Hey just wondering what the water temp is like around bahia de la conception...

And verifying what seems to be a notion that I can freely camp with my girlfriend in the area without any snags..??

is this a busier season than summer or fall?

any info at all would be greatly appreciated.

I was young once, drove my 65 Landrover all over baja including to the tip before the paved road. I don't even remember getting Mexican insurance. Used to hitch-hike to college.

Now a lot of things I did seem really naive and risky. I'd put hitch-hiking, especially with girlfriend, in that category. But, quite a few Europeans use a combination of Bus travel and local hitch hiking. Americans are warned in the travel books against picking up hitch hikers because if the Soldiers find drugs on the hitch hikers everybody goes to jail and your rig is confiscated.

If possible I'd take a cheap, but reliable, good gas mileage, two-wheel drive (4wd more expensive)PLUS Mexican Insurance. A couple of reasons, those 1 to 5 mile walks from where you get dropped off to the hotel, beach, bus station, etc. get old. While its usually good weather the wind will blow ferociously from the North for 3 days straight at least every 2 weeks. And it may pour rain. Staying in
a pup tent get's old and very wet. Having a car you can get into town or at least away from the beach.

Bahia de Conception, presumably you've read about the tourist murder on Playa Armenta just South of Isla el Requeson at the south end of BdeC in November. This looks to be an isolated case, but he was camping along in a place easily accessible to MX1. Also the very South End of BdeC at an abandoned trailer Park has long been know for thieves who hide in the catus forest and break windows to rob campers who take a little hike or swim.

I don't mean to scare you off, these are just the most well known problem areas. El Requeson is okay because you'll be camping with others. The BdeC beaches are really crowded in the winter season. Very popular with the Americans and Canadians. You will almost always be asked for $5/night for camping on the beach. Some beaches have pit toilets - not normally very well maintained. Most campers will be in RV rigs this time of the year. More tent campers in the Spring and Summer. There may or not be Palapas included in the beach rent. The hurricanes take them out frequently.

I'd recommend Playa Escondida because it's hard to get an Rv the 1/2 mi over a rough road to the beach. Directions: The first beach you will see from the road south of Mulege is Playa Santispac (about 15miles); then the road goes over a ridge and you see a lot of houses on a small beach. I think this is called Posada Conception. Look for a faded sign that says Eco Mundo (E.M. is the round palapa you see to the left) just as the road starts over a little hill and take the dirt road that leads up and over this ridge towards the water. That will take you to Plays Escondida (26Degrees, 44min,44sec N/111Deg,53min, 44sec W). You can always stop and ask directions. If you have a car you can explore all the beaches. If you've really got to save the $5/night stop at the gas station just south of Mulege and ask which dirt road leads to the beach (0.5 mi away). You have to stop at the big dunes and probably camp on the land side, but you'll have a big beach pretty much to yourself. It's questionable to eat shell fish within 10 mi of Mulege and close to any of the populated beaches because of sewage (Unless you cook them thoroughly). Food is not any cheaper in Baja than US because of transportation costs. BUT you can get fish and shrimp that, while it costs the same as US, is 10 times fresher and better.

As to water temperatures, It's a little chilly in January, but I go snorkeling without a wet suit. I'm guessing about 65 F. It actually continues to cool off until late March. Jelly fish can be a bigger problem than the temperature. Use mashed up Papaya to take away the sting. A lot of time there's just broken tentacles in the surf, so if you get out beyond the surf then it's not so bad.

If you've got DSL/Cable then load Google Earth and you can see all these places in high definition - that's why I gave you the coordinates.

If you're still going to HH, then I would still recommend researching Bus service in Baja. Some buses will stop and pick you up anywhere along the road (and drop you off).

I hope this helps. Have fun.

Hey man, thanks a real lot. it is so nice of you to take that time out to give me that run down. we have decided to come around january 20th, and to wing and a prayer it. more fun that way.

thanks, really.