Back on the Baja Peninsula- The Beauty of a Baja Road Trip

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Just two weeks ago Tom and I crossed the border back into Baja California, Mexico. The Baja peninsula is located just south of California, and boasts two extraordinary coastlines- one along the pristine Sea of Cortez, and one along the surfer-friendly Pacific Ocean. We spent several months in Baja last winter, and are thrilled to be back on the Baja Peninsula. The beauty of a Baja road trip cannot be overstated, and already we are feeling the peace and relaxation that Baja is famous for.

What makes the Baja peninsula so special?

This is such a HUGE question, because there are so many factors that make Baja, Mexico unique. One of the most profound differences between Baja and mainland Mexico is the population. The Baja peninsula is primarily composed of huge swaths of pristine wilderness, and the population per square mile is quite low. There are certainly populated city centers, but only a few, and there are miles and miles of empty desert and beautiful shoreline to explore and snorkel. If you need help purchasing snorkeling gear for your trip this snorkel fin buying guide has you covered!

Baja is also famous for its laid-back, casual atmosphere. It is almost impossible to travel here without falling into “Baja time”, which is basically a no-rush, relaxed, slow pace of life. Tom and I  find that within days of crossing the border we feel the stressors of our faster-paced US lives melt away, and we quickly relax into Baja time. 

Why is a Baja road trip the best way to explore Baja, Mexico?

Due to the sparse population in Baja, there are enormous areas of wilderness that are not serviced by any public transportation. If you are interested in exploring the shoreline of the Baja peninsula you will need your own vehicle to see most of it. 

Having your own vehicle will also give you the freedom to explore at your own pace, and will allow you to stop at the many fantastic roadside taco stands and segundos (second hand shops). The Baja peninsula is famous for incredible mariscos (seafood), and most of the roadside stands serve shrimp cocktails and fish tacos along with traditional meat tacos. There are also loads of segundos along the highway in Baja, and you can often get fishing gear, snorkeling gear, and other useful items for next to nothing in these shops! 

Basically, a Baja road trip is the best way to experience ALL of the Baja peninsula. In the fall, winter, and spring months there are many travelers from all over the world road tripping through Baja, and you will surely meet other interesting travelers along the way!

Should you plan to camp on your Baja road trip?

YES! If you want to fully experience the Baja peninsula you will want to visit in a vehicle, and with a camping setup of some kind. Baja hosts many of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches, and you can often camp on these beaches for free or for very little money. For example, on Bahía Concepción there are miles and miles of beautiful beaches that cost anywhere from nothing to 120 pesos/night ($6 USD/night at the current exchange rate) to camp on. The nearest town is still about 20 miles from these beaches, so a local hotel cannot provide the experience of waking up 10 feet from the high tide line. 

Keep in mind that camping setups come in many shapes and sizes! A basic tent setup will be perfectly sufficient for your Baja road trip as many beaches feature small huts called palapas which provide shade during the hottest part of the day. 

We’ve also seen people camp in their trucks, vans, and SUVs. We travel Baja in a Toyota Dolphin micro-motorhome (read about why we chose our Toyota Dolphin), and have met travelers in camper vans, truck campers, and even giant RV’s (although the Mexican streets are often very narrow with sharp corners, so a large RV is not ideal for exploration). 

I recently met a fellow traveler who purchased a cheap minivan in California just to travel Baja for a couple months, and who planned to sell the van at the end of his Baja road trip. Purchasing a cheap vehicle for your road trip is an excellent option, as mechanical work in Baja tends to be very cheap, efficient, and easy to find.

Do I need to speak Spanish to travel the Baja peninsula?

No! Many Mexicans in Baja speak some English, and it’s not uncommon to meet Mexicans who speak fluent English. A small Spanish/English travel dictionary will allow you to navigate basic transactions like gasoline and food purchases. If you have a smartphone, Google Translate is a fantastic translation app that has an offline option if you are without reception. 

The first time I visited Baja I did not speak any Spanish at all. By the time I left the Baja peninsula I had picked up the basics, and now I am building on that foundation pretty easily. The Mexican people are very kind, and are often happy to help you with your Spanish. Since the locals in Baja are so patient it’s not hard to pick up some basic Spanish as you travel.

Is it safe to travel to Mexico? Is a Baja road trip safe? 

This is the number one question people ask us about our travels on the Baja peninsula. The answer is absolutely yes! Baja’s beaches are some of the safest places in Mexico! We actually feel safer in Baja than we do in many areas of the United States where we have traveled. If you’d like to read more about our experience with safety in Baja read “Is it Safe to Travel in Mexico?” For a more specific perspective on RV/camper van travel in Baja read why we choose NOT to take an RV caravan tour to Baja.

How much will a Baja road trip cost?

This is probably the second most common question we are asked about our Baja travels. The answer is: probably less than you expect! Baja is an extremely affordable beach destination, with the one exception being the Cabo San Lucas area at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. Cabo is overrun with huge resorts and tourist operations, making it far more expensive than the rest of Baja. Cabo is also the only area of the Baja peninsula where crime is a serious issue. We avoid Cabo on our Baja road trips, and recommend other road trippers do the same. (If you would like to visit Cabo consider flying in and staying in a large resort).

Back to affordability! We spend FAR less money traveling in Baja than we do traveling or living in the United States. You can also read a more detailed explanation of our Baja road trip budget. Need more convincing? Check out these 5 reasons to spend the winter in Mexico.

Ready to plan your own Baja road trip?! Check out some of our favorite resources for traveling in Mexico and the Baja peninsula:

Interested in other affordable, tropical beaches? Learn more about Southeast Asia!

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12 thoughts on “Back on the Baja Peninsula- The Beauty of a Baja Road Trip”

  1. Hey Brittany, can you recommend any blogs for people who want to connect with other Baja RV travelers? I’ve traveled extensively in Mexico, including Baja. Although Baja is probably safer than RVing in mainland, there are still risks, as you know. There is safety in numbers, and although I don’t want to pay to drive in a tour group (lame), I would like to caravan with other RVers.

  2. Hi Colin! If you’re looking to connect with other Baja travelers I would recommend two things. First, the Baja nomads forums are excellent, and many of the travelers we know from Baja are on these forums. The link for Baja nomads is: http://forums.bajanomad.com/

    Alternatively, we have met a lot of fellow Baja travelers through Instagram. If that is an app you use, I would recommend searching for hashtags like #baja #travelbaja #bajanomads etc. This will connect you with other Baja travelers pretty quickly, and you can always send them a message through Instagram. Generally people who travel in Baja are very friendly, and open to getting to know other travelers 🙂

  3. Hi.
    We are heading down to the Baja Mexico end of Feb. we will be just taking our Jeep , but not sure where to stay everything we see on line is very expensive . Any suggestion . Also traveling with another couple but they have a small trailer. We were thing of bring a tent until we find accommodation . But I need to have access to a washroom . Everything else I can deal with .
    You thoughts
    Colleen

  4. Hi Colleen! You could definitely use a tent in Baja, we met lots of people who were traveling by car with a tent. The cheaper hotel rooms will not have online reservations available, and yes, the ones that do offer online booking are generally quite pricey.

    As far as a washroom, there are plenty of campgrounds that have full bathrooms including showers. The beach campsites, however, usually just have an outhouse available. In fact, much of the very best, most beautiful camping in Baja is more remote with only an outhouse available.

    If you are in the Bahía Concepción area (near Mulege), look up Playa Santispec, it is one of the only beachfront campsites I can think of that also offers washroom/shower facilities, and it is GORGEOUS as well 🙂

  5. Hi Shawn! People definitely bring down 35 foot RVs. It will limit your ability to boondock (camping off grid) in some places, but there are plenty of beautiful beachfront camping areas that can accommodate RV’s of that size.

  6. As I spend a lot of time camping in Baja, this site is still some new info for me.
    Thanks Britney!
    A couple things to remember…
    Pack out what you pack in, leave no trace, reef safe sun block and respect the locals and their communities.
    And have fun!

  7. Thanks for the comment Ron! And absolutely yes to all of the advice you listed. It’s so important to respect the land and the locals when traveling! 🙂

  8. hey would like to meet up with someone driving the baja in feb 2022 my wife and i are from vancouver canada and will be driving through yuma arizona we awill be taking our trailer and camping along the way.

  9. Thanks for commenting Ron! If you don’t connect with someone through this comment you may want to check out the Baja Nomads online discussion forum. It’s a great place to connect with other Baja travelers, here’s the link: http://forums.bajanomad.com/

  10. Hello Brittany,
    Greatly enjoyed your posts and overall information about Baja.
    We own a 23 feet class C RV and are looking to travel to Baja during the months of January through April of 2023 coming from a town near Montreal, Canada. Reading through your posts, I’m wondering if the travel expenses you are suggesting are still fairly current and is it still fairly easy to get campsites and/or reservations may be required?
    Thanks,

    Michel

  11. Hi Michel! Thanks for your comment. We just returned from a trip to Baja this winter, and the prices have not changed much at all. The most expensive campsites we saw were 200- 250 pesos ($10- $12 USD per night), but those included showers, full hookups, and Wifi. Beach campsites are still very cheap (free to 150 pesos depending on the site). It is still easy to get campsites, and honestly very few will even take reservations. It’s mostly all first come first serve. January through April is a gorgeous time to visit, you’ll love it!

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