PNWers - 2-13-2023 at 08:00 AM
My traveling companion and I love desert hiking and often dry camp in remote desert areas in our pickup truck. We'll be in Baja for the first time
next month. I have a general itinerary thread going, but also wanted to ask specifically about camping at Parque El Palmerito, which is just [west]
of Cataviña off Hwy 1. It's run by a man named Ian Velazco. I know there's a cabaña for rent there, but we'd be looking just to camp; the website
says that camping spots are $10/night with a guided hike included. Has anybody been to this place? We are self-sufficient and don't need facilities
(although somewhere to shower would be a bonus); we're mostly looking for somewhere quiet and safe to camp for a night or two.
[Edited on 2-13-2023 by PNWers]
Tacayo - 2-13-2023 at 09:30 AM
Another place you can camp in the areas is Rancho Santa Ynez. The entrance is well marked and you can somewhat get away from the noise of Highway 1.
It's a very big place and you can spread out from other travelers. There's a small motel and restaurant too. It's worth checking out.
I remember staying at the very humble motel on New Year's Eve one year. When we arrived no one was around so we let ourselves in to one of the rooms.
In the morning the proprietor was surprised to see us but happy for the business. Sadly I think he has since passed away.
Since the new route 5 has been put in I haven't taken route 1 for awhile but I assume the place is still in business. Perhaps other Nomads can give an
updated status.
I've also camped there a few times and really enjoyed it except for the one time there was a Baja motorcycle race going on. I figured, well, when it
gets dark it will quiet down. Then I thought by midnight it will end. Nope. It lasted all night!
Still a good place for the weary traveler, just check for racing events.
David K - 2-13-2023 at 09:48 AM
East? Rancho Santa Ynez is a kilometer south/east of Cataviña, with camping, restaurant, and bunk rooms.
Rancho La Bocana is run by the Velasco (Velazco?) family, and it is several miles north/west of Cataviña at an oasis with rock art: https://www.facebook.com/geoturismolabocana
Here is Nathan Velasco's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/nathanvelasco
Nathan is a guide at Cataviña who led my friends Dany, Robert, and Pat, doing an Amazon TV show to Mission Santa María, when I couldn't, in late
2020: https://youtu.be/cJHyNaQ-Uw4 (they had me add some historic comments a few times in the 20 minute show, and featured my book at the end).
mtgoat666 - 2-13-2023 at 10:00 AM
From their website:
"Parque del Palmerito is located about 2 kilometers west of Cataviña, BC on the north side of Highway 1 starting at about Km 164. Recently a 200
meter wide strip of land, north of the highway, starting near the arroyo with the cave painting and proceeding west along highway 1 to the entrance to
the shrine of the virgin, was divided into parcels which were then titled to local ejiditarians. The much larger privately owned 2,000 hectare parcel
which comprises Parque del Palmerito lies just north of these smaller parcels.
The purpose of creating these additional parcels was to encourage local landowners to participate in ecotourism in and around Catavina. The ejido is
currently constructing a small tourist information center near the site of the dome structure which used to house the small museum."
This sounds like the catavina boulder field area, roughly stretching from the arroyo/old musem, north to the virgin shrine. this has always been open
access area,... i have not been thru catavina this year, so dont know if the locals have started charging to access the area....
i suspect this is a website pipe-dream, and it is still open area. but who knows? maybe they are now charging for camping?
my advice for the boulder fields: look for the tallest peaklet on NE side of hwy 1, and try to find a road to get near it, then start
hiking/scrambling.
i usually stop at catavina for a few hours or day of hike/rock scramble, and each trip is sort of a new exploration, just try new dirt roads until you
find a cool rock pile to climb.
the roads/tracks are rudimentary, your vehicle will gain desert pin stripes...
[Edited on 2-13-2023 by mtgoat666]
PNWers - 2-13-2023 at 10:02 AM
Fantastically helpful, thanks! And, yes, *west* of Cataviña. I have edited the original post accordingly. We will report back post-trip on the
current circumstances.
willardguy - 2-13-2023 at 11:32 AM
Parque Palmerito is a cool spot to wander around or camp under the famous Blue Palms, the weather took its toll on the geo dome long ago and its been
some time since i've been there and am unaware of a cabana for rent? the owner of this land is from a family famous for inventing the caesar salad
and is happy to share his land with all. let us know what you think!
wilderone - 2-13-2023 at 12:26 PM
You'll see a turnoff west to the coast to Puerto Canoas just north of Catavina. There are some boondocking pull-outs along there. Hike to your
heart's content. I would advise a hike up the arroyo from Sta Ines to see the blue palms. You can park there, get a soda, chips and hike for a
while. You can get on the trail to Sta Maria Mision ruins 15 miles from there - of course not go all the way, but a hiking trail nevertheless.