Gauging Interest - March 2023 Baja California, MX Beach Adventure 4x4 EZ

[dzJeepChic 2,517]

We're interested in exploring the many pristine beaches along the Sea of Cortez, from San Felipe to Loreto in Baja de California, Mexico. We would be posting this as a ORP Club trip limited to 5 or 7 vehicles including leaders. We expect to be gone a week to 10 days, depending on what the group decides. This will be posted as easy 4x4, but will be required to have recovery points and some lift. 

 

EDIT: Looking at this more closely together, @Number7 and I think we would prefer to only go as far down the coast to about El Colorado, if that far, going from San Felipe to 2 or 3 other beach 'campos', and mostly hanging out, before heading back the same way.

 

If we altered the trip to less distance, and 4 - 5 nights of beach camping (gone 7 days max) would you still be into going @alexshel44 & @shellback91

 

We are researching all the beach camps and hotels along the way for prices and amenities. 

 

Crossing the US Border

 

We plan to cross the US Border into Mexico in Mexicali.

• We will stay together as a group until everyone is through the border and visa office.

• You will need a US Passport or a US Passport Card
• We will check in at the border to buy the required visas (depends on number of days we decide to stay)

 

San Felipe - what Rocky Point used to be

From there we'll go down to San Felipe for the night, either camp or get rooms at one of the many places to choose from.

• https://en.sandollarresort.com/

The next day we'll embark upon our journey to discover lazy days and fish tacos at pristine deserted beaches. We will explore along the coast each day until we decide where to stop for the night. There are camp sites and little hotels all along the way. If we decide just to stay a whole day and swim, we will. We'd like the trip to be fluid, and take shape along the way rather than have a set agenda.

 

Some of the campos and points of interest: 

Leave San Felipe and drive MX Hwy 5 south along the sea of Cortez, stopping along the way at cool places. We will at times take dirt roads to beach coves. Several we've noted in google maps:

• Bahia Santa Maria
• Jenny's Beach Resort
• https://chenowthlegacylodge.com.mx/

 

 

After more consideration of this trip, the points of interest below are further than we intend to travel this time:

• San Francisquito
• Bahia de los Angeles
• Daggets Camp ground has palapas with fire pits, and there's running water and hot showers (I have found that there are many campos with showers and toilets in various states of repair)
• Bahia de los Angeles Museum
• Puerto San Francisquito
• Playa del Barril
• Bahia Concepcion

 

Homeward Bound

On the way home we can either go back the way we came, or we can take MX Hwy 1, which goes along the Pacific coast to Ensenada and Tijuana. We can talk about this before going and come up with a plan. There is not a lot that I want to see on the pacific side per se, but I'm not completely adverse to returning that way. The area around Ensenada is noted to be very beautiful.

If someone wants to go on this trip but they can't be gone that long, they could go back early with another member. So if you want to go home early, pair up with someone who also wants to leave early. We'd prefer if everyone stays in pairs at least!

Considerations:

~You will need Mexican pesos to buy things and tip people. There are several easy ways to obtain them:

1. Purchase pesos at the border - usually fees and higher than going exchange rate
2. I opened a WISE account, moved some US Dollars into it, and converted them into MX Pesos at the going rate for a very low conversion fee. When I get to the MX border, I'll go to a regular ATM to pull out pesos, and I'll use my WISE debit card wherever I can for food, gas, etc.
3. You can buy pesos from your bank if you have a debit account at one of the big national banks such as Chase, Wells Fargo, BofA, etc.

~We will be monitoring US Travel advisories and news from Baja prior to the trip, and will cancel/postpone in the event it's not safe to go.

 

 

Post in this thread if you'd be interested in going

 

Interested:

@Number7 & @dzJeepChic

@alexshel44

@shellback91

@ob1jeeper

@Ken Ford

@Goose

Edited September 12, 2022 by dzJeepChic

[dzJeepChic 2,517]

These guys did a cool trip:

 

[alexshel44 68]

I would be interested if I can get the time off work. And I'll need to look into my visa requirements. I'm a Canadian citizen so shouldn't be much different. 

 

 

 

[Lichen 110]

My last trip down was in '97 and have been dying to go back.  Unfortunately, I would need a total spine transplant to do that much driving.  I'd be happy to ride in the back of a RV!  Warning:  Loreto is not the quiet little beach town that it used to be.  It's becoming a mini-Cabo.

[dzJeepChic 2,517]

20 hours ago, Lichen said:

My last trip down was in '97 and have been dying to go back.  Unfortunately, I would need a total spine transplant to do that much driving.  I'd be happy to ride in the back of a RV!  Warning:  Loreto is not the quiet little beach town that it used to be.  It's becoming a mini-Cabo.

Lol, spine transplant. Interesting about Loreto. We'll most likely not make it down that far. G's most interested in relaxing a lot, so it might morph into a short trip with long beach stays and a lot less driving.

[shellback91 1,836]

I’ve been wanting to get down there. I may be interested depending on when and how long. I’m taking 2 weeks off for vacation in April so that’s something else I’d need to look at. 

[dzJeepChic 2,517]

1 hour ago, shellback91 said:

I’ve been wanting to get down there. I may be interested depending on when and how long. I’m taking 2 weeks off for vacation in April so that’s something else I’d need to look at. 

I just edited the 1st post. After G and I gave it more thought, we think an abbreviated version with more beaches sounds better. I hope you can go it should be fun!

 

@alexshel44 let me know if you'd still be up for this if we don't go as far down the coast.

[alexshel44 68]

I would definitely still be down for this. That makes it easier to take time off work. 

 

Alex

[ob1jeeper 520]

Looks like a GOOD time...   IN please... 

 

[shellback91 1,836]

It would definitely an option for me.