Gear list for Baja trip

I'm headed on a 9 day camping trip down Baja, Mexico peninsula next week and am trying to pack accordingly. I'll have a 5 gallon fuel Jerry can, water, traction boards, compressor, Jackery, Garmin inReach Explorer, paper maps, flashlights, first aid, etc. But am wondering what else I should bring. Anyone with experience in Baja have any recommendations? Thank you!

 

Wish I was going! Where are you headed ultimately? Surf or fish trip or just camping? My avatar photo is from The Wall (7 sisters).

You've got it covered with the list above. Make sure you have good mexican insurance and don't drive a night unless it's critical. Maybe a shovel too if you're going to be in the sand.

 

The Baja 1000 is coming up. https://score-international.com/raceinfo/course-map-2022-baja-1000/

Be careful of "race" traffic, both on the actual course and on the roads. They drive their prerunners back on the road after prerunning. Agreed on the "don't drive at night" recommendation. Also, when your gas tank hits 50% full, stop at the next gas station. Sometimes gas stations don't have gas, so don't rely on it.

I was down there last year around this time for 2 weeks, first week racing Baja 1000 and then the next week celebrating Thanksgiving with my wife and toddler. We drove all the way down to Loreto and back.

How far down are you planning to drive? Driving down the San Felipe side is a lot faster than the pacific side because you have so many small towns to go through and you can drive 80+ at times down highway 5. I can probably give some pointers on places that are worth it or not.

Edit: Baja Bound insurance is my goto

Edit 2: Google maps works great, you can pre download maps, just make sure you zoom in enough to get the detail you need.

 

Great tip on the San Felipe route. This is the only way I go now since they connected the roads. Way better drive vs the 1 going through TJ/Ensenada/San Quintin traffic. Agree on Baja Bound as well!

 

Shovel and tools. Otherwise, you look covered. Again, check with your insurer or buy GOOD Baja insurance. Not a lot of noise in the cartel front in Baja recently.

 

I'll be heading down to northern BCS so around Punta Abreojos or so (78 degree temps). Do I need a different cell phone than Verizon?

 

You don’t need a different phone but you need to check your plan to see if they will charge you more to use it in baja. I’ve got AT&T and they do NOT charge me and extra for use in baja.

 

I didn't see Tequila on your list. Just a heads up.

 

Seriously, though..

Sunscreen?

Toiletries, rain gear, TP, chairs, rope, duct tape..

Sorry if this is useless. Just throwing out some things I like to always have handy.

 

I think our Verizon plan has free cell and data, where available, until you use too much data then it’s $5 per day for more. They send you a text and you respond yes. I doubt you will why service at that spot but you will going through the towns. We didn’t get to that spot, seems quiet. We did go out to Bahia tortugas and el Cardon, the south side of san Ignacio lagoon. Both very quiet.
Make sure to check out san Ignacio mission. Cool area.
What are your dates? Curious if it lines up with the 1000.

 

Thanks much! Dates are 11/20-26. Btw, do you think a winch is recommended for Baja offroad trails?

 

Thanks! Do you think a winch is needed given the trail situation?

 

Bummer, just going to miss the race. You will see some post race traffic coming north. It’s not a peninsula run this year so once you get passed san Felipe it will be the same as always. Next time line up your trip with the 1000. Next year it’s running south to north from la Paz. Should be an awesome race.

no, winch is not needing unless you are going crazy rock crawling or you are stupid. I was stupid last year and it saved me getting out of a non dried out lake bed driving out to the san Ignacio lagoon. I sank to my axles within 5 seconds. Too 5 dumbest thing I have done in the dirt. I had to bury my hi lift jack as a mounting point. Probably the safest way I’ve ever used a hi lift jack.

 

If youre going to spend a lot of time in the sand... traction boards?

 

How was the trip?