Hotels and Camping

Some longtime Baja travelers remember the days of generators and the electricity turning off at night, but mainstream power has arrived at last. Most of Bahía de los Ángeles [1]’s hotels now offer 24-hour power, and around-the-clock Internet access is likely not far behind.

Under US$50

At the south end of town, near one of the town’s two Pemex stations, family-run Casa Díaz (tel. 200/124-9112, US$30) offers large rooms fronting the bay. You can book fishing and bird-watching trips out to the islands and stock up on supplies at the on-site market.

Centrally located with 30 rooms, Villa Vitta (tel. 200/124-9103, U.S. tel. 619/454-6108, www.villavitta.com [2], $45–75) is a single-story motel with a pool, restaurant/bar, boat ramp, and parking. Hot water does not run on electricity here, so it is always available. Fishing packages are available. An adjoining RV park and campground (US$10/night) has 25 spaces with electrical hookups and 11 without, a dump station, and bathrooms/showers.

Mauro’s Posada (www.bahiadelosangeles.info/mauros-posada.htm [3], US$20) introduces the first ecologically sound accommodations in Bahía de los Angeles. Owned and run by an Italian-U.S. couple, Mauro and Patty, the posada offers a low-impact stopover (composting toilet and all-natural construction and decoration) for nature-minded travelers. Beds are arranged dormitory style with six bunks in two rooms. The hostel offers a huge communal kitchen, Internet service, an Italian-style café and restaurant, plenty of local knowledge, and, above all, the most spectacular view of the bay anywhere in town. The hostel is located on a hill on the road into town from Highway 1, about a minute before the Pemex and along a hand-cut and graded road.

US$50–100

North of Villa Vitta, Costa del Sol (tel. 200/124-19110, cell tel. 646/178-8167, costadelsolhotel [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$65, credit cards accepted), has a half dozen large, clean rooms. Amenities include hot showers, air-conditioning, and 24-hour electricity. You can dine in the hotel’s small restaurant/bar for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Or rent a kayak for a paddle around the bay.

The rooms at Guillermo’s RV Park and Restaurant (tel. 200/124-9104, www.guillermos.net [4], US$45–65) each have two king-size beds and one double bed, as well as air-conditioning 24/7. Its restaurant serves seafood entrées for US$12–24 and fish tacos for US$6. You can camp on the beach here for about US$5 per person; RV hookups run US$17.

On the way to La Gringa, Villa Bahía (no tel., www.villabahia.com [5], $60–95), is an interesting complex consisting of different-sized buildings on the waterfront. Each unit holds at least six people, comes with a full kitchen, and includes the use of an outdoor communal kitchen with grills. A three-bedroom, two-bath upstairs unit is great for a group stay, and features an especially intricate metal sculpture of a coral reef wall, complete with fish, by an Ensenada artist whose works can be found all over the property. Satellite Internet is offered free to guests in the office area, and pedal boats are available for use on calm days. The Villa runs on wind and solar power, with a generator for backup when occupancy is high. Owners Jean and Roger also charter fishing, diving, and sightseeing trips on their cabin cruiser and panga.

US$100–150

Three miles north of Bahía de los Ángeles [1], on the way to Punta la Gringa, Los Vientos Spa and Resort (Ensenada tel. 646/178-1440, www.losvientosspaandresort.com [6], US$96–156) has a large stone fireplace in the lobby and 13 rooms and suites with air-conditioning and power 24/7. At last check, the resort was building four new rooms and a new outdoor bar. The hotel also allows each room to select four DirecTV channels. The management needs advanced notice to arrange a massage, since there hasn’t yet been much demand. Although the property is well maintained, prices seem a bit high.

Camping and RV Parks

Across the street from its motel, Villa Vitta (tel. 200/124-9103, U.S. tel. 619/454-6108, www.villavitta.com [2]) maintains 25 campsites with electrical hookups and 11 more without, plus a dump station and bathrooms with hot showers for US$10 per night.

Just south of Villa Vitta and close to the plaza, Guillermo’s (tel. 200/124-9104, www.guillermos.net [4]), is a longtime trailer park, motel, and restaurant with palapas, tent sites at US$5 per person, and full hookups for US$17 per night. Guests can use the boat launch free of charge, as well showers and toilets. There is also a small market and gift shop on the premises.

Casa Díaz (tel. 200/124-9112) has nine RV sites with full hookups for US$8.50 a night.

Just past the sea turtle station [7], on the way to La Gringa, Campo Archelón (no tel.) has several palapa-roofed rock shelters for bayside camping (US$8 pp).

Another longstanding Bahía de los Angeles business, Daggett’s (about 2.5 km north of town, along the coastal road, tel. 200/124-9101, www.campdaggetts.com [8]) has sites with wooden ramadas and grills, as well as showers and outhouses, for US$10. You can book fishing and diving trips through Daggett’s as long as you come fully equipped.

Even without hot water, Camp La Ventana (just south of Los Vientos, no tel.) is one of the best choices for campers. The 10 lattice-wood structures have their own grills, bathrooms are clean, and the grounds are well kept by the camp’s owner, Marina, who lives just beside the property. For US$5 a person, the solitude and access to the beautiful beachfront area seem like a steal.

You can still find some sites for free camping along the graded road to Punta la Gringa, which marks the north end of the bay. Along the way are a number of open campsites where camping is free. East and south of the town, several sandy coves have camping areas, including Puerto Don Juan, Ensenada del Quemado, and Ensenada del Pescador.