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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Is that your primary goal in baja - surfing?
It would help to know. You can skip the Cortez entirely if that's what you're after.
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 929
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
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Head to southern baja for surf this time of year!
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marksnet
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 4-13-2011
Location: BC Canada
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primary goal is to camp at nice beaches where we can surf, but also go on day hikes, we also hope to see the sea of cortez and its beautiful beaches.
safety is a concern while we are camping and we hope to meet some interesting people. this is the first trip in our newly renovated van and i hope it
works out. do you guys stock up on food and supplies and go camping, or do you primarily eat at restaurants.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I have photos on my 'tours' web page around El Rosario (you asked about the beach near there... La Bocana (sand, surf fishing) and Punta Baja
(surfing, panga boat fishing).
About sand... if you get stuck, or before you get stuck: DEFLATE your tires... all 4... have a good dial type low end 0-60 or 0-100 psi gauge... You
want to drop to 10 psi if you get stuck...
Don't spin the tires if you start to go no further, as you will only go down deeper! Deflate, clear away sand from in front of tires (like a ramp) and
drive ahead (give it the gas to get rolling with the increased resistance! A good electric pump is worth it and the kind that clip on the battery
directly work 3 times faster than the cigarette lighter ones do. Tienda Baja Noamd used to sell one?
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by marksnet
... do you guys stock up on food and supplies and go camping, or do you primarily eat at restaurants. |
That's a good question.
In our case we do neither.
We find restaurant food nice but not a constant diet of it. We try to mix things up with fruits and vegetables as best we can by shopping at the
markets and fruterias.
Unless you're really isolated you can get almost everything you need some place close by and there is no need to stock up. Things taste a bit
different than back home but sometimes that's an improvement. Wieners taste different. Same with burgers and even pizza. Gatorade, clamato - it's all
there. Fruits tend to be riper and often overripe. Cantaloupes seem much tastier in baja than we get here.
Basically what I'm trying to say is that you don't need to bring 6 weeks worth of food. Just bring nonperishables that you will need in an emergency.
Emergency being a beach where you decided to stay longer than planned for because, I don't know, the waves are great and won't be as good in a few
days (I'm not a surfer). That happens a lot to us. With both food, water, and money.
Every journey has a 'peak'. You don't want to diminish that by having to leave.
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tiotomasbcs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1837
Registered: 7-30-2007
Location: El Pescadero
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Bring a shovel & be prepared to lower tire pressure. Both helped me escape a sandy situation recently in my Oddysey. What was I thinking? Cooler with cold beer , tambien. Big South swell rolled thru last week for you guys
that happened to be at work (Woodman)! Verdad? Tio
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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it wasn't big up here. i got so much surf in 2011 (3 trips) that i'm back to work, socking away vacation days waiting for the mid summer big swell
(there's one every year) before i get wet again. i don't deal with SD surf anymore, too much drama.
new leaf, remember?
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3894
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Where to camp the first night: take it slow and easy on your first day. Lots of small towns you gotta crawl through, some road construction. Stop for
grocieries in Ensenada (tortillas, cans of salsa, beer, ice), stop at the fruit stands just outside of Ensenada and get whatever looks good (mangos
should be awesome now). Stop for lunch some place with a view. You can change currency in San Quentin. Then camp at El Paballon or Los Olivos
campground just outside San Quentin. The next day you'll be a little more relaxed, a lot less traffic.
"Cuatros Casas" - It is my understanding there have been "incidents" here - surf, but don't camp here.
Bring certain things that you can make a meal out of, like smoked oysters, tuna, mayonnaise, cans of nuts, some dried fruit for when you run out of
fresh (good for breakfast too), oatmeal, dried soup mix, dried drink mixes. Then supplement that with the best of what Baja offers - get oranges and
honey at the stand in Vizcaino; pineapple, avocado and mangos at the stands in Ensenada; fish tacos in Guerrero Negro; tamales at the gas station near
Jesus Maria. Strawberries will be in season too. Tortilla chips are always good for a snack, which is why you bought several cans of salsa in
Ensenada! Also great with eggs and avocado. Go to restarants when you don't feel like cooking and also to enhance your trip - experience the small
ranchos, the famous Mallarimo (sp?) (in Guer. Negro) seafood, etc. It's all good.
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bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
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What wilderone said... Don't stress to much that first day. Do some shopping in Ensenada. And although it's just another "city", let the culture start
to seep in.
As for camping, there are places you can camp north of San Quentin, but likely not the best surf and for sure not alone. You can still find some nice
camp spots along the coast north and south of Erindira. Another spot that comes to mind south of San Quentin is El Socorro. If you're into seeing
something different in Baja, head up to the Parque San Pedro Martir and camp in the mountains. Beautiful area.
All of those places are within a one day drive from the border. After that, you'll be south of El Rosario and the highway is more inland. Getting to
the coast will take longer, but if you go you'll find nice places to camp with virtually no one around. Surfing will get a bit better, but this time
of year is sort of "in between". No strong winter swells and the summer southern hemis haven't kicked in yet. It is a beautiful area, but not exactly
2 wheel drive friendly.
Long story short... don't have too much of a schedule and you'll be just fine. So many awesome sights, friendly people and good food. It'll be a trip
you'll remember forever. Make sure you bring along some basic tools and supplies for your vehicle, and know how to use them.
Most importantly, have fun and just enjoy the adventure. Baja is a special place. Once you've been you'll find that it works it's way into your psyche
and you'll want to go back again and again and again....
Post a TR when you come home!
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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TR = trip report.
see you in the bocana this summer, Andy?
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bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
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Gonna be down there next week Woody. Let's keep an eye on it when a good southern is coming this summer. I'm down.
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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you got my email. i'm in.....
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Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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Andy, Count me in too!
No worries
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Mike99km
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
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marksnet check your U2U in the upper corner.
Mike
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
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and amigo, if nothing else spend a couple of days camping on bahia de concepcion...hands down, the most beautiful piece of water anywhere in
baja...you'll thank me.
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
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He's right about that.
Unless you're a surfer the Cortez side is much more pleasant in April-May: no wind blowing all day. Sit outside without positioning yourself next to a
windbreak. Take a trip to the BOLA area and enjoy the warmth and water. She'll thank you for that. The paved road leads you all the way in with lots
of campgrounds at the water's edge.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13242
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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ditto on the real importance of having a shovel and an air pump for the tires .... it saves you a LOT of hassle. Let the air out when in sandy
conditions and inflate it when on normal roads.
I think Punta Abreojos and San Juanico are beautiful places to surf - so the rumor mill says. If you do go to Punta Abreojos, take the 10 mile trek
north to La Bocana and have a drink with us on the porch !!
Like everyone has said, if you want peace and quiet - head for south of san quintin... beautiful and quite exotic landscape - there are huge mountains
of rocks, huge cacti, many many things to see.
REMEMBER TO FILL YOUR GAS TANK TO THE BRIM IN EL ROSARIO. It will be 200 miles of no official gas stations after that. Also, Mama Espinoza's (in el
rosario) is a wonderful restaurant to visit - tons of items inside - like a museum.
The absolute best guide to Mexico, IMO, is a book called DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL - MEXICO. It gives so much information on history, highlights, and Baja
starts on page 158.
Have a wonderful trip !!
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landyacht318
Nomad
Posts: 247
Registered: 7-28-2007
Member Is Offline
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Perhaps buy enough screen to cover the side door, or to close the front doors over the screen.
Bring a flyswatter, and a back up.
Wind proof shade is important.
Portable water containers.
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bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Curt63
Andy, Count me in too! |
You got it Curt!
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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Head to San Juanico, best beginner surf is 1st point, just hang out untill a swell arrives, might be 2 weeks, but when it hits you will be in Nirvana.
Skip Asuncion, crappy road crappy town and no surf. Good fishing though.
[Edited on 4-23-2011 by 805gregg]
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