BajaNomad

Pta. Final/ Calamujue camping

Fluffy - 9-21-2021 at 07:45 AM

Hello all. New user/first post.

I'm planning on visiting Punta Final and Calamajue in the next few weeks and looking for any recent updates on camping at both locations. Is there camping at the extreme s end of Final?

I have a fair bit of Baja experience, but haven't been to eithier area. Will be in a capable 4wd and bringing a beach launchable boat.

Main goal is to explore the section south of gonzaga for fishing spots.

Ill be coming from San Diego. Any suggestions on routes (1 vs 5 after that holdup last month), best spots to camp, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

honda tom - 9-21-2021 at 07:57 AM

coco always told us to stay away from the end of the road at Calamujue. It was said to be a lot of drug transport activity. IDK.
we did go out once and it was kind of erie. also heard a story of a car that was robbed of money gas and their battery... they had to walk back out to cocos.... (per coco). punta final would be a better place IMO

Tioloco - 9-21-2021 at 08:01 AM

Hola,
-Hwy 5 is quickest/best route to get there. (Robbery happened to the south on a section you would cross if coming in from the Hwy 1)

-I have camped many times just a bit north of Punta Final (midway to Alfonsinas) Great places available for beach camping and launching your boat.

-My last trip to Calamajue was about 7-8 years ago. I got a weird feeling that concerned me about security for camping there so I moved on. The whole place looked like an intermittent fish camp that someone had deliberately destroyed.

-Have a great time and let us know how it went.

David K - 9-21-2021 at 08:12 AM

Visited both Punta Final and Puerto Calamajué during my recon in 2017 for the Baja Bound Guide.

Photos at both places and other driving details (Trip #1): https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-baja-expedition-1-e...

Gonzaga Bay region (Punta Final main access at Km. 156):



Note that Coco's Corner moved in April 2021 to the site of Las Arrastras, so he would be on the new highway, which had bypassed his original corner. This map reflects the new Coco's Corner location at Km. 179.5...



Skipjack Joe - 9-21-2021 at 08:55 AM

At Pt Final there is a gate on the road just before you get there. You will be charged a fee there which will vary depending on how long you stay.

We camped at the headland often called 'Snoopy' but there is not much room there and you're on an incline. You have to drive on sand over to get there from the main beach. There was a pit toilet at the time. There is an unusable launch ramp there. There is a small cove on the south side of the headland that is protected and where a panga or two may be anchored. That's the best place to launch. It's perfectly still there.

There is a small community of houses at Pt Final. I've never gotten to know anyone. They may give you or tell you a place to stay. There is a rough road that goes to the point but it's usually gated and it doesn't go very far.

Everything I wrote is information that's close to 10 years old so things may have changed.

David K - 9-21-2021 at 09:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe  
At Pt Final there is a gate on the road just before you get there. You will be charged a fee there which will vary depending on how long you stay.

We camped at the headland often called 'Snoopy' but there is not much room there and you're on an incline. You have to drive on sand over to get there from the main beach. There was a pit toilet at the time. There is an unusable launch ramp there. There is a small cove on the south side of the headland that is protected and where a panga or two may be anchored. That's the best place to launch. It's perfectly still there.

There is a small community of houses at Pt Final. I've never gotten to know anyone. They may give you or tell you a place to stay. There is a rough road that goes to the point but it's usually gated and it doesn't go very far.

Everything I wrote is information that's close to 10 years old so things may have changed.


I think those details are still accurate, Igor...

Jan. 2017 camping and 1/2 day use fees:



To the right: Snoopy Hill (looks like Snoopy laying on his dog house) camping area.


Private Homes to the left.

del mar - 9-21-2021 at 09:52 AM

Calamujue is one of the coolest side trips you'll find, but I'd make it a day trip and return to Gbay to camp. we found launching out there a struggle and we never had much luck in the catching department but a great area to explore. have fun and take everything Coco has to say with a grain of salt;)

JZ - 9-21-2021 at 11:02 AM

Quote: Originally posted by honda tom  
coco always told us to stay away from the end of the road at Calamujue. It was said to be a lot of drug transport activity. IDK.
we did go out once and it was kind of erie. also heard a story of a car that was robbed of money gas and their battery... they had to walk back out to cocos.... (per coco). punta final would be a better place IMO


Have seen you post this a couple times Tom.

Just remember times change. What might have been the deal 10 or 15 or even 20 years ago might not be reality now.

JZ - 9-21-2021 at 11:06 AM

Punta Final is very cool.

Pic from the rocks where the land juts out.





Looking back to the Northwest.




[Edited on 9-21-2021 by JZ]

Bajazly - 9-21-2021 at 11:11 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by honda tom  
coco always told us to stay away from the end of the road at Calamujue. It was said to be a lot of drug transport activity. IDK.
we did go out once and it was kind of erie. also heard a story of a car that was robbed of money gas and their battery... they had to walk back out to cocos.... (per coco). punta final would be a better place IMO


Have seen you post this a couple times Tom.

Just remember times change. What might have been the deal 10 or 15 or even 20 years ago might not be reality now.



Or could be worse. Me and a Mexican companion went out there one night to camp a couple years back and she was freaked out and in no way would stay. No other place we ever camped was an issue with her.

David K - 9-21-2021 at 02:37 PM

Coco loves to scare newbies. In 2012, a couple in a Jeep was there and they very much wanted to see the Mission site at Calamajué. Coco told them the water was so deep in the canyon he would not be responsible for their demise!!!

I come along, on my way to Mission Calamajué and south through the canyon. Having an ear on Baja Nomad from other recent travelers, I knew it was not bad at all and told the two in the Jeep they could follow my Tacoma.

There was so little water in the canyon it barley got any mud on my truck. I went again in 2016, and again, very little water compared to years past. This used to be the main (gulf side) route south prior to 1983. The original road to Rancho Chapala was considered very bad even for 4WDs.

Two maps from 1962:





PaulW - 9-21-2021 at 04:42 PM

And once a long time ago I drove thru and bushes were taller than my truck and the water was over the top of the tires.
Later years I passed thru with nothing more than puddles.

Don Pisto - 9-21-2021 at 05:36 PM

OMG why would anyone camp at punta final? no walmart parking lot in sight?:?:

4x4abc - 9-21-2021 at 07:07 PM

I found a crashed small airplane in the Calamajue wash one year.
Not a friendly area.

4x4abc - 9-21-2021 at 07:14 PM

from the Calamajue main road there is a great trail to Ensenada Grande
cool drive
4x4 only
rocky beach

Attachment: Ensenada Grande.kmz (7kB)
This file has been downloaded 124 times

geoffff - 9-21-2021 at 07:30 PM

Calamajue bushy road in 2005


geoffff - 9-21-2021 at 07:32 PM

And this thing abandoned along the road, in 2001


honda tom - 9-22-2021 at 07:28 AM

Not talking about the wash.... talking about Puerto Calamajue. 15 mile road to a dead end on the water ..... the posts about the weird feeling you get out there along with Coco's tales (true or hyped) make it a place I wont recommend.

4x4abc - 9-22-2021 at 01:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by geoffff  
And this thing abandoned along the road, in 2001




that guy started harvesting the slate in the arroyo. He had no permissions. Ejido shut him down. That's what Coco said.

TMW - 9-22-2021 at 02:15 PM

Myself and a few friends went out to Calamajue a few years ago. We found it to be an interesting large abandoned fish camp. There was a family out there packing shells in sacks to sell. We left after a couple of hours.

Graham Macintosh talks about spending the night at the fish camp in his book Into A Desert PLace.