Hey guys, looking for some help on where to stay. Looking for a good "base camp" ( secure motel with parking for truck/trailer but reasonable $ ) between Ensenada and San Quintin to do day rides from with multiple routes and keep the pavement riding to the absolute minimum. Suggestions?

Thanks for any assistance!

Maybe Coyote Cal's?

http://www.coyotecals.com/

nljustin said:

+1. Good people!

La paloma? in Santo Thomas is good we have stayed there several times preruning. Its right on the highway next to the pemex.

He means the El Palomar in Santo Tomas.

nljustin said:

Adam and Alice are keeping Coyote Cals spic and span and staying here vs. Santo Tomas keeps you from having to ride out the road to the Hwy every time you want to go to the hotel. No view at the hwy and lots of Jake Brakes

Really if you are going to be doing day trips the best location for a launch hotel may be the Pirate Bar on the bluffs in Camalu. Like the Hostel it has epic sunset views over the Pacific and you could ride south to SQ and beyond, north to Erenderia and ST if wanted and you could go into the mountains, too bad Mikes doesn't serve lunch but El Coyote has great food and Estaban will tell you the family story and show you photos. If you like to hunt (not for me) he can show you some great photos.

Down side to Pirate bar is there is no fenced yard but the traffic there is pretty low and I think they do a pretty good job of keeping riff raff away. Another up side is that there is Pemex 3 miles away on Hwy 1.

I strongly suggest one meal on the trip at Gaston's on the beach north of SQ but below Costa Brava....EPIC! Not always open so email Nolo and tell 'em the DA sent ya gastcann@hotmail.com They are the original builders of the Old Mill, ask him about the story, he has awesome photos.

You'll find more trails if you go with Baja Bound Moto!

Thanks guys for your suggestions... I would love to do a tour with Baja Bound in the future for sure but this time down will be during the 1000 ( no tours, to busy pre-running/racing I would assume! )

So the Pirate Bar would be a good one to access the stuff on the Pacific as well as to the east in the mountains? We've only ridden the Sea of Cortez side ( San Felipe area ) before so open to all suggestions!

Cheers!

You should be also able to leave your truck at Coyote Cals and do an overnight down at Old Mill Motel or Don Eddie's in San Quintin. I've done that before - even if they charge you for over-nighting your truck (which they didn't me), it can't be much.

Nice restaurant back on a side street in Erendira, but I can't remember the name. You can also get fish at the cooperative in town and cook it at the hostel too.

And x2 on Gaston's. Kind of in the middle of nowhere and really great food.

Diesel Dude said:

Pirate Bar is at Camalu. 1.5 mi. to the HWY. Take the HWY north to the next little town (San Telmo de Abajo- Due East from Cuatros Casas)

There's an EastBound paved HWY leading to the Observatory San Pedro de Martir. Its on all the maps as a paved route.

Signage at the HWY turnoff



Go to Melings, El Coyote and/or Mikes Sky Rancho.
http://www.thumperta...273#post7413273

Its possible but maybe not so pratical to connect Camalu to Coyote without pounding pavement. But someone will have to PM you some GPS.

You're going to have a great time no matter what you do in BAJA.

+1 on Gastons

Diesel Dude said:

Suggestion- The Baja 1000 course map hasn't been released yet, on your trip make sure you know where the course is at all times. I would hate to see you learn the hard way about being on the race course, possibly going backwards during pre-running.

Have fun in "the Baja":thumbsup:

surfnride said:

x 100...good point wheelie master

Great advice guys, thanks.... Yes, "learnt" about running the course the wrong way last year over in San Felipe at night. "Stumbled" on it after getting turn around in Matomi wash... ( 14 hour day )

Last question, any recommendations of where to stay in Ensenada? Secure parking for truck and trailer, nice accommodation no more than $100?

Thanks!

Diesel Dude said:

Motel Presidente - secure, cheap:
http://www.ensenada....ente/index.html

(just bring flip-flops for the shower)