Overlanders, vanlifers, Paceños y Choyeros (BCS locals) come together in Baja in celebration of the food, art, and the landscapes that make the Baja Peninsula like nowhere else.

Words by Angela Moffitt-Jones @Memphis_onthe_Move, / Images by Kyle Yarian, Nick Bondarev, Simone Arora, Kirt & Jen Frier / Video by Pablo Soji, Nick Bondarev, Kirt & Jen Frier, Kyle Yarian, Alexis Fouche, Robert Gille, and Brian Short

As I make my way the along the 1000 miles of the vast, empty landscape of the Panamericana highway that winds through the Baja Peninsula, my final goal isthe beaches of Playa Tecolote, just north of La Paz. Seemingly endless cardon cacti and otherworldly-looking boojum stretch to the horizon, and each sunrise and sunset takes my breath away.

As I pull into the Playa Tecolote my excitement grows as I spot the thousands of vans lining the white shoreline beach for this years’s, Escapar a la Baja.

Of all the vanlife events, this one promises to be the most diverse with thousands of local Mexicanos, Quebecois, Chileans, Argentinians, Dutch, Germans, and Americans, all gathered to celebrate Baja, diversity, and art while overlooking the beautiful Gulf of California and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Isla Espirtu Santo.

I park my van next to a cute family who are building sandcastles on the beach, and take a moment to marvel at the magic of this wondrous place. I stare at the lapping waves and spot Isla Espiritu Santo in the distance. As the sun begins to set, a bright orange glow glimmers over the waters and all of us begin to howl in unison, reminding ourselves of our animal connection with one another.

Thursday morning, I wake early, prepared for a busy day ahead. I start with warming my body and breathe with a yoga class in center camp. I then hop on a small boat provided by the Sea Lion Dive Center and set off to find the infamous local gray whales. The enormous creatures are absolutely breathtaking as we spot a family swimming just beneath us, rising occasionally to play with one another in an experience I will never forget.

We make it back to center camp just in time to catch the Advance Power Systems demo with Mike of Drive The Globe featuring GoPower! Next, I listen entranced by the stories told by Baja Agave Expeditions and Four Wheel Campers about the natural history of Baja California.

As I sit, staring up at the sky during happy hour with Jennifer Veith & Nikle Spirits at the Center Camp Bar, sponsored by Wandervans, I enjoy a paramotoring air show with pilots Judson Graham and Lee Eel. Hungry from the day's events, I grab a burrata & prosciutto pizza at MADE Pizza Bar before sitting down with my teammate to compete in Bajamanos Trivia, hoping to win 100 pesos, a lb of Gratitude Coffee and a six-pack of El Dalí Bistró Cerveceria.

Friday morning, I grab an incredible morning coffee with Cafe Alfo featuring the incomparable Gratitude Specialty Coffee Roasters before a morning yoga session with Keith @keko.vanlife, sponsored by KĀMA. Then, cultural anthropologist and ancient historian, Dorrie, teaches us all how to design and weave a Native American twined basket.

Afterwards was buttfights, which is exactly how it sounds. It was ridiculous and hilarious.

My afternoon is full of art and culture, starting with historian Amelia of Street Art Lpz who discusses the culture of La Paz as expressed in the incredible murals spread throughout the city and the talented artists behind them.

I grab a Mezcal from Mezcalaria La Miserable at Center Camp Bar before continuing my art experience at Arteloté in the outdoor gallery + bazaar just next to Center Camp.

Kicking off a special LGBTQ+ evening, a live discussion panel with La Paz es Diversa, Vanlife Pride, and other LGBTQ+ community members have an informative chat about Pride without Borders on the local, nomad, and expat experience for the LGBTQ+ community at Vanlife Pride Camp.

This was followed by my favorite show of the weekend, Dinastía Just, a very Baja drag show from the phenomenal Solo Cherry & Lommy who encouraged donations for La Paz es Diversa.

Saturday, I grab a quick cup of coffee at Vanlife Pride in queer camp and head to another morning yoga with @connectionprogression. I then relax in the sand while listening to Pablo Ahuja of Mar Libre about the importance of mangrove and reef conservation.

I snag a delicious jalisco birria taco by Juan Pablo from Baja Foody and Mexico Institue of Tacos and settle in with my friends to watch the Nomad OverVanTathlon competition with host Blakeley. Competitors battled it out in the hysterical butt wrestling where contestants booty-bump one another outside of the circle. The winning team takes home a new Mesa Torch from SoloStove and an origami surface from KĀMA.

After watching a live painting of Bajadelic Vibes by artist Steve of Continuous Vibes, I dance the night away at with DJ AriAtari and LolaJack.

Sunday’s morning coffee is by The Modern Mexican Coffee Movement with Checho of Gratitude Coffee before a unique Dharana glow yoga with Diandra. I then get my portrait taken on the beach by Micah & Lindsay on a composting toilet by CompoCloset and post it to my Insta to be entered for a chance to win a new portaloo before catching a discussion with Rich Murphy about the pros and cons of hooking up my Starlink to 12V to save power.

The final evening is full of live music and heartfelt time with friends. We dance to Larry Kwiecinski on the Main Stage followed by my favorite buslife folk band, Fort Vine. Cozying up for the night, The Lost Films Festival wraps up the event with its special vanlife entertainment, showcasing the life and experiences of those nomads closest to us.

Monday morning arrives too soon. Before we all depart, we all gather at the beach for a huge cleanup effort with Mar Libre led by Rick & Niurka to ensure we leave this magical beach even better than we found it. With one last meaningful walk in the sand, I say goodbye to all the amazing people I have met and promise to return next year!