Myth and legends are told among the surfing community of a mile-long ride from third point to first. Some have even gone on and said the link-up has been done from fourth peak… insane! But, where are these legends coming from? The town of San Juanico in Baja is a small fishing village with a large surfing problem. The best part of this sleepy town, other than the surfing, is the beach camping.
San Juanico, better known as Scorpion Bay, is a small fishing village on the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula that has made a name for itself in the surfing world. However, San Junaico offers more than just good surf, this Baja surf spot has some of the best beach camping, hiking, fishing, and so much more!
Read on to discover what to do, where to get wifi/cell service, places to surf, and so much more!
Enjoying a crisp morning while camping on the beach in San Juanico. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
WHY SHOULD I VISIT SAN JUANICO?
Park on the cliffs and overlooking the surf breaks of San Juanico you want to surf. The catch? Well, if you want to sleep around the main points, you’ll have to pay… I think $2/day to the cantina. If you are looking for free beach camping, just head down the way, not but a couple of miles on a friendly dirt road. If this isn’t your jam, then head down to the marina and take the beach for as far as you want. I’ve made it 20 miles!
Free beach camping
World class surfing
Great food, make sure to check out the pizza joint (it’s owned by an ex-NFL player… so I am told)
Meet the locals, they might take you fishing
There is a weekly farmers market where you can get all of your produce! Go to it!
Where is San Juanico?
San Juanico can feel like a tricky town to get to for a vacation because it is 3 hours from the closest airport, but visiting San Juanico is worth it. Below are some of your options for getting to San Juanico:
Click here for driving directions to San Juanico in Baja Mexico
Fly into La Paz airport, drive or take a shuttle from there
Fly into San Jose del Cabo, drive or take a shuttle from there
IS SAN JUANICO VAN LIFE FRIENDLY?
San Juanico is a vanlife-friendly town. Heck, San Juanico is a great place for any road trippers. In town, you can find a carwash, water, a farmers market with fresh produce, and so much more. At first, this town seems far off the beaten path, but trust me, if you have a week to stay, the camping is well worth it.
Paragliding above the cliffs near San Juanico in Baja, Mexico. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
My Experience Visiting San Juanico
Bumping down the highway towards San Juanico, I was building upon the myths and legends I had heard about this Baja surf destination, often called Scorpion Bay. With a long board and short board in my van, I was ready for whatever waves came my way, but San Juanico was more than I expected.
After what felt like an eternity, which was most likely an hour, of bumping down the road we turned left and headed down the main street of San Juanico straight to the beach. As the pavement ended and the rocky cliff began we searched for a spot to park. Luckily we were early and the swell had not yet come, so there was plenty of parking.
Finding a flat spot, we set up camp, unloaded the van, and got the lay of the land. First peak was to our left and we could see second peak. Third peak was around the corner and fourth peak was far off in the distance. Scorpion Bay was new to me, so I took my time understanding where everything was, but one thing was certain, my belly needed food!
After a quick bite to eat at the San Juanico Cantina (a main staple for any all surfers) I got into my wetsuit and headed out for a sunset surf at second peak. WOW! The waves were small, but dang it was fun. Gliding over the shallow waters, I could see boils with reef underneath me, but to my surprise I flew just overtop of them all. Pelicans flew overhead and the sunset exploded into a deep red.
My first night in San Juanico was off to a great start!
For several more days I built upon the same routine; wake up surf, make a small breakfast, do a little bit of computer work, eat at the cantina, sunset surf. Life couldn’t get any better. At least that is what I thought.
As the swell passed and the cliff became empty once again, my routine was no longer possible. At first, I wanted to leave, but something told me to stay longer. So, I just hung out.
Little did I know that by sticking around I would get in with the local fisherman and have the opportunity to join them one cold morning with my camera. Loaded up in a boat, there were four of us, lobster pots, and squid pots. Heading out onto the Pacific Ocean in this little panga was crazy! I mean, the four of us worked around each other all day long as we pulled in lobster and squid. Working to keep the boat balanced, we reeled in lobster pots. Some were empty and some were full.
As the day went on, we began our journey back to shore with a few lines in the water. To my surprise, we ended up catching a few fish and the captain, Nico, sliced up some fish and we ate some sashimi.
All I can say is, if you have the time, visit San Juanico.
Fisherman enjoying the crisp morning while watching the birds circle in at sunrise before heading out on the Pacific Ocean. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
IS THERE SURFING AT SAN JUANICO?
San Juanico is a world-class surfing destination. While the bay is great for all swells, the best waves come with a south swell. Scorpion Bay in Baja Sur is an exposed point break that has fairly inconsistent surf but when it's on it can be World Class. Really long rides are possible.
A while back, Surfer Magazine ranked it the 36th best wave in the world while Long Board Mag ranked it in the top ten. Summer offers the best conditions for surfing here. Groundswells are more frequent than windswells and the best swell direction is from the south southwest. Hazards include urchins and rocks.
Be aware, during a solid stretch of good swell, several locals and travelers will come to San Juanico to surf the never-ending right.
The ocean temperature in San Juanico ranges from 65f - 75f. This wide range in temperatures means you might need a wetsuit during the cold months and nothing at all during the warm months.
Is there cell phone service in San Juanico?
San Juanico does not have a strong cell service on any provider, however all of the restaurants and cafes in town have strong wifi. Additionally, many RV satellites can pick up a strong signal at the beach and in town as there are no trees to block your satellites view of the sky.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO AT SAN JUANICO?
Watch the Baja 1000 in San Juanico
Beginning in October, Baja 1000 teams will begin training and practicing the course, often stopping in San Juanico. Because of this, the town will grow in size for a few weeks until the race teams leave town. If you are interested in watching the Baja 1000, the race blasts through the town and onto the open beaches. This is a crazy spectacle to watch as the trophy trucks will be cruising at speeds between 80-120mph. That is crazy!
If you are interested in learning about the Baja 1000 you can check out the race info here.
Open water swims in San Juanico
One of my favorite activities to do in San Juanico is an open water swim. When the waves are small, or I don’t feel like surfing, I put on my swim suit, goggles, and hit the water. Diving into the waters, I hug the shoreline, often covering a mile in one direction, then turning back to where I began my open water swim. If I am feeling more ambitious, I will push myself to a total of 3, maybe 4 miles, but if you wanted to, you could swim the entire length of the surf beach and cover 8 to 10 miles without question.
The water is safe and I have not seen anything under the water beside small fish, reef, and beauty.
Fishing with Locals in San Juanico
If you head down to the marina in the early morning, you will find several commercial fisherman launching their boats into the surf to make their living. This small town still relies on the steady income stream from lobster and squid fishing. However, a few of the fishermen are also willing to hire their boats out to take you fishing. Half-day trips are the most common, costing between $50-100 USD/per person. You must bring your own gear, food and any drinks, remember to bring something along for the captain, as well.
Skim-boarding in San Juanico
Most tourist who make their way to San Juanico either enjoy being in the water, or on-top of it. So, if you are interested in skimming your way down the beach and into the water, San Juanico has several sandy beach breaks that you can skim board on. Most of the skim boarding is located south of town, along the long sandy strip that goes on for as long as eye can see. However, there are two sandy beaches in town, near first peak, that you can skim board on.
Snorkeling in San Juanico
San Juanico has an interesting ecosystem just below the surface of the water. I wasn’t totally sure what I would see if I headed out into the water with a snorkel, but to my surprise I saw a good amount. Around the marina and first peak, there is not much to see. However, once you make your way towards second, third, and fourth peak you will find a diverse underwater world. You will find lobster, small fish, edible fish, coral, rocks, algae, and so much more.
If you are curious to discover what is under the surface of the water, I encourage you to grab a mask and some fins, then head out beyond the surf break and dive below the surface of the water.
Note, if you decide to spearfish in San Juanico do not take any lobster and abide by the rules Baja has in place. If you want to learn more about spearfishing in Baja, I wrote a full article on it that you can read here.
The stoke is high during an epic sunset while surfing in San Juanico. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Now that you have discovered what to do, where to get wifi/cell service, and places to surf in San Juanico, it is your turn to get out and explore this fantastic town in Baja. Please, drop a comment below with any additional information that could/would be helpful for the community visiting San Juanico.
