(198 km/123 miles)
We continue north and our final leg is from the junction on Mex 1 until a junction where we will take a paved road 66 km down to the Sea of Cortez and the sleepy fishing village of Bahía de los Ángeles (“Bay of Angels”). We will spend 3 evenings and sunrises in one of the most scenic spots in Baja California. We are heading for Campo Archelon which has clean restrooms, showers and a cafe. Our hosted on-tour excursion includes a visit to town, the “must see” Museo De Naturaleza Y Cultura run by Mexcian, American and Canadian volunteers. The campground is waterfront and has gorgeous sunrises, you can also take beach walks in either direction.
Campo Archelon is the site of the now defunct sea turtle rescue and research center in Bahia se Los Angeles. Campo Archelon founders and owners are Antonio and Bety Resendiz, good friends of Dan & Lisa Goy, founders of Baja Amigos. Sadly Antonio passed away suddenly at Easter time in 2016 while the Goys were visiting with his family in Mexico City. “Tony,” a former Mexican government biologist, had boundless energy, was passionate about conservation and sustainability, and was always happy to advise you about activities or trips provided by locals. Bety often volunteers at the museum in town, and Antonio Jr. operates the Siete Filos Cafe on site.
The sunrises over Isla Angel de la Guarda and the islands of the inner bay are always terrific. At low tide the shore is rocky… at high tide it’s sandy. One or two kayaks are available for camper use. Shore birds abound and it’s easy to get great photographs of pelicans, egrets, boobies and oystercatchers even from the comfort of your palapa.
Archelon is an extinct marine turtle from the Late Cretaceous, and is the largest turtle ever to have been documented, with the biggest specimen measuring 4.6 m (15 ft) from head to tail and 2.2–3.2 t (2.4–3.5 short tons) in body mass and weighed as much as a small pickup.