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barcodemarco
Junior Nomad
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Beach camping near Gonzaga
Good Morning Nomads,
I posted yesterday about a trip to LA Bay and got so much great info I thought I'd be greedy and ask for more!
If we were to stop somewhere between SF and Gonzaga for a few nights, is there a favorite beach area or camp that has good water access for kayaks and
decent access to inshore fishing? Or would you just skip through and head straight to the bay? I have been up and down the 1 but zero experience
south of SF on the 5 but it seems like there are nooks and crannies to explore.
Thanks!
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3464james
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There are several options in the Gonzaga Bay area, Papa Fernandez would be my first choice as you have beach front camping, good shore fishing, kayak
launching in back bay, good inexpensive food. Second would be Rancho Grande, convenient, palapas, pit toilet,showers at market, restaurant at market
and at Alphonsinas, and close to market. After that their are several other choices including El Sacrificio; palapas, toilets, showers, restaurant.
Punta Final, beach front camping not much else. Several other nice camping spots that provide palapas, toilets and showers just south of the market on
the left. These are the ones I have tried. Enjoy, but it is going to be hot.
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chippy
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Punta Final has good beach camping and yakking. I can´t say about the fishing.
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David K
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See my guide for all the campos I visited to compare.
My map shows the places around Gonzaga Bay...
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Don Pisto
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Mood: weary like everyone else
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my vote is always for Beluga...
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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AKgringo
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The only time I camped at Beluga was on a Mexican national holiday. It was busy, and loud!
I will try it again sometime, but I will check the calendar and web for holidays first. That goes for all of the camps in that area, so you may have
to do some exploring if a quiet site is what you want.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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barcodemarco
Junior Nomad
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Thanks! Sounds like some there are some good options there.
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barcodemarco
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Beluga sounds good, but I do likes the looks of Punta Final. Seems like there is a lot more exploring and snorkeling down at the south end of the
bay. Either way Alfonsinas sounds like a good lunch stop! Thanks again
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wilderone
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You asked about camping between San Felipe and Gonzaga - as you can see in the map above, the places mentioned are in the Gonzaga Bay area.
David - show the map with the 20 or so camps between San Felipe and Gonzaga. I don't know about spending a few nights - but a couple nights and then
moving on ... There are signs along the road - drive in and see how you like it. The shore fishing is about the same all along there, launching a
kayak too. More important than a beach to launch from (no problem there), is the weather. Start early morning when it's calm. Stop by the San Felipe
marina and look for the guys with pickups with a cooler - they're selling fresh fish or shrimp. Bring something for shade in case you don't end up in
a place with a palapa. If you venture inland to explore, make sure you are prepared with water.
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by wilderone  | You asked about camping between San Felipe and Gonzaga - as you can see in the map above, the places mentioned are in the Gonzaga Bay area.
David - show the map with the 20 or so camps between San Felipe and Gonzaga. I don't know about spending a few nights - but a couple nights and then
moving on ... There are signs along the road - drive in and see how you like it. The shore fishing is about the same all along there, launching a
kayak too. More important than a beach to launch from (no problem there), is the weather. Start early morning when it's calm. Stop by the San Felipe
marina and look for the guys with pickups with a cooler - they're selling fresh fish or shrimp. Bring something for shade in case you don't end up in
a place with a palapa. If you venture inland to explore, make sure you are prepared with water. |
You bet... and for future reference, all maps are on VivaBaja.com where there is a Baja Maps section.
Here are San Felipe area and Puertecitos area maps I made that include camping campos:
All of my 2018-2021 maps, plus them all stitched together: https://vivabaja.com/davids-2018-maps/
[Edited on 6-29-2022 by David K]
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by 3464james | | There are several options in the Gonzaga Bay area, Papa Fernandez would be my first choice as you have beach front camping, good shore fishing, kayak
launching in back bay, good inexpensive food. Second would be Rancho Grande, convenient, palapas, pit toilet,showers at market, restaurant at market
and at Alphonsinas, and close to market. After that their are several other choices including El Sacrificio; palapas, toilets, showers, restaurant.
Punta Final, beach front camping not much else. Several other nice camping spots that provide palapas, toilets and showers just south of the market on
the left. These are the ones I have tried. Enjoy, but it is going to be hot. |
In addition, there is El Pozo, an abandoned (in 2017) fishing camp and the road to it is at the north end of the Km. 143 bridge. Also, a road goes
there from the road to Papa Fernandez' camp. That road passes a well, Pozo de los Frailes, believed by old-timers to date to the mission period. A
warehouse used by the Franciscans and Dominicans was on the shore of Gonzaga Bay, between Papa's and Alfonsina's. Its outlines can still be seen.
Sign on Hwy. 5 at bridge:
Coast looking south at El Faro:
Pozo de los Frailes, modernized:
When the mission warehouse walls were still standing, late 1950s Howard Gulick photo:
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AKgringo
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Coyotes
It sounds like you have spent enough time in Baja to be aware that coyotes are common visitors to all of the campsites we are discussing. I don't
find them to be a problem, but they are looking for something to get into, and smaller pets may be at risk.
Even a larger dog will be at risk if it is foolish enough to chase a coyote back to the rest of a pack!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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barcodemarco
Junior Nomad
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Good reminder on the coyotes, as we are bringing perros. Thanks for all the maps and pics, David. I could spend hours clicking around that stitched
together baja map. Very cool stuff.
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David K
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My pleasure Bar Code!
I see you live down the valley from me?
[Edited on 6-29-2022 by David K]
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Mulege Canuck
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If you are into kayaking, Punta Final is a must. Get up early so you can get back to camp before 1:00 so the northerly winds don’t kick your ass.
There are lots of gorgeous pocket beaches north of the camping area.
Enjoy!
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Bajazly
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North? Big giant beach pretty much to Alfys... South, rock outcroppings and coves all the way to Bahia de Los Angeles.
Believing is religion - Knowing is science
Harald Pietschmann
"Get off the beaten path and memories, friends and new techniques are developed"
Bajazly, August 2019
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Mulege Canuck
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| Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly |
North? Big giant beach pretty much to Alfys... South, rock outcroppings and coves all the way to Bahia de Los Angeles. |
My mistake, I should have said south.
This is a small pocket beach.
Lots of other nice little beaches in he “inlet” just south of the camping area.
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barcodemarco
Junior Nomad
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Thanks. That's a cool looking little cove. What a find!
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barcodemarco
Junior Nomad
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As it turns out, my caravan buddy backed out due to passport expiry issues with a few family members so we are going solo. Still going to do Gonzaga
for a few nights and then probably continue on to the Pacific side to cool off. Looking at Vizcaino area. Been to Abreojos a few times but looking
at something different, maybe Asuncion or Tortugas. Any recommendations from nomads on those spots, or others in the area? Would like to hire a
panga for a fishing trip and just chill on the beach and surf fish. Will probably bring surfboards too.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Asuncion, see Shari at La Bufadora Inn.
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