After living in central Baja for nearly 30 years, it always amazes me how many still undiscovered(by me) place we are brought to by amigos.
Leopoldo(of whale guide fame) & his wife Marta took us to meet Don Oscar at Rancho Escondido which lies 2 hours off the main highway to El
Arco...or 15 minutes from El Baril on the other side of the peninsula. Pretty knarly washboard so definitely AIR DOWN folks...but beautiful scenery.
Every time we take this road we see off roaders and lots of motos so it is a popular route.
Don Oscar had a dream and he is slowly turning it into a reality. Like us, he is off the beaten path so struggles to attract guests. I am sure if more
people knew about it they would visit.
Here is a short video of our weekend getaway to this awesome ranch!
Our timing was perfect as they had just begun to make machaca & beef jerky as we arrived so we got to learn & participate in the laborious
process.
Don Oscar graciously showed us 4 different cave painting sites within minutes of the ranch....super cool!
I think it had been closed for a couple of years except for a couple that was watching over it. Glad it is open again. I think it was closed when
David K was there last year.
WOW , what a place and what an outstanding write up w/ video you did Sheri !
Now it would be real nice if David provided us less familiar with the roads down that a way with one of his most excellent maps ...
Thank for posting this Sheri......
Sadly, the ranch was closed-up on my visits there twice in 2017 (January and June) and in need of repairs. The sign out by the main road to San
Francisquito/El Arco was faded, and the entrance rope sign above the locked gate was also well weathered.
I hope they re-opened!
January 2017:
In June 2017:
Sign, 1 mile from Rancho Escondido.
Roads are excellent from Hwy. 1 to San Francisquito and El Barril.
My desert camp near Rancho La Ilusión the night before visiting Rancho Escondido again.
These trips to Rancho Escondido were reported in my Trip #1 and Trip #5 reports here on Nomad.
In your report David I would beg to differ that the road was excellent...the road was nasty washboard the first half hour to El Arco...but you can
take the side road which is slower but not as bumpy. You really do need to air down.
Don Oscar has been working hard to fix up the ranch but of course it is still "rustic"....its a remote ranch dudes.
In Jan. of 2015 our group stopped and had lunch there. In Jan. of 2016 John M stayed the night while the Squarecircle (Roy) and I did some exploring
past El Barril. He stayed in one of the cabins. Shortly after that they closed up until recently. It looks like a really neat place to spend some
time at and explore the local area.
In your report David I would beg to differ that the road was excellent...the road was nasty washboard the first half hour to El Arco...but you can
take the side road which is slower but not as bumpy. You really do need to air down.
Don Oscar has been working hard to fix up the ranch but of course it is still "rustic"....its a remote ranch dudes.
How quickly things change, eh?
Maybe my Bilstein 5100s and tires at 24 psi helped?
Here are my road photos from last year Hwy. 1 to El Arco to Rancho Escondido area...
Great followup, Shari and DK. Your campsite shows that all you need is a little open area on a flat spot! Thanks. How hot was it Shari? And David,
I believe you were there in June? I'm trying to gauge a ground assault before the Summer heat becomes oppresive! And then a visit to BA, of course.
Tio
I humblely request that all future reports include the name of the nearest open runway.
That way I can calculate the flying time from Brown Field in San Diego and plan a trip.
Who wants to go?
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
Mike: El Barril has an excellent runway, you could land a twin on!
Tom: I love the heat and hate cold! June was ideal, warm days and nights... and I do have AC in the Tacoma so it is comfy and dust free.
The really hot month is August and some of September, with the humidity... along the gulf side only. I did fine, but in La Paz, in August, I was a
guest in Harald's air-conditioned guest room so those nights were nice.
I am not good at heat and it was at my heat threshold mid day...I had to go and jump in the ocean at El Barril 15 minutes down the road...but it got
nice in the evening so I wouldn't be able to go there any later than May myself.
Be cool to bring down some whale fanatics Fishbuck then zip over to El Baril for a ranch visit.
Shari, you're a Pacific sider like me. We need that fresh cool ocean beeeze... or we wilt.
But I can 't get hot enough...
We'll there was that one time in San Filepe... it was soo hot... and the drinks were soo cold... and I had a jeep with no top... and the girls... well
you know the rest...
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
I'm on this El Baril... I think I have flown over it several times.
Fly in, Stay at the ranch, Fish at El Baril.
Classic old Baja right there folks.
Yellowtail off the beach if I'm thinking of the right spot.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
So cool, we miss staying in SF so this just might fill the gap! It's nice to stay in BOLA but this is a nice option on the Moto's to add a stop in the
middle! Did I miss the contact info, I'm guessing they would like to know you are coming? Thanks for posting and thanks David for the map recon! I see
the contact info in the video...
So cool, we miss staying in SF so this just might fill the gap! It's nice to stay in BOLA but this is a nice option on the Moto's to add a stop in the
middle! Did I miss the contact info, I'm guessing they would like to know you are coming? Thanks for posting and thanks David for the map recon! I see
the contact info in the video...
[Edited on 5-4-2018 by advrider]
I need to get together with you. Since I am flying again I guess my motocross career is over. Again
I have a brand new set of SG12 boots an Shoei helmet in my storage. Guess I better see if I can learn how to desert ride.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
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The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
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