At the Event
What to expect at the Event and Playa El Tecolote.
At the Event
Congratulations, you’ve made it to Playa el Tecolote, a large, free public beach on the Gulf of California facing Isla Espiritu Santo, a UNESCO world heritage site. The white-sand beach runs for a half-mile to the east (right) from the collection of small restaurants and bars.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Please read our Code of Conduct here.
LEAVE THE PLAYA BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT
Each year we take a focused, concerted effort to leave Playa Tecolote better than we found it.
Go beyond making sure your camp area is clean, and take the time to pick up any miscellaneous garbage you see along the beach.
There is a dedicated “Playa Resto Team” that will be working to clean the beach after the event to pick up any garbage that might have been missed. If you would like to be on that team please email salina@thejournaloflosttime.com
WHAT ABOUT GARBAGE?
There will be four large dumpsters placed on the main road running behind the beach.
Keep All Your Garbage until you are ready to put it into the Dumpsters
Do not put your garbage in the garbage barrels. Because Escapar falls a holiday the barrels will not be empties and dogs and birds get into them and make a mess. We will try to mark these barrels with yellow signs.
Do not put garbage in any dumpsters that are full. If the dumpster is full, pack it out and take it to one of the numerous transfer stations in La Paz.
WHEN IS THE BIG BEACH CLEANUP?
The final day of the event, Monday the 5th, there will be a big beach cleanup with Pablo & Mar Libre from 10 am to Noon. Bring your gloves, trashbags, etc. and meet at Center Camp.
ARE THERE TOILETS?
Yes, there will be banks of portos positioned all along the beach. Don’t put anything other than poop and toilet paper in the toilets. The toilets will be cleaned at regular intervals.
SAFETY & SECURITY
We take the safety and security of all attendees seriously, and have established direct communication with local EMT/Ambulance and Fire aka “Bomberos” in the case of an emergency.
If you have an emergency and/or security concerns and do not know who to call, look for one of our volunteers in a white cowboy hat. They can provide you with that information or they can access Starlink service to make a call. If you see something, say something, and protect one another.
Medical Center La Paz Hospital (Private)
+52 612-124-1165
Opposite the Fidepaz Hospital, at the Corner of Ave Pez Vela and Carretera Transpeninsular Al Norte.
Medical insurance accepted
Bring credit card, insurance card and passport.
English: YES
Hours: 24/7
Heroico Cuerpo de Bomberos La Paz (Fire / EMT)
+52 612 121 2174
English: sometimes
Hours: 24/7
Emergency Psychological Service / Crisis Intervention
Suicide, Domestic Violence, Extreme Emotional Distress
Dr. Robert Freeman – Washington State Clinical Psychologist #2208 (retired)
+52 612-158-5762
Programas de Acción Communitaria Integral (PROACI o “Centro Mujeres”)
Av. Márquez de León 480 – “B” Centro. La Paz, Baja California Sur México, c.p. 23000
+52 612 122 3570 or +52 612 122 3342
E: informacion@centromujeres.org
English: yes / sometimes
Centro de Justicia para Las Mujeres
Calle Carabineros / Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta y Calle San Antonio, Col. Ex Base Aérea, C.P. 23050. La Paz, Baja California Sur.
+52 612 68 81229
+52 612 68 81236
English: yes / sometimes
LGBTQ+ Advocacy
+52 612 157-5101
WHERE DO I PARK?
Anywhere you’d like. Come early if you want a spot on the water.
Camp away from Center Camp in The Dunes if you want quiet.
Remember that Playa Tecolote is a public beach, meaning you can come and go as you please, as can others.
We do not own the beach, but we are its stewards. Be kind to one another, and treat everyone with respect.
IS ESCAPAR OPEN TO ALL VEHICLES?
Yes, including RVs, trucks, motorcycles, backpackers, bikepackers, horsepacker, donkeypackers, and tent campers. Baja does not discriminate.
DO I NEED 4WD?
No, but there are places on the beach, in particular the arroyo, where the sand can be deep and you’ll need to take one of the numerous crossings that do not have deep sand or you may get stuck.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Food, shelter, and water for as long as you’re planning on staying. There are two restaurants just down the beach. Please visit them. Bring warm clothes for the cool nights and sunscreen for the warm days.
Other than bathrooms you should be completely self-sufficient.
WHAT SHOULDN’T I BRING?
Weapons, anything illegal, and/or a bad attitude.
CAN I BRING MY PET?
Absolutely, but your pet’s behavior including cleaning up any messes is 100% your responsibility. Do not put their poop in the portos.
If your dog does not get along well with other dogs, for any reason, it is your responsibility to keep them secure (on leash) and away from other animals, not the other way around.
WHAT ABOUT FIRES?
Absolutely no fires outside of above ground / propane fire pits and cooking stoves.
MUSIC / SOUND / NOISE / GENERATORS
Attendees wanting a quiet(er) area away from the music should camp away from Center Camp.
There is no guarantee that your campsite will be quiet, as it is a public beach and other attendees and locals may want to throw their own party on the beach, particularly on the weekend. If you’re looking for a quiet campsite, continue on the road to the south around the rocky point to the numerous empty beaches to the south.
Generator Hours are Noon to 2pm, Daily.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
We encourage radical participation & radical self-expression on the part of attendees: share your art, host a workshop, offer a happy hour, and get weird/creative/expressive. If you have some interactivity you would like listed on the schedule, let us know.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
If you would like to volunteer your time, we will trade you a free ticket + swag. Please contact salina@thejournaloflosttime.com to apply. Volunteering may include greeting and registering people, stuffing swag bags, putting up signage, etc.
THE EVENT MAP
Stock Up
We’ll be 30 minutes outside of town so best to grab what you need first. Grab all the food and water you’ll need as well as your drinks of choice. There are a couple restaurants a short walk away but, other than that, you’re on your own. The local supermarket is called Chedraui and there’s also a Walmart.
No Signal*
There won’t be any cell service on the beach. Download any music or entertainment you want to have available over the weekend and let everyone know you’ll be off the grid for a few days. Also, bring a pen and paper to take down the contact info of all the new friends you’re sure to make.
*Starlink will be up and running at Escapar this year but please try to get any large downloads done before arriving.
Getting In
Playa El Tecolote is right off a paved road and the upper portion of the beach is hard ground. No need for 4x4 or airing down of tires. Just drive right in and come say hello! You may want to Bring a hammer if you want to stake anything into the ground.
Did we miss anything?
If you have a question that wasn’t answered by this guide, shoot us a message and we’ll look into it.