San Juanico A.K.A, Scopion Bay, is a world famous surf spot south of the border in Baja California, Sur.

The phenomenon was put on the map by famous surf explorer and forecaster, Sean Collins. He first discovered the point break when he was participating in a sail boat race from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas in the 1970s. The swell was pumping and he had some potential spots that needed checking, so he dropped from the race and headed for the little fishing village of San Juanico. What Collins discovered was the crown jewel of Baja, a right hand point break that has seven points and the potential for mile long rides. In the years since the spot acquired the name Scorpion Bay possibly from all the scorpions there in the late summer. Bruce Browns legendary film, The Endless Summer showed the world empty lineups and rides as far as the eye could see, and the rest is history. As with most world-class surf breaks the secret could not be kept for long and by the end of the 80s gringos began swarming to south of the border destination in the masses. San Juanico is the must see place for surfers and non-surfers alike traveling the Mexicos, Baja Peninsula.

Recent Original Watermen Surf Trip. Packed and strapped and make sure to get nice tires!

When packing for any Baja trip there are certain things that cannot be forgotten, while most comforts can be left at home the following are essential in any Baja trip. 1) A car with good tires and decent ground clearance. 4WD is highly recommended, but the careful driver should be able to navigate the

majority of the famous breaks with relative ease.

Salt Flats at Medium Tide (fresh road, put in the week prior). Dont count on it when you make your trip, might be here, might not? 2) Gasoline container, there are stretches on Bajas HWY 1 that you will need extra gas for, especially if you are going to be poking around off road a bit. There is gas for sale in the areas where people typically run out, but the gas is brought in by the guys selling it by the side of the road and there is no telling how long it has been sitting in the hot Mexican sun.

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Water Jugs are a necessity when getting lost in Baja. The entire peninsula of Baja is desert and the availability of fresh water can be an issue so be prepared. Passport: This should come as a no brainer, but with new border regulations, and visa crackdowns it should be the first thing on your list. Visas are recommended but there are many surfers who choose not to buy one, usually these are the surfers only going down for a few weeks or less. Mapsduh. National Geographic makes some great travel maps that are waterproof and have many popular surf spots listed. There are a few great guidebooks and detailed off highway maps available that will surely come in handy if you choose the path less traveled. A small Spanish phrase book will be a lifesaver if you need some refresher for your Spanish skills. The Mexican people are very friendly and will be glad to help if you speak their native tongue. Insurance: While few still refuse to purchase insurance for their vehicle the new laws in Mexico require all vehicles to have current Mexico liability coverage. There are several insurance sales persons at the border that promise good coverage, but if you read the fine print these contracts do not cover much and will most likely leave you high and dry if the worst were to occur. Research is very important when choosing a insurance provider there are many that have great reviews, reasonable prices, and allow you to find, pay-for, and print a policy online. Make sure you print out the policy in both English and Spanish.

Nice spot! Second Point Scorpion Bay- Original Watermen Employee Trip.

Baja Sur is currently Mexicos second safest state, but with any international travel in poor countries common sense should not be put aside to score surf. The roads to San Juanico are treacherous and half the fun can be the drive there if you follow your senses and these three simple rules: 1. Dont drive at night. This should be obvious. The roads in Baja are improving but still require a lot of work, and after a hurricane can be like driving on the moon. Aside from the road conditions and cattle wandering into the highway at night, gringos are targeted by banditos, with no regard to your life, in search of your cash and valuables. If the above doesnt change your mind, just remember that drinking and driving laws in Mexico are questionable and many choose to take to the highway with a Tecate in their hands. This is especially true during holiday seasons and weekends. 2. Dont speed. There should be plenty of time allotted for travel in your adventure down south. Speeding on Mexican roads is stupid even if you have driven the road previously. There are many unseen hazards, turns, drop-offs, and shoulders are non-existent, so any small mistake could become disastrous at speed. 3. Dont be flashy. Mexico is a poor country and cash flaunting egos are best left at home. You dont want to end up another statistic, so grow up and be nice to the locals.

Salt Flats, they look dry, but dont verture off the road. Youll find it isnt so. There are several roads into San Juanico each with their own pros and cons. The most popular route for California surfers trekking down is the north road from San Ignacio. The north road can be like a Sundays drive though baja (if you know it well), or it can be a nightmare that will ruin your entire trip. There is one hundred miles of dirt,

moon dust, sand, mud, and salt between the last paved road in San Ignacio and the town of San Juanico so be prepared for at least 4 hours of stressful driving conditions. Fourwheel drive is highly recommended for the north road, as there are many tricky spots. If you do not have another option and have some decent ground clearance in your 2WD vehicle it can be done but not with out some serious skill and deflated tires. The north road is hard to find for first timers, and the road changes daily so asking locals for the best route is crucial. Tide is a major factor when traveling this route, because the road travels on a tidal exposed salt flat. The best tides for the north road are the lowest, mellow ones after new or full moons this allows the road to dry out a bit from the higher tides that covered it during the tidal extremes of the month. The road usually takes about 4-6 hours once you hit the dirt so be prepared, plan, ahead, and bring a shovel because there is a good chance you will get stuck. The old north road, just make sure you head for the salt flats when the road looks like it is headed around a butte. It is a terrible road that gets washed out with every decent rainfall if you find yourself on the old road and it is too far to turn back just remember, when you get to the gate open it and drive through. Folks who like giant washboards and random four-foot drops should only attempt this road.

First point Scorpion Bay The east/west road is a big meanie as well. The maps make it look like a quick fifty or so miles before hitting the main highway, but its fifty miles that will wreck your suspension on two-foot diameter river rock. Best to have some good clearance and patience if you choose to hop over from Mulege; however, it will save you a great deal of time if the north road is not an option and you are up for the scenic, yet bumpy expedition. A recent Original Watermen team surf trip decided on this butt bouncing nightmare and reported that the north road was cake compared to the east road.

The easiest and by far the most traveled route is the south road it is now completely paved right into San Juanico. The reason everyone chooses the other paths is not because they are mad and want to break down in the most remote section of Baja possible, it is because the south road will add about 12-18 hours to your trip. The south road goes through Ciudad Insurgentes near Magdelena Bay, and may be the best option if you want you and your car to get to Scorpion Bay in one piece. The extra time might not be that bad if you consider the possibility of getting stuck and missing the swell. Whichever road you decide to torture your car on, remember that the rewards may or may not out weigh the risks and no vehicle will make it to the right-hander paradise without a careful, experienced, and alert driver. Take it slow, walk the road before you drive it if you have to, and bring a full spare tire. San Juanico is one of the greatest waves on earth when there is swell, but when the waves disappear it becomes a watermans playground of other sorts.stay tuned.