BajaNomad

Beach Camping Puertecitos to Gonzaga Bay

pacard17 - 10-7-2021 at 08:42 PM

Hello!

Just found this site today. I'm heading out on my first baja trip. My plan is to spend a night or 2 in the San Felipe area. If I could find a great beach to camp not too far from town (within 30mi?), I'd stay longer ....be extremely grateful. ;-) Fewer people the better.

Absent finding some good beach camping in the SF area, we were planning to head down to the Gonzaga Bay area. Started wondering if there might be some good desolate beaches between GB and maybe Puertecitos that any could suggest?

We'll be towing a very capable offroad trailer and have a winch and land anchor...that i'd love to avoid using lol.

Much appreciated!

David K - 10-8-2021 at 05:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacard17  
Hello!

Just found this site today. I'm heading out on my first baja trip. My plan is to spend a night or 2 in the San Felipe area. If I could find a great beach to camp not too far from town (within 30mi?), I'd stay longer ....be extremely grateful. ;-) Fewer people the better.

Absent finding some good beach camping in the SF area, we were planning to head down to the Gonzaga Bay area. Started wondering if there might be some good desolate beaches between GB and maybe Puertecitos that any could suggest?

We'll be towing a very capable offroad trailer and have a winch and land anchor...that i'd love to avoid using lol.

Much appreciated!


Welcome to Baja Nomad!

Do you need services, palapas, toilets or showers? Rancho Percebu, just past Km. 20 south of San Felipe.

Do you seek an empty beach with nothing but sand and sea shells? Shell Island Km. 26 (the north end of this barrier island is opposite Rancho Percebu). You must have 4WD and a tire pump (to refill after the sand driving). During the highest lunar tides, you may not access the island.

See my Trip #1 Report for more options south of San Felipe and my Trip #3 Report for campos north of San Felipe...

Trip #1: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-baja-expedition-1-e...

Trip #3: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-baja-expedition-3-m...

All my Baja Bound Guide Recon Trips: http://www.vivabaja.com/Tacoma_Travels/

[Edited on 10-8-2021 by David K]

advrider - 10-8-2021 at 07:45 AM

pacard17, can you post some pictures of your trailer set up? Very interested. David will set you straight on some of the good areas.

Many campos in the Gonzaga to try. Punta Final, campo beluga and others will be covered above.

[Edited on 10-8-2021 by advrider]

What is your target date?

AKgringo - 10-8-2021 at 08:33 AM

Avoiding crowds depends a lot on avoiding holidays. Mexico has quite a few national holidays that you would not be aware of, for instance, in mid November there is Revolution day.

I wound up in the area you are asking about, thinking that Thanksgiving would be no big deal in Baja, but Revolution day packed the beaches. When you know when you are going, check for Mexico holidays.

I have sometimes found "out of the way" campsites using IFA (I follow arroyos). That method frequently winds up with dead ends, or challenging trails, but sometimes I hit the jackpot!

willardguy - 10-8-2021 at 02:04 PM

beach camping at papa fernandez might be a good fit, often deserted

pacard17 - 10-8-2021 at 03:33 PM

Thanks for the tips, all. Actually marked a waypoint for shell island earlier today. Dont need any services. Dont see a way to upload pics ut i have a black series dominator that ive upgraded a ton. Bought used. Paid less than half what theyre going for a yr before covid. Scored! Love it! A bit heavy for the 4runner up steep grades but otherwise tows like a dream even at interstate hwy speeds (which wont be happening in baja lol).

Thanks again!

pacard17 - 10-8-2021 at 03:36 PM

Leaving next friday, 10/15.
...and I'll be bringing a compressor to reinflate tires.

[Edited on 10-8-2021 by pacard17]

John Harper - 10-8-2021 at 03:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacard17  
Leaving next friday, 10/15.
...and I'll be bringing a compressor to reinflate tires.


Buy yourself a tire plug kit too! Have a wonderful trip!

John

AKgringo - 10-8-2021 at 04:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by pacard17  
Leaving next friday, 10/15.
...and I'll be bringing a compressor to reinflate tires.


Buy yourself a tire plug kit too! Have a wonderful trip!

John


I also carry an inner tube, just in case I get a cut or multiple punctures that can't be patched. There are tire repair shops everywhere, but you would be very lucky to find a replacement tire (or tube} at most of them.

A boot, with a tube gives you some time and miles to find a matching tire.

This info is in the Photo & Video Gallery forum, top post.

David K - 10-8-2021 at 05:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacard17  
Thanks for the tips, all. Actually marked a waypoint for shell island earlier today. Dont need any services. Dont see a way to upload pics ut i have a black series dominator that ive upgraded a ton. Bought used.

Thanks again!


Here are the EZ steps to upload oversized photos onto your posts:

To post photos from your Pictures folder on your computer...

1) Go to www.Postimages.org, make an album if you want to organize your photos to find them easily in the future (by date or by subject). No cost to use Postimages.org.

2) Change the upload setting from "Do not resize my image" to 640x480 (recommended for forums) or 800x600 (max. on Nomad). You click on the little arrow to see the size choices.

3) Click "Choose images" and select the photos you want to put on Nomad from your Pictures folder.

4) Click on the image you want on Nomad and click on "Share" at the top of the screen.

5) Choose "Hotlinks for forums" (down next to the last one). You can click the little box at the right end of the link and it is now saved on your mouse.

6) Go to Nomad and paste that link onto the place where you are typing on Nomad. You can put text in below the photo for a caption or your post and if you double space between photo links (for clarity), you can put several photos and captions in a single post on Nomad. You can click "Preview" on Nomad to check and see how it will look before posting to the board.

If you need to fix a post after it is done, click on "Edit" along the edge of your post, and change or delete your post. If you edit more than once, you can delete the previous Edited on tags so only one edit tag will appear after you edit the post.
==============================================================

If you have photos that are under 342kb, you can directly attach them by using the 'Choose File' button, below where you type in messages.

If you want to add photos already hosted on another website, use the
(insert an image) button.
If a photo is wider that 800 pixels and stretches the image wider than the Nomad page, simply add (after the [IMG] tag) =800x with no spacing. Looks like [IMG=800x ] without a space.



[Edited on 10-9-2021 by David K]

John Harper - 10-8-2021 at 05:31 PM

I know nothing about towing trailers offroad. But, lowering air pressure might be required. Make sure your compressor hose can reach the tires on your trailer!

I realized I may have to help someone off road (I have, a few times) so I got an extended cord for my compressor. A lithium starter and jumper cables too, you never know what might fit the bill. But, it's cheap insurance to carry it all.

John


[Edited on 10-9-2021 by John Harper]

advrider - 10-8-2021 at 08:17 PM

Here is a picture of our new Kimberly Karavan, unfortunately we got hit our first trip out, the tow vehicle not trailer. Trailer was still damaged but hope to get it rolling again.





Not what you want to see on your first outing....




Black series trailers are cool as well. Do air down on the wash boards and rocky roads, its a big help.

[Edited on 10-9-2021 by advrider]

WestyWanderer - 10-8-2021 at 09:14 PM

Pacard, are you looking to camp for free on the beach or are you ok with paying for a spot in a campo (anywhere from $10-27USD/night)?

John Harper - 10-9-2021 at 04:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Here is a picture of our new Kimberly Karavan, unfortunately we got hit our first trip out, the tow vehicle not trailer. Trailer was still damaged but hope to get it rolling again.


Black series trailers are cool as well. Do air down on the wash boards and rocky roads, its a big help.



I'm sorry to hear that. What a bummer.

John

pacard17 - 10-9-2021 at 06:44 AM

Wow! Thanks for all the sharing!

John, yup, i carry a tire repair kit, 2 spare tires that are now interchangable betw truck/trailer (265/75/16 ko2 load class E) as well as a bottle of green slime. Also have traction boards. Yes, air compressor is a M240 easily reaches all tires except the spare on the rear of the trailer. Have aired diwn and back up many times at this point. Also carry a fully charged noco genius jump starter (rather small device i really like. Can fit under a seat. Multiple jumps in one charge) as well as cables.

David, thanks for the tutorial!

Advrider, that BLOWS! One of the many things i love about my manual '98 4Runner (orig owner) is its comparitively narrow stance. Sounds like I'll appreciate it that a fair amt in baja. The trailer is another story being 6'wide. But im pretty competent threading needles with it and have been around trailers since i was 16.

Westy, i wouldnt mind paying if the beach was nice. But trying to avoid listening to others generators, atv's at all hours, loud groups or screaming kids. The last time i xamped around people in a formal campground was '94. Geeze, just realized that was a long time ago. We did a national parks tour out west. Incredible experience. But otherwise, i camp for the peace. Im starting to sound like an old fart lol! Only 51. But nature isnt so well, natural with a ton of noise/people 10yds away.

Regards,
P

David K - 10-9-2021 at 08:22 AM

The next beach camp south, after Percebu and Shell Island, is Nuevo Mazatlán (Km. 32). This is a campground with hundreds of tall shade trees (salt cedars). The beach is sand and big. Private homes now hug the coast to the north and south, but before there were any, there was Nuevo Mazatlán. Last time I camped there (2015) the charge was $20. They have flush toilets and (unheated) showers. The owner is Javier and they have a Facebook page (as do most places in Baja).



Nuevo Mazatlán in 2017:




In 2015:


We laid out the shells we found on Shell Island the week before on our way south to Bahía Concepción, when we repacked at Nuevo Mazatlán, on our way home:


Here is my article about the history of Nuevo Mazatlán (originally called Agua de Chale): https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/remember...

Puertecitos to Gonzaga desolate camping?

David K - 10-9-2021 at 08:37 AM



2017 Trip #1 photos:

Not a nice beach other than the view of the island, El Huerfanito.








El Faro is the last beach access before Gonzaga Bay.


================================================================
Papa Fernandez' Camping:



The beach camp at Papa Fernandez' is over the hill from the resort, behind a gate (for security). The food at Papa's is great and cheap, too.




More campo photos or info upon request.

PaulW - 10-9-2021 at 08:40 AM

Do you discount Punta Estrella for beach camping?

WestyWanderer - 10-9-2021 at 08:51 AM

Pacard

Nuevo Mazatlan is really nice and not too far from San Felipe but can get busy. The further south you go toward Gonzaga the less populated the campgrounds are. Puertecitos has a few nice campgrounds, Octavios is on the north end as you enter town and is much less popular than the main campground on the bay. The main campground (Clara’s) mid week it’s usually pretty empty, it fills up on the weekend. It’s pricy at $27 a night but that includes water at your campsite, showers and toilets, a nice sandy beach, and unlimited access to the hot springs. South of Puertecitos at campo La Costilla (KM 84.5) camping is $10 a night and it will be very quiet, it’s also on a nice bay but services are limited to a very old outhouse. Not sure when you’re headed south, but at Campo Christina (KM 84) there is a restaurant that should be open Saturday and Sunday, she usually opens around mid October.

There are a few places you can pull off and camp for free, both close to the highway and further away, depending on how much off roading you want to do.

David K - 10-9-2021 at 08:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Do you discount Punta Estrella for beach camping?


Only because of the ridiculous price they charge, but it is on my map. Here are the photos I took (New Years week 2017):




David K - 10-9-2021 at 09:05 AM

Quote: Originally posted by WestyWanderer  
Pacard

Puertecitos has a few nice campgrounds, Octavios is on the north end as you enter town and is much less popular than the main campground on the bay. The main campground (Clara’s) mid week it’s usually pretty empty, it fills up on the weekend. It’s pricy at $27 a night but that includes water at your campsite, showers and toilets, a nice sandy beach, and unlimited access to the hot springs.






Clara's (in Puertecitos on the cove):





Hot springs (when the tide is right) sulfur water mixes with sea water, on the left side of the point that makes the cove, before the boat launch ramp:





David K - 10-9-2021 at 09:11 AM

Quote: Originally posted by WestyWanderer  
South of Puertecitos at campo La Costilla (KM 84.5) camping is $10 a night and it will be very quiet, it’s also on a nice bay but services are limited to a very old outhouse. Not sure when you’re headed south, but at Campo Christina (KM 84) there is a restaurant that should be open Saturday and Sunday, she usually opens around mid October.

There are a few places you can pull off and camp for free, both close to the highway and further away, depending on how much off roading you want to do.


Bahía Cristina (Km. 83):


La Costilla (Km. 84.5):

Photo taken from view parking at Km. 84.

Skipjack Joe - 10-9-2021 at 11:14 AM

I had a scary experience on a desolate beach near Huefernitos last year. It happened at night. I would recommend going to a campground. My Mexican neighbors had all warned me against isolated camping in that area as well due to drug trafficking. Peace of mind is important during a Baja experience.

pacard17 - 10-9-2021 at 01:17 PM

Thanks for the pics and insights! Getting pumped to head outa

bajaric - 10-10-2021 at 11:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe  
I had a scary experience on a desolate beach near Huefernitos last year. It happened at night. I would recommend going to a campground. My Mexican neighbors had all warned me against isolated camping in that area as well due to drug trafficking. Peace of mind is important during a Baja experience.


What happened? If you care to share.
I have been also been advised against remote beach camping in the general area between Huerfanito and Gonzaga, because of the chance of being spotted by bad guys in boats who might target a solitary camper. It seems that some remote landings are known as places where smugglers load/unload boats with contraband, though where the contraband is coming from and where it is going is a mystery to me. The goal is to bypass the checkpoints on the highways when going north, I suppose. The same activity occurs at some of the remote landings on the Pacific side, so they say.

That brings up a point about safely camping in remote areas. Its best to avoid remote landings at that general latitude, as well as the roads that go to them. Better to be up on a cliff where there is no place to land a boat, and get away from the main roads that lead to such landings.

Skipjack Joe - 10-10-2021 at 01:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaric  
Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe  
I had a scary experience on a desolate beach near Huefernitos last year. It happened at night. I would recommend going to a campground. My Mexican neighbors had all warned me against isolated camping in that area as well due to drug trafficking. Peace of mind is important during a Baja experience.


What happened? If you care to share.
I have been also been advised against remote beach camping in the general area between Huerfanito and Gonzaga, because of the chance of being spotted by bad guys in boats who might target a solitary camper. It seems that some remote landings are known as places where smugglers load/unload boats with contraband, though where the contraband is coming from and where it is going is a mystery to me. The goal is to bypass the checkpoints on the highways when going north, I suppose. The same activity occurs at some of the remote landings on the Pacific side, so they say.

That brings up a point about safely camping in remote areas. Its best to avoid remote landings at that general latitude, as well as the roads that go to them. Better to be up on a cliff where there is no place to land a boat, and get away from the main roads that lead to such landings.



Just north of Huefernito there is a bridge with a dirt road leading under the bridge to what looked like an attractive little cove. I camped there with the intention of catching the early light to photograph those red cliffs that drop down to the blue water. I drove around the corner along the beach to where my truck could not be seen from the highway. I had put up the top and was cooking a late dinner around 11pm when I heard the sound of a vehicle. I looked out the back door and saw a vehicle driving towards me without it's headlights on in pitch black darkness. I froze, expecting the worst. It came right at me and passed my truck within 5 feet of it and drove on maybe another 50 feet. By then a panga had come in to where they were. It was dead calm in there. The panga also came in with no lights on. There was an interchange going on between the panga and the 4wd but I couldn't see what it was and I didn't want to look as though I was looking. I dropped my top and without turning on my headlights I drove backwards on the sand until I found a spot to turn. Then I kept driving up to the highway without my headlights on. It was only on the highway that I started to feel some measure of safety. I turned on my lights and headed with haste to Gonzaga where I spent the night in the parking lot by the market.

In years past this would not have been a big deal. But the fact that everything I witnessed was done in total darkness made me pretty sure these were not people who welcomed my company. Having read some of the stories here I fully expected gunfire and robbery in my direction. But that was not their intent. I also worried that they might do me violence for being a witness. The kitchen knife I held in my hand seemed pitiful at the time in light of what they likely had. Anyway, it was unnerving. But it's over and now I wonder how close I had come to .... you know.

[Edited on 10-10-2021 by Skipjack Joe]

A similar, but les stressful encounter

AKgringo - 10-10-2021 at 02:45 PM

Just before dusk, I was on hwy 1 just north of Puerto Escondido. As I sometimes do, I drove down an arroyo to a beach (Rattlesnake?) looking for a place for my dog and I to spend the night.

After I got myself set up in a brushy area, I discovered that I wasn't alone! A young Mexican man, and a young Gringo lady had a small tent, kind of hidden in the brush not too far from me.

They were pleasant, but not overly thrilled to have company, so I gave them as much space as I could, without packing up and leaving.

Shortly after dark, I heard an outboard heading our way. No lights on the panga, no lights or campfire on shore, but the panga cruised right up in front of their camp, and they both jumped in.

Nothing was unloaded from the boat, then or when he brought them back many hours later! All that makes sense to me, is that they were out fishing in the dark for some species that was illegal, or out of season!

What do you think?

geoffff - 10-11-2021 at 09:59 PM

I experienced an uncomfortable hour at about 11pm on Percebu (aka Shell Island) camping all alone on the beach listening to a panga putter around with no lights. I hoped they were just doing some illegal fishing.

David K - 10-12-2021 at 08:29 AM

Fishermen working the waters in the dark is normal but not common. They see by moonlight or starlight. It is easier to make out the coastline if the glare of boat lights isn't blinding them. In all the times I have camped on Shell Island (since 1978), I never experienced fear or saw any obvious illegal activity. Hope that puts you more at ease.

pacard17 - 10-12-2021 at 08:32 AM

Thanks David. Appreciate hearing that. The thread morphed a bit.

David K - 10-12-2021 at 11:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacard17  
Thanks David. Appreciate hearing that. The thread morphed a bit.


Please only travel to places you are comfortable with. I am more relaxed because Baja has been my special place since I was a kid in the 60s. We took a short break from Mexico when the cartel in Tijuana killed a friend's relative in 2006 and of course in 2020+ for Covid.

I was freaked one evening in 2017, traveling alone, when I thought I was miles from another human on a beach (near Punta San Francisquito on Bahia San Rafael). All of a sudden a truck drives by on the beach! Where did he come from, I wondered? A bit later, he drove back past me again... I was not on the beach but in a little sand gully off the beach. I am sure he saw my campfire. The only thing I imagined was a drug runner... but on his return, I saw several fishing poles. I had an inReach and was letting my Nomad friends know where I was in case that was my last day! LOL

I can't say enough good things about the inReach! Shows everyone you want where you are, let's you exchange short text messages and emails, and gives you a moving map as you drive (mates with your smart phone for a bigger screen and keyboard for texting).

Nomad 'rob' at Playas Pacificas took a photo of me holding the two:

pacard17 - 10-12-2021 at 11:59 AM

I have a global beacon if necessary. Once youve backpacked the jungles of jamaica, you tend to feel comfortable...in uncomfortable situations 😉

willardguy - 10-12-2021 at 12:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Fishermen working the waters in the dark is normal but not common. They see by moonlight or starlight. It is easier to make out the coastline if the glare of boat lights isn't blinding them. In all the times I have camped on Shell Island (since 1978), I never experienced fear or saw any obvious illegal activity. Hope that puts you more at ease.


thats ridiculous, the fish camp in gonzaga bay is dormant all day long until the sun goes down then the small city comes to life, panga's shuffle in and out all night long until day break

David K - 10-12-2021 at 12:52 PM

Read again... I said it was normal.
'geoffff' was at Shell Island (not Gonzaga Bay) and there, it is not common to hear pangas in the dark, but I have heard them. Sometimes with a nav light and sometimes not. Most of the times I have camped there, we see or hear no boats, except during the shrimp season.

advrider - 10-12-2021 at 05:08 PM

I've been told that a lot of the guns that cross over to the mainland do so from Baja and the sea of Cortez coat line? True or not I don't know but it is not a long run even in a Panga?

Skipjack Joe - 10-12-2021 at 06:18 PM

I have come to the conclusion that you are safer camping a bit more inland in that area than right on the beach. Trouble is that camping on the beach is really the whole point of camping in that area. Inland camping just isn't the same experience.

bajaric - 10-14-2021 at 08:51 AM

To be honest, I really don't know if remote beach camping south of Huerfanito is unsafe, or safe. The context of the warning that I heard was from a resident in a local campo, who said that he was more worried about thieves arriving from the sea than from land, and this was 5 years ago. I really don't know if the beaches are used by smugglers, or not.

I will say this, many open (non paid campsite) beaches in the area where it is possible to launch a panga are occupied by seasonal fish camps, with accompanying issues of flies, fish smells, etc. So maybe best to stay in a paid campo, or if remote camping pick a beach where you cannot launch a panga due to access issues (soft sand) or lack of boat launching opportunities. Unless you like fish camps.

With the new highway, the area is getting more visitors from Mexicali and other parts of Baja. Was there last week and traffic on the highway has increased a lot, meaning it went from almost no traffic to a little. Enjoy your trip!