more Best of the Baja

View from above, El Requeson and adjacent island, Bahia Concepcion.

I spent more time traveling along the east coast of the Baja, along the Gulfo de California, than I did along the Pacific coast, especially since I started my adventure at Mexicali and then south to San Felipe.  And from San Felipe, I traveled south along Rt. 5 sur (south), just a brutal road at times, but this decision quickly got me to Bahia de los Angeles, which I really liked.  And from there, I did have to head across the peninsula to Guerrero Negro along the Pacific, before heading back east to Santa Rosalia, down to Mulege, before arriving at the beaches along the Bahia Concepcion.  One of my  most favorite places of the whole trip was El Requeson along the Bahia Concepcion, wonderful  little place, just beautiful.

Bahia de los Angeles was great, wonderful little town, quiet, but there was a nice market, a few restaurants, fuel, all that you really need.  I stayed at Daggett's Beach Camping for a few nights, hot showers, quiet, and amazing views from the camping area.  I biked and paddled my SUP (only one day, was really windy the rest of the time), and generally enjoyed my time, so relaxing, so beautiful.  If you are into fishing, you definitely have to visit, and a couple of tourists also staying at Daggatt's really did well, including 4 monster groupers (40 lbs +, each).  I did hear that Playa la Gringa, further up the road north of town was really cool, even if there are really no facilities.  Maybe next time.

After you head south of Santa Rosalia, you get to Mulege, a very cool little town, oasis of sorts, with a river and small lake nestled among palm trees not far from the coast.    And just south of town, the road begins to run mostly right along the coast, and the Bahia Concepcion, and there are many opportunities to camp along this stretch of the Baja (12 to be exact, at least according to my guide book).  I stayed one night at Playa Santispac, nothing special, before heading down to El Requeson, one of the last camping areas along the Bahia.  I stayed there two nights, and while it was often windy, I loved it there.  I camped (err parked) at the end of a spit of sand, which at low tide, connected us to a small island which was fun to explore, and which offered fantastic views of the Bahia Concepcion, and the many islands which dot the landscape.  When the wind didn't blow, there was great paddling, and you could bike along dirt tracks for more than a few kilometers heading south, and even north along the coast just below the road.  While the water was still cold, the beach and water were very clean, the island was fun to explore, and the views were wonderful.  Plus, I met some cool people during my time at El Requeson, including a vendor who visited every day selling blankets, jewelry, etc., and who plied me with beers until I succumbed and bought a blanket.  Oh well.

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