Baja Amigos RV Caravan Tours, MX

Top Ten Destinations For Your Baja RV Adventure!

by

By Dan & Lisa Goy/Owners & Wagon-Masters/Baja Amigos RV Caravan Tours

Valley of Guadalupe

This valley is an easy drive on Mex 3 about an hour or so from Tecate on the U.S. border. The road has been rebuilt and repaved over the last few years so this is an easy drive for all RVers. The valley is the largest wine region on Baja, boasting over 100 wineries, the largest being L.A. Cetto, which is one of our favourites. Rancho Sordo Mudo (KM 75) on Hwy 3 is the place to stay, with lots of back-in and pull-thru spaces. The profits made support the school for deaf children and all the volunteers.

Ensenada & La Bufadora

This popular cruise ship destination is a great seaside city with lots to see and do. Founded in 1542, designated the capital of Baja California, Ensenada remained small until the 1930's. The construction of a waterfront casino and hotel during the American depression and prohibition changed everything. They are well worth a visit as is the art gallery next door, the historic district, and the fish market. We suggest camping in Punta Banda, on the south side of the town on the way to La Bufadora, which is another popular tourist destination.

Catavina Boulder Fields and Cave Paintings

This is a wondrous stop. Visually stunning and unique, it is a photographer's dream come true. Located in the high desert in the middle of Baja the days are hot and the nights chilly. It is best to stay in the small village Catavina, where your options are Rancho Santa Inez, behind the Desert Inn or at the old government RV Park in the centre of town. A convenience store and gas station opened recently, which is a welcome addition for the locals. There is a site nearby where you can both hike and enjoy the cave paintings. In addition, the area is a true star gazer's paradise.

Guerrero Negro

No visit to Baja is complete without seeing gray whales in Scammon's Lagoon also known as "Laguna Ojo de Liebre". There may be other locations to see them, however, we highly recommend Guerrero Negro. You can stay with your RV at either Malarrimo's or Mario's. Touching a whale is truly a wondrous experience and at peak season you will find thousands wintering here. You can also take in a tour at the impressive Salt Works, the largest one in the world or check out the rare Baja Pronghorn Antelope at a nearby reserve.

Conception Bay

Rarely can you find a location with your RV that can challenge the beauty and camping experience of "Bahia Concepcion." There are many beaches in Bahia, all dry camping, including Playa Santispac, Playa Coyote, Playa Santispac, Playa Cocos and Playa La Perla. Some have a central dump station of sorts, all have vendors delivering everything you can imagine - from supplies to blankets to services such as RV washing on the beach. The village of Mulege is close by for your internet, cell service, shopping, and banking need. You can kayak, fish, or hike then enjoy "Happy Hour" at the popular Armando's on Santispac!

Loreto

Founded in 1697, Loreto is the birthplace of the Californias, which all used to belong to Mexico. This historic city boasts the Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto, the first mission built by Jesuits as they conquered this new Spanish territory. An abundance of sites and activities are available in this "Pueblos Magico," including golf at Loreto Bay, a spectacular one-hour drive to the "San Javier Mission & Village", Eco-Tours and fishing in the Loreto Marine Reserve and dining at one of the many delicious restaurants. We prefer to stay at the Rivera del Mar RV Park which is only a few blocks from the town centre. There is also the Loreto Shores RV Park, which has pull-thru sites, but is much further from the historic district. Reservations are required for January and February during caravan season.

La Paz

This is the capital city of Baja Sur and the only place Conquistador Hernan Cortez set foot on Baja in 1535. This is the most authentic Mexican city on Baja with a 5 km Malecon and the 2nd largest Carnival in Mexico. The town is all about the water and dining out with more than 250 restaurants. The nearby marinas draw in Canadian and American boaters, making it a great place to book an eco-tour. Swimming with whale sharks and sea lions is a staple attraction over the winter. Your best camping options to visit La Paz are Campestre Maranatha (services), Playa Tecolote (dry camping and free) or Rancho Verde RV Haven in the mountains (no electricity).

Los Barriles

Many snowbirds in their RVs flee winter to come to Los Barriles, which is a town made for tourists. Over time many of them have set down more permanent roots with hundreds of residences occupied by expats. Windsurfing, kiteboarding, and fishing are the staple activities here. This is also the ATV capital of Baja, which is not surprising given the endless beach and narrow streets. The town has four significant RV parks, making it easier to find the one which suits you best. We stay at the Baja Sunrise RV Park, just south of town because we enjoy the seaside setting, convenient facilities, and the owner, Jorge.

Los Cabos

There are only a few camping spaces to be found in Los Cabos, both in the town of Cabo San Lucas. You can stay at Vagabundos de Mar or at Glorieta, but reservations are required. 25 years ago the area was an RVer's paradise, but now Los Cabos is a major hotel and cruise ship destination for winter getaways. The Cabo San Lucas harbour and San Jose art district are always interesting. The golf courses are simply spectacular with fees to match!

Todos Santos

In recent years Todos Santos has become more popular with the tourists, but it is still worth a visit. The Pescadero RV Park is the only option for RVers, however, many people leave their RV behind in La Paz or Los Barriles and do a day trip or overnight stay. We enjoyed this option last February with our family that came to visit us. We stayed at the Hotel Maria Bonita, which is one block off the main road and is clean and inexpensive. The historic section of town is small, so you can enjoy the many sights, such as the Hotel California, Cultural Centre, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Todos Santos (Our Lady of Pilar Church) built in 1733, in a few hours. Surfing and boogie boarding at Los Cerritos and catching a release of baby turtles are other activities you might consider. (See: https://todossantos.cc/)