Day 0: Potrero Regional Park, California, USA
On arrival everyone will receive their Baja Amigos Tour Book and Baja Map. We will rendezvous at the beautiful Potrero Regional Park 45 miles east of San Diego in California at an elevation of 2300′. Today we head to the Mexican border at Tecate, the Baja Amigos Wagon-Masters will guide you through the Tourist Permit process. On return to the campground later in the afternoon, The Wagon-Master will host an Orientation and Rendezvous Reception prior to your Mexican Baja Adventure.
The Spanish word potrero means “pasturing place”. Until the middle of the 19th century, the Potrero region was inhabited only by Kumemaay Indians, who found the area rich in their main food, the acorn. Much of this 115 acre park is shaded by 100 year old oak trees and is well suited for year round recreation. The Kumemaay operate the Golden Acorn Casino a short drive from Potrero off I-8 with free RV Parking. Gas, Diesel and Propane are readily available nearby. Access to Wifi can be found at the local Library, a 5 minute drive from the campground. The community of Potrero also has a Post Office and great General Store & Restaurant.
DAY 1: Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico
(85 km/54 miles) We are off to Mexico with the RVs, your Mexican adventure has begun. Border officials will likely ask you for some RV paperwork and ownership papers and may have a look in your trailer, camper or motorhome, you have “nothing to declare”. Once we are thru Tecate we have a short drive on Hwy 3 which has been rebuilt over the last decade, we should arrive at our destination in the Valley of Guadalupe and set up before lunch. We will visit LA Cetto, time to taste and shop if you choose. There is a great Wine Museum and almost another 100 wineries to visit if you are interested.
DAY 2: Lázaro Cárdenas, Baja California
(247 km/153 miles) Today we continue our southward journey that take us through the City of Ensanada and communities of Maneadero. Santos Tomas, San Vicente, Colonet, Vicente Guerrero,San Quintin and Lázaro Cárdenas. Our final destination will be the Hotel Mision Santa Maria, located on the beach south of San Quintin, this will be dry camping. This area of Baja is known for farming and miles and miles of sand dunes. This area can be a little cool and windy, but you are sure to enjoy the ocean air. There is an opportunity to take a hike or long walk along the dunes and beach or perhaps try some boogie boarding. Later you are welcome to join the Wagon-Masters at the Hotel restaurant or bar. On clear nights sunsets are nothing less than spectacular!
DAY 3: Catavina, Baja California
(171 km/106 miles) Today we are off to Rancho Santa Inez in the community of Catavina. This will take us through El Rosario where the highway ended prior to construction of Mex 1 in 1973. Catavina is located in the heart of the Catavina Boulder Fields and its impressive and unique Sonoran Desert vegetation includes Cirios cactus (Valle de los Cirios). Believe it or not these giant boulders of granite were created in place by weather and freezing temperatures.
A short drive is planned to cave paintings that are over 7,000 years old for those interested in a walk in the desert. This is indeed a photographers paradise and a fabulous spot for star gazing too! Make sure your furnace is working as the campground is located at approximately 1800′ and can get chilly at night.
DAY 4: Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur
(235 km/146 miles) Today’s drive will take us past the junction to Bahia de los Angeles, through Jesus Maria to Guerrero Negro. This is the place to view California Grey Whales and that is exactly what we are going to do! Even for non-boaters it is an experience of a lifetime and well worth any anxieties you may have (spoken by a non-boater). This town thrives on it’s salt industry, another very interesting sight to see while out on the waters. After everyone gets parked we head off to “Tony’s Tacos” down the street, who has arguably the best fish tacos on Baja. The RV Park has an excellent restaurant where we will host a “Welcome to Mexico Dinner”, also a wonderful gift shop and mini super.
DAY 5: San Ignacio, Baja California Sur
(146 km/91 miles) Today is a shorter drive taking us into the middle of the desert through Vizcaino before arriving into the a beautiful date palm oasis of San Ignacio. The RV Park is a short walk from the Historic Square and Colonial Mission in the center of town.
San Ignacio has a population of about 4000 and is home to the magnificent Mission of San Ignacio. The site for the original mission was founded in the Cochimi settlement of Kadakaaman in 1728 by Jesuit missionary Juan Bautista Luyando. Constructed with Cochimi indigenous labour the current mission was completed by Dominican missionary Juan Gomez in 1786 and has lava rock with walls 4′ thick. The town square is very impressive shaded by 6 massive Indian laurel trees with trunks 3-4 feet in diameter.
DAY 6-8: Playa Santispac, Bahia Concepcion, Baja California Sur
(155 km/96 miles) Another short drive to Bahia Concepcion, which includes a driving by the historic mining town of Santa Rosalia before we arrive at the very popular RV destination for many Snowbirds with twelve (12) beach campgrounds. Bahia Concepcion (23 miles long) is the largest bay in Baja and is located a short drive south of Mulege. Our destination beach is Playa Santispac for the next 3 days. The experience of camping on a beach in the Bay of Concepcion grows on RVers which is why so many Canadians and Americans alike spend the entire winter here.
Because the waters off most beaches are so warm and calm, and because the water is so shallow, even the most timid landlubbers enjoy frolicking in the waters of Bahia Concepcion. The “large island” that can be seen way across the bay from these beaches is actually a large barren peninsula. A rough road traverses the peninsula to the tip, but there is very little out there besides rocks and cactus.
DAY 9-11: Loreto, Baja California Sur
(119 km/74 miles) Our short drive today takes us to the town of Loreto. Loreto is the birthplace of California, as it was the first permanent settlement anywhere in the Californians, including the U.S. state to the north. Loreto was the capital of both Californias’ for 132 years and was a sleepy village where summer’s heat made for a laid-back pace for locals and visitors. It had changed very little until the 1960’s. Fisherman began to learn about the Dorado, Yellowtail, Marlin, Sailfish, Grouper, Rock Sea Bass, Roosterfish and other species being caught there. This prompted the Hotel Oasis to be opened in 1963 and it is the oldest of the old Loreto resort hotels still around.
Loreto is very outdoorsy with the center of town having great shopping for tourists in a kind of market atmosphere. There are great restaurants, a beautiful Malecon (beach front walk), and lovely people. We will be staying at an RV Park which is walking distance to the center of town and to the beach. This park has very friendly owners, great hot showers, on-site laundry and reliable Wi-Fi.
Our visit to Loreto will include an opportunity to visit “Nuestra Senora de Loreto” (Our Lady of Loreto) mission which was the first 17th century development which began the entire California mission system. There are seven buildings in Loreto from the 18th to 20th century that are considered “historical monuments” by the federal government which is the start of “the royal road” (“El Camino Real”), an historic corridor that ends in Sonoma, California, USA and follows the ancient route of the Spanish missions.
DAY 12-14: El Centenario, Baja California Sur
(355 km/208 miles) Today will be a longer driving day as we are now headed inland thru the farming belt of Baja that includes Ciudad Insurgentes and Constitucion on our way Campestre Maranatha located in El Centanario. On arrival you will be able to check your Wi-Fi, perhaps go for a dip in the pool or have a coffee and sticky bun at the Café Equisito located in the RV Park. We have an excursion into La Paz where you can visit the wonderful Malecon, check out the Mercado or head out and swim with Whale Sharks! We also have an excursion planned to Todos Santos located on the Pacific Ocean where we cross the Tropic of Cancer.
La Paz (pronounced “the peace” in English) is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, with a 2024 census population of 295,169 inhabitants, making it the most populous city in the state.
The first European known to have landed in Baja California was Fortún Ximénez. In 1533, shortly after the conquest of Tenochtitlan, Hernán Cortés sent two ships, Concepción, under the command of captain and commander of the expedition, Diego de Becerra, and San Lázaro under Capt. Hernando de Grijalva, to explore the South Seas of the Pacific Ocean. The ships set out 30 November 1533, to travel north along the coast of New Spain from present-day Manzanillo, Colima, in search of two ships that had been lost without a trace on a similar voyage the previous year. By 20 December the ships had separated; San Lázaro, which had gone ahead, waited three days for Concepción and after no sighting of its companion vessel, Capt. Grijalva dedicated himself to exploring the region and discovered the Revillagigedo Islands. On board the Concepción, Ximénez, the navigator and second in command, led a revolt in which Capt. Becerra was killed in his sleep by Ximénez. Also the crewmen loyal to the murdered captain were attacked and later rebel sailors abandoned both the wounded navigators and the Franciscan friars accompanying the expedition on the coast of present-day Michoacán.
El Centenario is a small seaside town located in La Paz Municipality approximately 15 km west of La Paz, the capital city of Baja California Sur. El Centenario had a 2010 census population of 4,696 persons. On our first visit to Baja in 1985 we stayed at an RV Park on the beach as you enter the town which is now closed.
El Centenario was founded in the 1960s as an agrarian/fishing Ejido by approximately 25 founding families. Each of the original families was delegated land to use for farming and on which to build a dwelling, while the land remained under the ownership of the communal Ejido. During the 1990s, due to reforms associated with the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexican Ejidos were granted rights to deliver legal ownership of Ejido land to the members, thus changing from communal ownership to private ownership.
Day 15-17 Tecolote, Baja California Sur
(45 km/29 miles) We will get a later start today as we have a short drive on our way to Playa El Tecolote where we arrive well before lunch and spending some serious beach time for the next 3 days. Shortly after our departure we will be at the entrance of La Paz and stopping to grocery up for our boon docking (dry camping) on the beach. Our route follows the bypass to the Ferry Terminal and a fuel stop. Tecolote is located about three kilometers (1.5 mi) beyond the Playa Balandra turnoff and is a wide, long beach backed by vegetated dunes. Swimming and kayaking are always popular here and because El Tecolote is open to the stiff breezes of Canal de San Lorenzo, the camping is insect-free.
We will be joining many other RVers who often make this beach their winter home for the entire season. Two palapa restaurants, El Tecolote and Palapa Azul sell seafood and cold beverages and rent pangas, beach chairs and umbrellas, fishing gear, and plastic canoes. Free municipal palapas, barbecue grills, and trash barrels dot the beach north and south of the restaurants. Isla Espiritu Santo is 6.5 kilometers (4 mi) away and clearly visible in the distance; you can hire a panga to cross the channel, swimming with Sea Lions tours are available right off the beach.
DAY 18-20: Los Barriles, Baja California Sur
Today is another short drive on Hwy 1 as we return to the Sea of Cortez to Los Barriles, Spanish for “The Barrels”. Our destination is the waterfront Playa Norte RV Park. Along the way we will stop in El Triunfo for brunch at the Caffe El Triunfo. Los Barriles began as a fishing village and was given the name as ships from all countries stopped here to refill with fresh spring water, not an easy commodity to find on Baja on the coast.
We have an excursion into town which is a 30 minute walk from our RV Park, we also have a Happy Hour planned during our stay. Los Barriles offers many shopping opportunities, banking, many restaurants and laundry as well. Los Barriles is the new hub for RVers on Baja with several RV Parks now well established. Playa Norte has been around for many years and is on the water with all the amenities including 30A & 50A power and Wi-Fi is available. Kite Boarding, Wind Surfing, Fishing and ATVing are very popular as you will see during your stay.
DAY 21: Constitución, Baja California Sur
(313 km/194 miles) Today we return to Constitución for 1 night and our destination is the Misiones RV Park, started by an Austrian decades ago. It is the seat of the municipality of Comondu. As of 2020, the city had a total population of 43,805 inhabitants. Ciudad Constitución is a small city which serves as a gateway to Magdalena Bay. We have scheduled a hosted authentic Mexican catered dinner and made arrangements for a local folkloric dance performance.
The colonization of Valle de Santo Domingo (Valley of Santo Domingo) originated around 1940. A ranch called El Crucero (“The Crossroad”) was settled in a crossroad. Because of this, people started to gather around it and the population started to grow. It quickly became a commercial hub and an obligatory travel stop for all the inhabitants of Valle de Santo Domingo, as well as for people going north or south on the peninsula. Then, it became known as Villa Constitución, and later, Ciudad Constitución. Even today, many locals still call it “El Crucero”.
DAY 22 – 24: Playa El Requesón, BCS
(236 km/147 miles) Today we retrace our drive on Hwy 1 northbound as we return to Bahia Concepcion and Playa El Requesón for the next 2 days. Todays drive will include a body break and photo stop overlooking the Loreto National Marine Reserve. We will arrive before lunch and have nothing planned during the next 4 days. This is a great time for some beach time R&R or drop over to Mark & Olivia’s Restaurant next door at the Buenaventura Resort. Mark is a huge Green Bay Packer’s fan so do not be surprised if the game is on.
Playa El Requesón, located on the stunning and famous Bahia Concepcion (Bay of Conception) in Baja California Sur, Mexico, is a remarkable destination that offers visitors of all kinds a unique blend of natural beauty and tranquility. Known as one of the best beaches in the region, Playa El Requesón captivates visitors with its pristine white sandy shore, shallow blue waters, and serene atmosphere. This relatively hidden gem is a perfect spot for beach camping or day visits, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the unspoiled beauty of Baja California Sur.
As you arrive at Playa El Requesón, you’ll first notice the breathtaking landscape that stretches before you. The beach is framed by the picturesque rugged desert terrain of Baja California, where cacti and hardy shrubs thrive under the warm Mexican sun.
The contrast between the arid desert and the calm, inviting waters of the Sea of Cortez is striking, making this one of the most spectacular beaches in the area. The soft sand of Playa El Requesón gradually slopes into the bay’s shallow waters, creating a perfect environment for swimming, wading, and relaxing along the shore. Various wildlife call these waters home, including stingrays that frequent the area in the famous spring months and require you to know where you walk.
DAY 25: Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur
(285 km/177 miles)
Today well return to Guerrero Negro and a different campground which includes a unique restaurant, Wi-Fi and a good place to collect scallop shells! This is just an overnight stop to break up the drive to Bay of Los Angeles in the morning.
Note: Change your watch when you leave Guerrero Negro (actually at the giant Eagle monument just north of town) which is on the 28th parallel. Mountain Standard Time on the south, Pacific Standard on the north side.
DAY 26 – 27: Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California
(198 km/123 miles) We continue north and our final leg is from the junction on Mex 1 until a junction where we will take a paved road 66 km down to the Sea of Cortez and the sleepy fishing village of Bahía de los Ángeles (“Bay of Angels”). We will spend 3 evenings and sunrises in one of the most scenic spots in Baja California. We are heading for Campo Archelon which has clean restrooms, showers and a cafe. Our hosted on-tour excursion includes a visit to town, the “must see” Museo De Naturaleza Y Cultura run by Mexican, American and Canadian volunteers. The campground is waterfront and has gorgeous sunrises, you can also take beach walks in either direction.
Campo Archelon is the site of the now defunct sea turtle rescue and research center in Bahia se Los Angeles. Campo Archelon founders and owners are Antonio and Bety Resendiz, good friends of Dan & Lisa Goy, founders of Baja Amigos. Sadly Antonio passed away suddenly at Easter time in 2016 while the Goys were visiting with his family in Mexico City. “Tony,” a former Mexican government biologist, had boundless energy, was passionate about conservation and sustainability, and was always happy to advise you about activities or trips provided by locals. Bety often volunteers at the museum in town, and Antonio Jr. operates the Siete Filos Cafe on site.
The sunrises over Isla Angel de la Guarda and the islands of the inner bay are always terrific. At low tide the shore is rocky… at high tide it’s sandy. One or two kayaks are available for camper use. Shore birds abound and it’s easy to get great photographs of pelicans, egrets, boobies and oystercatchers even from the comfort of your palapa.
Archelon is an extinct marine turtle from the Late Cretaceous, and is the largest turtle ever to have been documented, with the biggest specimen measuring 4.6 m (15 ft) from head to tail and 2.2–3.2 t (2.4–3.5 short tons) in body mass and weighed as much as a small pickup.
DAY 28: Gonzaga Bay, Baja California
(178 km/111 miles) Today we head off for another beach stop, this time this Gonzaga Bay (Bahia de Gonzaga) another beautiful and tranquil destination on Baja. Bahia de Gonzaga is approximately 145 km/90 miles south of San Felipe and about 77 km/48 miles south of Puertecitos. Hwy 5 south from Puertecitos has long had a reputation for being one of the worst roads in Baja, however that all changed in 2020 when the road was finally completed to Hwy 1 at south of Catavina.
Although Gonzaga Bay has been occupied by Papa Fernandez and various fishermen since the early days, the beautiful beaches of Bahia de Gonzaga sat empty for the first half of the 1900’s, until the late 50’s when James Adkins Sr. landed his plane on the desolate tidal flat behind the beach and set up the first trailer on the wide sandspit that would later become home to a few dozen local residents.
DAY 29: San Felipe, Baja California
(180 km/112 miles)
This is the last full day in Mexico and we are headed for San Felipe and a visit to the Malecon. Afterward, we headed to the full-service RV Park for a wine tasting and a decent restaurant on site. Please take the opportunity to dump and prepare to cross the border back into the US tomorrow. This is a great opportunity to enjoy one last Margarita in Mexico.
Located on the Sea of Cortez, San Felipe is 3 meters above sea level. At low tide, the water can recede as much as 2 km. San Felipe experiences one of the largest tidal bores in the world due in part to the Colorado River delta to the north. The seven-meter tides expose a kilometer of ocean floor. Historically dependent on fishing and now on tourism, San Felipe caters mostly to U.S. travelers and now has an international airport.
Day 30: Calexico, California, USA
(208 km/129 miles) Today we get an early start and head back into the US at the Calexico East Port of entry. It connects the cities of Calexico, California and Mexicali, Baja California. It connects directly to California State Route 7. Our last leg of your Mexican adventure takes us past San Felipe and thru the outskirts of Mexicali. Once in line we just wait our turn, this has taken us anywhere from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours to cross depending on traffic. After we cross and clear customs we will stop and collect up the radios and say our goodbyes.
Viajes seguros!
