BajaNomad - 3 day camping trip ideas

3 day camping trip ideas

drzura - 3-14-2019 at 02:09 PM

Good day. I want to plan a three day camping trip somewhere near San Felipe....something easy to get to from Oceanside. I've only driven through San Felipe once, but I remember the beaches south of town being pretty nice. Can any of you nomads provide some recommendations? Looking for a nice beach with awesome views that has decent shore fishing. Thanks...

basautter - 3-14-2019 at 02:20 PM

I like Percebu and Shell Island, which is about 20 miles south of San Felipe. There is a cantania and palapas for rent, or you can dry camp on Shell Island. Awesome place!

https://www.facebook.com/Rancho-Percebu-324386487588387/

David K - 3-14-2019 at 02:22 PM

Yes...
What do you drive (is it 4WD) and what is your needs for camping (ie. no need, just a beach or toilets and showers or power and more)?

edit...

I investigated camping sites south of San Felipe in my Trip #1 Report: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=85374

The camping sites north of San Felipe I checked out in my Trip #3 report: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=85989

[Edited on 3-14-2019 by David K]

drzura - 3-14-2019 at 02:33 PM

My "needs" for camping is simple.....ice and beer. My wife will definitely want a beach, and toilets and showers if possible. I have a 4x4 Toyota Tundra. We will be tent camping with some friends. Just looking to relax and enjoy the scenery, swim, and fish from shore.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Yes...
What do you drive (is it 4WD) and what is your needs for camping (ie. no need, just a beach or toilets and showers or power and more)?

edit...

I investigated camping sites south of San Felipe in my Trip #1 Report: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=85374

The camping sites north of San Felipe I checked out in my Trip #3 report: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=85989

[Edited on 3-14-2019 by David K]

[Edited on 3-14-2019 by drzura]

David K - 3-14-2019 at 03:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by drzura

My "needs" for camping is simple.....ice and beer. My wife will definitely want a beach, and toilets and showers if possible. I have a 4x4 Toyota Tundra. We will be tent camping with some friends. Just looking to relax and enjoy the scenery, swim, and fish from shore.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

[Edited on 3-14-2019 by drzura]

Then, Rancho Percebu... It is at the north end of Shell Island (you can walk across to it when the lagoon is empty at low tide).

If she wants a higher end campground, then the Villa Marina RV park is at KM. 8.5.
Rancho Percebu is at KM. 20.5+
A more rustic campo (cold showers) but has a forest of shade trees in Nuevo Mazatlan at KM 32.
Photos of them all in my TRIP #1 Report.

Maderita - 3-14-2019 at 10:42 PM

Great recommendations above. Laguna Percebú (AKA: Rancho Percebu) has beautiful beaches. Far removed from the crowds and noise of San Felipe. Exceptions: Easter and spring break. KM 21.5
The tidal range is a whopping 25'. The incoming tide fills the shallow lagoon. You can ride the tide in (or out), like a slow moving river, on a floating chair, inner tube, etc.

A note of caution: Remember to do the "stingray shuffle" when wading in gulf waters. Don't drive below the high tide line. Can't tell you how many stuck vehicles I've rescued in the nick of time as the tide quickly rises. Put it this way: I never had to buy my own beer

drzura - 3-15-2019 at 09:13 AM

Perecebu looks pretty nice. How is the shore fishing there? Just catch trigger fish?

David K - 3-15-2019 at 10:50 AM

Using bait, we caught corbina and yellowfin croaker.

Casting with lures you can land some nice corvinas. Baby totuava (looks like a white sea bass can hit your line, too)... but are protected.

Corbina (B) has a mouth that faces down, a bottom feeder, use cut bait, clams, mussels. A corvina (V) has a forward facing mouth, very different species but a name that is almost the same and in Spanish, nearly no difference.

Nomad hayb did pretty good fishing there (well on Shell Island about 2 miles south of Percebu) and posted photos in 2016: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=83520

Here is his 2015 trip to Shell Island, with videos, too: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=79376

In 2014... video clip shows his son catching a catfish, near the end. http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=74227

[Edited on 3-15-2019 by David K]

fishbuck - 3-16-2019 at 12:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by drzura

Quote: Originally posted by David K

[Edited on 3-14-2019 by drzura]

This sounds good. What is the temp their now?

JZ - 3-16-2019 at 06:17 PM

The beaches are horrible around San Felipe and the surrounding areas. Baja doesn't get good on the East coast until Gonzaga.

[Edited on 3-17-2019 by JZ]

advrider - 3-16-2019 at 10:16 PM

Kiki's on the North end of SF, then run a day trip or two to see whats around. Pretty chill camp ground with clean showers and bathrooms.

bajapedro - 3-18-2019 at 06:29 AM

Water temp at Shell Island will be pretty chilly this time of year, but if you time your trip to the high tide cycle, as the lagoon fills, the water warms from the heat on the sand. Can be pretty pleasant. Be warned, that on big tide cycles the water entering at the mouth is almost like white water as it rushes in.
Fishing for corvina can be slow to very good at the north end of Shell Island at high tide. Fish over the lava flow areas. Use 1/2 to 3/4 oz silver spoons seems to work pretty well.
Food at the cantina is pretty good. The chile relleno is excellent. Not on menu, but Lapetia can make it special for you, but will take her about an hour to prepare.
Enjoy.

Skipjack Joe - 3-20-2019 at 02:26 AM

I don't think shore fishing near the San Felipe are is very good.