Playa Km 87 gallery 1

    Playa Km 87

    An unnamed open-Pacific beach off Highway 19 at km 87: wide, empty, no swimming

    Playa Km 87
    An unnamed open-Pacific beach off Highway 19 at km 87: wide, empty, no swimming

    About

    About Playa Km 87

    Playa Km 87 is local shorthand for an open Pacific beach reached from Highway 19 around kilometre 87, on the lonely coast between El Pescadero and Migriño. It has no formal name: a 2007 local directory described the turn-off near a Rancho San Rafael sign and an 80 km/h speed sign, then half a mile of very rough dirt road to a bluff with a footpath down to the sand, and little has been written about it since.

    What is well documented is the coast around it. Between Migriño and Todos Santos the shoreline is a very narrow strip reachable only by dirt tracks, and the sea is open with strong swell even in the calmest seasons; the Los Cabos tourism board warns that stretches like this are unsuitable for swimming because of rough surf, rip currents and undertows. This is a beach for walking, tranquility and privacy, not for the water. Behind it lie two tiny ranch localities, El Cajoncito and San Blas del Cajoncito, with a single inhabitant between them.

    The nearest beach the La Paz tourism office lists is Playa El Gaspareño at km 83, about 3 km north: soft warm sand, a striking rock formation pounded by waves, dunes you may not climb, a small hill used as a natural lookout, camping and picnics, no services and no mobile signal, with whales sometimes seen breaching offshore. Whale season on this coast runs December to April. Las Cabrillas at km 81 has a mechanic and a small restaurant, and Migriño, the lonely surf beach with a bird lagoon, lies to the south.

    Sources: Cabo San Lucas Beaches (local directory, 2007) · Los Cabos Guide (local directory) · La Paz tourism office, El Gaspareño · México Desconocido · Visit Los Cabos, swimming and safety · INEGI localities · Visit Los Cabos, whale watching

    Best forPhotography, Scenic Views, Sunsets, Walking
    Crowd levelEmpty most of the year
    Best time to visitDecember to April for whales offshore; late afternoon light; avoid the track after rain
    AccessUnnamed public beach, rough dirt-track access

    Highlights

    Highlights

    Wide open sandA broad, private-feeling beach with nothing on it, reached down a footpath from the bluff.
    No one hereA narrow strip of coast reachable only by dirt tracks, so it stays empty.
    El Gaspareño next doorThe official beach at km 83, about 3 km north: a rocky point, dunes and a hill used as a natural lookout.
    Whales offshoreFrom December to April the migration passes this coast; the Gaspareño lookout is the place to watch.

    FAQs

    Off Highway 19 around kilometre 87, between El Pescadero and Migriño: an unmarked turn-off near a Rancho San Rafael sign leads half a mile down a very rough dirt road to a bluff, with a footpath to the sand. It has no formal name.

    No. This is open Pacific with strong swell even in calm seasons, and the Los Cabos tourism board warns that such stretches carry rough surf, rip currents and undertows.

    Playa El Gaspareño at km 83, about 3 km north, is the beach the La Paz tourism office lists: soft sand, a rocky point, dunes and a hill lookout, with camping and picnics. For swimming, drive north to Cerritos.

    Whale season runs December to April. The hill at El Gaspareño is used as a natural lookout, and whales are sometimes seen breaching offshore from there.

    Beach Conditions

    Beach Safety

    Swimming at this beach

    Not a swimming beach

    Not for swimming at any time. Open Pacific water with strong currents and shore break year-round. Beautiful to walk and to photograph — do not go in.

    Rip current safety level · permanent editorial override
    High
    Modeled waves today
    2.0 m max 13 sec max period · peak waves from SW
    Modeled wind today
    12 km/h max gusts up to 32 km/h · strongest wind from NW

    Editorial safety profile override · Open-Meteo public model data · Checked

    Estimated from public data, not an official safety advisory. Always follow posted flags and lifeguard instructions.

    Data sources

    The approved editorial safety profile permanently overrides model conditions for this beach.

    Open-Meteo Marine: modeled wave height, period, and direction.

    Open-Meteo Weather: modeled 10 m wind and gusts.

    Jellyfish Watch

    Marine Life Watch

    Jellyfish Watch

    Elevated activity

    Recent nearby sightings suggest extra caution before entering the water.

    Estimated from public data, not an official safety advisory.

    Data sources

    Sources: iNaturalist public observations and Open-Meteo Marine - refreshed 1 second ago

    Location

    Location

    Playa Km 87, Highway 19 between El Pescadero and Migriño, Baja California Sur

    Get DirectionsOpen Map

    Plan Your Visit

    Plan Your Visit

    Recommended Duration1-2 hours
    Best Time to VisitDecember to April for whales offshore; late afternoon light; avoid the track after rain

    Quick Tips

    Quick Tips

    Look for the 80 km/h sign and the Rancho San Rafael sign to find the turn-off.
    Bring everything; the nearest food is a small restaurant at km 81.
    For a lookout and a rocky point, go 3 km north to Playa El Gaspareño.

    Amenities

    Amenities

    NoneNo services on this stretch; bring water, shade and food.
    No mobile signalThe municipality warns there is no signal in the Gaspareño zone; tell someone your plan.
    Las Cabrillas, km 81A mechanic's workshop and a small restaurant by the Plutarco Elías Calles ejido.

    Things To Do

    Things To Do

    Simple beach-day activities that fit the setting and conditions.

    WalkLong, empty sand with the surf beside you.
    Watch for whalesDecember to April, best from the hill at El Gaspareño.
    Photograph the surfOpen-ocean waves and late light with no one in the frame.
    Detour to El GaspareñoCamping, picnics and the lookout at the official beach 3 km north.

    Beach Conditions

    Beach Safety

    Swimming at this beach

    Not a swimming beach

    Not for swimming at any time. Open Pacific water with strong currents and shore break year-round. Beautiful to walk and to photograph — do not go in.

    Rip current safety level · permanent editorial override
    High
    Modeled waves today
    2.0 m max 13 sec max period · peak waves from SW
    Modeled wind today
    12 km/h max gusts up to 32 km/h · strongest wind from NW

    Editorial safety profile override · Open-Meteo public model data · Checked

    Estimated from public data, not an official safety advisory. Always follow posted flags and lifeguard instructions.

    Data sources

    The approved editorial safety profile permanently overrides model conditions for this beach.

    Open-Meteo Marine: modeled wave height, period, and direction.

    Open-Meteo Weather: modeled 10 m wind and gusts.

    Jellyfish Watch

    Marine Life Watch

    Jellyfish Watch

    Elevated activity

    Recent nearby sightings suggest extra caution before entering the water.

    Estimated from public data, not an official safety advisory.

    Data sources

    Sources: iNaturalist public observations and Open-Meteo Marine - refreshed 1 second ago

    Safety & Conditions

    Safety & Conditions

    Quick read before you go. Conditions can change by day, so check local flags before entering the water.

    No swimmingRough surf, rip currents and undertows on the open Pacific; enjoy it from the sand.
    Rough trackHalf a mile of very rough dirt road; high clearance or 4x4, and not after rain.
    No signal, no helpRemote coast with no services; go in daylight and carry water.
    DunesClimbing the dunes is prohibited at the neighbouring official beach; treat these the same way.

    Location

    Location

    Playa Km 87, Highway 19 between El Pescadero and Migriño, Baja California Sur

    Get DirectionsOpen Map

    Plan Your Visit

    Plan Your Visit

    Recommended Duration1-2 hours
    Best Time to VisitDecember to April for whales offshore; late afternoon light; avoid the track after rain

    Nearby You'll Love

    Nearby You'll Love

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Off Highway 19 around kilometre 87, between El Pescadero and Migriño: an unmarked turn-off near a Rancho San Rafael sign leads half a mile down a very rough dirt road to a bluff, with a footpath to the sand. It has no formal name.