There are some places in this world that are so magical, so incredibly beautiful, that you can’t help falling in love. For us, that place in Baja California was Bahía Concepción.
About Bahía Concepción
The first thing you notice during the drive from Mulegé to Bahía Concepción are the spectacular coastline views where the desert meets the sea. You can’t believe the calm, turquoise waters that go on for miles and miles!
There is ZERO cell service here. The closest to driving to the Pemex towards Mulegé, which is approximately a 30-minute drive from the closest beach.
What to Do in Bahía Concepción
Go Paddleboarding or Kayaking
As I mentioned earlier, the calm waters of Bahía Concepción make it a fantastic spot for kayaking and paddle boarding. This is the best spot to rent a board and take it out for a spin on the bay.
Out on the beautiful water, you’ll find all sorts of marine life. An hour paddle can garner views of sting rays, sea turtles, dolphins and even whale sharks on rare occasion!
Experience the Bioluminescence
One thing you MUST stay up late for is the bioluminescence. We had no idea this was even a thing! After dark, the bay glows bright blue when the plankton in the water get slightly agitated. It’s how the plankton scare away predators, and it literally looks like something out of Avatar. Every time you kick or splash the water, the world around you lights up bright! If you want to see a bunch of adults play around and giggle like children, then check out Bahía Concepción. We were completely giddy!
Shop from the Beach Vendors
Another thing we loved about Bahía Concepción is that despite being remote without cell service, there is no shortage of goodies coming your way in the form of local vendors. Just about every hour or so, you’ll spot a vehicle driving by the campsites selling blankets, Mexican decor, filtered water and food. The latter is where it’s at! We savored fresh tamales in the morning, ate a homemade cheesecake for lunch (yes, it’s true!) and seared up fresh scallops in the evening. Besides the marine life, the food vendors are the real MVP in Bahía Concepción!
Take a Boat or Horseback Riding Tour
Remember our amigo, Adolfo, whom I mentioned above? If you’re interested in a sightseeing or fishing boat tour, ask him about it. His son Jose and friend Victor, who are fishermen by trade, offer inexpensive tours on their days off. The tours usually ranges around $75USD per hour.
In addition to boat tours, you can also ride horses along the beach. Marcelo offers horseback riding on a private beach for tourists, and he’ll come by camp every afternoon as the sun starts to set. After getting to know him a few days, we said yes to his horseback riding tour on a remote beach, which comes complete with lunch and tequila. We’ve enjoyed a 3-hour ride along a private and serene beach that boasted spectacular views each year with Marcelo, and it’s always a highlight when we’re in the area. It’s obvious that Marcelo cares for his animals, which are incredibly well-trained. Be sure to bring a swimsuit and a towel so that you can ride bareback into the sea.
Where to Eat in Bahía Concepción
I’ll be honest – the restaurants around here are small and subpar. There are a few restaurants near some of the beach camping that aren’t worth calling out, but just know that these are just ok.
You’re much better off cooking your own food or buy from the beach vendors! These folks are really what makes this area shine. They are kind and generous people, and we have come to call many of these vendors our friends! While they don’t typically have a “business” name, we do know them by name.
Angel – Best known for his fruit plates and galletas (cookies), Angel is one of the most down-to-earth people we’ve met in Baja. His fruit plates are fresh and chopped before you. Angel will also try to accommodate your palate if you prefer one fruit over another. Typically, he has pineapple, oranges, jicama, strawberries, mango, and kiwis, depending on what’s in season. Plus, you can add on Tajin or chamoy on top. I ALWAYS buy a plate – or peanut butter cookies – from Angel when he comes by!
Balthazar – Want fresh seafood without doing any of the work? Balthazar is your guy! He often has shrimp, fish or scallops… and sometimes lobster! You can also request your shrimp peeled and de-vained (be sure to tip extra).
Pablo – An older man, Pablo is less frequent with his visits. But when he comes by, wave him down! He sells the most amazing apple or pineapple cheesecakes, as well as an assortment of breads.
Adrian – Adrian only comes by on Martes (Tuesdays), offering pizza, jalapeno cheese bread (OMG!), garlic bread, cinnamon rolls and more. The kids loooooooove when he stops by, for obvious reasons!
Where to Camp in Bahía Concepción
Trust me when I say that there are no bad campsites in Bahía Concepción! For most, the decision will come down to whether your rig can get into a spot. If you’re in a van or small RV/travel trailer, you’ll have no problem getting into any of these beach spots.
Playa Santispac
If you have a larger travel trailer or fifth wheel, then Playa Santispac is the spot for you. There are several areas of beach camping along Bahía Concepción. Playa Santispac is the most popular and the most accessible. There are lots of beach spots with palapas, and these tend to run around $200 pesos per night. There are cold showers available for a fee, and a dump station just north of the smaller restaurant.
There is a restaurant called Armando’s on site that offers typical Mexican food and $25-peso Tecate cervesas. If you do go here, order the bacon-wrapped shrimp – and split it with someone. The serving is HUGE!
Playa Escondida
We’ve camped here several times – it’s a nice, quiet oasis! While I have seen travel trailers in here, I’m not sure I would chance it. It’s a perfect spot that’s completely free. There are very basic pit toilets on site. The vendors are more hit or miss here as it’s more tucked away from the main highway.
Playa Los Cocos
This is another favorite spot of ours. It’s right off of Hwy 1, but can be less windy than some of the other beach spots. The family that takes care of El Coyote also take care of this camp. It’s $10 dollars/night to camp here. There are basic pit toilets on site and I believe a dump station. We love to paddleboard out here because the water is shallow for days and you can see lots of sea life like starfish and sting rays. And if you like clams, you can dig for them at low tide.
Playa El Coyote
Playa El Coyote is our favorite spot to camp! The beach views are gorgeous. There are a few spots immediately when you arrive, but veer to the right and keep going around the rocks. There are palapas where you can hang or cook, and it costs $10 dollars a night. The people who take care of this area provide basic bathrooms and will come by often to dump the garbage and clean up the beach.
There is a small tienda across the street (less than a mile, on the left-hand side if you’re heading towards Mulegé) that has a small restaurant called Pollo Bertha’s and basic staples. The little restaurant here has deceptively strong margaritas. You’ve been warned! You can pay extra for WiFi connection, which is good for basic needs. You’ll have to pay the WiFi fee every time you’re here.
Playa el Requeson
This is a van lifer’s favorite, although we have never camped here as it’s the farthest from town (approximately 45 minutes). There is a sandbar where you can drive out and camp on at low tide, which provides optimal photo ops! It is $200 pesos per night.
In Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of great reasons to visit this spectacular beach if you’re roadtripping Baja California! Will you add this destination to your travel list?
