BajaNomad - San Evaristo camping/fishing

San Evaristo camping/fishing

elfbrewery - 1-21-2011 at 12:38 PM

I've been wanting to make a trip out to San Evaristo for a couple years. Never been before. Where is it possible to camp? Is there surf? Can I kayak out from shore easily? I like to fish from the kayak, but don't want to be washed away...
Thanks for any advice!

David K - 1-21-2011 at 01:18 PM

There is no surfing in the Gulf of California... unless it is really windy!

monoloco - 1-21-2011 at 01:37 PM

San Evaristo is a great place for kayak fishing, there are several good camping beaches south of there or you can camp near the end of the road north of Evaristo, it's a bit rocky but the fishing is better. I don't recommend camping at the bay due to a lack of privacy and blowing sand during strong night offshore winds. The estero at the north end of Isla San Jose is worth checking out if you have some calm weather. The fishing is generally best along the rocky shore to the north of the point. Don't overlook the great hiking in the hills above, there is a lot of old native encampments and El Bosque is a gorgeous area. The area is my favorite in all of Baja Sur.

tiotomasbcs - 1-21-2011 at 01:54 PM

Vamanos, Amigos. Check the weather for calm days and let's go!

I like summertime; hot and muchos Chocolatas!!

Tio

San Evaristo

rob - 1-21-2011 at 06:17 PM

We normally camp at the far (south) side of the bay towards the lighthouse - haven't been for a couple of years though.

You will have a wonderful time!

[Edited on 1-22-2011 by rob]

san-evaristo-map.jpg - 42kB

rob - 1-21-2011 at 06:21 PM

Here is our usual site.

San-Evaristo---Setting-up-c.jpg - 33kB

David K - 1-21-2011 at 07:04 PM

That looks sweet, rob!

(check u2u please)

Skipjack Joe - 1-21-2011 at 07:48 PM

The Baja Catch says that there are a lot of bugs that bite at San Evaristo and recommends camping at Mechudo.

Did anyone experience that?

wilderone - 1-22-2011 at 10:14 AM

"The estero at the north end of Isla San Jose is worth checking out if you have some calm weather."
Not only calm weather, but wait for a slack tide to cross over in a kayak. Strong current runs through this channel (Canal San Jose). Be prepared to stay on the island in case the wind comes up. In any event, stay out of the current - you can see it on the surface.

comitan - 1-22-2011 at 12:00 PM

wilderone

Did you not mean south end of the island, and if you are stuck on the island at nightfall you WILL be eaten alive.

monoloco - 1-22-2011 at 12:29 PM

It is on the south end of the island, my bad.

elfbrewery - 1-22-2011 at 02:34 PM

Great info, especially the anotated maps and photos.

Has anyone taken the road from Cienventiocho (Rosita, Km. 128) through San Pedro de la Presa down to the Las Pocitas Road into San Evaristo?
Would you recommend either route?

Cheers!

TecateRay - 1-22-2011 at 02:38 PM

We've camped a few times just on the north side of Punta Mechudo, about 7 miles south of San Evaristo. It's a nice little cove with a good beach for camping. :yes:

drarroyo - 1-22-2011 at 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

There is no surfing in the Gulf of California... unless it is really windy!

Oh lordy!!! here we go.
FYI One of THE top surfing spots in the world (when southern swells from New Zealand are in force, in summer) is located in Gulf of Cali.
Maybe you could stick to restaurant recommendations / maps!
ps when really windy = surf not good.

Gaucho - 1-22-2011 at 03:30 PM

I'm sure DK means DEEP in the GOC or SOC. I know the spot your talking about...

Quote:

Originally posted by drarroyo

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

There is no surfing in the Gulf of California... unless it is really windy!

elfbrewery - 1-22-2011 at 03:40 PM

SOoooo, with the strong current, would it be better to go during neap tide rather than at the moons? Is there a big difference between high & low tide?
Thanks!

David K - 1-22-2011 at 05:16 PM

San Evaristo is in the gulf, and across from Isla San Juse... I seriously doubt you will see an ocean wave there.

As for 'in the gulf'... a gulf is a proteced body of water, so no ocean waves.

Now if you want to say that Shipwrecks.... 'north' of Cabo San Lucas... a famous surf spot is in the 'gulf', go ahead... but there is no opposing coastline on the southern end of Baja... and ocean swells make it up past Cabo Pulmo and La Ventana... part of the year.

So I am wrong if you want to call the open part of the gulf by Los Cabos, a gulf surf resort. I apologize.

comitan - 1-22-2011 at 05:42 PM

Elf

With motor no problem, Kayak no motor slack tide or close.

monoloco - 1-22-2011 at 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elfbrewery
Great info, especially the anotated maps and photos.

Has anyone taken the road from Cienventiocho (Rosita, Km. 128) through San Pedro de la Presa down to the Las Pocitas Road into San Evaristo?
Would you recommend either route?

Cheers!

I haven't done it recently, but the last time I did it on a moto and the section from Segunda Bosque down to the coast was pretty marginal for anything other than a good 4x4. That should be the only bad part though.

rob - 1-23-2011 at 09:22 AM

We have driven in several times from Las Pocitas - La Soledad and on down into San Evaristo. Like Monoloco says, road is - variable but OK.

We actually camped on the road at the top of the pass/cuesta one night - magic. I have attached a photo from the top of the pass.

re Kayaking out to Isla San Jose. My advice is: do it in the early morning before the wind gets up and the chop increases. It can get downright boisterous out there in the afternoons.

San-Ev-Wide-angle-pass.jpg - 42kB

wilderone - 1-23-2011 at 09:34 AM

"SOoooo, with the strong current, would it be better to go during neap tide rather than at the moons? Is there a big difference between high & low tide?"

You need to check a tide chart to know the best time to do any distance paddling. It is easier to go south with the tide/current if that is your destination, but a b itch to paddle back in a headwind and beating northerly swells and white caps. As you can see, it would be wise to cross over and reach the closest point of land, i.e., Punta San Ysidro (and go north/south from there along the coast and ditto the return trip). If you find yourself wanting to return at 2 pm and the wind is howling and the troughs are 2 feet and foaming, personally, in my opinion, for safety's sake, speaking for myself - I would not risk a crossing in those conditions, but spend the night on the island and cross at first light when it is calm (or should be calm). I paddled from San Evaristo to Isla San Francisco. While on Is. SF, the wind came up and had to paddle back in scary, aforementioned foaming 2 ft. troughs with northerly swells which you had to consistently brace for (you know a bracing stroke, right?). Fortunately, we were headed south, and the conditions pushed us south. For me, it would have been impossible to try to paddle back to a northerly destination considering my skills and strength. As for the current, it can easily carry you too far south of your intended landing point if you're not careful. Do what you're comfortable with.

elfbrewery - 1-23-2011 at 01:33 PM

Very good advice. This is the kind of info only Nomads can provide. Thanks!

elfbrewery - 1-23-2011 at 03:07 PM

I have tide info for La Paz and Loreto, but no info about the currents. Can I make a calculated guess as to slack tide times?

bajabass - 1-25-2011 at 06:49 AM

In looking at the map, it shows the road north from the mine at San Juan De La Costa going all the way to San Evaristo. Has anyone every gone that way? I am thinking of driving up that way this morning.

monoloco - 1-25-2011 at 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass
In looking at the map, it shows the road north from the mine at San Juan De La Costa going all the way to San Evaristo. Has anyone every gone that way? I am thinking of driving up that way this morning.

That is the main road in, the only really bad spot is the road up and over Punta Machudo. They drive the fish trucks in a few times a week so it shouldn't be too bad.

bajabass - 1-25-2011 at 08:18 AM

Leaving now, thanks crazy one!!

Hopefully, fresh mariscos for lunch!! :tumble:

Martyman - 1-25-2011 at 09:25 AM

When I stayed at Punta Mechudo I had small biting bugs get in my inflatable kayak!. They were chewing me up while fishing. Fishing was good though, hooked a dorado from shore.

GWBaines - 1-26-2011 at 08:28 AM

We are now in LaPaz, came over the road from Constitucion to San Luis Gonzaga Mission, then to La Presa and on to Ean Evaristo, in December. This road is in far worse shape than I have ever seen it before. We have been over this route at least 6 times. The fines in the road are all gone. We spent 5 1/2 hours in low range 4x4! I highly recommend coming in from the south this year and until they repair/grade the road. Even from the south the section coming over the Machudo headlands in very rough and slow. You will need a good clearance and a low range gear. The Dos Mares off road race has taken a major toll on these roads, as well as a complete lack of repair. Concreted sections on the grades have caused some deep erosion at the ends of the concrete, making for steep ups and downs there.

elfbrewery - 1-26-2011 at 11:44 AM

bajabass
Please give us an update on the roads. Much appreciated!

bajacalifornian - 1-28-2011 at 01:48 PM

In San Evaristo, find a pangero who will take you to Islita Coyote a rock north of Isla San Francisco, midway to the low southern extension of Isla San Jose . . . inhabited by a fishing village for hundreds of years. Fascinating.

bajabass - 1-28-2011 at 07:36 PM

The drive from San Juan De La Costa was not too bad.

A couple drop offs/rises at the ripped up concrete "helper sections". A few hairy, don't look down areas. Lots of rock in the Machudo area. That section the mighty Tundra handled well.

There are two roads from San Evaristo, out to Hwy 1. The northern road splits 3 different ways on my map, and looked easy to get lost. I chose the southern most route, intersecting 1 at Las Pocitas. :no:

All I can say, is have a solid truck, know how to drive it, and if I ever do it again, 2 spares, a winch, and a good shovel!!
I spent 8 hours making the drive from the Pemex just north of La Paz, where the road to San Juan De La Costa splits off, to San Evaristo, out to Las Pocitas. It is no longer a road in several sections, steep loose rock uphills and downhills. Funny, after all the jagged, nasty stuff on the "road", I had a highspeed, right rear blowout, about 15 minutes after I got back on Hwy 1. Threw the truck sideways at about 65, and I almost

soiled myself!! I'm sure I had cut a sidewall on the trail, and as soon as it got hot, KABOOM!
All said, I saw some beautiful, awesome stuff you will never get to see from the pavement! The rock formations and different red and green rock are so pretty you get distracted, which can be dangerous. The entire coast is postcard material. Some of the best views are as you are cresting ridges as you leave the coast and head inland, and look back to the sea!
Oh, a truck full of nice kids who pointed out the right road from San Evaristo, and I gave an old farmer and his wife three antifreeze jugs of gas, as they had ran out about 10 km from home.
It was a long, dusty day, cost me a 2,950 peso tire, and I was late for dinner! I can't wait to do it again!!! :tumble:

BajaRat - 1-28-2011 at 08:12 PM

I've caught some great waves in the gulf, especially mainland side. I know people who fly in when everything comes together. You would be surprised how far up you can surf, but watch out for man eating islanders. I'll leave the maps in my coffin. :lol:

elfbrewery - 1-28-2011 at 08:44 PM

bajabass - Thanks for the facts. Sounds like something we could handle, if in the right/wrong frame of mind. It always helps to know ahead of time what lies ahead and what can be avoided. Getting up-to-date experience from you helps so much. Thanks again!