While driving through the Baja peninsula, you’ll come across a gap, without gas stations, of about 200 miles. Now, this place isn’t great to break down, run out of water or gas, etc. but, Cataviña is a wonderful place to take photographs of the stars, watch the Baja 1000, and escape the world. There is no cell service and the light pollution is minimal. Additionally, there is a bunch of wildlife that lives among the variety of cactus in this remote part of Baja. If you can, I suggest stopping for a night, or two, to take in a landscape as pristine (once you are away from the graffitied rocks and trash from the highway) as Cataviña.
Cataviña in Baja California is home to one of the most unique landscapes in all of Baja. This remote 200 mile stretch of land, is protected for conservation reasons and houses a variety of wild life ranging from coyotes to reptiles to birds. The best part of Catavina is that it is free to camp and secluded.
Read on to discover camping rules of Cataviña, where it is, why you should stop for at least one night, and so much more!
The night sky over Catavina is one of the clearest in all of Baja California. Photo by Dalton Johnson
WHERE IS CATAVINA?
Catavina is a small town in the middle of Baja Norte most known for being a gap, of roughly 200 miles, without fuel. This wild and rugged landscape is the perfect spot to stop for a few days and recharge without cell service. The closest towns are El Rosario to the north and El Rosalito to the south.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN CATAVINA?
At first site, Catavina seems like a desolate place with nothing to do, but that is not the case. When you visit Catavina you will find:
Tons of wildlife to photograph
Bouldering
Epic Landscapes
Dirtbike/OHV trails to explore
An oasis that is tucked into a valley
A clear night sky (perfect for taking star photographs | click here to learn how to snap milky way photographs)
IS CAMPING FREE IN CATAVINA?
Camping in Catavina is free and wild. When I say wild I mean pull off the highway and find yourself a spot to set up wild. For the most part, there is nothing in Catavina and you can camp where ever you would like. With this privilege comes responsibility however. In recent years, Catavina has increased in popularity and campers have started to leave trash behind, let’s not allow this.
If you stop to camp in Catavina, let us leave the place better than we found it and pick up some of the trash that is beginning to accrue. This will help preserve this wild place for others and the wildlife who inhabit the Dr. Suess like landscape.
The Catavina landscape at sunset. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Off-Roading in Cataviña makes you feel like you are driving the Baja 1000
When driving through Baja, Mexico, there is a stretch of roughly 200 miles without any modern connivances. No water stops, no food, no gas, and, if you’re lucky, climb a cactus for 2 bars of service to double check you did’t make the wrong turn. While I don’t suggests climbing cactus, I can’t deny it hasn’t been done. Within this 200 mile stretch, there is an area unlike any other place along the road, Cataviña. In my pervious drives south, I was afraid to stop, because what if something happened. However, this year was going to be different. Kristin, Andrew, and I were determined to stop in this iconic place for a short while to photograph the Ford Bronco tearing through the OHV paths which twist and turn through these Dr. Seuss looking cactus.
“Hey, let’s go just over there to find a spot to set up camp,” Andrew shouted over to Kristin and I as we pulled into the wild lands of Cataviña.
A coyote, who patrolled the lands around our campsite, watching over us and the landscape of Catavina from a rock perch. Photo by Dalton Johnson
“Sounds good, it looks like there is a spot just over the hill.” I respond.
“Copy that.”
The spot wasn’t flat, but it will do. The sun was not far from the horizon line, so I grabbed my camera bag, squeezed into the front seat of the Bronco hoping to catch the golden light Baja shines so bright within.
“You ready to rip?” I ask Andrew putting out my fist for a bump
“Yeah buddy,” he responds with a solid bump, “let’s get it.”
Without digging into the the geology and weather patterns of the Cataviña, I am going to make the assumption that something special is going on here. It is green in an otherwise brown environment. Wildlife seems to be thriving as we often spotted coyotes wandering and birds perched. This land is preserved in some manner, but I won’t pretend to understand Mexico politics. The cactus come in two obvious variations are bountiful, standing tall, reaching their arms to the sky.
Finding the first shot and growing comfortable with the dirt roads, Andrew dusts a few cactus. Photo by Dalton Johnson
“This corner looks good and the light is starting to pop. What do you think?” I ask Andrew.
“You’re the one with the vision, I trust you.” He boosts my confidence.
“Okay, let’s set up the first shot here. You’ll hit the turn a couple of times and then I’ll change spots so you’ll come directly through the cactus for a head on shot. It’ll look sick.”
We were hesitant, at first, as we got a lay of the land and understood how packed the sand was. Smashing corners felt a bit risky, as did putting the pedal to the metal, but we wanted to kick up some dust for the shots. In the back of our minds, we couldn’t shake the reality that breaking breaking down here had consequences. Running out of gas in Cataviña had smaller consequences, but it would not be ideal. Regardless, we were committed to fun and creating stellar images.
Andrew and the Ford Bronco speeding through the dirt roads of Catavina for sunset. Photo by Dalton Johnson
“Do you think we can jump this?” Andrew looks at me with beading eyes.
Before the words come out of my mouth, I am already grabbing my camera to set up, “Hell yeah!”
I guess the nerves wore off pretty quick.
“I’ll be over here in the bushes, just please don’t hit me.” I say in a semi-joking manner.
“Sounds good.”
As the Bronco revved it’s engine towards the jump, my body grew tense, but my eye was smashed into the view-finder and camera supported by my hands. I was ready to get the shot. Coming around the corner and into sight, I waited patiently with my finger on the trigger. In a spit second, the Bronco’s front tires left the ground, then all four. With it’s engine heavy, the front end was pulled back to earth by gravity, bottoming out the shocks and popping the front up, making the Bronco ride a wheelie backlit by golden light.
Success.
The Ford Bronco bouncing off the landing into a wheelie. Note, the actual jumping shot was not allowed to be shared as it is owned by Ford 😭 Photo by Dalton Johnson
Now that you have discovered the camping rules of Cataviña, where this slice of heaven is, and why you should stop for at least one night, it is your turn to get outside and discover the wild Dr. Suess landscape of Cataviña. If you have any additional information that would help fellow readers in this community, please drop it in the comments below.
