Hey everyone, A few years back (August) we beach camped at the north end of LA Bay. The Jeffe lady brought a 55 gallon drum of fresh water for
rinsing, we camped on the water and had a great time fishing and snorkeling with the Whale sharks. We are thinking of coming down the 2nd week of Oct
and hoping for a re-run of a few years ago.
Do they still allow beach camping down there? is that the time of year for whale sharks and fishing?
Is there anything else to be concerned about? Can I still get gas in town?
Thanks in advance. steveDavid K - 8-23-2018 at 08:51 PM
There are many camps north from town plus La Gringa with both sand and stone beaches.
I really liked Camp Archelon which has palapas with cots, hot showers, and flush toilets. There are two gas stations along the highway coming into
town. There have been two murders of Americans who had a beach home south of town over a boat theft in the past year. Very sad.
AKgringo - 8-23-2018 at 09:13 PM
The coyotes around there are not really aggressive, but they are bold enough to raid your camp if they get a chance!
If you camp with a dog, I would recommend keeping it close and under control.steve5555 - 8-23-2018 at 09:34 PM
I should clarify. we don't want a campground. we like more the open beach, pick a spot and set up our 4WD compound of shade and cots. I wonder if
it was La Gringa we went to last time... Certainly had a lady running the show- of open camping. steve5555 - 8-24-2018 at 06:15 AM
Did they ever make progress to catching the murderers? Thanks for the advice on the coyotes. We do have a 55 pound dog so we will keep an eye on
things. steveDavid K - 8-24-2018 at 06:58 AM
There is open camping at La Gringa and there is the sand beach at the far south end of the bay where it curves from south to east. Also, a few rocky
beach places are north of La Gringa, including the abandoned Campo Colorado at the north end of the road north from La Gringa (photos of these places
are in my 2017 Trip #1 post on the Nomad Trip Reports Forum.
South end of bay:
North end, La Gringa sand beach:
La Gringa gravel beach, bay side:
La Gringa rock beach, gulf side:
North of La Gringa, former Campo Colorado:
[Edited on 8-24-2018 by David K]shari - 8-24-2018 at 08:06 AM
I like camping where the road ends out there as there are fewer stingrays on that gravel/stone beach....anywhere else there are nasty stingrays to
watch out for. Ask the locals where the whale sharks are...check out Ricardo's Dive Shop for info and cool stuff...he's my cousin and a super nice guy
and does whale shark tours and research.....have fun!..watch your stuff!David K - 8-24-2018 at 09:05 AM
I like camping where the road ends out there as there are fewer stingrays on that gravel/stone beach....anywhere else there are nasty stingrays to
watch out for. Ask the locals where the whale sharks are...check out Ricardo's Dive Shop for info and cool stuff...he's my cousin and a super nice guy
and does whale shark tours and research.....have fun!..watch your stuff!
April (Spring Break) is indeed heavy with stingrays on the south, sandy beach! It is their mating season, according to Doc at Camp Gecko. Other times
of the year, I have not seen them as heavy. More L.A. Bay Nomads can advise. Put on reef walkers and do the stingray shuffle in the sand.
bajamary1952 - 8-24-2018 at 12:44 PM
I second David...I like Campo Archelon. Felt safe being there with my dog. They have choice of palapas or AirBnB accommodations. I'm going there in
November (supposedly best time to see whale sharks).steve5555 - 8-24-2018 at 01:31 PM
this is a picture from our last trip. Is it La Gringa?
steve5555 - 8-24-2018 at 01:32 PM
another at high tide
David K - 8-24-2018 at 03:27 PM
Yes, La Gringa sand beach. Perfect solution at high tide! A good thing you moved you cots up more!steve5555 - 8-24-2018 at 05:50 PM
Thanks for all the great info! Thanks Dave for the catalog of cogent pictures!
steveDavid K - 8-24-2018 at 07:15 PM
Have fun times Steve!advrider - 8-24-2018 at 08:08 PM
I checked out La Gringa this year on my moto and I will be back there to camp for sure. I picked up a local gal on the way out there thinking I was
taking her home but we rode around for an hour and dropped her of in town, it was kinda weird! My Spanish isn't that good but she seemed to speaking a
different form of Spanish/Indian dialect? steve5555 - 8-25-2018 at 09:21 AM
I like camping where the road ends out there as there are fewer stingrays on that gravel/stone beach....anywhere else there are nasty stingrays to
watch out for. Ask the locals where the whale sharks are...check out Ricardo's Dive Shop for info and cool stuff...he's my cousin and a super nice guy
and does whale shark tours and research.....have fun!..watch your stuff!
Thanks Shari!woody with a view - 8-25-2018 at 10:29 AM
I checked out La Gringa this year on my moto and I will be back there to camp for sure. I picked up a local gal on the way out there thinking I was
taking her home but we rode around for an hour and dropped her of in town, it was kinda weird! My Spanish isn't that good but she seemed to speaking a
different form of Spanish/Indian dialect?
I really liked Camp Archelon which has palapas with cots, hot showers, and flush toilets. There are two gas stations along the highway coming into
town. There have been two murders of Americans who had a beach home south of town over a boat theft in the past year.
3 murders of Americans. The 3rd one was Chuck from the place North of military base. And 1 murder of a fisherman from San Felipe last week, stabbed
and died next day.
Agreed on Archelon. After beach camping near Gringa this is as close to wilderness camping as it can be, only with plenty of comfort. Palapas on the
beach, cots, showers and toilets. Young Antonio and his mother Betty are in charge now, both speak fluent English. $8/pp.white whale - 9-17-2018 at 03:12 PM
steve 5555 - that is a slick setup. Can you advise, how far did you dig in the posts. and what length of rebar (assume) is required to keep the lines
taut.
Way better setup than a cheapy Walmart popup canopy.
La Bay was one of my favorite places, I only ventured to the rocky beach north and the mining remnants beach south of town a bit. A 2 day taster. What
is the drive time from town to this La Gringa location?
woody with a view - 9-17-2018 at 05:56 PM
2 beers. advrider - 9-18-2018 at 06:28 PM
A few pictures of La Gringa from this year. Sorry most of my pic's have bikes in them.
shortbus4x4 - 9-23-2018 at 01:00 PM
Pics look better with bikes in them.steve5555 - 9-27-2018 at 04:27 PM
Great Pics, thanks! We are leaving SD on 5 or 6 Oct. Keeping an eye on the rain forecast.
steveDavid K - 9-27-2018 at 05:38 PM
Nice photos at La Gringa! Nice bike, too!advrider - 9-27-2018 at 06:09 PM
Thanks everyone, can't say enough about KTM'S! Hope to get back to La Gringa with the wife for some camping... steve5555 - 10-20-2018 at 09:50 AM
Hey thanks everyone for the travel advice. We got back a few days ago and overall had a great trip. The weather was unsettled so we had some days of
wind and rain. Also had some days where we could boat and swim. We camped at La Gringa, found whale sharks in the south end of the bay, and the
fishing was not outrageous but not bad either. All in all a great trip.
I was surprised to find that the camping was free this time around. Daily garbage pick up too.
For the first time in 30 years to Baja I was involved in a local cop trying to shake me down for a trumped up traffic stop. Early in the morning, two
blocks into Tecate I got pulled over for running a red light. The cop wanted me to pay him directly; I insisted on the police station with a written
ticket; outside the police station he again asked me to pay him directly; I insisted we go inside the station; after some himhawing back and forth; he
told me to have a nice day and I could go. Wasted 25 minutes but gave me a good story. :-)
Thanks again and safe travels to you all!
stevesteve5555 - 10-20-2018 at 09:52 AM
a quick 3 minute drone video if you have any bandwidth.
