Four weeks in Baja 2020

[Luinil Explorations]

Some friends and I spend's the last two weeks in January and the first two weeks in February traveling around Baja. My van handles the rough and sometimes changing roads and washouts with ease. It was my first time there and found it to be an amazing place. I especially enjoyed being someplace sunny and warm instead of wet and cold. Am hoping to go back next year.

The full trip report is posted on our blog along with more photos.

Sunrise on Bahia Concepcion



Camped on the beach



So many beautiful beaches



Whale watching at Laguna Ojo de Liebre



Sunrise near Ensenada San Basilio



Bougainvillea in La Purisima



Sea of Cortez



Cave paintings



Boojum trees in bloom



Sunset on the way to Mission San Francisco de Borja

 

[Luinil Explorations]

The first episode of our trip to Baja California is now up on YouTube. Hope you enjoy it.

Baja California - Episode 1

You can support the creation of future videos by becoming one of my supports on Patreon.

 

[Luinil Explorations]

The next episode or our trip around Baja is now up on YouTube.

In this episode we drive rough 4x4 dirt tracks to visit the mission San Francisco de Borja. Drive along the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) find a dynamite shack or jail, depending on who you talk ask, see wild horses, drive a sand track to Bahia las Animas where we camp on a deserted beach for a few days. Then it is off to see some cave paintings.

 

[Luinil Explorations]

Episode 3 is not up on Youtube and my website.

In this episode we cross the peninsula on a rough gravel road to to the Pacific Ocean and Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Scammons Bay) where we get up close and personal to grey whales. After spending the night in Guerrero Negro we head back across the Baja Peninsula toward our campsite on Conception Bay just south of Mulegé. Along the way we stop at San Ignacio to see the wonderfully preserved mission. Turning off Mexico Highway 1 towards El Burro we drive along the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) enjoying the the beautiful views of both the sea and the desert. The 4x4 off road dirt track eventually leads us to Punta Chivato and then back to Mexico 1 to continue our journey south.

 

[Luinil Explorations]

Episode 4 is not up on YouTube.

In episode 4 we continue south on Mexico 1 driving along Conception Bay and the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California). We bypass Las Posada for now and head for Loreto where we have lunch at Auggies restaurant and spend some time wandering around the town and visiting the Loreto Mission. We turn east off of Mexico 1 towards Bahia de Agua Verde. The road is paved for the first 12 kilometers and then turns into a 4x4 off road dirt track that leads across the desert and over the two sets of mountains providing breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez and the deep ravines next to the road.

Exploring Baja California - Episode 4

 

[Luinil Explorations]

Episode 5 is now up on YouTube.

In this episode we cross back to the west side of the peninsula and views of the Pacific Ocean. We stop at San Juanico and spend the night camping overlooking Scorpion Bay. The following day we head back to the east coast and the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) on a rough 4x4 off road dirt track across the desert to visit the missions at La Purisima, San José de Comondú, and San Javier. Along the way we drive up a mountain, see beautiful palm studded valleys, and end up back in Loreto.

 

[Luinil Explorations]

Episode 6 is now up on YouTube

It is finely time to spend some quality time on the beautiful beaches along the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California). Our first stop is Juncalito a few miles south of Loretto where we spend three days relaxing, hiking and and enjoying the the beautiful views and meet up with some interesting people and play a bit of corn Hole. Next we head north to San Bassilio. The 4x4 off road gravel and dirt track across the desert eventually gets us to one of the most beautiful bays we have seen on the trip.

Exploring Baja California - Episode 6

 

[Lou Skannon]

Nice videos, thanks for taking all the time and trouble to post them. I remember you guys coming through Santispac. I was parked next to the Unimog.

 

[Luinil Explorations]

I remember your rig. It looked like it would be real comfortable to stay in. Glad you made it home safely.

 

[Luinil Explorations]

The last episode our our four week trip exploring Baja California is now up on YouTube

Our last couple of days takes us along Conception Bay where we stop to check out some beaches at Playa Burro and Posada Concepción, have lunch at the historic Hotel Sirinad, get some hand pies in Mulegé before spending a few days relaxing and exploring at Punta Chivato. After enjoying the beach there we head west across the Baja Peninsula to Guerrero Negro, then north on Mexico 1 before taking the new road to the east towards San Felipe and Pete’s Camp for the night. Then it is north to cross the border at Mexicali/Calexico and home.

I hope you enjoyed watching our adventures as much as we did experiencing them.

To read more about our adventures in Baja and see photographs of the trip visit our travel blog.

Exploring Baja California - Episode 7

 

[Slambo1]

Some friends and I spend's the last two weeks in January and the first two weeks in February traveling around Baja. My van handles the rough and sometimes changing roads and washouts with ease. It was my first time there and found it to be an amazing place. I especially enjoyed being someplace sunny and warm instead of wet and cold. Am hoping to go back next year.

The full trip report is posted on our blog along with more photos.

Sunrise on Bahia Concepcion
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Camped on the beach
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So many beautiful beaches
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Whale watching at Laguna Ojo de Liebre
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Sunrise near Ensenada San Basilio
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Bougainvillea in La Purisima
View attachment 144671


Sea of Cortez
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Cave paintings
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Boojum trees in bloom
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Sunset on the way to Mission San Francisco de Borja
View attachment 144675

Welcome! And thanks for the gorgeous pics!

 

[fly boy]

Looks like a great trip.

 

[GHCOE]

Recognized your van in the Overland Bound Email I received today.

 

[RickR]

What a nice vacation.

 

[RoarinRow]

Makes me want to go out even more!

 

[sebm]

I'm debating the e350 4x4 conversion
Is your E350 4x4?
If not, do you think it is limiting you?
How much was your build?
Thanks :)

 

[Luinil Explorations]

I'm debating the e350 4x4 conversion
Is your E350 4x4?
If not, do you think it is limiting you?
How much was your build?
Thanks :)

Yes my van was converted to 4x4 by Agile Off Road in San Diego. It was well worth the money. It was about about $20K which included a number of other upgrades as well as the conversion. I had a rear locker installed prior to the conversion. I would not have been able to do the Baja or Copper Canyon or Southern AZ boarder road trips without the conversion. Drove a lot of forest service type roads prior to the conversion with no problems.

To convert or not to convert all depends on where you are planning to go, how difficult the trails are, and how often you want to get out. Of course the most important thing is figuring out how to fund it.

 

[Luinil Explorations]

Recognized your van in the Overland Bound Email I received today.

Glad you recognized the van. Hope you are doing well. Am currently enjoying a view of the pacific ocean.

 

[GHCOE]

Glad you recognized the van. Hope you are doing well. Am currently enjoying a view of the pacific ocean.

I am doing fine. Keeping cool in SW Idaho...