BajaNomad - Boondocking in Baja?

Boondocking in Baja?

neilm81301 - 3-24-2013 at 11:49 AM

Can you still, realistically, 'boondock' camp or free camp much in Baja?

It used to be the usual way to camp, now it seems it's mostly RV parks/campgrounds (fee).

My folks used to spend the winter at Muertos, basically free. Nowadays, I don't know.

Neil

woody with a view - 3-24-2013 at 11:53 AM

as long as someone doesn't have a fence up its free. still, offer a guy $5 a day if they ask.

mtgoat666 - 3-24-2013 at 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by neilm81301
Can you still, realistically, 'boondock' camp or free camp much in Baja?

It used to be the usual way to camp, now it seems it's mostly RV parks/campgrounds (fee).

My folks used to spend the winter at Muertos, basically free. Nowadays, I don't know.

Neil

Yes, if you are camping in the boondocks.

shari - 3-24-2013 at 12:13 PM

si si si...there are still a kazillion spectacular places to camp in Baja which is one of this areas great things to do....so many special secret spots...I hope to be at one of them very soon.

However lots of people are sticking to campgrounds for added safety I think.

ligui - 3-24-2013 at 12:28 PM

ligui beach and juncalito still no charge :no:

sancho - 3-24-2013 at 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by neilm81301
My folks used to spend the winter at Muertos

Ensenada Los Muertos, takes me back, spent some time
there late 80's, I didn't know what a time it was until
I look back, small roosters off the beach, Dorado
in 6' of water off the rocks

Cisco - 3-24-2013 at 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sancho

Quote:

Originally posted by neilm81301
My folks used to spend the winter at Muertos

Ensenada Los Muertos, takes me back, spent some time
there late 80's, I didn't know what a time it was until
I look back, small roosters off the beach, Dorado
in 6' of water off the rocks

Fish crashing a "meat ball" all the way up onto the beach. Just grab-em.

Yea, thanks for the memories.

mulegemichael - 3-24-2013 at 03:05 PM

there are some just fabulous places everywhere you look....some of the more isolated places are on the pacific coast around asuncion...look up shari and juan1

Pompano - 3-24-2013 at 04:10 PM

For forty years now, I've boondocked on about every spot imaginable from Tecate to Cabo. It's a strange and unique place...The Road.

Boondocking is there, you just have to pick your spot carefully these days to be safe from ravagers!

I've seen all kinds on the Baja Road, believe me. Some scarier than others...

Be Advised: If approached by one calling her/itself Sylvia...shoot yourself.

:rolleyes:

There are also more full service RV parks now than ever...which is okay, too.

She's a different Baja... it ain't Baja-Kansas anymore, Totino.

[Edited on 3-24-2013 by Pompano]

vgabndo - 3-24-2013 at 05:11 PM

If the place is good enough to be called boondocking, and someone is STILL collecting money, it probably isn't much! (money)

The boondocking is limited solely by your vehicle and your ability to get it ida y vuelta. It is also possible to 'feel' a very long way from anyone in fairly few miles. There is some security in a bunch of bad road.

I want a better way to carry more fresh water, and also would like to get more than two weeks on a tank of propane. Next will be a little portable solar still next to the PV panel. :lol:

castaway$ - 3-24-2013 at 10:23 PM

Tecolote is free and it is gorgeous.

chuckie - 3-25-2013 at 04:45 AM

The main issue these days seems to be safety. Is that a real issue in Baja? I dont know, I do know that I am much less comfortable in isolated places than I used to be. I imagine I have spent hundreds of nites on remote beaches and desert spots in the 30+ years I have been here. I dont do it anymore.

David K - 3-25-2013 at 08:06 AM

If it takes a 4WD to get there, I think your odds are good that you are safe.

It will be just the two of you!

vgabndo - 3-25-2013 at 01:19 PM

At none of the places in these pictures did we pay, except for the hilltop at Bufadora. $6.40 usd.

Otherwise, friends, other arrangements, or the boonies. :lol:

http://s99.photobucket.com/user/vgabndo/story/9281

David K - 3-25-2013 at 01:28 PM

Nice album Perry!

Alm - 3-25-2013 at 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
I want a better way to carry more fresh water, and also would like to get more than two weeks on a tank of propane.

The only way to carry more fresh water is to carry more fresh water. Manual desalinator, the one that is about 20" long, forgot the model name, still takes about an hour of non-stop pumping every day, most people are too lazy for that. And you have to be on sea.

2 weeks on a tank of propane is the limit, because of propane fridge. Without a propane fridge one 20 lbs or 30 lbs tank will last more than 6 months. Yes, you need a solar and a small 12V compressor fridge for that.

David K - 3-26-2013 at 09:09 AM

If you camp on the beach, you can use sea water for much of your cleaning tasks. We take one of those square, blue, plastic 6 gallon water jugs and have never used it all on any beach camping trip up to a week long. Drink beer, bottled drinking water from the ice chests, it's all about cold drinks and then just kick back and enjoy the Baja Feeling!

Pompano - 3-26-2013 at 09:37 AM

Still one of my favorite boondocking spots in Baja. This is the area called White Tanks, near Erendira. A fun spot to camp, fish, & dive. 3 RVs traveling & camping together is always a plus..within the bunch you generally will find a good cook, mechanic, hunter, fisherman, biologist, botanist, campfire builder, and campfire storyteller. Life is good.

And a reminder to all campers!

"You can't roller skate in an elk herd.."

vgabndo - 3-26-2013 at 01:47 PM

Alm, I beat the propane problem this time by carrying an extra 12 ltr. bottle. The problem is that Lance put a horizontal tank under the fridge, my spare is a vert. I have to hang it from a camper jack attachment, and hook up the hose.

If we're parked for a while, I can use off the spare tank, and save enough in the on-board tank to get us to a re-fill.

Close to water, I'd first look at passive solar. The stills are now all tilted, and using a saturated medium to make steam. I like the ones which use the whole un-insulated cabinet to condense vapor while the salt water is in its own medium in an isolated tray with its own drain.

http://www.planetkerala.org/downloads/SolarDistillation.pdf

They used to calculate that you could make 2 gallons of water with 15 sq. ft. of collector in 6 hours of good sun. That's two and a half days to fill a jerry can I could have had two of strapped to my truck! Maybe it isn't the best way to stay hydrated while camping out?

mcfez - 3-29-2013 at 05:31 PM

Endless...on the Sea Of Cortez side.

Most camps are a few bucks if you wish to stay at a "established " site (garbage can and table) :-)

[Edited on 3-30-2013 by mcfez]

Free Camping

Floatflyer - 3-29-2013 at 07:11 PM

Here are some people enjoying the Semana Santa camping on the East Cape. This is just north of Cabo Pulmo and one restriction is NO MOTOR vehicles on the beach. Besides that it is a beautiful beach. Unfortunately, it appears that the Los Cabos Municipio has decided that these campers can chit in the bushes, they are not worthy of a port-a-potty, very sad. AND this is within the much advertised Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park!!!!!

From here you have about 6 miles to the Los Frailes arroyo where many snowbirds dry camp all winter. Free and with trash pick up. There is a well for water but I think it is for washing only. Most bring drinking water in.

2 miles north is the Miramar arroyo where we happily put our trailer on the beach for 11 yrs when we came down. We kept our trailer, car, and boat at a free range cattle rancher until he as evicted from "his" property after living on it for 50+ yrs. We, too, were evicted and we moved 2 mi. south to our present location. This arroyo is a wonderful place to dry camp.

So, enjoy the boonies, such as they are. FF

mtgoat666 - 3-29-2013 at 09:20 PM

It's nice when they ban cars, more peaceful with tents and no cars :bounce:

Hook - 3-29-2013 at 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
It's nice when they ban cars, more peaceful with tents and no cars :bounce:

Semana Santa and peaceful?

You dont get down here much, do you, Goat? This is a Mexican tradition. Let em do their thing.