbcs - 3-22-2018 at 11:52 AM

Camp with another vehicle, only. The ag areas are loaded with bandidos! Sadly true as I've surfed and camped the whole area but years ago. If solo go with hotel idea. Surfed out there but so,so....unless there's a swell running!

Udo - 3-22-2018 at 01:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Let us know if you make it back

IF you make it back?

chuckie - 3-22-2018 at 01:30 PM

I wouldnt camp out there....

willardguy - 3-22-2018 at 01:58 PM

NOPE :no:

fishbuck - 3-22-2018 at 02:15 PM

I want to try out there. I don't think it's as scary as it was. But I haven't yet with so many cozy cheap options close by. Plus restuarants and taco stands.
Terra Peninsular has cleaned the place up and they have made an established camp for the visiting college students and other researchers.
Plus the fencing,gates and fulltime ranger. Not sure how that works but it's all there now.

fishbuck - 3-22-2018 at 02:26 PM

I was thinking that the right person for this question is Kelly Catian.
He is a Sportfishing Captain and also an expert surfer. He leads surf trips in the area. They go by boat.
I have seen him a few times towing what I assume is his son or a clent riding a longboard out to the surf spot I guess.
Not sure why they do that but it looks fun and very cool.

chuckie - 3-22-2018 at 02:54 PM

Todo Sombrero ..Nada Vaca.....

fishbuck - 3-22-2018 at 03:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie

Todo Sombrero ..Nada Vaca.....

Hi chuckie!

BajaGringo - 3-22-2018 at 03:42 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Isignay

Is it safe to camp on the beach by the volcanoes and or the volcano point? Would like to go explore the surf spots in the area, but wasn't sure if I should day trip it and stay at a motel or if it was safe to camp.

In certain areas, yes.

Terra Peninsular is NOT the owner of those beach parcels although they keep trying to convince people that they are. This was decided with a supreme court ruling and title action in 2015.

Terra does still have an environmental protection order in place which is presently being reviewed in light of the fact they no longer hold title and even with that, they provide ZERO security and are of very little use in the event anything were to happen to you.

I would stick to the beach areas in La Chorera - I always send people to stay at or close to Don Alvaro's place. We live about a half mile north of his place.

Google Map to Campo Don Alvaro

http://tinyurl.com/CampoDonAlvaro

Don Alvaro's Beach Camp - Nice, safe place to camp out at La Chorera San Quintin Baja California. Good friends of ours and they will get you fresh fish and other seafood delights available in the area.

Tell them Ron sent you - we highly recommend them!

fishbuck - 3-22-2018 at 03:45 PM

Well there you go.
The info doesn't get better than this.
Thanks Ron

[Edited on 3-23-2018 by fishbuck]

AKgringo - 3-22-2018 at 03:52 PM

But there is always the hazard of running into some loner gringo who will talk your ear off, when all you want is solitude!

Just tell me to go away, and I will go back to impressing my dog with my Spanish language skills. No hurt feelings!

[Edited on 3-22-2018 by AKgringo]

fishbuck - 3-22-2018 at 08:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

But there is always the hazard of running into some loner gringo who will talk your ear off, when all you want is solitude!

Just tell me to go away, and I will go back to impressing my dog with my Spanish language skills. No hurt feelings!

[Edited on 3-22-2018 by AKgringo]

Have we talked? :coolup:

AKgringo - 3-22-2018 at 08:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

Have we talked? :coolup:

Not likely! I haven't been in that part of Baja in five or more years. :no:

fishbuck - 3-22-2018 at 08:37 PM

I love this beach. I didn't know that there was a camp here!
I drove down it as far as I could. But it starts getting a little loose and hilly so I stopped. I had a 2wd f-150 and probably got lucky as it was.
So that is 1 reason I have 4wd now so I can get out to the tip.
I've been nursing that dream since my 1st (and only) time there... 15 plus years ago.
I've been back to La Chorera a few times but never back down on the beach.
I guess that is the closest Pacific side beach to Campo Fishbuck so that is my beach.
Time to go over and make friends with my neighbors.
I got to get me a super fat tire beach cruiser and hang out. Maybe I'll see if I remember how to surf without hurting myself... again.

[Edited on 3-23-2018 by fishbuck]

woody with a view - 3-23-2018 at 06:41 AM

If you go to the tip expect to lower your tire by half. Think 4lo.

fishbuck - 3-24-2018 at 01:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

If you go to the tip expect to lower your tire by half. Think 4lo.

A Ford F-350 tire pressure is 80 lbs due to the big-rig 10 ply truck tires on it. I tried putting lighter tires on it and no one would do it.
Even 40lbs is too much.
The beauty is you can still lower them down to about 12-15lbs for beach. And they still hold their shape some but smush down good and still stay off the side wall.
I put the fattest tires I could on stock rims... so pretty fat. Like 295s I think.

Isignay - 3-25-2018 at 09:35 PM

Is there contact info for don Alvaro's beach camp? We're tentatively arriving April 1-2 probably staying for about 4 nights

Thank you to everyone for the replies cannot wait to check out this area!

If he's busy we'll probably grab a motel and do some say trips to the point.

If it seems safe near the rangers maybe we'll test our luck camping and will report back with hopefully good news

Good news and pictures

LukeJobbins - 3-26-2018 at 08:03 AM

I’ve heard tons of warnings over the past few years of thieves and meth and cartels and whatnot. Never had a problem camping or surfing solo all around the area. In fact actually the opposite of bad, as someone has always found me and asked if I am ok or need help. I will say for surf it’s never been good for me at the normal written about places and I’ve checked 30+ times on swells of every directions and size. Maybe I am just completely unlucky. I have had epic beach break sessions around there. Going to the point is not too bad if you know how to 4wheel in sand. Just deflate and cruise out.

David K - 3-26-2018 at 08:54 AM

If Campo Don Alvaro beach doesn't appeal to you, just south of San Quintín Bay are two campos/ RV parks named El Pabellon (km. 16 & km. 16.5) on the huge sand beach, south facing. Just good to have options!

Isignay - 3-26-2018 at 10:16 AM

Nice !! Thank you!

David K - 3-26-2018 at 10:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Isignay

Nice !! Thank you!

You bet!

Here are photos and a map: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=89224

Isignay - 3-30-2018 at 05:54 PM

Is Campo Don Alvaro gated / secured ? Would like to explore the point and the surrounding areas, i sleep in the truck but my two friends will have tents they'd leave behind

woody with a view - 3-30-2018 at 06:51 PM

You’ll need to set that up when you get there. The point requires 4lo and half flat tires to get up the hill at the end of the beach. Bring a compressor.

BajaGringo - 3-31-2018 at 07:38 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Isignay

Is Campo Don Alvaro gated / secured ? Would like to explore the point and the surrounding areas, i sleep in the truck but my two friends will have tents they'd leave behind

The "camp" at Don Alvaro's is not fenced or gated. It is the large, open area in front of his house and facing the beach below. It was mentioned in Ben Hunter's book "The Baja Feeling". La Chorera was the beach where Ben and his wife Margie loved to come back to time after time - referred to as Playa del Suroeste from the volcano at the end of the beach from the early AAA maps. They developed quite a reputation a half century back here camping out on the beach nude for weeks at a time. A few of the families here with roots going back that far still talk about them.

The young crippled boy Ricardo who Ben and Margie tried to help and subject of one chapter in his book is still here, now a 60 year old man, confined to a wheelchair...

[Edited on 4-2-2018 by BajaGringo]

Ateo - 4-2-2018 at 07:13 AM

I camped out at the point solo 2 years ago. First night I was alone. Felt safe but who knows..............Had an epic few days out there and met the artist who designs all the Ballast Point beer artwork. I gave him a jumpstart and he made breakfast. Water feels super sharky and cold! Have fun jumping off the rocks into the impact zone! Good times!

BajaGringo - 4-2-2018 at 08:02 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Ateo

I camped out at the point solo 2 years ago. First night I was alone. Felt safe but who knows..............Had an epic few days out there and met the artist who designs all the Ballast Point beer artwork. I gave him a jumpstart and he made breakfast. Water feels super sharky and cold! Have fun jumping off the rocks into the impact zone! Good times!

Haven't heard of many shark sightings down at the tip in my years here but that area remains infrequently visited, so who knows? We do see quite a few sharks from time to time on the back side of the San Martin island out in front...