BajaNomad

1st timer, east cape

Mar de Cortés - 11-8-2015 at 10:13 AM

Greetings and good weekend to all, many thanks for all of the posts/info here, -very helpful !

so...I'm making my 1st trip to Baja (from Montana where we have 5 inches of snow and mornings temps around 15 (farenheit) :O

I arrive November 13 and my plan is to spend the winter around east cape. Suggestions on doing so 'on a budget', good camping locations/beaches with public showers, etc would be much welcomed !

on top of my list are:

getting from Cabo SJD to Los Barilles without the cost/hassle of getting a rental car, find small secure storage for luggage, beach camping & fishing, kayak-small boat/ATV rental....and maybe meeting new friends (who have a BBQ) :biggrin:

Brian

Hola

captkw - 11-8-2015 at 10:23 AM

Welcome Brian... Well,,the east cape is no longer camper friendly,,lots of fence's and guard's..SUCK'S...If you look very,very hard you might find a spot or two, but no showers or fresh water..You might want try the very south end of cabo pumo or Los frallies or KM 85 near zacatitos..wish ya luck !! K's of beaches but no access !!The days of friendly beach camper the east cape are a fading mem..........

Mar de Cortés - 11-8-2015 at 10:31 AM

Hola, thanks Capt. I had the idea public beaches may be becoming few & far and figure I will have to rent a room 1-3 nites per week, maybe by the month. Cabo Pulmo is on the top of my list with the diving center and eco bungalo business, I will look further into Bahia Frailes. saludos!

surfhat - 11-8-2015 at 12:59 PM

Mostly true, but a good number of the arroyos along the east cape have a number of small shade palapas installed by the government that are free to camp by and under, if you can be self sufficient. These are in the protected government zone and free for anyone to use as long as they don't expect any facilities to be provided with them. Even a little shade is greatly appreciated wherever one can find it along that stretch from SJ to Pulmo and beyond. Free camping is abundant in every arroyo zone that hasn't been privatized and I don't think any would be able to be zoned private. There may be a few exceptions but generally the arroyos are for the public access to remain open in perpetuity. Happy trails.

BajaBlanca - 11-8-2015 at 01:04 PM

I think it will be difficult to be in the east cape without a vehicle - quads are available for rent -

you can bus down from Tijuana, that is easy enough. Not sure how you would take it from there. Best of luck !

RnR - 11-8-2015 at 01:17 PM

Head farther north to La Ventana.

There is a big public campground beachfront on the bay. Flush toilets, unheated (but not too cold) showers, restaurants/bars within walking distance. Less than $10/day. Prices vary depending on location within the campground. The front two rows are already filled for the season with snowbirds but there are two+ more rows. Lodging/rooms nearby.

Udo - 11-8-2015 at 10:04 PM

I could be wrong, but I think the bus fare to Cabo from TJ is about $300+ USD. It would be cheaper to fly to Cabo from TJ and rent something in Cabo. Do a search on Nomads...there are lots of links on Cabo car rentals.
Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca  
I think it will be difficult to be in the east cape without a vehicle - quads are available for rent -

you can bus down from Tijuana, that is easy enough. Not sure how you would take it from there. Best of luck !

windgrrl - 11-9-2015 at 06:27 AM

Be careful on the roads today!

Check the Baja Pony Express BBB for shared rides offerings to and from the airport.

Sports gear rentals are through Vela at the Playa deal Sol and Palmas de Cortez, but try advertising on the BPE for a better deal.

For camping, head to the second arroyo/north beach and find lots of folks camping in all kinds arrangements. People camp anywhere on the beach there, but be ware of the busy-ness. Near town and ever increasing quad interstate on the beach.

You can make your own shelter set up at north beach for free. You'll be amazed at the ingenuity of some places. It's pretty rustic, and a bit of a hike from town,but you'll be on the beach. Verdugo's Is another option you might explore. The tenting area is nice enough and has showers and pay laundry. There are no public showers that I know of.

tiotomasbcs - 11-9-2015 at 11:05 AM

Best option, in my opinion. Come down and rent a car for a week. Rent a cheap hotel room out on the hwy in Los Barriles. Then do some exploring and looking around. Might find a spot? Rancho Trinidad in La Ribera is seldom mentioned but nice! Make friends at Tio's Happy Hour. And then return the rental and have your new girlfriend bring you back to your new Paradise. Suerte. Tio

BajaBlanca - 11-9-2015 at 03:09 PM

Rancho Trinidad is indeed rarely mentioned and looks like an awesome place!

trinadad

captkw - 11-9-2015 at 05:44 PM

Myself found the gringo that runs the place is real jerk !! But,thats just my thought..

Floatflyer - 11-9-2015 at 09:12 PM

Boy, you got some huevos calling Mike a jerk! After many years of eating there, and knowing many of his customers, he has a very strong following in the area. He has also been the general contractor of many high end houses from Rancho Leonero and I have never heard a complaint about his abilities.

bajafreaks - 11-12-2015 at 05:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Floatflyer  
Boy, you got some huevos calling Mike a jerk! After many years of eating there, and knowing many of his customers, he has a very strong following in the area. He has also been the general contractor of many high end houses from Rancho Leonero and I have never heard a complaint about his abilities.


I agree, stopped in to Mikes place a few weeks ago while we were in L.B. talked it up a little had a Margarita he was friendly as ever. Only one person staying at the park did look pretty desolate.

Bajahowodd - 11-12-2015 at 05:57 PM

Quote: Originally posted by tiotomasbcs  
Best option, in my opinion. Come down and rent a car for a week. Rent a cheap hotel room out on the hwy in Los Barriles. Then do some exploring and looking around. Might find a spot? Rancho Trinidad in La Ribera is seldom mentioned but nice! Make friends at Tio's Happy Hour. And then return the rental and have your new girlfriend bring you back to your new Paradise. Suerte. Tio


I totally agree. You really do need to rent a car at the airport just to navigate around the LB area.