Rancho Grande | Established Campground

March 11th, 2024 by Kevin

Paying for palapas seemed a bit of a rip off, Porto potties in horrible shape, super dusty. Beach was nice.

February 6th, 2024 by uncertainentrance88

Nice spots right on the beach. 400 pesos which you pay for your spot at the store on the West side of the highway before heading down. The Palapas are three walled wooded sheds (ish) that provide shelter from the wind. It’s dry camping but there are port-o-poties if you want and some trash cans.

Great spots and stunning scenery.

January 21st, 2024 by Robert Raymond

Beach front camping with 3 sided palapas with a palm frond roof to block the constant wind. No services, with a row of porta potties that haven't been emptied in a very long time. Careful of the splashing! 400 pesos paid at the store across the highway.

January 16th, 2024 by macaloney

Stayed 1 night. Paid 400 pesos for my camper and 100 pesos for friend in a car at same camping spot with 3 sided hut

Wonderful walking beach with excellent morning views

January 1st, 2024 by stilldime33

Looks like a great spot. We were misled by previous comment of Song of the road who wrote he paid 250 pesos for one night. So when we have been asked 400pesos and we complaint, the guard became rude and for a reason. So we left and missed this opportunity of spending a night at a great place for a misled info. After I checked previous comments, I could see that back to 2021 this place is charging 400 pesos. So make sure you don’t read only one comment, like I did, before making a choice. You might end up just like me , missing a great opportunity. Good stay.

November 24th, 2023 by instagram.com/travelingwhilebutch

Very windy which I know is the norm for the area but it kept me awake all night. Sounded like a hurricane. It’s very basic for what you get. Porto potties are walking distance. Bring TP. The palapas are very nice and do a great job of breaking the wind. Level spots for parking.

November 7th, 2023 by martyb

Beautiful location on the nice sandy beach. Lots of fish jumping and birds diving. Site comes with a palapa. Pay across the road, at the market, before you enter. There will be someone at the entrance to verify that you have paid. No power, water or sewage. We would have stayed longer if we could get internet for work. $400 per. Several clean port a poti

March 28th, 2023 by Bruce Forrester

I am at Gonzaga Bay Rancho Grande now, staying for one night. The beach is long and beautiful, lots of shells but the parking area is not pleasant. The water is not the turquoise color you find once you hit Conception Bay so is not very inviting for swimming. I was shocked that they are now charging $400 pesos, much more than when I stayed here a couple of months ago. That does get you a plywood palapa but I don't need one and don't actually like them. If you stay more than one day you have to return to the mini mart to pay which is about a mile away. Fine if you have a toad or a bike, not so fine if you have a big rig you need to break down every time you move. Many people I have spoke to say that the guy at the mini mart is rude although I didn't have any issues with him other than him claiming he did not have a credit card terminal when he, in fact did and finally accepted my card.

March 9th, 2023 by Kirsten

Inquired about camping. $400 pesos per car. No shared option as in a previous review. also, not palapas but enclosed, wood structures. Would be nice to keep our of the wind but it was a beautiful day so we went to Campo Beluga.

February 21st, 2023 by rvhappyyet

Big rig friendly, paid 400 pesos/$20 usd per night. Easy access with our 42ft fifth wheel and long bed dually. No cell but Starlink is working like a dream. Nice walk along beach to alfonsinas restaurant for delicious lunch/dinner. Paid $8usd for 3 tacos. Diesel and gas nearby.

January 10th, 2023 by cbearsrus

You must pay at store on Westside oh Hwy 5 to enter. Lots of room for large rigs. Right on water looking at Gonzaga Bay. Our night was quiet.

January 5th, 2023 by SHADAE

Great beach when it's calm and no wind. you check in at mini Market on the main road, cross the street, then pass the guard and down to beach. nice wind proof palapas are 600 pesos, 4 rather large but not as sturdy palapas are 400 pesos. no water or dump, just porta potties.
Beach is steep downhill worth lots of cone shaped shells.
we were there mid week, only a couple of overlanders. must check out by 11am.

December 29th, 2022 by ouroverlandlife.com

Camping at the beach with a Palapa was $400 pesos. Lots of families and kids. Be sure to bring your own dog net and firewood. The restaurant at the hotel is tasty but expensive. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets, can get very windy

December 27th, 2022 by bob

Nice spots on the beach with solid plywood palapas with cement floors. $400 pesos for two of us in a van. Pay at the Rancho Grande store. Porta potty toilets were not great. We had a nice dinner at Alfonsina’s Hotel on the other side of the runway at the far end of the strip of houses. Nice spot

December 21st, 2022 by Kevin Taylor

Not worth the money. 400 pesos for a plywood box on a big gravel parking lot. No water or showers and full porta potties. The view of the beach is nice, but no ambience now. Pay at the small store across from the gas station.

December 21st, 2022 by aliciaj456

400 pesos for a RV spot with a palapa. The camp is kept clean with portapotties all over. The tienda where you pay is on the west side of the intersection. Then you enter to the south of the landing strip (on the east side).

December 18th, 2022 by lettinger829

The name for this pin is incorrect, Campo la Poma is 15 minutes north of here. This is Rancho Grande. The rate is technically mx400 for 1 palapa which is 1 vehicle, 6 people. We were charged mx500 for 2 vehicles at a palapa. Beach is lovely and quiet, no cell service, easy gated road down. Perfect stop to break up the long drive between San Felipe and Guerro Negro.

November 28th, 2022 by @k8tskya

Pay at the tienda. $400 for the night for 2 people and a palapa. Pictures mainly show the old palapas. They now have walls which protect you from the wind. Bathrooms are porta potties.

Definitely get an asada torta at the tienda.

November 9th, 2022 by Sleam

Great open beach, windy, sand is clean, busy yesterday but not today. $400 MX for 2 in a palapa.

November 8th, 2022 by Lido

not closed, 2 people, 2 cars, 400 pesos, check in at Rio Grande Market

November 8th, 2022 by jilly_bean113

Stayed for the night, 400 pesos. Beautiful beach. Lots of flies in the palapa, better in the open since it was quite windy. Outhouses are not the worst I've seen, but not clean. Seemed like decent fishing, lots of other campers caught fish. Lots of tiny schools of fish right on the shore so snorkeling might be ok if it was calm. Register at market.

October 27th, 2022 by mcrae.mike

This place is permanently closed.

June 27th, 2022 by MightyMontero

400 pesos for a camp spot with a palapa now as per price sheet at the mini market. We went to Papa Fernandez instead

April 6th, 2022 by instagram.com/driventoadventures

You can buy WiFi at the mini mart when you pay for camping. Signal only at the mini mart but it’s pretty decent speed. 15 pesos for 2 hrs. There’s NO cell signal

March 27th, 2022 by thedragonwagon.me

Stop at the mini market to pay first. 250 pesos per night with a private palapa. Saw a pod of dolphins jumping as soon as we pulled in. Beautiful view of the ocean and mountains. Two or three bars Telcel cell only (not data) at palapa 5. Guy comes by selling drinks. So good

January 9th, 2022 by Rick Gambino

250 Pesos ($12.50 US) much cleaner now than in past. Owners have invested in rental rooms on the beach in separate compound. Half dozen overnight-ers on sight. Even when gated, security patrols every few hours through night. Comfortable place makes easy drive to points south. Road in excellent condition on out to Chappala.

January 3rd, 2022 by Gisele

When we arrived, gate was up across the road but someine came out of on site trailer to let us in. It was New Year’s Day so Rancho Grande store was closed. We biked to store on Sunday and paid $500 pesos for 2 nights. No services. We were able to position truck to get out of wind sonewhat. It was a great spot for the first days of our Baja trip.

December 9th, 2021 by instagram.com/gocamp.n

About 20 palapas. Super basic, but seems the best option in the region. No electricity, running water, or cell signal. Palapas are a bit run down, lots of rusty nails and such that made it unsafe for young kids, but we made it work. Roaming dogs were friendly with our dogs. Winds were fierce most of the afternoon and evening, chilled out in the morning. Nice to have the small grocery store about 500 meters away. I think the store also sells water for RV’s if you ask. Gas station there as well, has diesel. There is a wifi signal, but saw no way to pay for it so ask at store if you want access.

April 14th, 2021 by lowbrow41

Good place to stay when working your way south. This wouldn’t be my destination. Used to be able to drive right in but now they have a manned gate that you have to show your ticket at. Seems you can open it if you need to leave early and the guys not there. Palapas on the beach with some really rank toilets! Windiest night we’ve spent in the camper due to a storm. Had to drop the top and sleep on the floor. Sunrises are beautiful.

February 25th, 2021 by seespotrun.com

Stayed on the road coming into La Poma, due to the several dogs running loose at the campsites. Supposedly friendly, but with our pack, who knows and didnt want to take the chance. Food from restaurant was great and huge protions. road was super quiet. Would stay there again, in a pinch.

December 28th, 2020 by jlaboy

Rancho Grande. Clean with huge palapas. Beautiful views and amazing sunrises and sunsets. The night winds can be wild -easily 20-25 mph and while you can put a ground tent inside a palapa, a roof top tent is gonna be shaking and rattling but that’s all part of the experience and adventure. Secure and said to be quite safe as a result. I loved it.

December 27th, 2020 by kirk

Agree it's good for one night, maybe more if your into fishing. No problems for any size rig in or out, Plenty of tourists and mostly more local tourists then foreign. Never felt more secure due to the remoteness and 'gated' entrance plus felt more like a family place then a party place even though the motorbikes and quads were quite popular there. Pit toilets are rough and with no water, wifi, power, etc, price seems a little steep. One Palapa is $250, or share one with two vehicles for $350, store was well stocked

December 10th, 2020 by annendhai

Good place to stay for a night. Right on the beach. The Pittoilets where awful, not possible to use them!

November 18th, 2020 by Recreation Director

The drive down on the new 5 road was great, our average speed was 65. You need to stop at the store (Rancho Grande Mini Market) first and pay or the guy at the gate will not let you through. Midweek the place is pretty dead, you should not need reservations. If you plan on staying through the weekend, I would call ahead. The guy handling the reservations speaks good English. The entrance road and the parking spots on each side of the palapa is smooth and firm. This place has very nice palapas, the side walls make you feel like your almost alone. The camping area has about 20 pit toilets not it to bad of shape for Baja standards, but I didn't use them. The bay is amazing, the water doesn't get to rough in there, we took our paddle boards to the island. Rancho Grande Mini Market has lots of items but no butter, you can get a big bag of ice for $3. You can also walk the beach to Alfonsina resterant if you want some food.

March 5th, 2020 by lbrazier

amazing view of the sea of Cortez. Great camping spots right on the water. Resident dogs may be an issue if you travel with yours. Site was clean. No issues getting in and setting up. Ground is solid with no worries of getting stuck.

February 16th, 2020 by @EndlessPlaytime

Beach front palapas. Pay by Palapa (not by vehicle) at the market on the main road. Pit toilets. Good beach fishing. Shrimp tacos at the restaurant were ok, very fried.

Restaurant has satellite internet for a fee. (slow and expensive)

Houses north of the dirt runway and camp sites just south of the dirt runway.

February 8th, 2020 by ontherogueus

Campground is pretty run down, the outhouses look a bit comical but fortunately we prefer boondocking and are self contained. The view of Gonzaga Bay is awesome. We were told someone would come by to collect 250 pesos but we left before anyone did.

February 6th, 2020 by jnsbmb

Great place on the beach. They charged us 350 pesos for 2 vehicles and 1 palapa. Garbage and lots of out houses available. Incredible view of the bay and surrounding mountains

January 8th, 2020 by rookieoftheyear

OPEN OPEN OPEN! iOverlander please mark this place as open again :)

Beautiful spot. Half enclosed palapas, cement floors, grill, table and pit toilets. Just pull up, pick your palapa, and in the morning Alfredo will come around to collect 250 pesos. Safe and sound. Enjoy!

November 27th, 2019 by ningina

NOT CLOSED!! This place is now open again. First few palapas are privately owned, but after the grey one they are for rent for $15/night. You pay at the store. Winds were pretty high here, but the palapas are walled in to break the wind. Fishing appeared to be very successful.

January 3rd, 2019 by WanderingBison.ca

Exactly as described. Beautiful site, not crowded and very basic - 250 pesos.

December 23rd, 2018 by kimkayeontheroad

Nice beach front palapas-palapa very big & somewhat enclosed. Has small grill/table. Pit toilet for each palapa. Breezy, but nice. Not too crowded at this time. Market/restaurant on highway at entrance, but restaurant closed for Sunday or holiday.

March 16th, 2018 by Away We Winnebago

Great spot on the beach. 250 pesos per night or $15 USD. Enjoyed the big palapa with concrete floor. It was like having an outdoor living room. The outhouses did not smell. We enjoyed paddling out to the island.

November 24th, 2017 by atmoorelaw

The new road here has done wonders for the local economy, and with it crowds. Best to have reservations for Alfonsina's hotel any more, although the restaurant still has some of the best shrimp tacos in Baja. Rancho Grande palapas to the South can be busy, and honestly, dirty given their much increased use.

March 4th, 2016 by The Pin Project

250 pesos per vehicle per palapa per night NON negotiable. Quite strict and unfriendly owner. No facilities. Only toilets. You pay at the restaurant/ mini market on your right after the military checkpoint before turn left to the bay (as you head south). Beautiful sandy beach.

February 26th, 2016 by jessemoore.com

Calm water and a pit toilet for every palapa. Cement floor palapas with fire grills and wood walls.

January 11th, 2016 by The Next Big Adventure

We stupidly headed for Gonzaga bay on ioverlander sites but ended up at papa fernandos beach camping instead! Didn't realize our error until we came over the hill to see the shabby pad. But for $5 on a super windy day, being behind the dunes actually worked out ok for one night. Pit toilets with no doors but with tp!

December 10th, 2015 by johnandmandi

As previously described, we paid 200 pesos per night for two rigs sharing one palapa. Endured a ridiculous wind storm for 24 hours. Saw Dolphins and other wildlife.

December 3rd, 2015 by kdiesenb

beautiful bay. great for swimming and snorkelling. desert to ocean. the store is friendly and has just about everything you need. primitive at the bay.

November 12th, 2015 by Tony LEE

adding photos.
They come around to collect the money late afternoon 150 pesos

January 31st, 2015 by Neli's Big Adventure

Beachfront camping with palapas. Pit toilets. Awesome.

November 23rd, 2014 by peter

120 pesos (~$10) per palapa if one car, 180 pesos (~$15) if two cars. Nice place right on the beach. Just pit toilets. No cell coverage.

October 13th, 2014 by adventureornothing.me

A beach with palapas and pretty bad pit toilets. The store, rancho grande, where you pay for the camping, had a surprisingly good beer and food selection. We paid 50 pesos per person

November 1st, 2013 by Song of the Road

Primitive campground right on Gonzaga Bay. You pay at the restaurant/market up the road on the main highway. They are basically just renting the palapas. Restaurant/mercado also will sell you a hot shower. ~USD $4.00