Rancho la Bellota | Established Campground

Mexico

Details

Verified:
3 months ago
Altitude:
508.8 masl
Phone:
None

Amenities

Electricity:
No
Wifi:
No
Kitchen:
No
Restaurant:
Yes
Showers:
Hot
Water:
Yes
Toilets:
Running Water
Big Rig Friendly:
No
Tent Friendly:
Yes
Pet Friendly:
Yes
Sanitation Dump Station:
No

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Description

Rancho Bellota is a beautiful guest ranch specialising in trail riding, lessons, quail hunting, tequila tasting and much more.
Raul the owner has over 1000 hectares and the ranch is nestled away in a secluded and peaceful hidden valley down a dirt track 17km off the main road. Moderately rough track but should be no problem for any overland vehicle with good ground clearance and 4x4. (can be difficult in the rainy season) The entrance to the ranch has a gate with a swing sign hanging from the top giving a clearance of 3.2m but the sign will push out of the way another 0.5m.
Situated 49 miles from the border at Tecate it is a perfect place to rest up before or after a crossing. Guadalupe wine Valley is only 30 minutes away.
The hosts speak perfect English and are the most charming and welcoming. The ranch is wonderfully rustic and use kerosene lamps and candles but use solar pumps to harvest the sweet natural spring water. There is plenty of shade from the natural oaks and there are flat areas for camping. Haul out your own trash (rubbish) please! Fee.... Donations.
They advise contacting them in advance [email protected] in case they are away exploring the baja themselves!

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Best Start for Baja. Caroline and Raul are very helpful with tips and the best hosts!
If you like gardening: Caroline is open to trade some garden work for lunch (best homemade bread)! Our dog had a blast aswell, living his dream of a farm dog 😊

The road is rough. Our Vanagon Syncro made it with all season „pizza slice tires“ - slow but without any difficulties.

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Just call it « Paradise on earth » or the best Overlander spot ever! Caroline and Raúl welcome the travelers an incredible way, everything is done to make us feel confortable in their beautiful place. We loved being there for four nights and would have stayed longer if we had not to leave for Christmas. Raúl has precious advices you wouldn’t miss for traveling Baja, and Caroline has many lives and many stories to share. They built a dedicated team to work the ranch with them, a well maintained and secure place. We went for a very nice hike in the gorgeous canyon that starts in front of the house. And the kids had the chance to ride the horses.
Thank you so much Caroline and Raúl for your generosity and your warm welcome, for the spirit of the ranch and the good vibes that create such incredible moments with you and the other travelers. The place is definitely worth the fairly rough road (do always contact Raul and Caroline before planning your visit, they usually answer within the day).

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Adding some pictures to my earlier comments

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We spent 3 wonderful nights at this Ranch. Raul & Caroline are passionated Overlanders and Rancheros, living their dream here.
The entire team made us feel at home from the very first moment, a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner inclusive.
Raul has tons of tips for your Baja time.
The road (in dry conditions) needs high clearance, good tires at adjusted pressure and good drivers, but 4x4 is not mandatory!
We made it with a 4to MB Sprinter 2WD.
We hope to return on day!

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What an amazing place to stay! We spent 4 nights at Ranch with Jeep + rooftop tent and felt like at home. Many thanks to Raul, his wife and everyone around who makes this place so special.. Everything as described - plenty of trees with shade space for relaxing, hiking trails, beautiful nature around, hot showers and flushing toilets. Get also ready for company of beautiful horses, always ready-to-play dogs and nice sheep. Enjoy yourself and don't forget to donate. 🙏

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What an incredible oasis. It’s perfect for getting away from the bustle of the city. Very relaxing atmosphere. I stayed 2 nights camping and wish I could’ve stayed longer. Great to visit for overlanders, you can ask the host Raul anything . He’s a traveler himself and is always intrigued to hear your story. Also, don’t forget Alberto. The backbone of the Ranch.

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We only stayed for 3 nights, but could easily have stayed for 2 weeks. The Ranch is beariful, Raul super helpful and informative. It is a Perfect stop for the beggining of your journey in Mexico, you will get all the necessary tips that will serve you for months to go. They offer horseback riding, tequila tasting and there are really nice walks in the mountains around. Check out Rauls and Carolines daughter's jewellery at the bar, I got there a beautiful set of earrings. Everybody says only 4x4. I would agree, yet we got there with a 19feet trailer that is totally not an offroad one. It was still a tough, and a bit scarry road, after dark, and I dont think we would recommend it to anybody else. When Raul saw us, he was shocked, cause those things normally never enter ;) Our truck is still a solid 4x4:)

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It was an amazing experience to be @the Rancho La Bellota even I was afraid to drive the road to get there. It might be a bit tough when you don’t take it by a 4x4.
Raul (the owner) is very helpful. My goal was to built my car into a van. Raul went with me to a carpenter in the next town who has done excellent work. Besides Raul recommended me a great mechanic in Ensenada and supported me as much as he could.
If you’ll been ever in this area and you need an advice don’t hesitate to ask Raul. It was the blast to stay @the ranch even I missed the WiFi a bit. But there is a hill close by where you can sit all day long in the sun and surf by 4G.

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Rancho La Bellota was everything we hoped it would be! This is a little piece of paradise with the friendliest animals and kindest people. We had a great conversation with Raul, and left Rancho La Bellota with so much excitement and anticipation for the rest of our journey through Mexico. We can't wait to check out some of his favourite places! Thank you, Raul!

The road was no issue for us in our 4x4 sprinter. We did put it in 4 low for the last part of the drive where the road descends to the ranch. A lot of times we read reviews where people said they needed 4wd or good clearance and then when we get there we think "a car totally could have done this!". Not the case here, you will actually need good clearance to get down to the ranch (and back out again!). There is a sign for the ranch that you will drive under as mentioned by another person, but if you're overheight there is a way to pass around it, so don't worry about that.

The ranch has 6 very friendly, big farm dogs. If you have a dog that is shy or might not like a pack of enthusiastic dogs running up to them, we'd recommend exercising your dog at the top of the hill before heading down to the ranch. Also, make sure to drive carefully and make sure there's no dogs in front of you before you start moving your vehicle - we had one dog who slept in front of our van quite a bit.

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We wrote an Email to Raoul to ask for space, which he fast answered with ok! We visited the ranch for two night and were overhelmed by the hospitality of the owners and the staff. the ranch is very beautiful, clean and tidy, the animals are relaxed as they feel the good vibrations here...
For us that was the perfect start in Mexico, on the top we got many good advises from Raoul for Baja California.... thank you very much!
Ps: the road to the ranch is a bit steep, but for overlanders it should be no problem....

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Must stop and hidden paradise for Overlanders! Raul & Caroline are extremely welcoming and helpful. We got many many tips for Baja and we were able to get our car fixed with the help of Raul. Apart from that we had a beautiful time at the Ranch while hiking in the canyon, tasting tequila, going on horseback rides and talking with Raul, Caroline and other travellers. Also our dog enjoyed the company of the other Ranch dogs which are all very friendly. We hope to come back on our way north!

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As others have said, this place is an absolute gem. We emailed ahead of time to make sure it was ok for us to visit and headed there right after crossing the border in Tecate. The drive in off the highway was okay, though the final bit through the ranch was a fun intro to Baja rough dirt road driving. We were delighted to be offered to join for meals at the ranch with the other guests (can’t remember the $ but was very reasonable) and we enjoyed meeting the groups who were there for hunting and horseback riding. The food was perfect and still one of our favorite Baja meals after four weeks here. We really enjoyed hiking the trails on the property and sitting around the campfire. One thing to note for those with dogs - do be prepared to leash up if your dog isn’t good with other animals (sheep, horses, dogs). Otherwise dogs are free to roam. We only stayed one night, but Rahul still made us feel like family, telling us we were welcome back anytime and giving us great insight to the whole Baja peninsula. Can’t wait to visit again!

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this is definitely a must go place when you are on the Baja!! Raul offers everything overlanders need (a safe place in beautiful surroundings, a hot shower and a warm oven for cold evenings!) and we have not experienced such a great hospitality while we are on the road. Raul helped us with all our questions concerning Mexico, told us about some nice places to go on the baja and we had such a great time at his ranch as we could also go riding horses with him! highly recommended!

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Wow... Such a wonderful experience staying at the beautiful Rancho La Bellota. Raul and Caroline are possibly the kindest, most welcoming hosts we have met. As overlanders themselves, they understand exactly what overlanders need! Super clean toilet and shower (with hot water!), refreshing spring water pool, so many places to sit and relax around the property. There is no cell service or WiFi, or even electric lights inside - its like taking a step back in time (in the best way possible) to fully disconnect, relax and unwind. They have 6 super friendly dogs on the property who instantly befriended our little puppy - she had the best time playing with them with the freedom to roam around! There is also an option to eat a meal with the other guests staying at the ranch for $10 a meal, if you give them some notice. Highly recommend visiting and staying as long as you can - it's the perfect starting point after crossing the Tecate border. Just email Raul at least a day before you arrive to make sure there is space. The road is constantly being improved, but not suitable for vans bigger than ours - we're in a 2wd 170 Sprinter, and we just about managed on the narrow windy bits and big dips and bumps!! Gracias again Raul and Caroline - we hope to see you again soon!!! <3

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Rancho La Bellota @bajapeninsular. What can I say about the place hat hasn't already been said about heaven ;).

If you are on iOverlander, or have extensively traveled in Baja- it is aliomsr certain you know that name.

Raul, the owner, has an almost unbelievably long list of reviews so wonderful that anyone with a bit of inner cynic would think they had to be paid for.

It gives me great pleasure to say, they are not.  His ranch, the hospilality of the people there, and the generosity he shows other overlanders surpasses anything anyone can say about him.

If you are in Northern Baja and can go nowhere else, go there.

We will see you again Raul!

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What everyone else said. Raul is a very generous person and you feel welcome like a friend at his beautiful ranch. You can tell he wants to share how warm and welcoming Baja and Mexico is for travelers. Thanks for having us!

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We paid a second visit to Raul's ranch having visited in May and brought our friends along too to show them this special place. We emailed Raul first to ask permission. Again we were greeted with open arms from himself and his staff. He says " bad roads bring good people" although the road isn't too bad, especially with 4x4. Part of the adventure. There is a large, level area to park up in and the caretaker Alberto, opened up the bathroom/ shower for us to use. He is fun to talk with and practice Spanish with. I gave him a piece of pecan pie and he gave me a thumbs up. We went horseback riding, had dinner, tequila tasting, walked the grounds and enjoyed visiting with Raul, his friendly dogs and his guests. In return, we splurged on a bottle of tequila and tipped each staff member. This is a unique and special place, a highlight of a Baja trip and Raul is just plain a great guy. He has a wealth of info to share with other overlanders and a passion for it and his country.

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Cómo lo mencionan todos los comentarios, es un lugar que vale mucho la pena visitar incluso con lo difícil del camino. Pudimos llegar sin problemas en nuestra kombi 2wd. Sólo ir despacio para no maltratarla mucho. No hay Internet en el rancho pero cerca en la cima del cerro hay buena señal 4g. Esperamos volver a pasar más días con Raúl y Caroline.

As all the comments mention, it is a place that is very worth visiting even with the difficulty of the road. We were able to get there without problems in our 2wd kombi. Just go slowly to avoid any hard hit. There is no Internet at the ranch but near at the top of the hill there is a good 4g. We hope to be back and spend more days at Raúl and Caroline's Ranch.

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One of the most amazing and friendly places we ever camped in Mexico. The atmosphere is so calm and you can really feel the nature around you. Raul and Caroline are amazing and you can easily spend a whole day chatting with them about overlanding and any subject you choose. As said before please follow the rules and send an email to Raul before you come. This is not a place for a weekend camping but a point of support and information for travelers about the Baja peninsula. If you are an overlander and are passing through don’t loose the opportunity to stay here a couple of nights. Also need to mention one of the most amazing souls we ever met in MX, Alberto, the ranch caretaker. Surely we will come back soon!

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Such formidable hosts and place ! We arrived there on Easter weekend and were warmly welcomed ans invited to taste fish and sheep meat cooked on the bbq over the 2 days we spent there. It is truly a spot that is hard to leave once you have successfully arrived. The road there is challenging but beautiful. We managed with our class b 2WD old camper van. Some higher clearance is necessary though. Again we can’t say enough to thank Raul and Caroline for their kindness, this will be kept as a fond memory of our yearlong trip in Mexico.

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We spent the last evening of our weeklong, offgrid Baja trip on Raul and Caroline's ranch. Rancho La Bellota is a magical place - a total retreat from our daily urban life - filled with fresh air, sheep, gorgeous Baja horses, friendly ranch dogs, and the best hosts.

It was just our luck that we saw Raul on the highway at the same time we were on our way there. He waved to us from his newly built overlanding vehicle and we followed him back to the Ranch. That same afternoon he took us horseback riding and invited us to a tequila tasting.

We emailed Raul and Caroline a few weeks in advance to make sure it was okay for us to come by as overlanders. They were incredibly generous and gave us the thumbs up. It is so gracious of them to open up their ranch to overlanding guests. Please be sure to make a donation and leave-no-trace on your campsite.

We hope to visit again soon!

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Raul ,Carolyn, and Alberto are doing one simple thing at their ranch. Creating a completely LEGENDARY spot for baja travelers to come learn and be. Their hospitality is unmatched and I highly recommend this spot as one of the best in Baja for travelers/overlanders. Email them first as they work hard to entertain visitors to the ranch often. Tough road but it’s worth it to be here with them. They have lots of amazing Baja and tequila knowledge. I asked prob around 10-15 people over the course of a month for a specific tequila for a family member and none of them even heard of it. Raul had it behind the bar and even let me have a tasting! So generous. Much love to these two gems. Alberto is the man too and will show you around the horses and animals of the ranch if you ask nicely. I left my extra produce with Alberto because I couldn’t take it across the boarder. Offer to help around the ranch or leave a gift or something nice for them they are being so nice to travelers. ✌🏼

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Wonderful place to stay and hike the trails within the property. Raul and caroline and their staff are wonderful and humble. We stayed there 3 nights and had the place to ourselves to enjoy. Alberto, the caretaker is a also a great person to chat with. They all made us feel very welcomed.

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Fantastic place. Every positive word that exists can be used here, for the Rancho and for Raoul and his family and staff. So happy we went there! One thing: Raoul has the best tequila ever. So if you want to bring him something: take Belgian chocolate or light beers or whatever you like. Thank you Raoul, you young and tall man :)

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We spent four incredible days at Rancho la Bellota, can only follow the previous recommendations and would love to come back!!!
Even though the road was tough, we made it with our 2WD Campervan (Volkswagen T4) with normal clearance (since there was a lot of rain, Raul drove in front of us the way up in case we need help - didn't need assistance anyway) Just drive carefully...
Thanks to Raul, his Family and the Rancho for this awesome and unique experience - it will definitely influence our journey through Mexico in the best possible way!!!

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We have nothing to add that others haven’t already said. This place is a gem, and it’s amazing both for it’s taste of Mexico ranch life and it’s lovely hosts, Raul and Caroline. They made the start of our Baja adventure into 3 nights we will treasure forever. And Raul gave us many tips and ideas to help guide the rest of our trip. This place is special!

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We stayed here for 3 nights. Raul and Caroline welcome overlanders to their beautiful ranch just south of Tecate. With a clean hot shower and flushing toilet it’s the perfect place to rest up. Raul and Caroline were incredibly hospitable - we could not have felt more welcome, they are lovely people to spend time with. They also have heaps of info about travelling through Baja and the whole of Mexico. I can not recommend this place enough.

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Raul and Caroline were wonderful hosts for 4 days that we stayed here. They are in the process of building a separate toilet, shower and clothes washing building for camping guests. The guest ranch is aimed at horse riding enthusiasts, however Raul and Caroline are IOverlander enthusiasts too. The ranch is hidden away down in a valley along a stream and is a beautiful place to stay and to hike. The spring flowers were kicking in and all was green and lush. The road has been damaged a little by the very wet winter, but we made it in a Ram 1500 2wd van driven slowly and carefully. The road will only get better. Raul expects that anyone who visits will respect the horse riding guests who form the basis for its existence. We really enjoyed sharing the evening with them at the bar.

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For me this was one of the most beautiful places that we have been to, anywhere, not just in Mexico.

Raul and Caroline are fantastic hosts and such wonderful ambassadors for beautiful Baja and Mexico. They show you around their wonderful rancho and they also make sure that you understand tequala!

There is no electricity, no phone signal and no light polution at night. They let you have use of a bathroom and also a shower. Clean spring water is available.

Enjoy! But please make contact with them first as they oftèn travel overland too.

The acces road a gravel road but 2 wheel drive will make it. There is time to make your own assessment before commiting.

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We absolutely loved visiting Raul and his wife Carolyn(spelling?). We coordinated our stay with them via email before arriving. I don’t even know where to begin on describing their hospitality and kindness.

Raul and his wife were in the nearby Guadalupe wine region entertaining their guests when we arrived. The ranch hands were very polite and welcoming even without knowing that we were going to be camping there that night.

We at first were reluctant to set up our bright orange tent on this incredible property. We had convinced ourselves that we would be imposing on the beautiful setting. We were driving back out to the highway when Raul intercepted us and told us to turn around and not to worry. He’s is quite the infectious personality. Easy going and fun.

The weather turned really cold and rainy on the night we had planned on camping here. Even with all of his rooms booked up, they opened their doors to us and we stayed in a delightful room above the kitchen.

They introduced us to their group, invited us to a wonderful ranch dinner and shared their table with us. Above and beyond in their hospitality.

The following morning the group cleared out and for about 3 hours we talked all about overlanding and the joy it brings. He showed off his incredible “mini-mog” which he designed and built. A really cool build on an old Toyota hilux chassis. Then he showed me his new project which is an old 3 door suburban. It’s going to be incredible.

This is a must stop place if you’re within a couple of hours.

We are planning on coming back for an extended stay with them. I wish we would have had more time in our schedule.

Ryan Hill

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We.could not stay because entrance road is only for 4×4 or Van's
No motorhome or trailer comb over 20 feet

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Rancho La Bellota is a haven for seasoned travellers and newbies to Mexico alike. The owner Raul is kind and generous and speaks excellent English. Similarly, his ranch hands are friendly and helpful. The ranch itself has hot showers, flush toilets and many other amenities. Beautiful buildings surround a communal area with lots of lounge furniture, a small pool for the warmer months and a large fire pit. The main building has a kitchen and bar area, and if you feel like splurging you can rent a hotel room with ensuite bathroom. We did not, so I'm not sure the cost. We were even offered rides into town and back (easily a 45 min drive each way) for a small fee of $400MXN. The road in is dirt and as others have commented, the last stretch is pretty sketchy, but we made it in our two wheel drive GMC Savana. As you would expect from a ranch, there is livestock (horses and sheep) and super friendly Aussie Shepherds. For a fee you can go quail hunting and horseback riding. We had heard so many horror stories from Americans along the way, warning us of the dangers of Mexico. We have yet to have any issues and you will absolutely feel safe and welcome at Rancho La Bellota. Stay free of charge, but leave a tip or bottle of wine / tequila as thanks!

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Raul was on Tour, but the caretakers were very friendly. When you drive to the Ranch, you will see a notice at the gate (See picture) that you have to contact by E-Mail, before you enter.

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We came here after crossing the border in Tecate and can not imagine a better start for our journey through Mexico. Caroline and Raul are perfect hosts. They do not only share their comfy, peaceful and welcoming ranch with you but also share their stories about traveling Baja and Mexico. Raul can give lots of recommendations for your trip through Baja.

There is no fee for camping but you can donate.

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All positive remarks from former visitors are just a faint way of indicating how good and nice this place is. Wonderfull. You feel like a guest, as an overlander you are treated like a guest. This is not a campsite, this is a meetingpoint for overlanders to exchange their experiences and views with the host. And pay for your stay the way you pay for hospitallity: with open and friendly conversations, with help and ideas for Raul , with sharing your ideas about traveling and your experiences. And offer him a meal if you want to do something more or bring a bottle of good Teguila. He is treating you like a friend, do so in return.

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What a beautiful place! We hiked some of the horse trails to great views and had a really fun time exploring and hanging out at the ranch. Raul is very accommodating and an awesome resource to learn more about baja. Would highly recommend stopping! usually guests at the ranch from Thursday to Sunday so best to contact them ahead of time to make sure it is okay to come. Many vineyards in the valley and tasting rooms are typically open Wednesday-Sunday

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fantastic place, excellent hosts who go out of their way to make overlanders feel welcome. 1200ha ranch with horse riding & target shooting availability. Take your time on the last part of the road, I made it fine with a 26' truck camper, touched the swinging sign but got past OK

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We’d read about this place on iOverlander, an app we use to find free & paid places to camp. The two reviews were highly positive so we’d emailed the owners Raul & Caroline beforehand to ask if we could come and camp and were gladly welcomed. The ranch itself is mainly a holiday ranch with ensuite rooms, a pool, horse-riding, quail shooting etc. It happened to be off season however so no one was at the ranch when we were there, and Raul & Caroline made special exceptions for overlanders to come and stay with them!

The road getting in was a little gnarly during the last 1km in our 2wd van, and 17km from the tarmacced main road but completely worth it. We passed about 10 horses on our way in through a very narrow road and just waited while they decided they would let us pass! We then settled into the unbelievable location and wound down.

Nestled between mountains the ranch is one of the most secluded and peaceful places we’ve been. With a small dipping pool, kerosine lamps at night and no sign of electricity of wifi it was a brilliant escape. Raul was super accommodating and although Caroline wasn't there we're sure she would have been to.

Turns out Raul & Caroline are overlanders themselves, having explored all over Mexico and currently doing work to their van we had plenty to cover! We discussed the best things to see in Baja, and we’re incredibly lucky to have heard it from the horses mouth. We talked them through our solar set up as they were thinking of having a similar thing done, and stayed another night just to really enjoy the surroundings. It felt like too much of a beautiful opportunity to pass up. This is a fantastic place to visit before / after Tecate border crossing and highly recommended. Gracias Raul & Caroline!

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Rancho La Bellota fits all of the description above. It’s a beautiful, relaxing safe place to rest before continuing your journey. It does have bathrooms, running water and showers! The website address is rancho labellota.com and the email is [email protected] please give them notice as to when you plan to arrive.

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Rancho Bellota is a beautiful guest ranch specialising in trail riding, lessons, quail hunting, tequila tasting and much more.
Raul the owner has over 1000 hectares and the ranch is nestled away in a secluded and peaceful hidden valley down a dirt track 17km off the main road. Moderately rough track but should be no problem for any overland vehicle with good ground clearance and 4x4. (can be difficult in the rainy season) The entrance to the ranch has a gate with a swing sign hanging from the top giving a clearance of 3.2m but the sign will push out of the way another 0.5m.
Situated 49 miles from the border at Tecate it is a perfect place to rest up before or after a crossing. Guadalupe wine Valley is only 30 minutes away.
The hosts speak perfect English and are the most charming and welcoming of hosts. The ranch is wonderfully rustic and use kerosene lamps and candles but use solar pumps to harvest the sweet natural spring water. There is plenty of shade from the natural oaks and there are flat areas for camping on. Haul out your own trash (rubbish) please! Fee.... Donations.
They advise contacting them in advance [email protected] in case they are away exploring the baja themselves!

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