There are a few well-known areas to camp within Valle de Guadalupe, and Glamping Ruta de Arte y Vino is one of these. We came into the area in the late afternoon after running errands in Ensenada, so we immediately headed for a campsite. Glamping Ruta de Arte y Vino was the closest to us and sounded promising.
(For simplicity’s sake, I’ll refer to this campground as “Glamping” from here on out.)
The Campground
Glamping is just 2.7 miles off of Mexico 3, with the last 0.5 mile on an unpaved road. We always laugh nervously when we drive on these bumpy dirt roads, but as far as Baja roads go – this one isn’t too bad. The van doesn’t have 4-wheel drive, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t either. Fair warning though, we witnessed a small car get a flat tire on this road on their way out camp when we left.
Once you get into the campground, the first thing you notice are the old stationary Airstreams on site, which is where most visitors stay. There are 13 Airstreams from the 50s, 60s and 70s that the family has renovated. There’s a small grassy area for tent campers or RVs, with no real designation on where to park. We were the only ones camping there, and the promise of electricity lured us closer to the one electrical outlet. Unfortunately, we soon learned that the outlet didn’t work.
Overall it’s a pretty basic setup if you’re not “glamping” in one of the trailers. We stayed on a Sunday evening, the night before a Mexican holiday called Constitution Day. Most locals have that Monday off to celebrate. An airstream nearby must have started the party early, because we heard mariachi music blaring from some speakers well into the night!
I should also note that there are several dogs on the property that roam around. While a couple were very nice, there is one Rhodesian Ridgeback that is very territorial with dogs and people alike. We had read on iOverlander of some issues with this dog, and we personally experienced him growling at our dog Ruby. While this isn’t a reason to prohibit your stay, it is a watch out for those with dogs or young kids.
Amenities
The campground appears to be ran by a family, with all hands on deck to welcome guests and provide general care of the property. They offer a large communal area, where you can use their appliances and kitchenware to cook meals, as well as clean up afterwards. In the mornings, they offer free coffee there as well.
Right outside the communal area are several bikes. Anyone staying at Glamping can take a bike for a spin, which I thought was pretty fun. There appeared to be several dirt roads surrounding and within the property. We saw lots of guests enjoying the bikes during our short stay. For a fee, you could also rent a 4-wheeler.
Additionally, the family offers a wine tour via TukTuk! Steven and I were intrigued by this, but not so much after we were quoted $100 U.S. dollars per hour. For some, this might be worthwhile.
When it comes to camping, I’ve mentioned before that the bathrooms and showers can make or break a stay. And I have to say, the facilities here were the nicest we’ve seen in Baja so far! The restrooms were set up as two wooden outhouses conjoined to a sink area. On the opposite side of the restrooms were two separate shower areas. These too were wooden structures, with cute décor like astro turf walls. The showerhead that hung overhead and was massive! The best part of all? The water was hot and easily adjusted! As we traveled throughout Baja, all other facilities were compared to Glamping’s setup. (None ever came close!)
The Cost
Glamping was the first campground we encountered that charged by the person, not the vehicle. We were quoted $10 per adult, and an extra $2.50 for the kids. So far, that’s the highest cost we had come across in Baja. If you ask Steven, this was far too high for what we got in return. Again, the campsite itself was pretty primitive. For me, I don’t mind having to pay a bit more, especially if that guarantees clean restrooms and hot showers! If you’re looking to rent one of the Airstreams, it appears that those range between $76-80/night depending on the size of the trailer. You can book one of those here.
Overall, I would recommend Glamping Ruta de Arte y Vino for a one or two night stay as you pass through Valle de Guadalupe.
