Camping The Baja Peninsula
The thousand-mile Baja peninsula in Mexico is the longest peninsula in the world. And all along its coast you can find gorgeous camping sites -ranging from the modern to the basic- that open onto beautiful, sheltered beaches. For many Mexicans, Baja is a far-off place - a remote wilderness with almost mystical charm, not unlike what Alaska seems to Americans.
Baja is indeed an amazing place. A thousand-mile coastline that juts out from the Southern border of California, Baja is the longest peninsula in the world. Its deserted beaches, striking mountain ranges, magical deserts, historic cities and laid-back resorts make it one of the most popular Mexico destinations.
One of the great developments in visiting Baja is the increased popularity of camping. Pioneered by eager surfers searching for winter tides, camping has now become a staple of a Baja vacationing.
Camping Baja
Camping sites are scattered along the thousand-mile coast. Camping sites range from the highly developed recreational sites with modern hook-ups for RV's to remote clearings for a night under the stars.
The camping sites are never far from the two-lane Highway One, the national road that runs the length of the Baja peninsula from the so called Gold Coast cities close to the US (Tijuana, Ensanada, and Rosarita Beach) to the Eldorado-like peninsula tip in Cabo San Lucas. Below are some ideas for an idyllic camping trip through the Baja Peninsula.
Baja Camping Tips
According to Fred and Gloria Jones, authors of Baja Camping (Foghorn Press), beach camping in Baja is one of the best reasons to visit Mexico. While nothing will be that far from Highway One, some of the best camping sites are only reachable by rugged four-wheel vehicles or by boat.
Whatever your mode of transport on the camping trip, it is not recommended to forego a car or truck and backpack your way through Baja. Baja, though surrounded by ocean, is still a desert and it's always dangerous to be far away from a vehicle. It's recommended you not visit during the summer; the extreme heat can be oppressive and can easily make a trip miserable, rather than memorable.
Three Baja Camping Sites
The highway becomes increasingly hilly the further south you go. Each twist and turn will divulge a new sandy white beach, a mountainous bluff overlooking it, and, more than likely, a great camping site to set stakes. Here are some of them:
- Bahma Concepcion
One of the greatest aggregation of beautiful beaches - all with stunning views and gorgeous waters - to be found in Baja or the world. With seven camping sites, Bahma Concepcion is the first choice for camping in Baja. - San Juanico
Well known to surfers for years, San Juanico boasts one of the most beautiful beaches in Baja, running about eight miles south of the town whose name it shares. Fishing is good here, too. Scorpion Ranch Preserve is the camping site. - Punta Chiavato
Camp right on the seashore at Punta Chiavato, which is twelve miles from Highway One and readily accessible by several dirt roads. Fish off the beach or pick seashells from its sheltered waters.
Sources
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/foghorn/cam_baja.htm
About the Author
Alex Russel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Lucky enough to grow up in Europe with family all over the world, he has been a consummate traveler his whole life. Since graduating from Syracuse University he has worked at many different media companies in fields as diverse as film, TV, advertising, and journalism. He holds a dual bachelor's degree in English and History.
