The Baja Overland Expedition!

I recently returned from leading a two-week Baja Overland Expedition with friends, a trip I'd been planning for what seemed like years. We journeyed 700 miles south into the Baja peninsula, mainly along the Sea of Cortez side, and camped in several beautiful tropical oases and beachside locations, including one serene spot nestled deep in a canyon valley with hot springs. Some campsites were off challenging, uncharted dirt trails. Our trip included visits to the towns of San Felipe, Bahia de los Angeles, San Ignacio, Bahia Concepcion, Mulege, and concluding in Loreto. After navigating the chaotic streets of Mexicali, we transitioned to off-road trails, a welcome change after a thousand miles on pavement. My priority for this trip was to minimize risks, given the remote areas we'd be exploring in Baja.

Our border crossing went smoothly, though I immediately picked up a giant screw in my tire just a mile into Baja. Fortunately, the repairs were quick. This incident set the tone for the expedition, reminding us that we were in a foreign land and needed to be prepared for anything. Besides being years in the making for me, this trip fulfilled a shared dream for the others who joined me, creating an ideal group dynamic. It was also my first international overland trip, something I've wanted to do for a long time.

I quickly came to appreciate Baja's allure, understanding why people can easily spend weeks exploring its beaches and towns. We enjoyed the local cuisine and shared laughs with a rancher where we camped one night. We also found a beautiful beach where we spent a couple of days and rented kayaks to explore a secluded beach on the other side of an island a couple miles from our campsite.

After spending a few days in Baja, I adjusted my safety expectations, which had been based on reading posts online and planning from afar. While traveling to Mexico has valid safety concerns, I knew our trip was well-planned and researched. I even think it was borderline over-planned, but you can never be too prepared for an overland journey like this and there's no substitute for a real experience. Besides, we're on "Baja Time" now!

This trip was an incredible and eye-opening experience, and I'm already looking forward to part two in the near future!

Here are some highlights:

Carlos, our ranch host

Our last beach camp in Loreto before heading home

An essential pit stop at Coco's corner

On a 170mi trail heading towards San Ignacio surrounded by millions of cacti

On a beautiful beach in San Felipe

On a beautiful beach in San Felipe

On another beautiful beach near Bahia Concepcion

Our last beach camp in Loreto before heading home

Kayaking to a secluded beach

Enjoying some local fare

On another beautiful beach near Bahia Concepcion

The crew enjoying lunch

A very rugged trail traversing through the peninsula

An awesome tropical vibe in San Ignacio

A great lunch in San Ignacio and the town Mision

On a beautiful beach in San Felipe

Our first couple days at camp in Baja

Our first couple days at camp in Baja

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