Our recent stay at the beach was nothing short of amazing. For just 250 pesos a night, we were able to camp right on the beach and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The palapas had concrete floors, but we didn't even need to use our tent as we were able to sleep comfortably in our palapa.
Despite the scorching 100-degree temperatures, we found relief in the cool waters and spent most of our days swimming and lounging on the beach. The mini market had everything we needed, including ice, but we suggest exchanging pesos in the US beforehand to get a better rate.
This was our third time at Rancho Grande, but the first time we encountered a guard who restricted beach access. We also found a small stand off the road that served refreshing horchata, which we filled our thermos with.
It's important to note that there is no running water at the campsite, so we bought a large tambo of water for 90 pesos to rinse off after being in the water and to clean our dishes. The highway leading to the beach was in great shape and we had a smooth 5 1/2 hour drive from the border.
We stopped in Mexicali for our FMM tourist visa, which was free since we were staying less than 7 days. Although we never had to show the document at the military checkpoints, we didn't want to take any chances.
Cellular service was non-existent outside of San Felipe, but the campsite sold Wi-Fi for 15 pesos that reached the palapas on the beach. Although it was slow on Saturday due to the crowds, it was much faster on Sunday when most people had left.
Overall, we highly recommend this amazing beach destination for anyone looking for a relaxing and affordable getaway.