BajaNomad

Camping info

BajaKeela - 8-18-2009 at 07:46 PM

Now that summer is almost over...We are again thinking of our Baja winters..We plan on BOLA for a few weeks for the first part of Nov.then onto the Bay of Conception ...Also considering Juncalito or Ligui..Can anyone tell me if they are charging the same as last year? When we were there last year ..they had just begun to charge . There are a few other couples asking me the same questions. Can't wait to go fishing .. My husband always says the same thing.".I'm not the fisherman "I'm driving miss daisy"

Barry A. - 8-18-2009 at 10:19 PM

I have no recent experience, Keela, but what is charged is highly variable, in my experience. I never worry about it as in many cases it is the only income the family has, and the beach experience is worth whatever they charge me, normally. There are many isolated beaches, some hard to get too, that have no charge at all, and that is where I go most often because I love isolation, and I have the equipment to get there (boat on top)..

Have a good trip, with enough fish to feed you all.

Barry

BajaKeela - 8-18-2009 at 11:30 PM

Thanks Barry... I'll leave lots of fish for others.. and thanks for your response..When they started charging $190/day at Juncalito and Ligui last year..there was a lot of controversy. I wondered if it may have changed or improved.In the meantime we'll explore new areas.

jahImpala3 - 8-19-2009 at 08:31 AM

The palapas at La Perla are nice and roomy to set up camp in. However, the winter northerly winds howl through this beach. It is more exposed than El Coyote or other beaches to the north in the bay. La Perla was nice and clean though compared to other camping beaches.

rhintransit - 8-19-2009 at 10:03 AM

late spring and summer in El Juncalito...Free Beach has been busy, mostly locals/nationals have a great time on vacation. no evidence of fee collection.
but tourism is down down down and the city fathers have a long memory, so I would bet that the 200 +/- peso/night fee will be reinstated soon after the first snowbirds are spotted in the fall. (at Free Beach, Rattlesnake, and Lugui) last year they sent someone out weekly to collect and there was a lower rate for two weeks/month but some people had difficulty obtaining a receipt for that so use caution. they do tend to collect only once a week, so if you slip in between times you may get lucky. or tell them you are staying a night and see how long you can push it til they return...
this is not a case of 'the only income the family has', the funds go to the City of Loreto. you can decide if having zero services, except occasional garbage pick up is worth it for the general coffers and whether or not you want to try to bend the fee structure.
if you are only doing a night or two stop over, Tripui trailer park, run by the very gracious and helpful Fernando and his wife at the next door Modelorama, is less than 200 pesos and includes water, electricity, toilets/showers. but wintering on the 'free' beaches in this area is likely a thing of the past.
I will be back at my palapa in El Juncalito the end of Sept and will try to update the forum on if/when the fees come back for the tourists.

BajaKeela - 8-19-2009 at 10:27 AM

I was thinking El Requeson..Although it's a little further to town, it's not a problem for us.. but is the fishing any good? We like to eat fish once or twice a week and only keep what we can eat..Just a few triggers or sea bass is great for us..Last year we spent 7 weeks at Santispac and only caught 1 fish .. Maybe it's me not knowing where to fish.. but I can only go so far in a zodiac.. This year I hope is better..My son is a great fisherman ..maybe I should take him to Baja instead of my husband..I'm safe ,he doesn't do the internet and will never read this...chuckle chuckle.

BajaKeela - 8-19-2009 at 11:16 AM

Rhintransit thanks
Just the info I was looking for.. I certainly don't mind paying a fee and wouldn't try to sneak any free camping .. but I didn't like the way they set it up..Put a per night fee and a minimum stay and be done with it .. If I feel it's anywhere near reasonable I stay ...if not .. people like us don't get mad ..we just move on..Hopefully I can always decide when I want to be a victim..

Cypress - 8-19-2009 at 11:50 AM

BajaKeela, You can camp at Don Chano's in Mulege. It's on the river and close to the beach. The fishing? Good luck! You can walk to town, hike in the desert, or go fishing.:D

BajaKeela - 8-19-2009 at 12:03 PM

Thanks cypress ..I'll check it out.

Pompano - 8-19-2009 at 12:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaKeela
I was thinking El Requeson..Although it's a little further to town, it's not a problem for us.. but is the fishing any good? We like to eat fish once or twice a week and only keep what we can eat..Just a few triggers or sea bass is great for us..Last year we spent 7 weeks at Santispac and only caught 1 fish .. Maybe it's me not knowing where to fish.. but I can only go so far in a zodiac.. This year I hope is better..My son is a great fisherman ..maybe I should take him to Baja instead of my husband..I'm safe ,he doesn't do the internet and will never read this...chuckle chuckle.

o
Hi BajaKeela,

I thought I'd better answer your question about Playa Requeson before Cypress checks in...poor fellow, he's a wee bit down on the fishing prospects for the Sea of Cortez. (I think the SOC will still provide a few fish for a dinner or two, but then I probably use more dynamite.) :rolleyes:

I live in Conception Bay and have fished there since ..well, a long time. Originally one of the truly remarkable places on earth for all species of fish and marine life, it is another story these days. My sad and bad news is..the entire Bay is very poor fishing these days and has been for 20 years or more.

But..hope is the fisherman's best lure...there is always a chance. You can try trolling a small #5 Rapala along the rocky shorelines in about 15 -25 feet of water...or drifting along jigging some bait. Just cast and bounce a 1/4 oz yellow jig with a twister tail, tipped with your bait. Bait can be: Clam meat, shrimp heads, squid pieces, chicken liver, the neighbor's poodle, you name it..if you find some small cabrilla or pintos, they will not be fussy.

But my best bet for you ..nearest your camp.. would be to fish from your Zodiac on Bean Rocks.."Roca Frijoles". Just ask any local at Requeson or Perla can point out it's location. Not far from Requeson at all. Once there fish the dropoff edges with either a trolled lure or better yet, the baited jig. Bean Rocks rises from 80 ft to 12ft at the top...you will be better off trying to stay 20-40ft down along the sharp dropoffs. The north and east sides of the rocks are the best. At least they were for me.

If all else fails and you remain fishless, please stop by my casa at Coyote Bay (km 108) and we'll figure something out for you. Maybe take you outside the bay for some better fishing.

As for camping prices, I don't know for sure what they are charging right now, but they always seemed to be about 5-7 dollars a night. I imagine they are looking for business...?

Lots of people used to go there to witness the clamming experience. Hope you have a great camping trip.

edit..damn, Cypress beat me to it! He gave you good advice on Gringo's and other guides in Mulege.

[Edited on 8-19-2009 by Pompano]

Baja - Clams.jpg - 46kB

Cypress - 8-19-2009 at 12:43 PM

BajaKeela, I'd take Pompano up on his invite. :) He's well worth meeting.
Pompano, Caught a few crappie and bluegill this morn, they're fried to a golden brown along with a skillet of high-powered cornbread(cheese, peppers, onions, fresh corn, etc.) The moose are on the move.:) Good luck with all your trials and tribulations.:)

LisaR. - 8-19-2009 at 12:53 PM

Just as to prices for camping along Bahia Concepcion, when Mark and I were there in July, we drove along the bay, and stopped to look at pretty much every cove. Everywhere was posted about the same amount--80 pesos per day (for either camping or day use). We didn't see anyone collecting at the more remote places, but one or two of the more populated ones had someone at the entrance to collect as you went in.

BajaKeela - 8-19-2009 at 01:06 PM

Pompano.. Thanks so much for the fishing tips got'em printed out and yes we would love to meet you..Expect a U2U sometime in Nov... I think you're my kind of people..
Cypress..Just for making me drool ... I'm going to have some elk for supper..my son was fortunate enough to get a draw for one on Van.Island and did he get a whopper.. Because he's still single ..guess who gets a lot of it and because he's a fishing guide ..guess who gets lots of salmon.. Can't figure out how to add the smiley's or I would add a bunch..