If you’ve been following our journey for any time at all, you know that we prefer to camp off-grid every winter in Baja — and we aren’t the only ones!
Boondocking has exploded in popularity over the past few years due in part to a large increase in the total number of RVers on the road, and the increasing number of resources available to help individuals identify great boondocking locations.
This combination means that a lot of people are out boondocking for their first time, or are still in the process of refining their systems to boondock responsibly and respectfully. It’s a lot of effort, and investing in proper systems can get expensive quickly.
Add to the mix the fact that many great boondocking spots are available for free, and you have a lot of people wanting to stay in places longer than their systems can responsibly accommodate.
In Baja, where you can often find free beach camping with views that rival those of million dollar beach homes, it is especially tempting to set up camp and never leave! In fact, some people do just that for extended periods of time. We have met many tourists who camp in the same spot from November to April each year. By and large, they have their systems dialed and do their best to minimize their impact — other than bogarting those epic beach views. 😉
First Things First: What is Boondocking?
Also known as dispersed camping or camping off-grid, boondocking essentially is camping anywhere on public land that is not a developed campground, where permitted and lawful to do so. Typically camping like this is free, but you don’t have any perks like restrooms, potable water, trash removal, fire rings, etc. RVers enjoy boondocking because it usually allows you to save money, while take in the amazing views Mother Nature has to offer.
What we’re finding with more and more folks getting off-grid is that not everyone is aware of the basic rules for boondocking. Here are 9 things to consider before you dry camp!
Make Sure You Have the Right Systems in Place
You never want to go full-board into boondocking without at least testing the waters first. For us, this means that we started by trying to camp off-grid for an extended period of time. Start with a weekend first, then gradually work your way up to longer stays (within the camping limits, of course). The biggest concerns with whether your RV is ready to boondock are generating enough power, making sure you have enough water, and knowing how long it takes before your gray and black tanks are full. This is different for each rig! For example, our 28′ Airstream has six solar panels to help us generate enough power to be comfortable in our RV. After being on the road for many years, we also know that we can go about 5-6 days before we need to dump gray water, and about 7-10 days before we need to dump our black tank. And that’s with us being very conservative as to how much water we’re using!
Using a generator? Be mindful of your neighbors. No one signs up to go camping out in nature to listen to a generator drone on and on. To learn more how we use solar power for our RV, check out this blog post.
One final note on this topic — if for some reason you are not set up to dry camp responsibly just yet, there are plenty of campground options up and down the Baja peninsula! Check out our 100-page eBook on the best places to camp.
Never Dump Your Gray or Black Tanks on the Ground
Camping off-grid (especially at the beach) results in lots of water usage, which is typically captured in gray tanks. When those tanks become full, you either need to pull up stakes and find a dump station, or have a system to that allows you to carry that water away from your site for proper dispersal. (Emphasis on proper!) Although there is some disagreement about where it is appropriate to dispose of gray water, most agree that you should never dump at your own site or another established site. It is unsanitary, attracts wildlife, and can leave the site with a real funky odor for the next camper.
Most also agree that gray water should be never be disposed within 200 feet of a water source. It can contaminate drinking water sources and can feed algae blooms in the ocean after large storm surges. (This algae can become toxic to both humans, wildlife and sea life!) The best place to dump gray water is always a dump station, but if that’s not an option it is generally acceptable to dispose of it away from your camp and/or common areas by dispersing it over a large area to minimize the impact.
It is never, EVER, ok to dispose of black water anywhere other than a dump station. It saddens us that we feel the need to make that clear. Pooping in the bushes is also not a proper way to go about things. Do what you need to do in cases of emergency, but if this is your primary method of disposing of your waste you really should NOT be camping in highly-used and impacted areas. We recommend checking iOverlander to find dump stations throughout the Baja peninsula.
No Garbage Collection at the Site? Pack It In, Pack It Out!
Many of the beach spots don’t have any facilities whatsoever. Some offer trash bins, which become full almost as soon as they are emptied and then some choose to pile their trash around it instead of packing out with them on their next trip to town. Local strays, wildlife and camp dogs make quick work of the trash heaps each night and the resulting mess is left to the wind and to the locals tasked with cleaning it up. If there aren’t any garbage bins available where we’re camping, we pack all of our trash in an empty plastic bin with the lid on. It’s easy to transport to the appropriate receptacle, and it prevents animals from getting into it. When we’re back in town, we’ll look for a gas station with a dumpster to place our garbage into. Not sure where to find these in Baja? Ask around! The locals are usually willing to help out.
Side note: If you’ve driven through Baja California, Mexico, then you know that this country lacks the infrastructure needed for proper garbage removal. It’s evident as you drive down any of the long stretches of highway along the peninsula. Does that make it OK for you to dump your own anywhere? No. There are many communities throughout Baja that are seeing the positive effects of properly disposing garbage and even recycling, so do your part to help.
No Sites Available? Don’t Make Your Own!
Boondocking is basically first-come, first-serve. Do your homework before you head out to a boondocking site, as there may be limited spots or access warnings to heed. If you get there and the spots available are taken, you don’t get to create a brand new site. Move on and find another. It is imperative to avoid ruining the land’s resources. As a boondocker, it is your responsibility to protect the land and maintain the environment.
Give Other Campers’ Space
There’s nothing like finding a gorgeous spot to boondock, only to have another RV come camp riiiiiiiight next to you. It’s not called wide open spaces for nothing, people! 😂 While it can be comforting to be near another camper, especially in a foreign country, it comes across as obnoxious and downright rude. If you’re not sure if you’re too close, hop out of your rig and ask. You might even hear of a better spot that’s more accessible. And for goodness sakes… don’t block anyone’s view if they claimed the spot first!
We should also note that just because you get to a camp spot first, keep in mind how much space you are taking up. We’ve seen people try to block off areas to camp because they don’t want neighbors. It’s a give and take, and no one owns the beach except for Mexico. Make space where you can and be a good neighbor!
Finally, be considerate of your neighbors when it comes to your exterior. While leaving your outdoor lights on may give you a bit of comfort when you go to sleep at night, it can be a bother to other travelers who want to stargaze or catch the bioluminescence.
Respect Wildlife & Sealife
This is pretty straightforward, but you’d be surprised at the dumb things people do when they see wildlife. This is especially the case if you see something cool in the water like dolphins. By all means, hop on your paddleboard or in your kayak to go get a closer look, but be mindful of the space between you and sea life, especially if there are others around. Get your awesome experience in, then keep it moving.
Don’t Let Your Dogs Roam Off-Leash
OK, so this isn’t a tried and true rule in Baja, but out of respect and courtesy for others, it’s best practice to keep your dogs on a leash or long lead — unless they are well-behaved. I can’t begin to tell you how many times we’ve been bombarded by rambunctious dogs, or have had our campsite belongings pissed on. Not to mention the dog shit that can be found all over the beaches people are camping at. This is yet another reason why beach camping locations throughout Baja like La Pastora and San Pedrito South are being shut down. Do your part and be a responsible dog owner.
Keep Your Meetups Small
This year, we’ve noticed a significant increase in the amount of RV traffic up and down the Baja peninsula. The post-Covid travel itch is no doubt playing a role, as are large “meet-ups” which draw hundreds of rigs to the same beach for a given weekend. Many decide to stay quite a bit longer — as is reasonable given the considerable effort they made to get down here. The increased traffic has led to increased scrutiny around the sustainability of having hundreds of people camped off grid at the same places for weeks at a time. One massive van life meetup in February 2023 had more than 500 rigs in attendance, which has ultimately led to several free camping options to be shut down, like the San Ignacio square. While we understand that these are super fun, those who choose not to attend are left to suffer the consequences, which is unfortunate. Best practice is to keep your meetup or caravan small, don’t stay longer than necessary, and to encourage travelers to support the locals by following the aforementioned rules.
Embrace the Local Culture
One thing that most don’t talk about online is the fact that the locals enjoy coming to these beaches on the weekends too, and that usually leads to late-night parties with the music bumping. We’ve learned over the years that Sunday is the big fiesta, as most Mexicans have the day off. While it can be hard to sleep while the banda music is reverberating in your ears, we’ve learned to just accept it for what it is. We always have earplugs on hand, and turn on our fans to help drown out the noise. Worst case — just grab a campground for the weekend instead!
Another thing to mention is that when boondocking on the beaches of Baja, you’ll see vendors with homemade food, treats or souvenirs. While most of us traveling in a tiny home on wheels don’t have the extra space available for stuff like this, it doesn’t hurt to strike up a conversation, learn their name and a little bit about who they are. I can guarantee that doing so will brighten your day — and theirs! We love buying the freshly made tamales, empanadas, galletas and fish caught that morning. If you’re staying for more than a week, once you know who’s who and what they provide, it can save you a trip into the grocery store.
In Summary
As a family who have come down to this beautiful part of Mexico for four winters now, we feel it’s our duty to help educate travelers on what’s acceptable boondocking and what isn’t. We realize that not everyone will take heed to these rules, but we can all agree that if we don’t take care of Baja, we run the risk of losing access to camping on its incredible beaches and within its pueblos. Do your part!
Know someone traveling to Baja by RV? Help us spread the word by sharing this blog post!
