Baja California is legendary for its brutally rugged off-road driving conditions, made famous by its epic Baja 1000 off-road race along the entire length of the peninsula. Today, a modern paved highway extends the 1,000 mile length of the peninsula, but automotive enthusiasts continue to design and modify vehicles that can traverse the myriad obstacles and shifting terrain of backcountry Baja, which includes remote mountain ranges, searing hot deserts, tidal salt water marshes and just about everything in between.
Understand
[edit]Off-roading in Baja became famous among motorsports enthusiasts during the 1960s. The first official Baja 1000 race took place in 1967, some five years after the earliest timed runs were conducted by Honda to demonstrate the durability of their C72 Scrambler motorcycles. Car enthusiasts wanted in on the excitement of a grueling 1,000 mile off-road race and the first car to make it across the Baja Peninsula was a dune buggy built on a Volkswagen Beetle chassis.
Almost anything that rolls can be raced in the Baja 1000. Motorcycles and small cars were most common from the 1960s through the 1980s, but 4WD trucks have dominated the winners list since 1990, usually using modified Chevrolet, Ford, or Toyota trucks. Modified Volkswagen Beetles were common in the first decades of the race, but today's buggy style vehicles are typically custom vehicles with few or no Volkswagen parts (particularly since Volkswagen stopped production of Beetles in 2003).
With its vast areas of unpopulated desert and mountains, Baja continues to attract motorsports enthusiasts seeking a genuine off-road adventure with real (but predictable and manageable) risks. There are many secluded coves and hidden beaches as well as natural hot springs, caves, and prehistoric archaeological sites that can only be visited by 4WD vehicle.
Racing
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Several off-road races are held in Baja each year. The oldest and most famous is the Baja 1000, held each year in November. The Baja 1000 typically begins in Ensenada and ends in La Paz, but is sometimes run as a shorter circuit route that begins and ends in Ensenada. A shorter loop course is used for the Baja 500, which is run in June. Two shorter races are run in Baja California Sur, the Loreto 400 and the Loreto 300. The San Felipe 250 runs on the eastern side of the Baja Peninsula, near the Sea of Cortez.
Motorsports fans often book hotels in Ensenada months in advance of a race. One of the most popular places to watch the Baja racers Is Rosarito Beach.
Recreational offroading
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Many places in Baja California offer 4x4 rentals, including dirt bikes and ATVs. Off-road adventure tours are offered in resort areas such as Cabo San Lucas as well as in La Paz, Ensenada, and Mexicali. Companies that cater to tourists typically offer route planning, camping and recreational equipment rentals, and support trucks in case you break down in a remote area. If you just want to dip your toes into the world of off-roading, they often offer guided tours.
Off-road clubs in Southern California publish maps and guides to off-roading routes, most within a few hours drive of the U.S./Mexico border. The off-road clubs also organize group off-road treks, which usually include support trucks carrying tires and other spare parts as well. If you plan to bring your own 4WD vehicle to Mexico, check regulations for insurance and off-road vehicle usage. Be aware that most standard Mexican auto insurance policies do not cover off-road usage and that custom-built 4WD vehicles are typically classified as motorcycles, and Mexican motorcycle insurance does not typically cover medical expenses. Understand the rules and your coverage before you go.
There are several companies in both states of the Baja Peninsula that will rent off-road vehicles to travelers. Cruise ships that dock in Ensenada or Los Cabos often offer off-road excursions ̈(typically on ATVs). There are also tour operators that offer guided trips using Jeeps, ATVs or other types of vehicles. The following companies have websites with useful informationː
Baja California (North)
[edit]There are many small companies in Rosarito and Ensenada that rent ATVs with routes along the beach, dunes, and mountains.
- 1 Condor Baja Tours, MEX 5, El Rancho (2 hours south of Mexicali (US border crossing)), ☏ US number +1 818 670 1416Phone with wrong formatCountry code missing. Daily 09ː00 - 17ː00. Motorcycle rentals and off-road race support around San Felipe.
Baja California Sur (South)
[edit]- 2 Sampa Explore, Carretera Transpeninsular km 6.5 Fracc, Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., ☏ +52 551 452 0403. Rents off-road vehicles including Jeeps, Toyota Hilux, and motorcycles. Provides various levels of service including bare vehicle rentals to guided tours with support trucks.
- 3 Baja Overlander, Miguel Hidalgo y Costi SN, Jose Maria Morelos, Centro, San José del Cabo, ☏ +52 624 154 9255. Rents Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator and Toyota Hilux 4WD trucks with roof tents M$4000 (US$200) per day.
Off-roading resources
[edit]Destinations
[edit]See also
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