The region of San Quintin is becoming increasingly popular with tourists and ex-pats due to its beautiful beaches, variety of wildlife and relative proximity to the US border, approximately 3 hours (115 miles/185 km) south of Ensenada.
San Quintin itself is one of 6 small towns that make up the fertile agricultural region surrounding these towns. Founded in the late 19th century, the town has grown from a small fishing village into a thriving community known for its agricultural prowess, particularly in the cultivation of tomatoes and strawberries.
The town’s historical roots are still evident today, with remnants of early settlements and old fishing traditions providing a fascinating glimpse into its past. The area was first populated by a small group of British colonists who planted wheat, developed a gristmill, and constructed a railway to link with the tracks in California when a drought hit.
The devastating drought destroyed the first harvest, and all British colonists left San Quintin by 1900. However, the gristmill, pier, railway causeway, and an English cemetery are still present along the inner bay.
Currently, San Quintin is the agricultural center of the Baja peninsula and the world’s largest producer of tomatoes. Along the highway, the ocean side is dominated by vast fields of tomatoes, with other local crops dominating the eastern side. Strawberries, chili peppers, cucumbers, and green beans are the stars of the agricultural center.
In addition to agriculture, San Quintin is also working on aquaculture, running conservation projects to repopulate abalone. Several companies are also investing in developing shellfish (primarily oysters and mussels) to harvest and export.
Not only does San Quintin offer its own list of reasons to stop for a few days, but it is also a great place to rest if you are breaking up a long drive to/from the border. You will find many gas stations, hardware stores, supermarkets, banks, and other businesses that cater to travelers.
A handful of rustic campgrounds in the area provide access to a stretch of pristine beaches. Seven dormant volcanoes help frame San Quintin Bay, a hotspot for kayaking, bird watching, and sport fishing, particularly for species like halibut and seabass. The nearby volcanic field offers unique hiking opportunities, where you can explore lava tubes and craters while soaking in breathtaking panoramic views.
One of the main reasons to visit San Quintín is its extraordinary natural beauty and biodiversity. The bay and its surrounding wetlands are home to various bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. Additionally, San Quintín is known for its excellent seafood, with local restaurants serving delicious dishes featuring freshly caught fish and shellfish.
Things to do in San Quintin
Although at first glance San Quintin doesn’t seem like more than a bustling stretch of Highway 1 surrounded by agricultural crops, there are plenty of great things to do when you’re in the area. Here are a few of our top recommendations.
Explore San Quintín Bay: Take a kayak or boat tour around San Quintín Bay, where you can enjoy bird watching, explore the diverse marine life, and experience the serene beauty of the coastal wetlands. Sport fishing is also popular here, with opportunities to catch halibut, seabass, and other local fish.
Visit La Lobera: Just a short drive from San Quintín, La Lobera is a unique sea cave and natural rock formation where you can observe seals in their natural habitat. The area offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and is a great spot for photography and wildlife watching. In order to reach La Lobera, you have to drive through washboard roads, if you can even call them that. So, it’s best to access via an ATV or 4×4 vehicle with high clearance.
Hike the Volcanic Field: The San Quintín volcanic field provides a unique hiking experience through ancient lava flows and volcanic craters. This geological wonder offers stunning panoramic views and an opportunity to explore the region’s rugged terrain.
Relax on the Beaches: Spend a day at one of San Quintín’s beautiful beaches, such as Playa Santa María or Playa La Chorera. These pristine, sandy beaches are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying the peaceful coastal environment. If you head further south you can give clamming a shot, as locals spend hours digging up Pismo clams when the tide goes out. Or beachcombing for sand dollars, where you may find you are the only one on the beach for miles.
Taste Local Cuisine: Indulge in the local flavors by dining at one of San Quintín’s seafood restaurants. Enjoy freshly caught fish, oysters, other seafood delicacies, and locally grown produce like tomatoes and strawberries. Don’t miss the chance to sample regional specialties and experience the rich culinary traditions of Baja California.
Campgrounds in San Quintin
There are a handful of decent camping opportunities in the San Quintin region. Most are south of San Quintin, near the adjoining town of Lazaro Cardenas, which leads from San Quintin Bay along the Pacific Ocean.
Looking for campground contact and location information? Check out our 280-page paperback guidebook with everything you need to know to plan and enjoy your Baja camping adventure!
Los Olivos
Perhaps the best example of what a campground should be, Los Olivos makes up in amenities what it lacks in locale, as it is built amidst an olive grove a few blocks from Highway 1. Located south of San Quintin in the town of Lazaro Cardenas, the campground is nestled in a neighborhood such that you would not know it was there if you were not looking for it.
The property is beautifully landscaped and maintained and offers camping for RVs, cars, and tents, with full hookups and WiFi available throughout the campground. There is a common bathroom with clean toilets and hot showers and all sorts of recreational activities in the campground, including a pool, playground, palapas, and a grassy field on which to play a variety of sports.
One of the biggest complaints, aside from the fact that Los Olivos is not near the water like other campgrounds in the area, is that the campground is open to the public. This means that you will likely find more locals than other campers enjoying the activities in the campground. But that is part of Los Olivos’s mission: to serve the local community.
| Price Range | $30 | Sewer Hookup | Dump Station | Laundry | N |
| # of Sites | 15+ | WiFi | Y | Pool | Y |
| Big Rig Friendly | Y | Cell Service | Y | Security | Y |
| Electric Hookup | Y | Shower | Y | Pet Friendly | Y |
| Water Hookup | Y | Toilet | Y | Tent Friendly | Y |
Cielito Lindo Motel And RV Park
Cielito Lindo Motel And RV Park is located a few miles off of Highway 1 in the vicinity of Rancho los Pinos. Stop for fuel at the Pemex on the right and turn right for 3 miles (5 km) through the vast rows of greenhouses and agricultural tunnels and head past the turnoff to Hotel Mision Santa Maria San Quintin and the adjacent airstrip.
It feels like you are headed toward the end of the road because that is where Cielito Lindo Motel and RV Park is located, toward the peninsula that hems in the San Quintin Bay. There are 8 big-rig friendly RV spots that offer a full hookup and enough space to maneuver into whichever one you prefer.
The hotel and RV park also has an excellent restaurant and bar known for its crab claws and delicious margaritas, which you can enjoy during daily happy hour throughout the week. Although it is not on the beach, you can either drive a 4WD vehicle or take a short walk to reach the spit that separates the bay from the ocean.
| Price Range | $25 | Sewer Hookup | Y | Laundry | N |
| # of Sites | 8 | WiFi | Y | Pool | N |
| Big Rig Friendly | Y | Cell Service | Y | Security | N |
| Electric Hookup | 20A | Shower | Y | Pet Friendly | Y |
| Water Hookup | Y | Toilet | Y | Tent Friendly | N |
El Pabellon RV Park
El Pabellon RV Park is a wide open and spacious camping area right next to the sandy shores of the Pacific Ocean in the area of Ejido Nueva Odisea. You must keep your eyes peeled for the sign so as not to be confused with the adjacent campground (Fidel’s El Pabellon, see below). A short drive through mostly washboard dirt roads will bring you to the family residence and entry to the campground.
The sites are all marked, and most have water and electrical hookups, though most of the electrical hookups show signs of aging and wear from the constant salt spray from the ocean, just a sand dune away. Also, the water is historically tainted with salt water, so you do not want to use it inside your camper. There is a common bathroom with a toilet and shower that are in decent but not spectacular shape.
Staying here is mostly about the solitude and the empty beach, which is accessible by walking between breaks in the sand dunes that line the beach. There may be surf with sandy beach breaks at times. The clamming is spectacular in this stretch of beach, and you are most certain to find sand dollars and other shells when you stroll along the beach.
Although there are quite a few campsites, we have never seen another camper in all of our time here. The only downside to the entire camping experience is the condition of the roads leading in and out of the campground. Be extra cautious during or after the rain.
| Price Range | $10 | Sewer Hookup | N | Laundry | N |
| # of Sites | 30+ | WiFi | N | Pool | N |
| Big Rig Friendly | Y | Cell Service | Y | Security | Y |
| Electric Hookup | 20 A | Shower | Y | Pet Friendly | Y |
| Water Hookup | Y | Toilet | Y | Tent Friendly | Y |
Fidel’s El Pabellon Palapas
Although Fidel’s El Pabellon Palapas appears to be connected to El Pabellon RV Park, the two properties are separated by a fence. Fidel is a super-friendly host, a lobster fisherman by trade who sometimes offers to cook freshly caught lobster or other fresh seafood. If he offers, take him up on it!
The campground is more an eclectic scattering of palapas on and off the beach than a formal campground. You’ll approach Fidel’s in the same manner as the adjacent property, down several miles of mostly washboard dirt road that can be no fun in the rain. As you approach the property, you will see a big sign announcing the fishing charter Fidel will arrange, and you’ll drive past a rundown restroom and residence as you make your way toward the beach.
Depending on how well the property is maintained, you may or may not have a very low-pressure water hookup and 20 amp electrical hookup at the beachfront palapas. The campground advertises WiFi, but we received no service when we stayed here.
The best part of the camping experience is that you will likely be alone and will have your own large palapa at the edge of the sand dunes that separate your campsite from the beach. Fidel does permit locals to pass through his property for beach access, but otherwise, you will be in the southernmost camping area in the San Quintin region, and the beach will be all but yours.
| Price Range | $10 | Sewer Hookup | N | Laundry | N |
| # of Sites | 5+ | WiFi | Limited | Pool | N |
| Big Rig Friendly | Y | Cell Service | Y | Security | Y |
| Electric Hookup | 20 A | Shower | N | Pet Friendly | Y |
| Water Hookup | Y | Toilet | Y | Tent Friendly | Y |