I've been faced with the request of taking my friend to baja for a weekend camping trip to see what the fuss is about. She is tough and wants to
experience the freedom I talk about the place and wants to get away from people and be able to explore and camp.
Problem is I we only have weekends and I am not really familiar with remote cool places that close to the border to really enjoy a weekend instead of
driving for most of it.
Anyone have any ideas for a cool place doable for a weekend?
P.s. we are starting in sdehall - 5-31-2015 at 08:32 PM
Away from the people may be a mistake. The people of Baja are a big part of what makes Baja special.
Camping anywhere near Laguna Hanson would be close enough for a long weekend.David K - 5-31-2015 at 08:37 PM
Desert, mountains, beaches... take your choice. 3 days is the minimum so you have one non driving day to enjoy. You have 4WD?
[Edited on 6-1-2015 by David K]Ateo - 5-31-2015 at 10:23 PM
San Pedro Martir.bajabuddha - 6-1-2015 at 06:41 AM
Nothing is impossible, but I think you're pressing your luck on this one. Why not plan a simple tour of wine country; do Ensenada for a few hours and
head east on Hwy 3, find a nice B&B, head up into Laguna Hanson maybe for an overnighter in the pines, next day swing down to San Felipe and spend
the day IN THE CAR/truck enjoying the A/C and desert scenery, back up Hwy 5 to the border, maybe back to Sandy Eggo/Tecate via Mex 2, home.
Meantime, spend your summer planning ahead where you can have at least a full week (or three) to do it right. Otherwise, she won't see Baja, and you
probably won't see her again, either. Good luck. Slow down.
Hey Luke
captkw - 6-1-2015 at 06:48 AM
Go North and ck out cali. altaMMc - 6-1-2015 at 07:34 AM
I would drop into the area between Punta San Jose and Colonet. San dunes beach camping, tide pools, cliffs over the beach Bat Caves. That is a big
stretch of beach with plenty of diversity a bit remote too. I would go in Aug. Sept. OCT time frame. What area do you like to go to when you have more
time? Ateo - 6-1-2015 at 08:18 AM
Ateo, agree that the Parque Nacional Sierra de San Pedro Mártir is a wonderful place. Also cooler temperatures in summer.
It is not close to the border. To visit on a 2-day weekend, you'd spend most of your time driving.
I did it on a 2 day weekend and had a blast. We bailed after work Friday night, stayed in Ensenada, then drove the couple hours to the park Saturday
morning. Set up camp, hiked, saw the observatory, and came back Sunday after stopping by Baja Dark Skies Inn. Yeah, I guess that may be a tad busy
for some, but it worked for us. =)
Another idea: Punta Cabras area like Mmc says..............Alm - 6-1-2015 at 10:12 AM
What Captn said. Go North and check CA. Hook - 6-1-2015 at 10:30 AM
Laguna Hanson is a novelty if you are a seasoned Baja traveler, in that pines in Baja are a bit of a novelty. But it is not much different than
camping in the mtn's of SoCal, except that there will be fewer people than the mtns of SoCal. It's certainly less interesting than most places in the
Sierra Nevada mountains, IMO.
And San Pedro Martir is too far for a weekend.
I like MMc's suggestion. Somewhat remote beach camping. It might not be that warm during the day, right now, but it wont be cold at night. This is a
June gloom area, but your highs will be around 70.
It's hard to do unrestricted beach camping in the US, these days.Skipjack Joe - 6-1-2015 at 10:32 AM
For a weekend your best bet is to avoid hwy1 but instead drive the highway south of San Felipe. Anywhere along the coast as far as Gonzaga is all
prime camping areas.
[Edited on 6-1-2015 by Skipjack Joe]
Suggestion
bajaguy - 6-1-2015 at 10:44 AM
Luke
I applaud your efforts to share Baja with your friend. Although not much for camping, my suggestion mirrors Buddah's recommendation.
Take her for a weekend of exploring the outstanding wineries and restaurants of the Guadalupe Valley. A short drive from San Diego.
Head south along the coast, explore the Valley then cross back into the US at Tecate. Before you cross back into the US, take some time and explore
the Plaza in Tecate.
A short simple trip that will yield successful results and build a foundation for future trips.
If you need suggestions on wineries or restaurants, please let me know.
[Edited on 6-1-2015 by bajaguy]mtgoat666 - 6-1-2015 at 10:53 AM
SPM is great for a 3 day weekend, especially if you can drive part way the evening the weekend starts. bajabuddha - 6-1-2015 at 11:45 AM
....AND ANUUDAH T'ING....
If you're not very experienced driving Baja, DON'T drive after dark. If you are experienced, you'll know better anyway. Be safe, have fun, don't
rush things. soylent_green - 6-1-2015 at 01:56 PM
head south for fish tacos or a nice lunch in Ensenada
then continue 50 miles south to Erendira and stay at Coyote Cals Hostel http://www.coyotecals.com or beach camp 5 miles north at Long Beach. On way down, maybe stop at the Santo Tomas vinyard in Santo Tomas http://www.santo-tomas.com Erendira is around 3 hours (no stopping) south of the border / 140 miles
come back through Valle De Guadalupe for wine tasting, pizza at Ochentos http://www.ochentospizza.com and cross northbound in Tecate.
[Edited on 6-1-2015 by soylent_green]SFandH - 6-1-2015 at 02:06 PM
Above plan is a good one, but..................
As you probably know, the border northbound on a Sunday afternoon or evening has the longest wait times of the week. Maybe a couple of hours.
[Edited on 6-1-2015 by SFandH]
Exactly 2 hours from San Ysidro border
durrelllrobert - 6-1-2015 at 02:35 PM
and everything to make your lady friend a happy camper. Straight down MX 1 to Maneadero, turn right on road to La Buffadora and go about 6 miles.
head south for fish tacos or a nice lunch in Ensenada
then continue 50 miles south to Erendira and stay at Coyote Cals Hostel http://www.coyotecals.com or beach camp 5 miles north at Long Beach. On way down, maybe stop at the Santo Tomas vinyard in Santo Tomas http://www.santo-tomas.com Erendira is around 3 hours (no stopping) south of the border / 140 miles
come back through Valle De Guadalupe for wine tasting, pizza at Ochentos http://www.ochentospizza.com and cross northbound in Tecate.
[Edited on 6-1-2015 by soylent_green]
This is the area also known as Punta Cabras (mentioned earlier by others):
If you are not familiar with Baja locations, Santo Tomas (on the map above) is 30 miles south of Ensenada, or 100 miles south of the border (Tijuana
or Tecate). To access Erendira (paved side road), Coyote Cal's (just north of Erendira), or Punta Cabras (just north of Cal's), go 16.8 miles south of
Santo Tomas (small town, gas station, motel, campground 'El Palomar', mission ruins).
Here is a larger area map, note Santo Tomas in the lower left corner...
Marc - 6-2-2015 at 04:59 AM
Gonzaga Bay is about 4 hours from Mexicali. durrelllrobert - 6-2-2015 at 08:49 AM
Tell me you're not coming all the way from Lemoore for a weekend.... you'll be beat like a soapy d, uh, you'll be tired.
I'd vote for Villarino's just a few yards past La Jolla..... that way you could play a bit in Ensenada and still have a good time on the beach and
maybe dig for some hot water in the sand.
Villarino's is also nice but you can't camp on the beach because
of the wall between cit and the camp area and ony 2 small gates to get onto the beach.
Hot springs
bajaguy - 6-3-2015 at 01:41 PM
There is camping at the San Carlos hot springs, south of Ensenada
There is camping at the San Carlos hot springs, south of Ensenada
#1 San Carlos*
#2 Agua Caliente* (Ramírez)
#3 Marconi
#4 Uruapan*
#5 Punta Banda (low tide in sand)
#6 Cantu
#7 Rancho Gilberto
*= public facilities, other locations are natural, undeveloped, or limited bath sites.
Information on these hot spring locations available from Baja Nomad reports or this excellent 2004 guide:
Hook - 6-3-2015 at 04:51 PM
Lots of GREAT advice, but not one reply from the OP in four days.
I'd say she bailed. David K - 6-3-2015 at 05:49 PM
Hook, Luke obviously is not yet 'addicted' to Baja Nomad to get a daily 'fix'? I bet he shows up sooner or later!LukeJobbins - 6-3-2015 at 09:12 PM
Hey guys thanks for all the advice. I did move from Lemoore and now i'm back in SD. And yeah like David said not super addicted to the internet or
forums. Not to pee anyone off I just prefer being away from electronics as much as possible. Erendira to Punta Cabras sounds like a good idea. And
she said she wanted to camp so that's what i'm trying to find.
And if I had more time my go to spot in BOLA for summer fishing and The Wall for surfing in the winter. I'm definitely experienced in baja travel and
escape but there is way too much baja for me to even be close to an expert so that's why I came to you guys who collectively are the experts.bajabuddha - 6-3-2015 at 09:18 PM
Good choice, Luke. Hot springs in June/July? I don't friggin' think so. East beaches, Gonzaga? Suicide. You already have your answers, have a
safe trip, and if you get a chance, let us know if you scored... tacos, that is. Just remember, those 'close' weekend beaches have their own perils
to be aware of. Comprendes? Si, a juevo. Que tengen buen viaje.
bb
[Edited on 6-4-2015 by bajabuddha]
[Edited on 6-4-2015 by bajabuddha]JohnMcfrog - 6-4-2015 at 05:34 PM
Bueno Suerte! Even the bad trips turn out it your "good memory bank". It's getting warm for the trip to the eastside Sierra Juarez, where I would
otherwise recommend.JohnMcfrog - 6-4-2015 at 05:41 PM
David K - 6-5-2015 at 07:59 AM
Where is that photo John?wilderone - 6-5-2015 at 08:03 AM
From Santo Tomas you can drive into the mesas, and to the coast - camping on the bluffs. You can drive along the coast south to Erindira to return
home. Dinner at Santo Tomas. A day at the beach at Punta Cabras. The turnoff in town is behind a white store just as you're getting out of town,
and the road immediately winds uphill. A nice dose of Baja. I've done this in the dark twice - roads cross-cross - just keep heading southwest.JohnMcfrog - 6-5-2015 at 11:37 AM
David.. The above photo was at Canyon Tajo. Have been there over 20 times. It is a wild and beautiful canyon that leads up to an El Capitan type
monolith. David K - 6-5-2015 at 12:53 PM
David.. The above photo was at Canyon Tajo. Have been there over 20 times. It is a wild and beautiful canyon that leads up to an El Capitan type
monolith.
Very cool. Driven by many times but not into the canyon. See Nomad 'jide' in Tajo a few years ago: http://vivabaja.com/jidebasautter - 6-6-2015 at 05:23 PM
San Juanico if you have 5+ days. Gonzaga Bay otherwise.
