The Plan
Mark and I had been playing around with the idea of going to Baja California, Mexico, during the winter since the fall of 2020. But as long as I needed reliable internet every day (first to publish my book, then to promote it, on top of other jobs and blogging commitments), crossing the border was not going to happen.
As January approached and we found ourselves in an uninspiring, windy California desert that turned even more chilly from the moment the sun set (before 5pm), the desire to find warmer weather grew. Don’t forget our home measures only 80sq feet, so being able to live outside is a requirement. Whenever my live webinar/presentation for the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) was delivered, we would leave the US for a chunk of time.
Except, the day after my “performance,” rumor had it that the border officials in Mexicali were cranking down on non-essential travel into their municipality. Would they turn us back if we crossed there, even when only driving through? We didn’t want to lie about our reason for visiting (saying that we were going to Mexico for dental work for example), besides, I’d just been to the dentist.
So we changed our plans, added a few more days to prepping our crossing, which now included an extra drive back east to a different border town after doing laundry, washing Zesty, and stocking up the van in Yuma, AZ, instead of El Centro, CA.
The interior of Baja California seen from the interior of Zesty
(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read the captions. My photos are heavily resized for easier loading of the page.)
The Border Crossing
The border town of San Luis Rio Colorado was a mellow stop for Zesty and crew. A military guy – masked – gave our van a look over, before we parked a block away from Immigration. There, we filled out our tourist card (me with the help of the friendly official as the letters were so tiny even my glasses couldn’t do their job) and paid the equivalent of $30 per person. Because we preferred to pay with credit card, we settled our bill then and there, instead of adding an extra step – paying in cash at the bancerito. We entered the country as “tourists,” no problema!
Next up: purchasing car insurance (usually, we’d arrange that – and the tourist visas – ahead of time, online, but because there was a chance we’d be refused entry, we didn’t want to risk losing two hundred dollars), taking pesos out at an ATM, buying a Sim card, and figuring out a data plan for internet. A good hour after checking into Mexico, we were on our way, first west again to reach Highway 5 (which has recently been paved), then south to the sun.
Neglected, rejected, and disposed cars along the road towards Highway 5.
From the moment we left San Luis Rio Colorado, trash, disposed cars, and stray dogs – dead and alive – were omnipresent. You have to take the good with the bad when you travel. Or even when you remain in your own country…
Beach walk with Maya and Mark
Heading South
Mark and I, and our dogs Kali and Darwin, started what was to become an extended North and Central America RV trip in Baja about fifteen years ago. We explored the peninsula for five weeks before we hopped on a ferry in La Paz to reach mainland Mexico. That 2006 adventure, which is touched upon in Chapter Two of my travel memoir Plunge, would unexpectedly bring us all the way to Panama (and back); we have a tendency to keep going once we set out…
Not now. The three of us would only drive as far as needed to finally be warm. Our intended destination was Bahia Concepcion in Baja California Sur, just south of Mulegé, on the Sea of Cortez. We hoped to get there after a week on the road.
Glimpse of the Sea of Cortez while driving Zesty
Playa Hermosa
Mark, Maya, and I crossed the border into Mexico on February 1st, 2021, and spent the first night at an overpriced campground on the beach south of San Felipe. We managed to bargain on the fee, not quite to where we would like it (the price mentioned in our resources), but we were tired and needed to stop for the night. We understand the devastation Covid has caused on the tourism industry and we happily pay for services offered, but we don’t like to be taken advantage of.
First campsite in cloudy and chilly Baja
We enjoyed the peace and quiet of this place, a few steps away from an extensive white sand beach, so we stayed until noon the following day. Cold showers (a tube from the wall), toilets, picnic tables, and trash collection are available. Price: 400 pesos (US$20) asked; 250 pesos (US$12.50) paid. Beware of the dogs. I was bitten by one of them in my calf. We will not return here.
Papa Fernandez
This was a pretty, remote campground at the end of a bad, rocky road overlooking a pebbly beach. Pit toilets and trash collection are available and there is a restaurant on site. WiFi is offered for an extra fee (25 pesos per hour); it works intermittently. The price for camping is 100 pesos (US$5) per night. We met a fellow vanlifer here, Ivan from Spain, whom we became friends with.
Tricky road and hill to get to the camping area of Papa Fernandez
Dunes North of Guerrero Negro
There is free camping to be found in Baja as well. In general, Mark and I paid – unlike in the US, where we always boondock and camp for free – for two reasons: because this trip acts as a reward for all our hard work the previous years (let’s have some comfort and ease, please!) and because we want to support the local economy. That being said, based on our route and timing, we are camping for free once in a while. This dune area was the first spot to try it out, right before fueling and buying groceries in Guerrero Negro the following day.
Scammon’s Lagoon
Before entering Baja California Sur in earnest, we spent one more (free) night near town. At this point, we had almost been a week in Mexico and we were still wearing long clothes, nowhere near our Sea of Cortez beach destination! More about that in the near future…
Practical Information:
- One US dollar is approximately 20 Mexican pesos.
- Best place to park the vehicle in San Luis Rio Colorado: the street parallel to the entrance road coming from the US, the one to the right, heading towards the border wall.
- Tourist card (visa): US$30 (594 pesos) per person, valid for 180 days.
- Liability insurance for your car is mandatory in Mexico. Our US insurance covers us in other cases. We used the company Baja Bound to buy insurance for six months (more affordable than shorter time frames) and paid US$140. This is a US company.
- We bought a SIM card for Telcel’s Amigo plan (pre-paid) at an Oxo store for about 30 pesos and put 50 pesos of credit on it (the minimum). That entire amount, the equivalent of US$4, allows your phone to work and use the internet. It’s enough to surf to the Telcel website and buy a plan. We bought an 8GB plan for 500 pesos (US$25). You can do this with a credit card.
- Info about Telcel’s cell/data service plans: https://www.telcel.com/personas/telefonia/amigo/paquetes-end/mb-para-tu-amigo. There are phone + internet and just internet options. After inserting the SIM and confirming the internet works, we went here to buy a new plan: http://pqtmex.telcel.com/. We paid with a US credit card.
- We use the excellent and free app/website iOverlander to find campsites in Mexico (as well as in the US).
Tips:
- The car insurance policy with Baja Bound starts on the hour. Take that into account and linger/shop a bit longer in town before hitting the road if the policy has not been activated yet.
- Bring an egg carton into the country as eggs are sold by the piece or by the carton (30 eggs).
- Fuel seemed much more expensive in Baja California Sur than in Norte. Fill up before reaching Guerrero Negro.
- Toilet paper goes into the trash can provided, never IN the toilet bowl.
- Brush up on your Spanish!
Sunrise at Papa Fernandez. Since the sun rises late, it is actually possible to catch sunrise these weeks!
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February 24, 2021 at 19:17
Hi, Liesbet – I continue to admire the flexibility and spontaneity of all three of you! I’ve also greatly appreciated this virtual travel…and the tips!
February 25, 2021 at 18:00
Hi Donna! I’m delighted you are traveling with us, virtually. It feels so good to be experiencing a different culture, food, and language after many years in the US. While we live on the road, I was truly missing being abroad.
February 24, 2021 at 19:28
That’s a lot of prep work followed by a lot of prayer it all goes through. Nice that you are supporting their economy.
February 25, 2021 at 18:01
Hi Alex! While we are used to taking things as they come, the pandemic has thrown a few curve balls for everyone, including us. We adjust and make decisions based on the (new) circumstances…
February 24, 2021 at 20:00
Great point, Liesbet “…living outside is a requirement.” Your lifestyle is 24/7 camping. Our few weeks of camping each year teach us this. Even now the rules crossing the borders seem to be in flux. Being organized, research and giving forethought to your planning encourages better results. Interesting about the good and the bad.
Your “nameless” an old truck, camper made me smile. You mentioned awhile ago you were reconsidering a truck/camper again? I enjoy the captions you place on the photos. Huge Wow, on Scammon’s Lagoon. Fascinating all the extra details and expenses you share, Liesbet. Even something like bringing an egg carton. The stunning sunrise! Another Wow! Safe travels, Liesbet!
February 25, 2021 at 18:08
Hi Erica!
You will enjoy my next post about a Baja adventure in a few weeks, as you and I both love and respect nature and wildlife… 🙂 You might have seen a glimpse on Instagram already.
While living in a house sometimes sounds appealing, especially when my back hurts (which is every morning) and I feel otherwise uncomfortable, I have nomadic blood and I don’t think that will ever change. As we are considering buying a small swelling, all I can think about is the work and the responsibilities involved.
Another truck camper is certainly in my future. Hopefully, my near future. I’m not getting any younger and time is flying way too fast!
February 25, 2021 at 20:19
I will check Instagram for clues, Liesbet. I look forward to Part 2. 🙂
February 26, 2021 at 09:31
🙂 There might be a few more parts to the Baja Bound adventure, depending on the length of our time here and my focus on the subjects.
February 24, 2021 at 20:24
Great tips I never would have thought of, in case I travel to Mexico! That Kali is a beautiful dog, Liesbet. But you know that.
February 25, 2021 at 18:11
Kali was Mark’s favorite dog of all times, Jacqui. We both adored her. She was beautiful and unique. 🙂 We had forgotten about the lack of egg cartons in Mexico and only had a dirty cut-in-half one left in our fridge when needing more huevos… So, we washed that and have been using it, buying less eggs than we normally would, haha.
February 24, 2021 at 20:42
Hi Liesbet! Love seeing your photos and hearing your adventures. Yes it can be cold early in the year for sure but as you go south it will get better and better. And are you not going all the way to Loreto? We really liked it there. Maybe a bit more expensive but a nice little town and nice people. Oh, and when we go we usually get insurance through Lewis and Lewis, they tend to be a bit less expensive and are also U.S. Plus if you have a cell phone account through T-Mobile your cell (and texts) and hotspot includes MX. That is one reason why we went with T-Mobile. Yes, there are limits to the data but still pretty decent plan (and we can also use it in Canada!) And I AM working on my Spanish. But taking an online class through Duolingo for 187 days now. Not fluent but I think I can get a lot of point across. Que bueno! ~Kathy
February 26, 2021 at 09:01
Hi Kathy!
Congratulations on your progress with Spanish. You’ve been at it for a long time. That’s great! I should take a course or brush up on my Spanish (which is pretty non-existent apart from vocabulary and phrases I picked up over the years and some “Spanized” French) as well. Luckily, languages come easy to me.
Thank you for your tips as well. If there’s a next time, we will look into Lewis & Lewis for insurance. Maybe Mark checked them out. He’s still sleeping, so I can’t ask yet. I know he always does a lot of research before we commit to or buy anything.
We used to have T-Mobile in the US for a few years, when running our business. Because we lived on the road, we covered lots of different areas. Our cell plan did not and it was a frustrating affair, especially when we drove across the country or spent time in more remote areas. Without internet, one can’t run a business. We’ve been happy with the switch to AT&T in the States.
In Canada, we never bought a SIM card or data plan (way too expensive) and managed to get by with free WiFi provided in libraries and elsewhere. This would be more difficult to count on during the pandemic. In Mexico, we get by with WiFi at our favorite campground in Mulege and with our Telcel plan elsewhere. If we can make those 8GB last for a month, for $25, that’s not too bad. There is also the option to buy unlimited internet from Telcel for 15 pesos an hour if we needed to do heavier-duty tasks.
Not sure if we make it to Loreto. This will depend on a few distractions here in Mulege and how far south we follow Bahia Concepcion. Right now, we don’t see a reason to as we stopped there fifteen years ago and find what we need in Mulege. 🙂
February 25, 2021 at 10:56
Have fun. Baja rocks!
February 26, 2021 at 09:02
It does!! We might never leave. 🙂 It’s probably different to visit by boat, though…
February 25, 2021 at 12:49
Exciting! Good to read about somewhere different while looking out at the Glasgow rain.
February 26, 2021 at 09:04
I do feel bad for everyone being stuck in colder climates during winter, especially this winter. Hopefully some of my photos will bring brightness all the way to Glasgow. My parents talked about spring temperatures in Belgium recently. Hopefully those make it a tad further north!
February 25, 2021 at 13:20
As usual, I read your post with interest tinged with a bit of horror. Hubby and I love to go to an area and drive randomly just to see what we can see; but we both want the “home base” security of a warm place with a shower and toilet at the end of the day. It’s very cool to follow your adventures (without having to share them). 😉
February 26, 2021 at 09:11
Hi Diane,
That warm place with a shower and a toilet sounds mighty nice at times. As does the sound of a home base. Yet, when I indulge in that idea, I get really, really scared. And I’m not easily scared… The responsibilities and commitment that come with home ownership do freak me out.
Here’s another “horror-like” tidbit, especially for you: a couple of days ago, we returned from “the beach” (no facilities) to our campground here in Mulege, looking forward to finally take a decent shower again (they do have hot water showers here!) and to give our salty, crusty dog a bath. Guess what? The city water had been turned off for days, because the water company didn’t pay their electric bill. NO running water anywhere in town, during a pandemic… As if the restaurants and small businesses haven’t been suffering enough.
This phenomenon has been happening all winter, but we hadn’t experienced it yet ourselves. We’d just heard and read about it. And this is where being self-contained comes in handy… we had water in our tank for our personal needs (bit skipped that shower to preserve our precious liquid). And, we sent Maya in the Mulege River. 🙂
February 26, 2021 at 16:15
Yikes! I didn’t realize that had been happening. I can’t imagine how awful it must be for homeowners and businesspeople to have their water supply cut off. That starts to make your mobility look very attractive indeed – at least you could move on and find water elsewhere.
February 26, 2021 at 17:51
The advantage of being mobile, for sure. But, we like it here. Plus, the next town of significance is a 2.5-hour drive. We managed to buy “agua purificada” (which is potable) from a store during the water cut-off. We didn’t know about the city’s problem at that time and had been wondering why this water store was extremely busy and why people were filling buckets with water from the river and hauling it home…
February 25, 2021 at 13:27
It seems even Maya likes a warmer clime. I admire your intentions here: supporting the local economy + the trip as a reward for all your “hard work the previous years (let’s have some comfort and ease, please!)”
The toilet paper protocol, putting the paper into a bin rather than flushing seems odd, but that was how it was done in Ukraine too. :-/
February 26, 2021 at 09:16
Hi Marian!
Maya is the weirdest dog. There just is no rhyme or reason regarding her behavior and preferences. She used to HATE the sun, always looking for shade and showing us how uncomfortable she was going for a walk outside when it was warm – not even hot! Now, since we’ve entered Mexico, she lies in the sun with a smile on her face, just like the strays. It is weird. But, she loves it here as well.
Mark and I have been throwing toilet paper in a bin instead of the toilet for over a decade. We did this on our boat and in every camper we owned, to avoid plugging the system. No plumbers in our life; we always fix and solve issues ourselves. And, Mark hates rebuilding the toilet. 🙂 Anyway, this tissue custom in Mexico, therefore, comes very easy to us.
February 25, 2021 at 15:54
I miss Mexico! We are looking forward to being able to get on a plane and head south. Enjoy your well-earned comfort and ease!
February 26, 2021 at 09:17
Thank you, Janis! We are glad we made the decision this year to head into Baja. I hope you and Paul will be able to fly across the border soon as well. Everyone can use a bit of “fun in the sun” about now!
February 25, 2021 at 19:46
Such a shame your sand dollar broke! When we were in Baja we found giant sand dollars. We brought one back for a good friend in Florida who collects seashells.
That water is so pretty! Wish we were there with you.
February 26, 2021 at 09:24
Hi Duwan!
That water has been darn cold and definitely not as pretty as the Bahamas or the Caribbean. But, we will take it. 🙂
I was incredibly bummed about that special sand dollar breaking into 100 pieces. It looked like the perfect ornament. Another lesson to NEVER get attached to things. I don’t often like something to the extend I couldn’t live without it, but losing that sand dollar sucked.
Like when Mark’s Hawaiian fruit bowl broke that day in Ajo. We should have finally moved that bowl when driving (on bumpy roads) as that’s where my sand dollar was located and how it broke. 🙁
February 26, 2021 at 04:13
That sunrise alone is reason enough to want to cross the border. Sounds like there has been a bit more planning and preparation for this trip, but it certainly has paid off. It looks beautiful and I am sure Maya is also loving it there. I long for warm weather and I noticed today that the days are starting to get longer and there is a feel that Spring will be here soon. Keep having fun.
February 26, 2021 at 09:34
Spring is around the corner, Gilda! Even though I hate how time flies, it does mean warmer weather soon. Even here is has been a tad chilly and there is no way we will be swimming in the Sea of Cortez. The water is icy! I had to take a shower in it recently and it – literally – hurt! Yes, our whole family approves of this trip and location. 🙂
February 26, 2021 at 09:57
Hope you have found some sustained warmth by now – I know you needed to bake some of the chill out of your bones!
February 26, 2021 at 17:48
Hi Lexie! It’s slowly warming up here, about 2/3 down the Baja peninsula. Reaching the mid-seventies. But it has been extremely windy, so we have to plan around the weather when deciding where to camp. Just like on the boat!! Plus, the sea water is frigid. Which, apparently, is a good sign regarding less (strong) hurricanes… Hope you are both doing okay and your husband managed during the mess and craziness earlier this month. I assume you’re back in Texas?
February 27, 2021 at 10:06
I’m so sorry you got bitten by a stray dog, Liesbet. Did you need a tetanus jab?
I love the sand dollar. Never heard of them before. What exactly are they?
The dogs look like they love the sea. I hope the weather has gotten warmer for you?
Here in the UK, we’re still in full lockdown and it’s now illegal to go on holiday out of or in the country. Are there many tourists about , or is it pretty much quiet?
February 27, 2021 at 22:21
Hi Hugh!
Thank you for your concern abut the dog bite. Its teeth went through my jeans. Strangely, there is no hole in my pants, but my skin was slightly pierced. We didn’t think it would be a big deal and, luckily, it wasn’t. I’ve gotten bitten by dogs before.
I don’t know why sand dollars are called that way, but they are the skeletons of sea urchins. They are usually round. We have visited many places (especially by boat) where they are omnipresent on beaches. They are very brittle. This one had a unique shape, which made it extraordinary to us…
I don’t want to complain about the weather this last month, but it is not what people think when they have Mexico in mind. Let’s just say that we are happy to wear shorts and T-shirts whenever it is possible. We still wear long clothes in the evenings (and on cloudy days) and swimming in the sea would be uncomfortable and numbing. But, it is certainly warmer than in Europe and most of the US. 🙂
There are few if any tourists about, except for international campers and RVers who arrived in their own vehicles. And plenty of expats since it is winter. The Canadians who usually “occupy” a huge chunk of Baja California in their RVs didn’t come down this year, because of the restrictions, so it is VERY quiet on the beaches, which is nice. This is one of the reasons we decided to cross the border into Baja. We don’t like crowds, especially during the pandemic, and this part of Mexico is sparsely populated.
February 28, 2021 at 05:46
Thanks for the explanation as to what a sand dollar is, Liesbet. I’ve never heard of them before. Given that they are so brittle, I’m guessing they don’t last long?
Glad to hear that your jeans gave some protection against the dog bite. Heavens forbid if you’d have been wearing shorts that day. I’m guessing there are lots of stray dogs in Mexico?
It sounds as if you have the place pretty much to yourself. We’re enjoying a brief spell of spring weather at the moment, but it bought the crowds out yesterday when there is supposed to be a ‘stay at home’ rule in place. I was shocked to see large groups of people together, so didn’t stay out very long with the dogs.
Baja sounds as if it has a nice climate. The type of summer climate I like in the summer when the cool nights help me sleep better.
I’m looking forward to reading part two of this adventure.
March 3, 2021 at 12:24
Sand dollars are quite brittle, Hugh. You can compare them to delicate shells. That being said, I have managed to bring a handfuls on a plane to Belgium to give as presents to friends and family, years ago. When they break, they pulverize into sand. It’s sad…
There are heaps of stray dogs in Mexico and most of them are sweet or scared. They crave love and attention. The problem is that, when we give them love and attention, they come home with us and that’s not okay, because then we have to chase them off in the end as we can’t adopt more dogs. The camper is not big enough. So, it’s almost better to totally ignore them, which pulls on my heart strings as well. It’s a tough situation.
You might like the Baja climate in the winter time, Hugh. Not too hot during the day and chilly at night. The summers are a different story with hot and humid weather – the kind you hate! 🙂
It is very nice to not have hordes of people around. We couldn’t be anywhere like that. Not in normal situations and definitely not during the pandemic. I’m sorry to hear that people were being stupid during the brief spell of spring weather in the UK. Sigh…
March 4, 2021 at 04:22
Argh, defiantly not the place to visit in the summer then. 🥵
March 4, 2021 at 13:51
Nope. 🙂
February 27, 2021 at 18:00
Nice sandy beaches and sunrise, Liesbet. I hope the dog bite hasn’t given you any health problem.
February 27, 2021 at 22:23
No problems with the dog bite, Natalie. Just a bit of a shock when it happened. The wound is almost healed four weeks later and doesn’t concern me. I almost see things like this as a part of life… Every time I come to Mexico, I get bitten by at least one dog for some reason.
February 28, 2021 at 13:42
I love the warm, sunny beaches! That looks like a lovely trip!
March 3, 2021 at 12:25
So far so good, Bethany. Despite the strong winds most days, our little family is having a great time in Baja. 🙂
February 28, 2021 at 17:31
Beautiful shots of Baja, Liesbet. If you ever go further south past La Paz and into La Ventana, you’ll find windsurfers and Canadian snowbirds (pre-covid). It feels a little more tropical there than where you guys have been. Even the town of Los Barrilles, also on the sea of Cortez is charming and more artsy. I always felt like Baja was the “wild west” and I was continually grateful Hans speaks fluent Spanish. Talked himself out of a couple of traffic tickets back in the day!
March 3, 2021 at 12:29
Hi Terri! We won’t go further south on this trip. Not necessary. The temperature is reasonable (I know it is warmer down south, where we might even be able to get in the water), but Mulege is pretty tropical and the beaches along Bahia Concepcion are alright. We just don’t feel like driving more than we need to and diesel is crazy expensive. By the way, with the amount of wind the rest of Baja is experiencing these weeks, the windsurfers could move north from La Ventana! 🙂 Nice to have a Spanish speaker in the family!
March 1, 2021 at 21:39
Wow, I’d never heard of some of the parts you visited. One thing I do know, is some Spanish, and sim cards and packages are dirt cheap in Mexico. I buy a $14 equivalent in CAD good for one month, call Canada US and Mexico and 2 gigs of data and unlimited text. Can’t beat that! I admire both you guys’ stamina for going through all that gruel at borders. I couldn’t do it, lol. 🙂 xx
March 3, 2021 at 12:32
Hi Debby! The only reason these tiny places in Baja are on our radar is because we find them in our camping resource. Often, when I write my diary at night, I ask Mark: “Where are we?” And, honestly, we have no idea, because there is no town nearby or Google Maps (if the internet works) doesn’t share any details. I have to find the name of the campground on a photo or in iOverlander to be able to pin our place for the night down. Or, I type “south of…” or “north of…” 🙂
March 3, 2021 at 14:56
You are the great investigator! 🙂
March 3, 2021 at 17:38
🙂
March 2, 2021 at 06:12
hi
live that ending sunrise and enjoyed the details and tips
glad you made it into the country and got a bit of reward for some refreshment
😊🌸
March 3, 2021 at 12:33
Thanks, Yvette! So far, other than the heavier winds and colder temps than usually, Baja is treating us nicely and we are enjoying a calmer period in our lives. 🙂
March 4, 2021 at 12:39
Love your article. I have one question. When traveling into mainland Mexico you are required to buy a car permit. They don’t want you selling your vehicle in Mexico. I’m surprised that you could get on the Ferry in La Paz without one. Did you leave that detail out or were you not asked? They put a large sticker in your windshield showing that you have it.
March 4, 2021 at 13:51
Hi Lisa!
Good question. On this trip, we didn’t take the ferry to the mainland from La Paz. That one was sixteen years ago and yes, back then – and now – you need a vehicle permit in that area for the exact reasons you mention.
On this current trip, which is the one I am blogging about, we didn’t need a vehicle permit as in Baja California those are not required. They are also not required to visit Puerto Penasco for example. Basically, if you stay close to the border with the US or only visit Baja, these permits are not required. Hence, I didn’t mention it.
March 5, 2021 at 14:08
One of our top picks in the world for a trip. Your practical tips will be very useful for anyone , especially those driving, into Baja.
March 8, 2021 at 11:08
Thank you, Sue! Wow, you two really love Baja, having traveled all over the world and naming it one of your top picks. I will contemplate on that. 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
March 8, 2021 at 19:04
We have had two family trips in northern Baja where we rented large houses and had fabulous time to play together. Our week long guided kayaking trip from Loretto to La Paz, was one of the most peaceful experiences of our lives. Off the grid, camping on the beach and astounding wildlife. We also did a five day guided camping and whale watching trip at Magdalena Bay. My mouth basically hung open the entire time at the wonder of it all.
So not the place everyone might choose but for us the peacefulness was rejuvenating.
March 10, 2021 at 15:34
Hi Sue! I remember those guided trips, but didn’t realize you and Dave (and the family) have been here other times for different purposes. Baja has a lot to offer and much is off the beaten track. We often see dirt roads we would like to explore if we were to own a different vehicle. It’s easy to find peace and solitude on this peninsula, which is quite desolate and arid, so not a popular destination. And that suits us just right. 🙂
March 8, 2021 at 05:27
A fabulous post, nicely written. I envy your freedom! The wish to travel as and when you desire… I love collecting information about new places that I wish to travel to someday. Mexico is one of the destinations I long to visit.
March 8, 2021 at 11:30
Hi Suhani! I hope you will be able to visit Mexico one day. I remember when I was in my early twenties, I first tried to visit this county from Belgium, but it didn’t work out. My second attempt – from the US – failed as well and, finally, when I turned thirty, I managed to explore Mexico for six months in a truck camper. Since then, we have briefly returned a couple of times. It’s a great place. Have a lovely week!
March 8, 2021 at 07:52
Hi Liesbet, loved reading about your adventures. The pictures look great. Thank you for providing so many tips about camping in Baja. Can’t wait to read about your Baja adventure.
March 8, 2021 at 11:31
Hi Kajal! Thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment. I’ll probably post my latest (February) expense report later this week and, hopefully, next week I can start posting about our Baja experiences again, including photos. 🙂
March 10, 2021 at 09:45
Hello old friend! Glad to see you are still traveling and still blogging! Feels like ages since we’ve connected! Hope all is well! Looks like things are going great for you guys! 🙂
March 10, 2021 at 15:39
Hi there, Mel! Welcome back to Roaming About and to blogging! I see you did a make-over on your blog and you have been able to get out and about a bit more. Fun! And, wow, your little one has grown a bunch! Things are well with us. Taking a break from work and stress on the Baja peninsula for now. Stay safe and take care!!!
March 14, 2021 at 16:31
I have always wanted to explore Baja California. Someday… Re: the comments about SIM card and cell plans —yes, cell coverage in Canada is ridiculously expensive. We have only a few providers and they like to indulge in price fixing, which the regulatory authority seems to do nothing about.
Jude
March 14, 2021 at 16:43
Hi Jude! Every time Mark and I visit Canada, we try to survive on WiFi. So far, that has worked out for those three months in total, spread over two years. Canada is known for the high prices for data plans. Mexico is not too bad, especially when we can supplement our plans with free WiFi. 🙂 I hope you make it to Baja one day. We hope to return next winter.