RVing at Tecolote Beach (Playa El Tecolote): What to know before you go!

Tecolote Beach (Playa el Tecolote) near La Paz in Baja, Mexico, is a great free beach for RVing. There’s plenty of room for RVs and meeting up with friends, level spaces, restaurants on-site, and plenty of crystal clear waters to enjoy just steps from your rig.

We’ve been to Playa el Tecolote twice with our 30-foot travel trailer – once for 4 nights and once for 11, so we’re happy to share our experience, what to expect, and our best tips for making the most of visiting Tecolote beach with your RV.

Our Quick Review of RVing at Tecolote Beach:

• Great remote beach if you’re prepared to camp for an extended time without hookups
• 5 or 6 restaurants but no grocery stores nearby
• FREE beach camping
• We’ve RV’d at Tecolote twice – once for 4 nights (Spring) and once for 11 nights (Fall)
• Lots of waves, often windy, lots of soft sand
• Decide ahead of time if you’re going to go East or West on arrival (see below)

 

 

Arriving at Tecolote Beach with your RV

There’s only one road from the highway to Tecolote Beach. As you arrive, you’ll be around the 1/3rd point with 1/3 of the beach to the east and 2/3rds to the west. You’ll be pulling up to 5 or 6 restaurants along the water.

The first time we arrived, we left to park our RV (west), and the second time, we parked to the right (east).

Going west (left) when arriving at Tecolote Beach with your RV

West is a much quieter area. The sand is softer, so fewer RVs venture that direction and while there are spaces to park between sand mounds, there isn’t a lot of space for camping with friends or as a group.

About half a mile down, there is a restaurant and a parking area where a lot of locals come to park for the day. There are a lot of sharp rocks at the far end of the beach and big waves along the coast. If you’re looking for quiet at night and soft sand won’t be a problem, then the west end of the beach is a great choice.

A mountain also shades this area in the evening. If you’re not dependent on solar, then this is early relief from the warm sun in the late afternoon. If you are dependent on solar, this end of the beach means you’ll lose a couple of hours of daylight in your RV.

Going east (right) when arriving at Tecolote Beach with your RV

Since this sand is more packed, this is the direction that most RVs go. There is plenty of open space and coastline, so you’ll have lots of options for where to park and room to park close by if you’re meeting up with friends.

Be sure to go sufficiently down the coast that the restaurants playing music late into the night won’t be a disruption for you.

The far east end of the coast has a higher-elevation cliff area near the water, which is good if you’re concerned about high-tide in a lower-clearance vehicle. Our experience is that the area is mostly just sprinter vans, so it might not be a good choice if you tow a large RV or drive a large motorhome.

There are soft sand spots throughout the beach area, so get out and walk the area you’re thinking of parking before pulling in.

How Far Is Playa El Tecolote from La Paz?

Tecolote Beach is about 29km (about 18 miles) Northeast of La Paz around the bay. It’s on the sea of Cortez – the east coast of the Baja Peninsula. The beach coast runs east to west and is a large coast line (about 2km or 1.2 miles) so you’ll want to have a game plan of where to go before you arrive.

The drive from La Paz to Tecolote is fairly well kept since it’s a shipping route for transport trucks going to and from the ferry just south of Tecolote. Watch for the occasional pothole or speedbump, but it’s definitely not as much of a concern as driving in the Baja Peninsula.

There aren’t many options for turning around, so when you arrive at the dead end (restaurants), you’ll need to either go left or right.

Is Beach Camping free at Tecolote Beach?

Tecolote is a beautiful beach that is free for overnight camping. There is no gate, and nobody is authorized to walk around and collect payment. It’s unlikely for a local to hope you’re unaware of that and come to your RV and ask you to pay for your stay, but it’s also not unheard of.

We would smile and politely say “No gracias,” and pretend we don’t understand what they’re asking for. As a side note, it is helpful to know some Spanish while RVing in Baja.

We’ve RV’d at Playa Tecolote multiple times – once for 4 nights and once for 11 nights – and we’ve never been asked for money (aside from people who wander the beach selling souvenirs, burritos, and the odd pastry).

There’s no cell signal at Tecolote

Unlike some other camping beaches in Baja where you can get spotty or decent cell signal, there’s is none at Tecolote. We’ve been using an American AT&T plan with roaming turned on and there’s not even a hint of signal. The restaurants on the beach have Wi-Fi for customers, so that could be an option if you only need a signal every now and then. If you need a reliable signal for work, bring a Starlink with you. That’s what we use for working from our RV.

Starlink is what we use, and if this is your first time boondocking or dry camping on the beach in Baja, here are our recommendations for what to bring and how to prepare for an amazing beach camping experience.

Is high tide a concern for camping at Tecolote?

The first year we visited Tecolote, we didn’t experience high winds or very high tide, but on our second visit, we had a few inches of water come up from a combination of high tide and high wind. We were here for 11 days on our most recent trip, and high tide came up for 2 nights.

Here’s what we use to check the tide schedule at Tecolote Beach.

 

Things to Do at Playa El Tecolote

Tecolote Beach is a beautiful and very remote beach. The best thing to plan for your trip to el Tecolote beach is to enjoy the beach. There are no stores or shops within walking distance (the closest being in La Paz), but there are a few restaurants, Owl Beach Club, and places to rent kayaks and jet skis and book day trips for fishing or visiting Espiritu Santo Island.

The water seems always to have at least gentle waves and sometimes more crashing waves. It’s not likely to be smooth water in the winter months, but those waves are great for jet skiing, and they bring in plenty of sea glass, shells, and coral.

Straight off the coast is Isla Espíritu Santo, which provides a beautiful backdrop to the turquoise blue water. It’s too far to swim and probably too far to kayak (unless you’re really ambitious), but you can plan day trips from boats near the restaurants to go fishing, snorkeling, or visit the beaches on the island.

There is a significant difference between high tide and low tide, so walking along Tecolote Beach at low tide exposes all kinds of shells, coral, and smooth rocks and lets you get a glimpse of what’s going on at the water’s edge from minnows to porcupine fish swimming.

There’s plenty to do without leaving the beach, so we stock up on our groceries, top up our water, and try to stretch our free stay as long as possible.

There are 5 or 6 restaurants at Tecolote. They don’t usually serve people outside when the tide is this high, but there is plenty of indoor seating. As a joke, Celine took a photo with friends while we were on our morning coffee walk down the coast:

 

Snorkeling at Playa Tecolote near La Paz

On the coast’s far east end is a great snorkeling area. On our last visit, I (Adam) only got to go out once (because we had windy and cloudy days in November). You can walk right off the shore, put your gear on in waist-deep water, and then swim out and around the rocks and reef in the area.

The water at Tecolote is generally wavy – it’s rarely smooth like Santispac or El Requeson – but the snorkeling area to the east is sheltered in the cove. While you will have some waves to prepare for, it’s not as rough as getting in the water around the middle of the beach, which is mostly sandy, and there’s not much to see while snorkeling anyway.

I would not recommend paddleboarding or kayaking in this area because of the changing tide and the rock’s proximity to the water’s surface.

What fish can you see snorkeling at Playa El Tecolote?

I was out for about an hour. I saw a Moray eel, schools of sergeant major (Damsel) fish, black triggerfish, puffer fish, sea urchins, purple wrasse, trumpet fish, surgeon fish, and a few species I can’t identify.

Some schools were a couple of dozen fish at a time. Others (like the Moray eel) were by themselves.

Sunrises and Sunsets at Playa el Tecolote

Because the coast line runs east to west, the sun doesn’t set over the water, but weather conditions, perfect clouds, and a bit of dust cloud in the air make for amazing sunrises and sunsets.

in the air can make for an amazing sunset while you’re camping at Tecolote.

 

Tecolate Beach is a popular tourist destination from La Paz

Because of the beautiful beach and access from La Paz (probably combined with the fact that the La Paz area coastline is built up with the downtown core and not really for a relaxing beach day), Tecolote Beach is a local favorite with shuttles often show up from hotels and bus tours in La Paz.

Often busy during the day and into the evening, we were never disturbed by the traffic or late-night music from the Owl Beach Club because we were far enough East on the beach not to hear the excitement.

Sometimes, locals and tourists parked near our RV for a beach day and played loud music or asked for a hand pushing their vehicle out of soft sand, but by the evening and into the night, we rarely had a disturbance.

Embrace the local culture, wave, and say, “Hola,” and then go about your day as they go about theirs.

 

RVing at Tecolote Beach: Common Questions

Is there water or an RV dump station at Tecolote beach?

No, there are no amenities for RVs at Playa el Tecolote. Unlike other camping beaches (like Santispac), there aren’t any water delivery trucks either. Pack in as much as you can and be as intentional as possible with your water usage while you’re RVing on the beach.

Are there grocery stores or markets at Playa el Tecolote Beach?

There is something like a convenience store at Tecolote, but the selection is very limited (mostly a cooler with some drinks and bags of chips) and we didn’t shop there, but suspect it’s a much higher price because of the convenience. There are vendors who will drive or walk the beach with food every few days. We found one man selling burritos and another selling bags of popcorn, but no fresh ingredients.

Plan to bring groceries with you for your full stay. The closes grocery store is in La Paz – about a 30-minute drive.

When we stayed at Tecolote for 11 nights, we made two trips into La Paz – one to meet up with friends and another to go to the street market. Neither trip was specifically for groceries, but we stopped at the grocery store for a few fresh things while we were there anyway.

Is it safe to leave your RV on the beach at Tecolote?

Theft is typically a matter of opportunity, so lock your RV and secure all of your belongings inside. Don’t leave out folding chairs, BBQs, or folding tables while your RV is unattended. If you’re going for a day trip to Balandra Beach around the corner or into La Paz for an afternoon, then lock everything inside and enjoy your day. We wouldn’t recommend leaving your RV unattended at Playa el Tecolote overnight.

What does Tecolte mean in Spanish?

Tecolote means “owl” – we’re not sure how Playa el Tecolote beach was named “Owl Beach” but we haven’t seen owls there.

Tecolote Beach reviews on Campendium

Here’s a general overview of what the campendium reviews say about Playa el tecolote:

Tecolote Beach near La Paz in Baja, Mexico, is a popular spot for RV enthusiasts seeking free beach camping. The location offers stunning views and a large beach area, making it an attractive destination for travelers. However, the beach is often busy, especially on weekends, with a mix of locals and tourists, creating a vibrant community atmosphere.

Visitors should be aware of potential challenges, such as windy conditions that can lead to sand getting into RVs and vehicles. There are limited amenities, so self-sufficiency is essential, although nearby restaurants offer some convenience.

Access can be tricky for larger RVs, so it is advisable to scout ahead. Overall, el Tecolote Beach provides an appealing yet straightforward camping experience for those prepared for its busy environment at times and natural elements.

Can you swim at Tecolote Beach?

You can always get wet at Tecolote beach. Even at high tide and full waves, the sand is gradual enough just to get your ankles wet. The water in the winter months is a moderate temperature, so we’ve seen people swimming nearly every day we’ve visited. You have to go quite far for the water to get deep, but with wave swells of 4-5 feet, you can easily be standing underwater even if you were waist-deep before the wave came.

Because of the tide and the strength of the waves, how far out you can go will vary from day to day based on weather conditions.

We hope you’ll enjoy RVing at Tecolote Beach near La Paz as much as we do!

If you’re looking to explore Baja further in your RV, here are the Best beaches in Baja for RV Camping