Bahía De La Concepción Overview

Mex. 1, the highway that connects Loreto and Mulegé, curves around most of the bay, offering dangerously distracting views along with easy access to all of Bahía de la Concepción’s beaches. Visiting Bahía de la Concepción without your own car is difficult, since there are no regular public buses. It may be possible to negotiate a fee with drivers on southbound intercity buses from Mulegé to drop you off, but the walk from the highway to the shore can be excruciatingly long. This approach also leaves your return journey unresolved. Though it is common in the area, Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking. If possible, consider renting a car for a day in Loreto, about 100km away.

Baja’s coastline is so endless and often so beautiful that it’s possible to take its beaches for granted—but even locals adopt a hushed tone of voice when they mention Bahía de la Concepción. Rocky outcroppings, soft sands, cacti-studded hills, and unearthly opal blue water combine to form a 48km stretch of mesmerizing landscapes, while the distant outline of the bay’s opposite shore lends a tantalizing sense of the unknown. Look closely at the serene waters and you’ll find that they contain a rich variety of marine life, making for exciting diving and snorkeling. Only at Easter and Christmas is the tranquility disturbed by serious tourist traffic; for most of the year, you might just find that there’s almost no one else around to break the spell.

The waters of Bahía de la Concepción are completely sheltered and as calm as a lake, making for easy kayaking and snorkeling, although there are no rentals on any of the beaches. The bay is also a camper’s paradise, with palapa shelters only feet from the crystal clear water on most beaches. Camping is usually safe, but stick to well-populated beaches and always be on guard. Beaches below are listed from north to south.

Beach Bummers. During summer, stingrays mate close to shore, hidden from view underneath the sand. So as not to interrupt and get stung, shuffle your feet as you walk into the water. If they sting you, find the hottest water you can stand, immerse the stung area, and wait out the pain. Locals suggest finding a garumbillo (“old man”) cactus, distinguishable by the gray hairs growing out of the top of the plant; cut a chunk of it and squeeze a few drops of juice onto the sting to get rid of the pain in seconds. Be sure to cut off all the cactus spines first, or you’ll have even more pain on your hands. As the sting is a puncture wound, seek medical attention immediately to prevent infection.

Playa Los Naranjos. The closest of the bay’s beaches to Mulegé, Playa Los Naranjos is a stretch of hard-packed sand, crowded with bungalows, at the end of a dirt road lined with flowering cacti and gigantic piles of seashells. Camping is more expensive than at other nearby beaches (US$10, with palapa US$15), although those without a tent can rent bungalows on the beach with two cots and screened windows for US$25 per day. (☎615 155 2542. Reservations recommended.) The family that rents the bungalows also operates the Playa Los Naranjos Restaurant 4, on the beach, which serves standard breakfast fare for 55 pesos and a number of Mexican staples, such as beef enchiladas for 65 pesos. (Open daily 8am-7pm. Cash only.) (Turn at the sign for Playa los Naranjos and Punta Sueños at km 119. Then, travel 3km down a well-maintained dirt road to the beach.)

Playa Santispac. Crowds are drawn in by Santispac’s convenient location, right off Mex. 1 near to Mulegé. The wide beach can feel a bit like a parking lot, and the hard-packed sand behind the motor homes is rougher than asphalt. Nonetheless, the beach remains immensely popular. (Playa Santispac is just off the highway near km 114. Camping or parking for the day both cost 70 pesos.)

Playa El Burro. El Burro’s soft sands and quiet atmosphere have enticed a number of Americans to set up semi-permanent palapa-style homes right on the beach, often with solar panels, balconies, satellite dishes, and, in at least one case, two stories. There’s also a tiny garden set up in memory, presumably, of past residents. A few shelters remain empty, though, for campers willing to pay US$8.50. Bertha’s 2, a small bar-restaurant at the far left of the beach from the perspective of Mex. 1, serves egg breakfasts (40 pesos), fried chicken (35 pesos), and lots of cheap beer for as little as 10 pesos. (Near Mex. 1 at km 109, down a smooth dirt road. Take your 1st left immediately off the highway to reach Bertha’s. Restaurant open daily 8am-10pm.)

Playa Requesón. The turquoise water, framed by the beach and a white sandbar, creates one of the most spectacular landscapes of the entire peninsula. Adventurous souls can camp out on the sandbar, but the rising tide may leave them and their gear soaking wet. For more cautious travelers, palapa shelters are available for 60 pesos. If you’re not going to camp, it’s worth taking the short walk to the sandbar just to gaze into the transparent water. (Down a short dirt road at km 92, marked by a blue sign. Also accessible via a dirt road from adjacent Playa la Perla.)

Playa La Perla. Around the corner from Requesón, smaller and lonelier La Perla is tucked between two rocky outcroppings. The palapa shelters are more complex here, and camping costs 60 pesos. (Close to the road at km 91 and marked by a blue sign. Also accessible via a dirt road from adjacent Playa Requesón.)