Paradise Found Bahía Concepción 

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It was a hard place to leave, I thought to myself as I cycled away from this tropical paradise. For several days I essentially lived on a beach under a crude thatched roof shelter. Alternating between a visit to one of the two restaurants nearby and swimming in the warm clear tropical waters. My days were filled with eating, drinking and swimming. My evenings were filled with a mix of deep conversation and light hearted discussions, mainly focused around our joyous nomadic existence.

But leave I did. As with almost everyday so far in Mexico it was hot. Within minutes of cycling away from paradise beads of sweat formed and dripped onto the hot ground. For the most part the road followed the bay affording views of islands and secluded bays. Some of which had campsites, restaurants and shanty houses. A paradise that the world is yet to discover, or should I say, many people don’t want the world to discover such a paradise.

I reached the head of the bay around the middle of the day. By chance I happened to look down at the nearby water. A dark shape was moving in the water. Immediately I thought, Whale Shark. It broke the surface of the water with its large tail fin, its dorsal fin emerged, then it’s large mouth. Most of its body was visible to me as it swam not 20 meters from the shore. Now if I had snorkeling gear I would have risked cactus thorns and bashed my way through the scrub to the waters edge. I looked up and down the bay. It looked like another one further up, then another and more. I saw a total of 6 Whale Sharks at the head of the bay, all close to the shore. Kinda glad I left that beach now.

Several days earlier I left Baja California and entered my second state in Mexico, Baja California Sur. The road was straight as an arrow. It seemed like the road builders drew a straight line on the map and said, ‘That’s where the roads going, make it happen‘. Not much in the way of hills or other obstacles. The telegraph poles were my only distraction. Far in the distance I saw a mountain range, for hours I headed straight for them. It was 80km before I finally was close to them. I stopped in a small town to rest. I sat outside a small shop drinking milk and eating cookies. It seemed the whole town wanted to talk to me. Fine chance to practice my Spanish until the town drunk appeared. We chatted. I understood little drunken Spanish. If indeed it was Spanish. At irregular intervals I would change the subject to something random which confused the guy (in Spanish of course). This continued until he didn’t like the game anymore and I refused to give him the money.

I spent several nights camping in the desert. I usually start keeping my eyes out for camping possibility 1-2 hours before sunset. Sometimes it’s easy with many options. On those days I push a little later until just before sunset before escaping the road and making camp far enough away to not be bothered by the trucks or people. On other days camping can be more of a challenge. I’ve camped in road maintenance gravel pits, behind cafes, on dry river beds or my favourite camp of last resort under communication towers. Camping in Baja is both stunning and safe.

I spent several hours in a small tourist town on the east coast, Loreto. I gorged myself at two different restaurants, laden my panniers with fresh food, bought alcohol for my camp stove, replenished my local currency at the bank and generally rested the body for most of the day. I was not 10km from town when I caught up to another worldly cycle tourer, Oliver from Germany. For the next several days we joined forces. Camping and cycling together. We both needed and enjoyed the company. A chance to talk bicycle touring for the first time in a long time for myself.

La Paz, the end of my journey on the Baja peninsula. A chance to relax for a couple of days and prepare for my journey to the Mexican mainland where I’ll journey up to the mountains and remote villages and roads that criss cross the nation.

Cycling Baja California Sur Guerrero Negro to La Paz 787km
Guerrero Negro to bushcamp near communication tower 130km
Bushcamp to Santa Rosalia 98km
Santa Rosalia to Playa Santispak 84km
Playa Santispak to Bushcamp north of Loreto 81km
Bushcamp to Bushcamp south of Loreto 62km
Bushcamp to Bushcamp under powerlines 125km
Bushcamp to Bushcamp near communication tower 123km
Bushcamp to La Paz 84km

The long straight road out of Guerrero Negro
Lunch on the road, avocado, banana, honey and tortilla
Rest break at one of the many small family run stores on the side of the road
Long steady uphill climb towards the volcanoes
From the other side of the volcano
Santa Rosalía
Playa Santispak
Bahía Concepción camping
Playa Santispak
Sunrise at Bahía Concepción
Sunrise from my campsite at Playa Santispak
The road along Bahía Concepción
Paradise
Whale Sharks Bahía Concepción
Whale Shark close to shore at the head of Bahía Concepción
Bahía Concepción Whale Sharks
2 Whale Sharks near shore
Tarantula
Second Breakfast in the town of Loreto
On a long hot climb
A long hot descent
Oliver outside yet another roadside store
Camping under a communication tower
View of sunset at the same time
La Paz

Next : The Silly things we do

Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking Pages might like:
Bicycle Touring Gear List
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Cycling from Alaska to Argentina

Where to buy all the best gear for Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking:
REI | Moosejaw |Amazon | Backcountry.com | 
Campsaver | Competitive Cyclist | Patagonia | Snowys.com.au | MEC Canada -Bicycle Touring Gear | Wildfiresports.com.au

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About the Author:
Brad is an Australian who has completed the hiking Triple Crown after he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail. He has hiked on every continent (except Antarctica) and has cycled from Alaska to Ecuador. He is an expert on outdoor gear currently living in Chile.

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19 thoughts on “Paradise Found Bahía Concepción ”

  1. Amazing photos. Mexico is one of my favourite places – amazing food, amazing scenery & some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. Enjoy the mainland!

    Reply
  2. Your photos of Playa Santispak remind me of my trip to the Greek Islands. Paradise can be found in a simplified way of life. I particularly like the daylight photo of your tent and bike under the thatch roof with the hills in the distance.

    Reply
  3. You are truly living the life.Once again beautiful pictures and a great story. Love the clear water. How did you manage to have that beach all to yourself? What a great trip. Thanks again for taking us along with you!

    Reply
  4. Hi Brad, once again fantastic photos. The colours are so vibrant, they remind me of Mexican paintings. I am always pleased to hear and see that you are safe and enjoying your adventure. Thanks for keeping us all entertained and up to date.

    Reply
  5. Wow. to LaPaz. Outstanding.
    I am so envious of all of your travels.
    It is gratifying to know that you do this safely.
    Amazing for sure.

    I am always interested in how you manage the electronics, what items you have, how you charge them etc. Sort of the mechanical side of it all.

    Truly an inspiration.
    You should see what I think I need to take with me when I go camping… trying to learn from your journeys.

    Always Safe Travels and
    Thank You for sharing.

    Reply
    • Hi Bob, if you read the following articles I wrote it might answer your questions about my gear and electronics etc
      https://bikehikesafari.com/bicycle-review-thorn-nomad-mk2/
      https://bikehikesafari.com/the-bike/
      https://bikehikesafari.com/bicycle-touring-gear-list/
      Hope that helps

      Reply
  6. Wow! That campsite is spectacular. I can imagine how difficult it must have been to leave. How lucky to see 6 whale sharks! People pay big bucks to swim with them. Be sure to get some snorkeling gear in case of another encounter! :)

    Reply
    • I was lucky enough to swim with them many years ago on a dive trip. Unfortunately I am leaving the coast for the mountains, some very exciting places coming up.

      Reply
  7. More amazing photos! I love reading about your adventures. The first sight of those sharks would have kept me out of the water for the remainder of my journey! You have a great “farmer’s tan”, as we say here in Texas.

    Reply
    • They might be called sharks but they are filter feeders and not dangerous. It’s a popular activity to swim with them, a very special experience. I was luck enough to do just that many years ago.

      Reply
  8. Wishing you continued safety and more paradise-like stops on your journey. I coulda done without seeing the close-up photo of the hairy spider tho. LOL

    Reply

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