BajaNomad

Where to camp in Ojo de Liebre???

TLBaja79 - 2-19-2015 at 04:07 PM

I haven't been to Ojo de Liebre in over 15 years.
Still good areas to camp along the lagoon?

I know nobody wants to give up there secret spot but are there good spots around. Safe?

Thanks for any suggestions

David K - 2-19-2015 at 04:35 PM

I think during whale season, just the one camp by the whale viewing is the only place open??? The rest of the roads are owned by the salt works and closed to public traffic... Again, just based on my reading.

Now San Ignacio Lagoon has several...

bajabuddha - 2-19-2015 at 04:41 PM

At Ojo De Liebre the camping is excellent, and very safe. It's only access is guarded and gated. There are several very nice palapas, some larger than others, and the shore road goes west for a mile or so with several pull-out campsites (boondocking) with great views; you can see the whales from most of them. Some are great for smaller rigs and tents; I saw half a dozen I could park my 5th wheel in.

The restaurant is open during the whale season, but only until sunset... they run on solar, so eat early. I was surprised on how nice a camping area it really is. The panga fleet are smaller boats, the pilots are great (tip well!). Highly recommended.

TLBaja79 - 2-19-2015 at 05:18 PM

Ok great, so it sounds like going to the restaurant and then off from there we'll be able to find a good spot to set up? Not looking for a camp ground but if that's the only thing available we may still go.

Ya camping on the beach checking out the whales sounds like a great time!

elgatoloco - 2-19-2015 at 05:29 PM

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=77756

Captures the experience very well. :dudette:

boe4fun - 2-19-2015 at 05:54 PM

There are also "overflow" palapas in the parking lot by the elevated latrines.

bajabuddha - 2-19-2015 at 06:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TLBaja79  
Ok great, so it sounds like going to the restaurant and then off from there we'll be able to find a good spot to set up? Not looking for a camp ground but if that's the only thing available we may still go.

Ya camping on the beach checking out the whales sounds like a great time!

Again, palapa camping, AND boondocking; dry camping, no facilities or (close) outhouses. You aren't going to find total privacy and seclusion this time of year, and if you want security, you don't want it either. My advice is, try to arrive mid-day / mid-afternoon so you have time to first, stop in at the restaurant and check out the times for eating, and have a beer... then have time to drive westward (to the right from the restaurant) and pick a good spot..... the road meanders for quite a ways, and lots of nooks to pick from.... earlier you get there, the more spots will be available. People generally tend to hit the road before noon.

[Edited on 2-20-2015 by bajabuddha]

Whale-ista - 2-19-2015 at 07:10 PM

The nice thing about this "overflow" upper parking area at night is the view of the lagoon & surrounding area (raised elevation) and proximity to bathrooms (for those without facilities in campers, or unwilling to brave the outhouses down below)

You are also closer to the restaurant. They claim to open at 8 am, close at 7, but YMMV. However, they will cook with gas stoves by candlelight if solar lights run low, as it did last week when the clouds cam over. (We offered them our camp lanterns/flashlights to use in the kitchen, they also had candles)

Unfortunately, they also ran out of gas Monday 2/16, so no cooking was possible due to the BIG crowd for President weekend- hungry people gobbled up the food & gas used to cook it.

For those who want to view more shorebirds- head west (turn right past entry shack) and drive to end of beach, along the shore of the large inlet. Out there is very quiet, more isolated- and the birds are amazing when the tide is out.

(Hearing whale breathing is good from there also.)

But basically, I suppose you could dry camp anywhere so long as you don't enter the worker's area (east) or the federal/Mitsubishi saltworks areas to the north, which are well posted.

Quote: Originally posted by boe4fun  
There are also "overflow" palapas in the parking lot by the elevated latrines.

bajaguy - 2-19-2015 at 09:39 PM

Just stay at the whale center. Really don't think you can just camp anywhere out there except in the designated areas at the whale center. The property is either federal, Mitsubishi leased salt works and/or Ejido.

TLBaja79 - 2-19-2015 at 11:09 PM

Good info, we'll stop in at the Whale Center and or restaurant and get a feel for it once we are down there.

MICK - 2-20-2015 at 07:47 AM

Be there Sunday
Can't wait

BajaDanD - 2-20-2015 at 04:42 PM

We will be there on the 1st of March I have been going there for years and never seen the camp ground full even if it were to fill up its still pretty spread out not like the usual camp grounds north of the border where everyone is backed up to each other and crammed in to small campsites

shari - 2-20-2015 at 04:56 PM

I have a palapa saved for you Mick! Camping at the lagoon is excellent and very very safe with fantastic sunrises and sunsets and great food at the restaurant...come and see us at Palapa #2...ask for Shari at the gate!





this is the view from our camp...and where we swim


[Edited on 2-20-2015 by shari]

[Edited on 2-20-2015 by shari]

MICK - 2-20-2015 at 05:01 PM

Shari, Can we have campfires there?

Whale-ista - 2-20-2015 at 05:06 PM

yes, campfires are allowed- they have set up simple rocks around small firepits in front of the palapas for visitors to use.

no fires allowed elsewhere, I believe

wilderone - 2-22-2015 at 07:30 PM

Past the string of palapas (effective if the wind is blowing), the road continues, with several designated camping sites for another mile or so - most perched cliffside. Excellent exploring. IMO, this is some of the best Baja camping (even if it is a campground!).

BajaDanD - 2-23-2015 at 09:10 PM

Shari save a palapa for us if you can. we will be there Sunday Sent you a U2U We can bring you some goodies let me know what you'd like us to bring ya. Should be there around 4:00pm

tripledigitken - 2-23-2015 at 10:23 PM

This is our favorite camping location in Baja. Obviously whales, but birds solitude with a good restaurant thrown in.







[img]





and great sunsets!





[Edited on 2-24-2015 by tripledigitken]

Whale-ista - 2-23-2015 at 11:27 PM

^^yes!