Mexico Day 53: A High stakes obstacle

Cascada Minas Viejas to Colonia El Meco, San Luis Potosi //

In the morning I’m greeted enthusiastically by the sweet stray that spent the night outside our truck.  He and his even sweeter friend, who have both remained close-by since we got here, are going to be hard to leave behind.  However, when the first visitors arrive to the small parking lot that we’re parked in, we realize it’s time to get going before we get blocked in.  

It’s a short, easy drive to our next destination, though within a hundred feet of the campground is where things get interesting.  After missing our turn, we take the next left hoping to loop around.  We end up driving right into the center of the small tourism area for the local falls which is a narrow concrete road lined with vendors and doesn’t feel like it’s meant for driving.  But here we are, four gringos and their giant American trucks driving through the center of it all.  Luckily it’s not busy and we turn down a dirt road in no time.  This road however, that technically should take us straight to the campground, is not built for full-size trucks.  That fact becomes apparent when we come to a power pole that is placed in the center of the road.  The four of us get out and spend a few minutes determining if we can get around the pole without rolling either truck into the canal that parallels the dirt path we’ve found ourselves on. While the edge of the road is hard to see thank to the tall grass, it feels sturdy underfoot and so the guys decide to carefully navigate this precarious obstacle. Adam and Mark squeeze the trucks through with mere centimeters to spare and we all sigh a breath of relief when we pull into the campground.  This is the challenge of driving in a foreign country, unexpected challenges are always a possibility, even when just a few feet from pulling into your destination.  

As is the standard here in Mexico, San Efrén campground is not the kind of campground you would find in the States.  It’s the backyard of David & Sandra, a kind couple who have built a nice covered patio, bathrooms with showers, and have a level patch of dirt to offer for camping.  The draw to this particular location is its proximity to the turquoise river that runs alongside it.  We park beside fifteen steps that take us down to the water’s edge.  Turtles bask in the sun on fallen tree trunks, birds we’ve never heard before sing overhead, and cascading water can be heard in the distance.  

We spend the afternoon on a walkabout, taking in the beautiful water features in the area.  Another stray dog adopts us and escorts us from one end of town to the other and back to camp.  We decided on two nights at this particular spot, relieving us of the urgency to do and see as much as possible in one afternoon.  It’s a nice opportunity to relax, so long as we can drown out the screaming baby, barking dogs, and cawing roosters.  I think we’re about to get the complete experience of camping inside a Mexican neighborhood.


Subscribe to receive posts directly to your inbox.


Interested in camping in Baja?
Check out our Baja Camping Guide!

2 Comments

We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment...

About

We’re Mark & Michele, modern-day nomads perfecting the art of slow, full-time travel.  Our tiny home on wheels and slow-paced travel style allows us to minimize our expenses while maximizing our freedom.  May our unconventional way of life inspire you to design a life that you love.

Subscribe

We're spending the winter of 2025 exploring all that mainland Mexico has to offer. To follow along on the adventure subscribe to receive a daily photo and story directly to your inbox.

Recent Posts

Follow us on social:

Contact