Pichilingue Peninsula

Pichilingue Peninsula

I had visited the beaches north of La Paz on the Pichilingue Peninsula a couple times before (in 2000 and 2005 ), but this time I noticed a big difference — lots of private property signs, security outposts, and new housing developments. This is probably the last time I'll try camping in this area.

Beach Access Gates - Sportsmobile Road Past Tecolote - Signs: Private Property No Access Playa Cachimba - Signs: Private Property No Access Playa Cachimba - Beach - Sign: "Propiedad Leonor Zamorano" Bahía Balandra - Cierra El Diablo - Gated Road New Housing Development

One last unoccupied sandy beach still had public access, the beach between Punta las Pilitas and Punta Galeras. See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   24.3517, -110.2938 

Public Beach Between Punta las Pilitas and Punta Galeras - Sign: Federal Property Public Beach Between Punta las Pilitas and Punta Galeras - Looking West - Sportsmobile (aerial photo) Public Beach at Punta las Pilitas - Looking North - Private Property in Foreground - Beach (aerial photo) Public Beach Between Punta las Pilitas and Punta Galeras - Looking East (aerial photo) Punta Pilitas - Beach - Looking Southwest Towards Tecolote (aerial photo) Punta Las Pilitas - Pelican - Beach

I helped these guys get their family truck pulled out of the soft sand just before being swallowed by the rising tide.

Punta Arranca Cabellos - Truck Stuck in Sand - Beach

Bahía Balandra

Driving back south to La Paz, I stopped at Bahía Balandra. The north side of the bay is crowded with campers, but I found a secluded back entrance on the south side. A dirt track to See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   24.3135, -110.3181  leads to a quarter-mile hike along the mangroves to this stunningly secluded sandy spot: See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   24.3170, -110.3209 

Bahía Balandra - Trail Bahía Balandra - Mangrove - Beach Bahía Balandra - Trail - Beach Bahía Balandra - Beach Bahía Balandra - Kayak - Beach Bahía Balandra - Beach Bahía Balandra - North Side - Beach