BajaNomad

Camping the point North/East of La Paz?

tyguypb - 12-22-2014 at 06:58 PM

Sooo i am looking for do's and don'ts as far as beach camping is concerned along the peninsula north/east of La Paz. I have been searching for info and failing to find anything reliable. I am just looking to do a bit of tent camping with my lady and we are looking for some safe spots where we will not be hassled for camping illegally or by anyone with ill intentions. I'm not looking for a super secret camp spot, i don't care if there are others on the beach or if we have to pay a modest fee for a few nights. What do you good folks know about this region, we will be there in early January if weather/wind would change your advice! Thanks a ton!

-Tyler

[Edited on 12-23-2014 by tyguypb]

AKgringo - 12-22-2014 at 07:25 PM

Tyler, I spend a bit of time around La Paz, sometimes in a developed park, and other times on beaches. When you say 'The Malecon' to me that means the waterfront in Downtown La Paz. I don't think camping there is an option, but then I have never tried there.
Most important to getting a useful answer is how mobile are you? Are you backpacking, riding a bike, or driving down there?

tyguypb - 12-22-2014 at 07:36 PM

shows my ignorance, i thought that the "Malecon" was the name of that peninsula that stretches up north/east of the city/town... I am highly mobile, i have a Subaru outback with All wheel drive. and i have a few days at least.

gnukid - 12-22-2014 at 07:39 PM

There is a campground nearby on Nayarit at the beach which is walking/biking distance to Malecon and its a nice place.

AKgringo - 12-22-2014 at 08:24 PM

Tyler, I usually spend a few days on back roads exploring with my dog on the way down to La Paz, so the first place I stop when I get there is the Campestre Maranatha RV park and campground. They have showers, laundry facility, internet, a coffe shop, and is a good place to find current local info.
If the weather gets snotty, I would stay there and day trip to check out the other areas around there. It is a shame you only have a few days, Los Barrilles is only a couple of hours away, and is worth at least one of them.
I will try to think of some concise directions to some of the free camping spots I use, watch for a U2U message (top right of this page) or use it to ask me for more info.

honda tom - 12-22-2014 at 08:30 PM

Ventana is an hour east of La Paz. Beautiful beaches and laid back. campsites and cheap hotels. big with the kite surfers, well worth checking out.

apple - 12-22-2014 at 09:15 PM

I camped on the beach here for a night once and no one bothered us https://www.google.com/maps/@24.207583,-110.5524617,16z

I've also camped on the beach in La Ventana north of town and that was chill

philodog - 12-22-2014 at 09:22 PM

I would second La Ventana/ El Sargento as a good camp spot but skip the busy areas( especially the main campground) and go north of El Sargento and all the gringo houses for some nice quiet beach camping. But remember the reason all the windsurfers/kiters are there is that it`s well known for a strong and consistent wind. For even more remote (and incredibly beautiful) beach camping in the area check out the coast road north of La Paz to San Evaristo.

AKgringo - 12-22-2014 at 09:32 PM

Several of us have posted information about the San Evaristo road recently, go to the road conditions forum and look for the thread.
Also look for the Agua Verde threads (possibly under trip reports) to get ideas.
Like I said, it is a shame you only have a couple of days, a couple of weeks is not enough!

TecateRay - 12-22-2014 at 10:07 PM

If you are looking for an "out of the way" spot there is a nice little cove on the north side of Punta Mechudo. It is south of San Evaristo about 10miles or so.

la paz camping

captkw - 12-22-2014 at 10:14 PM

Playa Tecalote is 20/30 mins out from La Paz and past the ferry...dry,safe camping with awesome sunups and folks to hang/party with if you care too...just don't leave stuff out at night...the wind is not a issue here a lot...don't drive into town in the afternoon !! do town runs early to miss the drunk drivers....A lot of the time you will have the place basicly to your self...and when you make a town run ask any one camping near you if they need any thing from town and please watch your spot..K&T

Martyman - 12-23-2014 at 10:32 AM

Quote: Originally posted by TecateRay  
If you are looking for an "out of the way" spot there is a nice little cove on the north side of Punta Mechudo. It is south of San Evaristo about 10miles or so.


I've camped on the south side of Punta Mechudo. Nobody was there. I hooked a dorado from shore!

North of La Paz

David K - 12-23-2014 at 11:09 AM



Nice enough to make this year's Baja Calendar cover!
(Bummer, no Baja Calendar for 2015!)

monoloco - 12-23-2014 at 11:29 AM

There are some really nice beaches NE of La Paz east of Tecolote. To get to them take Cinco de Mayo all the way out past the dump like you are heading to Las Cruces.

4x4abc - 12-23-2014 at 12:46 PM

Tecolote beach is the best one for someone with a Subaru
and by the way, David, your calendar shows Balandra beach (one before Tecolote)

tyguypb - 12-23-2014 at 03:23 PM

i appreciate all of the suggestions and info! considering my limited amount of time i am thinking maybe Tecalote, Balandra or el coyote. Can i camp at these sights?

also, does anyone know if there is any beach camping at Puerto Escondido just south of loreto?

4x4abc - 12-23-2014 at 05:20 PM

Coyote is a longer drive, the beach not as pretty as Tecolote
no camping permitted at Balandra
Hang right when you get to the beach (right after pavement ends)

AKgringo - 12-23-2014 at 05:57 PM

Puerto Escondido beach? I stopped at What I believe was the entrance to the campground but did not stay there. I got something to eat, ice, and used their internet. I found an access to a beach just south of there, but not one I would take the Subaru on.
At that point, you are about an hour and a half, or two from the beach on the Auga Verde road. Depending on how much daylight you have, you may want to check it out. It is scary, but Subaruable and spectacular!
I also would like to hear about a beach camp in Escondido, anyone?

[Edited on 12-24-2014 by AKgringo]

tyguypb - 12-23-2014 at 06:06 PM

are there likely to be other folks camping on tecolote? I would certainly sleep a bit better at night if there were other folks around. sounds like tecolote might be the ticket.

Ricardo - 12-23-2014 at 06:54 PM

go to youtube and type in tecolote beach la paz

apple - 12-23-2014 at 07:06 PM

Punta Marquez and Punta Conejo are also good camping spots. The should be surfers hanging out this time of year too which makes for good entertainment. And the road to Conquista Agraria is completely paved now

[Edited on 12-24-2014 by apple]

David K - 12-24-2014 at 10:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by tyguypb  
i appreciate all of the suggestions and info! considering my limited amount of time i am thinking maybe Tecalote, Balandra or el coyote. Can i camp at these sights?

also, does anyone know if there is any beach camping at Puerto Escondido just south of loreto?


A few miles past Puerto Esondido (and before the highway begins the climb up the sierra) is PLAYA LIGUI, about a mile from the highway... just past the site of California's THIRD Spanish mission founded in 1705 (a cross marks the area near where the mission was before flash floods took away the foundations in 2001).









Photos taken July, 2012.

Bonus... a page from our book, The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California:



[Edited on 12-24-2014 by David K]

camping

captkw - 12-24-2014 at 02:53 PM

south of nopolio and north of preuto Escondido is a great place to camp called "juancalito" just left at the beginning of the straight away..mostly free and safe with a nice view and swimming beach... a Baja fav .....K&T........PS there is no camping at Escondido..its a harbor !! just slightly south is rattle snake beach if you can find it..the ligui, which is very hard to find a camping spot...unless "john" chimes in withh his awesome pad in the "saddle"....K&T

[Edited on 12-24-2014 by captkw]

tyguypb - 12-24-2014 at 05:53 PM

Capt kw What was that last bit? it is hard to find the beach or it is hard to find a camping spot because it is frequently crowded? Thanks to everyone for all the great info, leaving the day after Christmas and hoping to take a few weeks around the southern section.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone!

tyguybp

captkw - 12-24-2014 at 06:34 PM

hola,its easy to find tecalote....some how this thread started to bounch all over the map !!! tecolote is seldom crowded and for the La PAZ area is hard to beat !! and you can get a hot shower at "marina De La Paz" for a few bucks !! any more questions U2U me a Land Line...K&T

Alan - 12-25-2014 at 09:29 AM

As captkw says Tecolote is a great camping beach and even has a couple beach bars in case you don't feel like cooking some nights. It is typically uncrowded with the exception of Semana Santos when they pack in three deep down the whole beach. Also very easy (and reasonable) to arrange for trips to the island. Just be aware that during the winter and spring you will be completely exposed when the north winds blow.

RnR - 12-25-2014 at 09:55 AM

If the north winds are blowing, try Bahia de los Muertos.

About 30 miles from La Paz on Mex hwy 286.

See this thread for more info:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=76510&got...

renameing places for money

captkw - 12-25-2014 at 03:45 PM

Ive seen/heard Sooo many name changes in the recent years that's its disgusting !! like cascada de moyo to "el Zoro"...south of pulmo was Carral de los frallies to "aboriudos" or something like that

David K - 12-25-2014 at 04:12 PM

There are so many various ways Nomads spell places here, too! :light:

If using the Baja California Almanac or AAA map, you will find the mentioned places spelled this way:

NOPOLO
JUNCALITO
PUERTO ESCONDIDO
EL TECOLOTE
CORAL DE LOS FRAILES
CABO FRAILES

Merry Christmas from the Baja Place Name Spell Checker!:cool:

LOL,,DK..merry xmas

captkw - 12-25-2014 at 11:52 PM

Hola,,Hey, I cant even speak well...let alone spell or type !!! BUT, I do get a point across.......spelling is about the last thing that's important to me...just a saying whats me....happy 2015 to ya.........K&T;D