BajaNomad - Overnight Excursions from San Felipe

Overnight Excursions from San Felipe

StephandBlake - 11-5-2022 at 12:49 PM

Hello. We are newbies to Baja and are planning to spend 4 to 6 weeks this winter in San Felipe. We will be bringing down our Toyota FJ (it's similar to a Jeep) so we can get off the beaten path. We enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, and off-roading in CO/AZ/UT and like remote areas. We're wanting to gain an understanding of interesting places to visit on 2- or possibly 3-day-long trips out of San Felipe. We don't know if we should bring minimal camping gear and sleep in a tent or in the FJ. We also don't know what the "rules" are for camping on the beach or in canyons and certainly don't know about land ownership on Baja. Perhaps it would be easier to stay in small hotels, especially since we are new to the area, if they are available at the recommended destinations. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks.

David K - 11-5-2022 at 02:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by StephandBlake

Hello. We are newbies to Baja and are planning to spend 4 to 6 weeks this winter in San Felipe. We will be bringing down our Toyota FJ (it's similar to a Jeep) so we can get off the beaten path. We enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, and off-roading in CO/AZ/UT and like remote areas. We're wanting to gain an understanding of interesting places to visit on 2- or possibly 3-day-long trips out of San Felipe. We don't know if we should bring minimal camping gear and sleep in a tent or in the FJ. We also don't know what the "rules" are for camping on the beach or in canyons and certainly don't know about land ownership on Baja. Perhaps it would be easier to stay in small hotels, especially since we are new to the area, if they are available at the recommended destinations. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks.

That area of Baja has been of special interest to me and my family since the 1960s. My love for drawing maps came from our camping trips south of San Felipe. Once I could ride a mini bike, I began exploring the dirt roads, while my dad fished.

Once I was driving, I went inland to explore the arroyos and canyons I could drive to or through, like Parral and Matomí.

The Baja 1000 is coming up in 2 weeks, and the course wiggles around the desert south of San Felipe, this year, for some of the race.

Wornout does weekly desert runs for 4x4s and SxSs and makes a Relive map with photos and videos... I post those links here on Nomad. Perhaps look them over for several day trip ideas?

Let me give you some links, to speed up your planning!

Wornout's Desert and Beach Runs on Relive:
2022-2023: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=98125
2021-2022: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=97073
2020-2021: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=94633

My road guide research trips of the area:
TRIP #1: San Felipe to Gonzaga Bay, Bahía de los Angeles, and Punta San Francisquito https://vivabaja.com/p117/

TRIP #3: Mexicali to San Felipe, Valle Chico Canyons, Matomí, and El Rosario Area https://vivabaja.com/p317/

Sample from the first draft of my road guide:
Part 2: Mexicali to Laguna Chapala http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=95028

A look at my maps of the San Felipe south region (1967/ age 10 to 2004): https://vivabaja.com/davids-san-felipe-south-maps-1967-2004/

Some of that area's trips photo albums:

See Shell Island (Km. 26-east): https://vivabaja.com/p914/
See fossils, south of Sulfur Mine (no exact directions): https://vivabaja.com/new-years-2012-fossils-friends/
See Sulfur Mine (Km. 32-west): https://vivabaja.com/1-2010/
See Arroyo Matomí & Canyon (Km. 60-west): https://vivabaja.com/p618/
See Parral and Berrendo Canyon: https://vivabaja.com/p106/
See Valle Chico Canyons: https://vivabaja.com/p404/
See Nuevo Mazatlan (Km. 32) camping and Matomí Canyon group trip: https://vivabaja.com/p204/

My road guide maps for general orienting (size adjusted to be approx. same scale):

So much Baja to explore... utilize my site: www.vivabaja.com

[Edited on 11-5-2022 by David K]

TMW - 11-5-2022 at 02:28 PM

Don't camp near the highway. You want to stay out of sight. There are several campgrounds around San Felipe. Many north and south near the Sea of Cortez. An excellent book on camping in Baja is "Camping Mexico's Baja" by Mike and Terri Church.

Check out the Trip Reports on Baja Nomad. You may get a good ideal of what's there. You should also make an over-nighter to Gonzaga Bay. You can rent a Palapa at the store across from the gas station. The Palapas are on the water across the highway from the store. Or stay in the hotel at Alfonsina's. They have a restaurant with great fish and shrimp tacos.

North of Gonzaga a mile or two is Papa Fernandez with beach camping and they too have a good restaurant.

RFClark - 11-5-2022 at 05:49 PM

Hi,

There’s no cell service south of KM45 on HWY5. Be sure and carry a tow strap or two, a spare, water, a 12v compressor, overstocked first aid kit and some sort of satellite emergency beacon.

The next place south with phone/internet service is the Rancho Grande Market at Gonzaga Bay and then the really great restaurant just south of the HWY5/HWY1 junction. There is also an 24Hr emergency call box next to the restaurant.

Next gas south of Gonzaga (87 only) are the gas scalpers at the LA Bay turnoff. Personally I do not advise going to LA Bay overnight. Guerrero negro (Small town) is about 2.5 Hrs south of the 5/1 junction and the whales will start arriving in a few weeks. San Ignacio (small town) is about 4 Hrs South and has a B&B (San Ignacio B&B) with yurts, Paul and Bonnie are Canadians and nice folks. Call for reservations. The San Ignacio area has rock art and Whales (soon) at the Lagoon there is tenting too!

The wildflowers between the 5/1 junction and Jesus Y Maria (really small town with a gas station) are stunning right now after the recent rains. There is a forrest of cactus and very strange trees that look like a upside down giant turnip (20’) with green leaves and a tassel of flowers at the top along the road. Also well worth seeing!

There is a closed checkpoint a Gonzaga, an open checkpoint before Jesus & Maria and San Ignacio. Guns are a no-no, flare pistols are guns. They usually wave you through if you say you’re going to San Ignacio on vacation. On the flip side say San Felipe. Keep all prescription drugs in your wife’s purse they usually won’t check. If you have tats wear long sleeves!

Remember that you are a guest and do get a visa at the border. They will stamp your passport. Service is 24 Hr. Park to the left of the entry at the West Crossing buy Insurance online from Baja Bound a full year is as cheep as 6 weeks.

Be carful and enjoy.

[Edited on 11-6-2022 by RFClark]

RFClark - 11-5-2022 at 07:51 PM

L,

Blame Siri she doesn't do well with foreign words,! I’m the President’s age and probably as senile so it can’t be our fault!

But I didn’t type “ü” either! “Let they who are without sin throw the first post!”

[Edited on 11-6-2022 by RFClark]

[Edited on 11-6-2022 by RFClark]

mtgoat666 - 11-5-2022 at 08:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by StephandBlake

Hello. We are newbies to Baja and are planning to spend 4 to 6 weeks this winter in San Felipe.

6 weeks is a longggggg time in San Felipe. Since you seem to have time on your hands, do some trips farther away, as the places to see around San Felipe are rather dreary and barren compared to the rest of baja. Recommend: Catavina, good dispersed camping (area is a bit like Joshua tree, fun boulders/rocks). Bahia de Los Angeles, good camping on the beach. San Pedro martir, if you like mountains, can camp in the park at elevation 8000 ft amongst pine tree forest, and great hikes on the plateau). Sierra de San fransicos, good mountains and rock art. San Ignacio lagoon to see the whales in Feb and March. All of the locations are within a days drive of San Felipe and can be 2 or 3 day trips.

Once you see the rest of baja, you will ditch San Felipe…

Can you get out of your San Felipe reservation?

WestyWanderer - 11-5-2022 at 08:52 PM

Make sure to come check out the hot spring in Puertecitos. You can camp for a night or two on the beach, I think Clara charges $25/night which includes access to the springs.

Mid week is best, weekends are busy.

We’ll in town (Puertecitos) Dec. 10-14th, if you come down during that time let me know and we can meet up and discuss some places to explore.

pacificobob - 11-6-2022 at 06:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark

Güero negro

Hereby nominated as oxymoron of the year! :light:

Funny in the extreme!

David K - 11-6-2022 at 07:33 AM

One of the most misspelled Baja places... and for Siri users, most mispronounced. :light:

Gwer-air-roh + Nay-grow= Guerrero Negro

The middle syllabel is often forgotten and thus you get a spelled word that doesn't exist in Spanish (Guerro) or Siri gives you the Spanish word for blond (güero).

sancho - 11-6-2022 at 10:16 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Relax with your honor intact

I like that line, all of us swing and miss once in a while

RFClark - 11-6-2022 at 10:51 AM

The “protest” was mock. I spell indifferently in three languages!

What I wrote translates as “Black Soldiers”

“Guero is actually a bastardization of the word "guerrero" which means warrior in Spanish. The use of "guero" dates back to the Spanish-American war where the American soldiers (or warriors) were referred to as gueros by the Spanish and Mexican soldiers.“

What lencho wrote translates as “Blond Black” which are in fact rather common in the US. I went to school with a number of Blond Blacks!

Unusual either way!

RFClark - 11-6-2022 at 12:07 PM

Interestingly enough, when I worked in the D.F. I never heard this word used. “Los Blondes” was how they referred to those with more European Spanish features. There are differences in opinion how the word is even spelled (with or w/o the ü).

I suppose that’s not surprising as ice cream there is “Helado” not “nevie” which is “snow” in Spain but “ice cream” in most of Mexico where it never snows. If you ask for “Helado” you probably won’t be understood. in the D.F. More European Spanish words possibly?

But I digress! Sorry!

[Edited on 11-6-2022 by RFClark]

[Edited on 11-6-2022 by RFClark]

HeyMulegeScott - 11-7-2022 at 12:17 PM

Some of the off-road day trips I've done out of San Felipe - https://awaywewinnebago.com/baja-adventuring/

David K - 11-7-2022 at 12:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by HeyMulegeScott

Some of the off-road day trips I've done out of San Felipe - https://awaywewinnebago.com/baja-adventuring/

Excellent! Diablo, Agua Caliente, and Matomí canyons!
I have not been to Diablo Canyon... yet!

HeyMulegeScott - 11-7-2022 at 01:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by HeyMulegeScott

Some of the off-road day trips I've done out of San Felipe - https://awaywewinnebago.com/baja-adventuring/

Excellent! Diablo, Agua Caliente, and Matomí canyons!
I have not been to Diablo Canyon... yet!

I'm surprised you haven't been to Diablo Canyon. I can make you a map.

StephandBlake - 11-7-2022 at 04:14 PM

Thanks to everyone for their input! I've noted the many places that were recommended and will look into them further.

I should add that we didn't pick San Felipe as a base camp for any special reason other than we know that the road from Mexicali is paved all the way to SF and won't present a problem for towing our 5th Wheel. (That and we wanted to be on the Sea of Cortez). I believe I read a while back that the road south of SF was very rough and pot-hole dodging is unavoidable. We don't mind rough roads in our FJ, but not with the 5th wheel. Please set me straight if my information about the road conditions is wrong. Thanks.

AKgringo - 11-7-2022 at 04:42 PM

The potholes just south of San Felipe are on a section of older pavement, and they get repaired fairly often. As of two weeks ago, it was in pretty good shape. The further south you go from there on highway 5, the better the road gets.

There are still a few Vados (dips) that you would not want to hit at speed, but if you are paying attention, it shouldn't be a problem.

mtgoat666 - 11-7-2022 at 05:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by StephandBlake

I should add that we didn't pick San Felipe as a base camp for any special reason other than we know that the road from Mexicali is paved all the way to SF and won't present a problem for towing our 5th Wheel. (That and we wanted to be on the Sea of Cortez). I believe I read a while back that the road south of SF was very rough and pot-hole dodging is unavoidable. We don't mind rough roads in our FJ, but not with the 5th wheel. Please set me straight if my information about the road conditions is wrong. Thanks.

There are a few sections of old road along the peninsula where potholes are more frequent, but nothing to stop you from towing a trailer anywhere along highway 1 or 5. Just go a bit slower on the rougher sections, drive in the daytime (hard to see potholes in the dark).
1000s of rvs and trailers travel up and down the peninsula every year, the main roads are fine for travel trailers.

John Harper - 11-7-2022 at 05:53 PM

You are towing a 5th wheel trailer, and the FJ is hooked to the trailer? I understand your concern, that's a big rig.

John

RFClark - 11-7-2022 at 06:52 PM

S&B,

I think that you are very wise not to tow doubles on a one lane road that has very few places to pull over and lots of road with 0 shoulder, until you have scouted it. Potholes are not a major problem there is a lot of truck traffic however.

David K - 11-7-2022 at 08:15 PM

Pavement no longer ends south of Mexicali or San Felipe since 2020.