Driving from Oregon to La Ventana

dustin awesome · Since 23 Jul 2009 115 Posts Stoked

My girlfriend and I are heading south late December and going to La Ventana....

Anyone have any suggestions or advice they are willing to share...

This is our first trip to Baja to Kiteboard (or for any matter) and were just trying to get a feel for the trip. Were driving and will be there for over a month and would like to know in advance what the trouble spots are (if any). Is it a bad idea to bring my motorcycle to put around on? How are the roads? Border Patrol? Check Points?
I was reading a post earlier and someone said they got Mexican Insurance?? Whats that all about??

Anyway, we want this trip to be RAD! So any advice from you ladies and guys who have made this trip before is really going to help....

Thanks everyone!

sleestack · Since 07 Dec 2006 184 Posts Land of the Lost Stoked

[url]http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-15532.html

Might of seen this already, but look at the fifth reply on this thread--great info.[/url]

forrest · Wed Oct 07, 09 8:38 am

I've heard the best bet is to get to the TJ border at 4am and drive straight through to La Ventana in one day, 18 hours. Go the speed limit, use your turn signals, and don't speed.

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 205 Posts Stoked

Here's some tips (I have driven in Baja a number of times):
- You have to get Mexican insurance (without it you can end up in jail)
- http://www.bajabound.com/ works
- drive during the day (cows come out a night)
- get a tourist card (they usually check at the border of Baja Sur)
- we used to cross at 4am but now wait till dawn - fake cops were pulling people over on the way to the toll road.
- camp in real campgrounds, not at the side of the road
- Hwy 1 was fine this spring (at least to San Carlos) - lots more military check points

Have fun!

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Oct 07, 09 10:08 am

DrewB · Since 16 Aug 2006 385 Posts PDX Obsessed

backtoCaLi · Since 15 Mar 2008 74 Posts Nor-Cal

all great advice, (minus driving fast...) be sure to follow it religiously

Especially eating at the roadside taco stands, the ones where everyone seems to conglomerate are usually cheap & tasty.

also,
Learn some spanish.....and use it as often as possible!

skaterdad · Since 16 Jun 2008 54 Posts Portland

Dustin...I'll be there January 10th. Hopefully you will still be there. Lets drink a beer sooner than later and talk about it!

I will reach out to you you soon!

Skamaniac · Since 10 Oct 2008 76 Posts Gorge

drive on good tires, dont forget the tourist card at border, get mex insurance online, don t miss the right turn in La Paz, dont buy gas in Santa Rosalia (rip off),roads are good but narrow, best camping I did was at bay of concepcion and catavina, speed limits are a joke except in towns, I saw one police car outside city limits on entire trip backa and forth, you will cause a traffic jam if you try to go speed limit, (min 10mph over) and finally check points are amerian imposed so they are very superficial and typically just a wave thru south bound and a door open with look at glove compartment and the usual easy areas. Good luck last Dec I did it solo and was my first trip.

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 307 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Did it last year in four days down to LV. A few things we noticed:

- All of the checkpoints are wave through on the way down. They check you more closely on the way up to make sure you're not bringing things towards the US (again... these are US imposed military stops)

- Take the toll road through Ensenada... it will save you a lot of time and its much safer for an extra $2 or whatever.. You'll drive through the TJ border (the checks are totally random, its a flashing green light that flashes red every once in a while for a vehicle search), go 150 feet and then go up the ramp labeled "Ensenada/ Beaches." This goes up to a road that veers right and goes straight shot to Ensenada. It follows "the wall" for a bit and looks sketchy, but totally misses all of TJ, which is recommendable to stay out of.

- Driving at night is really dangerous, but mostly because of the trucks and cows. Not because of armed banditos.

- TJ, Ensenada, Cabo and La Paz and Guerrero Negro are the 5 largest cities in Baja, and def the 5 most likely places where you could run into any problems. The other hundreds of miles are punctuated with cows, cactus, sand, and beautiful mountains and beaches... and a lot of nothing.

I'll be in LV/ LB from Dec 9-Dec 31 so perhaps I'll see you down on the beach.

Mostly, its cool, laid back and safe. Have a great trip.

windmlv · Since 08 Jun 2008 11 Posts pacific northwest New Member

A couple of more things. been in LaVentana one week now.
The road from the Border at TJ along the fence going west has been mostly redone.
Pretty much stay right until it splits south for Ensenada. well signed.
The border inspections have tightened up a lot this year (more info at "Baja Nomads" etc.).

A note on driving;
If someone in front of you puts on their left turn signal it means (usually) that it is safe for you to pass and if someone does come the other way they will hit the brakes to let you in. So remember, if you give someone behind you the left turn signal to pass you, you should do whatever it takes to let them in. In reality, it works great. If you really do want to turn left, in Baja stick your left arm out and move into the left lane slowly. There have been numerous accidents where someone signalled left, then turned left only to find someone passing them.
If you see cows/horses etc. on the road put on your fourway flashers for a mile or so to let oncoming traffic know to be careful.
There are also lots of "Topes" (speed bumps) some are not marked. That suspension thing again!
In the towns some of the stop signs are hidden by trees! and some of the signal lights aren't easy to see. They may not always be where we think they should be.
But hey thats half the fun of driving Baja. A bit more of a challenge than I5.
Forecast for kiteable wind today!

wiseguy2 · Since 22 Feb 2009 89 Posts

Once did a bike trip in baja....

Once we were about 6 hours from the border things mellowed out and we began our bike ride. There wasn't a single incident the whole trip on our bicycles so, after that, I took all the scary stories about mexico with a grain of salt.

Biking wasn't an issue so driving isn't either.

Coolest thing was when we saw an airplane next to the road. They had landed on the road and just pulled over to camp.

Stay away from the gringos in big cities, they tend to be obnoxious.

Don't try to barter for better prices, that's an old wives tale.

Don't forget your passport.

have fun.

dustin awesome · Since 23 Jul 2009 115 Posts Stoked

WOW!

All great advice... Thank you everyone who replied to the post!

I most certainly will apply all the information to our travels down south. Very good info about the blinkers and what time to cross the border. Also the Mexican Insurance and the visa (wouldn't of known). Wink

So thank you all again.....I'm feeling warm and fuzzy inside! Laughing

grom · Since 07 Aug 2006 175 Posts Bolstad Clan

ya everyone else has it. the first right turn in mexico (TJ) happens really quick and if you miss it you can lose hours. as soon as you cross the border you go over a bridge. its your first right after that bridge. the sign happens after the exit for reasons only mexican police could pretend to explain. other then that, keep your eyes on the road. should be enough kiting stickers to lead the way

dangerD · Since 27 Jun 2005 223 Posts Bingen Heights Stoked

I go every year with no insurance. I have a sneak route at G Negro so I dont need no stinkin tourist card (or to pay for insecticide spray)
But then they do call me "Danger"

$20 in left front pocket for the "speed Bribe"
$75 in the wallet for, extended bribing (pretend like its all you have)
$100 hidden somewhere I can find it fast
the rest I hide likes its contraband..

Oh and speaking of.. Mexican laws have changed... Besides no radar guns and breathalizers, they have now legalized small amounts of drugs
5grams of "Mota"- pot
1g of Cocaine
.5g of lsd or meth
Watch out for all the "high" drivers..
ill be one of them
Viva Mexico Cabrones!

The minnow · Since 26 Jan 2009 395 Posts argentina Obsessed

first i speak spanish, and went to k77& k55 a bunch of times, twenty years ago, but sure nothing has changed, only the number of house, the police are total ass holes, if you know what they want , you might get off easy, having a cooler with some american drinks could be good, a red bull and a snickers bar could go a long way,its to bribe them off, thier always thirsty & hungry, do clean your car well, no roaches or seeds they find one seed in your car and lose the whole cooler full. be nice dont stare at anyone, dont give them time to ask a question while your staring , watch your wallet, and hide some money in your car at least four or five hundred before you leave home, in your car where it is very hard to get to with out a hour of work ,IE,<behind some panle>
?>>>>>>>>> never pump gas dirrectly into your car, always a gas can first, and a light colored one you can see into, check for water it will be at the bottom, just siffon the good into your car, go over the border with all the gas you can carry, if you pull up to the pump, you can be frauded for the volume, know that they sell gas in litters and its 3.76 for a gallon, again know your measerment, dont pullup to the pump , stop take out your can and fill it first, then if satisfied pump your car!

The minnow · Since 26 Jan 2009 395 Posts argentina Obsessed