24 hours to Mexico: Baja California Norte
Originally shared on the late blog Stranded on Land
Mexico is not only close to my heart because I was lucky to grow up there, but also because after living away for so many years I’m able to have a new perspective and see even further into the magic of its people my people hospitality alongside the beauty of the landscape and unique history. So when our friend Ben invited us to take a day off, grab some friends and go down to Mexico to camp, surf and have $1 tacos, it was a no-brainer, we hit the road.
Just a couple of hours from home, we found our own semi-private paradise overlooking the Pacific Ocean: La Fonda. If you and yours are down to simply have a great time with minimal amenities only a few steps away from the beach with ridiculously fresh and delicious foods, this is the spot for you.
With everyone bringing friends and pets along + some locals literally adopting our group, we all crossed back to the US with new friends both from Mexico and from home.
EAT+DRINK
TACOS ALISITOS
PIN DROPPED AT K58
Veronica has been serving her home-style tacos for over 15 years. At $1 USD each is hard not to try them all, which I highly advise unless meat is not part of your diet. The fish tacos were the group’s absolute favorite, “con todo” (with literally everything: sour cream, salsa, cabbage, cilantro, onions, and a splash of lime!). BYOB, or go to the Oxxo on the same street to pick up a juice or soft drink.
THE BAJA PIG
PIN DROPPED AT K38
We originally landed by K38 to have some unbelievable adobada tortas at Surf Taco, which I highly recommend every omnivore tries. A few kids from the group were vegetarian, so they went down the street to explore more options. What they discovered was this low key restaurant with a back patio overlooking the ocean. The staff was super flexible about adjusting the menu for our veggie friends. We laughed, played + sipped traditionally made Micheladas and Margaritas. Just when we were about to leave, we saw a sign that said “Fresh Pina Coladas.” What is a fresh pina colada? Forget pineapple juice, at The Baja Pig, they will blend the bits of nearly an entire pineapple with coconut cream and rum. Enjoy a side of fresh chile + pineapple with every colada.
STAY
K58 CAMPGROUND
PIN DROPPED AT K58
Right off of the scenic Highway 1D, two welcome signs await you. K58 is the perfect spot to camp within walking distance of most of the essentials you need. Beer, tacos, surf rentals, and the beach are all an easy 5-10 min walk from your campsite. The neighbors are super chill and down to show you around. Be sure to stop by Armando’s surf shop for a wetsuit + board, or even for a lesson if you’ve never surfed before. At only $200 pesos per car per night, with decent bathrooms and outdoor showers, K58 is a spot we can’t wait to go back to in the near future.
PLAY
HORSEBACK RIDING IN PLAYA LA MISION
PLAYA LA MISION BEACH ENSENADA
A short drive down from K58 you’ll find Playa La Mision. A lineup of coconut vendors + locals and their horses stand by the parking lot welcoming all who arrive. For about $20 USD, you can hop on a horse and take a strut by the seashore either solo or with your friends. These locals are not playing around, some of the families have owned horses for over 40 years! Chances are, if you want to brush up your Spanish, you will get some beautiful stories from the old days at Playa La Mision from your horse tour guides, who may be as young as 5 years old.
GET OUTSIDE
LA FONDA K58
SURF IN LA FONDA
Take a walk down to the ocean and hit the waves. That’s what La Fonda is all about! This beach break is best described as “fast and punchy.” A fun time for surfers of all levels. If you don’t have a board, you can rent one from one of the locals or paddle out for a body surf or swim if you dare.
BEACH MORNING YOGA
Honestly, why not? Whether you have a self-practice or someone in your group is a yoga teacher, the serenity of La Fonda in the early morning is the perfect setting for recharging or going deep within.
BEACH CLEAN UP
One of the downsides of Baja is that the beaches are not very clean. This is at fault of both locals and visitors, but, we truly try to live by the “Leave No Trace” standards and that we should always leave a place better than when we found it. We started to clean up after ourselves which carried over into us naturally continuing to clean up and down the beach. It was a great way to walk off some of the tacos + beer + the beach was significantly more beautiful and safer in the end. If it’s in your heart to go for it, beware of the cacti and broken glass.
LOCALS ONLY
MIRADOR SALSIPUEDES
PIN DROPPED AT K84
Worth going further south on Highway 1D, is this abandoned event space that overlooks the Salsipuedes Bay. Breathtaking. It is really fun to play around the property and discover the multiple outlooks. Add a fresh coconut or traditional Mexican candy (from the vendors by the parking area) to the equation and get the full experience.
PRO TIPS:
Something to keep in mind when using this guide: When down in Baja, locations are distinguished by their “Kilometer” within the scenic Highway 1 – so you’ll see a lot of k37, k58, etc. We added links to pins in Google Maps so that you can get an idea of where to go when south of the border. Also, note that GPS navigation in Mexico doesn’t work like it does in the US and we highly recommend you plan accordingly. As you should any and everywhere you venture. Be smart, respect the locals, the culture and nature and always leave the place better than you found it.
BUDGET
BASICS BUDGET INCLUDED HERE: $60 PER PERSON
Expenses not included: Board rentals + Surf lessons. Excessive eating + drinking.
