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StephandBlake
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 9-15-2022
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Overnight Excursions from San Felipe
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.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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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]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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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.
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RFClark
Super Nomad
Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
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Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025
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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]
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RFClark
Super Nomad
Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
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Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025
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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]
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18375
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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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?
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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WestyWanderer
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 10-24-2014
Location: San Clemente, CA
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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.
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2306
Registered: 4-23-2006
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Funny in the extreme!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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One of the most misspelled Baja places... and for Siri users, most mispronounced.  
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).
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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I like that line, all of us swing and miss once in a while
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RFClark
Super Nomad
Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
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Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025
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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!
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RFClark
Super Nomad
Posts: 2462
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Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025
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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]
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HeyMulegeScott
Senior Nomad
Posts: 699
Registered: 8-25-2009
Location: Orygone/Mulege
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Some of the off-road day trips I've done out of San Felipe - https://awaywewinnebago.com/baja-adventuring/
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Excellent! Diablo, Agua Caliente, and Matomí canyons!
I have not been to Diablo Canyon... yet!
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HeyMulegeScott
Senior Nomad
Posts: 699
Registered: 8-25-2009
Location: Orygone/Mulege
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I'm surprised you haven't been to Diablo Canyon. I can make you a map.
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StephandBlake
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 9-15-2022
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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.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6025
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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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.
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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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18375
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| 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.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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John Harper
Super Nomad
Posts: 2289
Registered: 3-9-2017
Location: SoCal
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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
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RFClark
Super Nomad
Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
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Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025
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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.
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