Baja An Update
Armed with what everyone said is essential, the Mike and Terri Church book on Camping in the Baja, the latest and very out of date Moon Book and my previous experience which predated the birth of the authors of either volume I am sure, which makes my contribution less than helpful we ventured into the Baja.
Our plans were simple. Take our truck and 31 foot trailer to the Baja for the winter and emerge sometime in March. Our route Mexicali to San Felipe, south to Puertecitos and on to Alfonsinas and then to Highway 1 where we would continue south hitting the important and scenic spots down to to La Paz, Los Barriles and Todos Santos.
Our first stop was the very friendly Villa Marina Touristico RV park in San Felipe. Right on the beach overlooking the Sea of Cortez we stayed a week. The full time residents were all friendly and welcoming.
We left SF on Race Day of the Baja 1000 hoping to make highway 1 before the racers started north on Mex 5. We didn’t quite make it and were stopped at Cocos Corners where Coco allowed everyone to spend the night for free. Race cars, trucks, dune buggies and motorcycles raced by all night.
First thing in the morning Coco said everyone could go. The road south was once again open. However not all the race cars had gone through and as we traversed the narrow rough road we found ourselves facing a speeding race car often doing 70 or 75 Mph as it skidded by us.
The road: the road south is paved and very good past Alfonsinas, where it turns to dirt/gravel and VERY rough through the construction areas. While it is narrow and slow going it is certainly possible to drag your trailer down this road as I did with no problems. Someone just before me was reported to have driven their Class A Diesel pusher on the route. Tractor trailers with 53 foot trailers travel this road regularly. This is a much more scenic and fun route than hiway 1 through Ensanada and south.
After our impromptu stay at Cocos Corners we then spent the night in Bahia De Los Angeles at Daggets RV park. This park is right on the beach and that is about all it has to recommend itself except for it’s very hot showers. They do not clean this place or even dump the garbage at the sites regularly. There is a motel on the property, all air conditioned, but not a single light bulb in the bathrooms and showers for the RV's which were dirty even by Mexican RV Park standards.
Our greeting was less than friendly by the young lady who was clearly born or raised in the states and who took our money. A rather steep 13$ US per night for NO hookups. Contrast that with Rice and Beans in San Ignacio where we stayed next for the same money we got full hookups.
I would not stay at Daggets again and would not recommend it.
As I have written many times on this forum I have lived and traveled all over the world and the Baja is a No-Brainer in terms of driving difficulty and finding your way around. The people are delightful, the prices low and the weather is great. As I write this in San Ignacio it is pushing 90 degrees but cool and pleasant at night.
To be continued.
Our plans were simple. Take our truck and 31 foot trailer to the Baja for the winter and emerge sometime in March. Our route Mexicali to San Felipe, south to Puertecitos and on to Alfonsinas and then to Highway 1 where we would continue south hitting the important and scenic spots down to to La Paz, Los Barriles and Todos Santos.
Our first stop was the very friendly Villa Marina Touristico RV park in San Felipe. Right on the beach overlooking the Sea of Cortez we stayed a week. The full time residents were all friendly and welcoming.
We left SF on Race Day of the Baja 1000 hoping to make highway 1 before the racers started north on Mex 5. We didn’t quite make it and were stopped at Cocos Corners where Coco allowed everyone to spend the night for free. Race cars, trucks, dune buggies and motorcycles raced by all night.
First thing in the morning Coco said everyone could go. The road south was once again open. However not all the race cars had gone through and as we traversed the narrow rough road we found ourselves facing a speeding race car often doing 70 or 75 Mph as it skidded by us.
The road: the road south is paved and very good past Alfonsinas, where it turns to dirt/gravel and VERY rough through the construction areas. While it is narrow and slow going it is certainly possible to drag your trailer down this road as I did with no problems. Someone just before me was reported to have driven their Class A Diesel pusher on the route. Tractor trailers with 53 foot trailers travel this road regularly. This is a much more scenic and fun route than hiway 1 through Ensanada and south.
After our impromptu stay at Cocos Corners we then spent the night in Bahia De Los Angeles at Daggets RV park. This park is right on the beach and that is about all it has to recommend itself except for it’s very hot showers. They do not clean this place or even dump the garbage at the sites regularly. There is a motel on the property, all air conditioned, but not a single light bulb in the bathrooms and showers for the RV's which were dirty even by Mexican RV Park standards.
Our greeting was less than friendly by the young lady who was clearly born or raised in the states and who took our money. A rather steep 13$ US per night for NO hookups. Contrast that with Rice and Beans in San Ignacio where we stayed next for the same money we got full hookups.
I would not stay at Daggets again and would not recommend it.
As I have written many times on this forum I have lived and traveled all over the world and the Baja is a No-Brainer in terms of driving difficulty and finding your way around. The people are delightful, the prices low and the weather is great. As I write this in San Ignacio it is pushing 90 degrees but cool and pleasant at night.
To be continued.
