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truckirwin
Since 10 Aug 2009
4 Posts
HR
Kook
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 Wed Dec 01, 10 4:37 pm Driving to Baja - Advice Requested |
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All right, the time has come - we're making the drive to Baja... Loreto and Ventana. Myself, my wife and our 4 yr old daughter. 89 VW Camper and lot's of gear.
So advice - not terror stories. Anyone done the drive lately? Leaving mid Jan - anyone interested in a caravan?
I need questions answered like best border crossing, when to make the drive, where to stop, etc. We're planning on leaving very early in the AM and driving until we hit Baja Del Sur (Gurerro Negro?)
Thanks intrepid travelers!
-truck |
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cosmodog
Since 06 Oct 2005
204 Posts
Stoked
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| Wed Dec 01, 10 5:01 pm |
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I have driven to San Carlos many times and we used to cross the border pre-dawn. But we now cross at first light. There have been a number fake cop cars pulling people over at night (I know you said no terror stories, but these types of stories convinced us not to take the chance).
| Quote: | | During one dramatic attack Nov. 19, following the Baja 1000 offroad race, a group of armed men in black clothing used paramilitary tactics and fake police vehicles with flashing light bars to carjack a pickup towing a Baja 1000 race trailer at night, on the Tijuana-Ensenada toll road. The U.S. citizens were robbed and threatened with guns, but were not harmed. |
I recommend using the I5 San Diego crossing on the way down because it is easy to get to the toll road. On the way back, other crossings may be faster (although we managed to get lost trying to find the Otay Mesa crossing).
Once you get south of Ensenada, things mellow out.
Have Fun |
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Freebird
Since 14 Nov 2010
7 Posts
C.Coast
Kook
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| Wed Dec 01, 10 7:56 pm |
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My advise would be.....
Don't eat any fish tacos from roadside cart vendors. Actually, don't eat anything at all from road side cart vendors. No matter how hungry or tired you are. Montezuma's revenge will ruin a trip faster then you can say "squirting my brains out".
Stay safe. |
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jblum
Since 13 Jul 2008
306 Posts
The Gorge
Obsessed
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| Wed Dec 01, 10 8:17 pm |
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This video has everything you need to know in it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRY-NjW916M&feature=player_embedded
Oh, and everything is chill and great once you're in Ensenada, so do the crossing around 8 or 9am and drive straight to Ensenada. Two friends of mine are riding their bikes (as in bicycles) down Baja right now and have had no problems...
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JHB |
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scottnorby
Since 23 Sep 2005
550 Posts
Cascadia - Seattle - Encinitas
Addicted
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| Wed Dec 01, 10 8:35 pm |
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HAAAA
I LOVE that youtube vid.
SO true.
http://forums.bajanomad.com
Great place for a LOT of advice on Baja.
Huge forum.
Just take your time and expect the unexpected AND expected issues.
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tekko
Since 20 Feb 2006
376 Posts
White Salmon
Liquid Force
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| Thu Dec 02, 10 6:35 am |
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A reposting of what I had answered on PSkite forum a short time ago.
http://pskite.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6020&start=20
Hit me up here if you have any other specific questions... just don't want to retype everything I already have at this point.
On another note... I will be driving the LF van back down in early Jan in time for LV Classic and Los Bariiles events, so possible caravan... BUT.. as noted, I cross TJ in the eve, drive fast and often in the dark and DO stop for fish taco's 
| Quote: |
Just to share some of the driving tips.... I have driven the past 2 years and this year's been a bit crazy since working more in Cali, I have been across the border probably 6 or 8 times, often cruising from San Diego for the weekend to San Quintine or San Carlos. (http://liquidforcekites.com/solo-sports ... os-attack/)
Border/Tourist card: I have found that driving to the border the day before you plan to cross (you're already in San Diego at that point, right) and parking in the lot on the USA side, at the last exit and walking across to deal with the tourist card, works quite well. Short walk from the parking lot across the border, then the classic back and forth from immigration office to the bank and back, to get validated. (opposite ends of a long walkway of service windows). Then once you have your docs, take the walking path across the road and walk back to the USA through the walk line border crossing.
Doing this, you take the hassle, time, worry of getting your docs out of the way so on drive day, you don't lose any time screwing around in TJ or Ensenada and can just power through those first few hours of stress, allowing the rest of the trip ot be a bit more relaxed and casual.
Insurance: If you are crossing to mainland mex you need a different policy than just going to baja, so make sure you get it right up front. I have used Vagabondos Del Mar the past couple years. (http://www.vagabundos.com/) Really easy to buy and print the policy on line, even the day before crossing. These guys are USA based and there policies seem good, like if the shit hits the fan, they get you out and send USA based lawyer, etc to come sort you out. If you plan further ahead, they can actually get tourist cards, fishing license, etc sorted out for you. For my van, which is financed, so full coverage, it was only a little more for full year than for the 10 days I'd planned to be there. One of the major reasons I've crossed the border so many times since then.
The road has been improved in many places, with some guard rails added, reflectors, etc. They're even working to widen it right now to 4 lanes south of ensenada towards Santo Tomas. BUT.. the rest of the road.. be prepared.. it's like the Hood River Bridge without guard rails winding over mt passes. Many places, less than 6" shoulder to 2000' dropoff...
For a classic 2 day, daylight drive, your night on the road can be spent in Guerro Negro. Take the road into town after going through the immigration/spray your car stand. There is a hotel out near the highway, but they are much more expensive. As you come into town on the main strip, I like the Malirrimo, on the right. It's a hotel and RV park as well as a restaurant and has wifi. (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... ornia.html). I think it was like $39 US for a nice room with hot shower, etc.
The restaurant is good, fresh fish, etc, but spendy by baja standards,as they are catering to tourists. Can easily go a mile or 2 down the street into town and get killer tacos for cheap.
The second day, if you head out of Guerro Negro just before sun up, you have a beautiful sunrise and colors as you head through the desert for the morning hours. Santa Rosalia is indeed nice to get to the sea of cortez, but actually a very dirty and not very nice city. I usually drive straight through. Mulege is only a short distance from there and a nicer lunch stop, otherwise, head through to Loreto for a good midday break.
For 1.5 day drive... I crossed last year at about 6pm in TJ and rolled in to San Quintin round midnight. Have a buddy with a place there, so easy for me to pull in late, have a safe place to park and crash a few hours in the van. Then up at 5am and on the road the next day, blazing all day and arrived in La Ventana about 10.30pm. Not recommended.. but possible. When I left last winter, I did the reverse... didn't leave LV until almost 9.30am, rolled all the way to San Qunitin for about 11.30pm and up the next morn early and in line at the border by 9.30. (I got really comfortable and drive 70-80mph and into the night)
There is a lot of truth and a lot of hype and misconception out there about baja these days. Some will say don't drive at night, good advice, but also I have driven almost the entire length at one time or another in the dark. They will say, don't eat at roadside taco stands.. but I would also say I have had some of the best meals of my life at many of them. Tip: look for the crowds!! The best places to eat will be packed with mexicans and bustling. Kind of difficult your first few times to just jump in the mix and order, but there is a reason why all the locals eat at some places and not others.
Some will say baja not safe at all, bandito's, etc. In fact, I had lunch last week with the guy who was jacked off the toll road outside of TJ and heard first hand the grueling tale of his experience.. but that was also a few years ago when it was still 'legit' in the gangster world to jack a tourist. Nowadays, the violence HAS escalated very much around the border region. In fact, there were 2 bodies found just this week, beheaded, hanging from an overpass in Rosarito. BUT.. these days, these guys are killing each other, cops, mayors, etc. The gringo tourist surf bum just isn't really the target anymore, as they are fighting a much bigger war between the government and the other gangs. This is based on highway 1 driving... still not recommended to camp alone in remote areas.
Police... they have radar now.. especially in the north, from TJ through San Quintine. I got pulled 2 years ago doing like 85 in a 45 (usa equiv of posted k's) after being stuck behind a bunch of trucks in the mt pass and finally getting a straight away. I was glad to sort it out with $40 cash usd ($20 for each officer) on the spot... actually wish this worked in the USA!! No marks on your record, insurance, etc. I do however usually allow a fast local 'pace car' to pass me, then keep up with them on the road, as they usually know where you can get away with cruising fast.
Trucks... it's like frogger... if you get stuck behind them, it will only get worse.. be aggressive and look for your chance to make the move and then get around them.
Busses... opposite of trucks. These guys are fast and will pass you on a blind corner in the mt's.. If you see a bus in your rearview, be prepared, because it IS their intention to pass you, just so they don't get stuck behind the trucks. The big busses make great pace cars and you know they'll clear the path ahead.
Checkpoints. These guys are here for us... to protect the tourists on the road. They won't hassle you at all and just need to do a quick look. sometimes, just wave you through heading south, but need to take a better look heading north. Just use the words vacation, surfing, etc. They understand this and it's their role now to keep things safe enough for tourists, not to hassle them, so that we keep coming. I would change the 'Redbull' to Monster energy. Had cooler with cases of each last winter and not a single guy went for the Redbull,but all of them wanted the Monster, as Monster has done huge marketing in Mex and the big M logo reminds them of Mex and Machisimo.
That's all off the top of my head... I would say, if you like road trips, the drive down the baja is one of the best experiences you will have on the road and a great feeling of the wild wild west!! Feels even better when you roll into La Ventana and the comfort of being in a small mexi town full of all your Seattle, Gorge and Cali friends!! |
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ldhr
Since 21 Jul 2009
1489 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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| Thu Dec 02, 10 7:26 am |
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The very best formula I have found is this: Day 1 Leaving San Diego and drive for about 8 hours to a place called Mama Esponizos where there is a restaurant and small inexpensive hotel. It is on a hill and there are noisy trucks downshifting through the early morning and late evening hours but the ambiance of it all is worth it. They have a suburb breakfast and good coffee with the famous lobster tacos for dinner.
El Rosario, Baja California, Mexico: Carlos Fiesta's Baja Expo 2010
Mama Espinosa has been serving Baja travelers since way before the blacktop connected the two states of Baja California and Baja California Sur and her ... www.bajaexpo.com/cities/elrosario.htmL
Moving on out of there as early as you can would be great because this Day 2 is the longest day of your trip.
The beginning 1/2 is good but going around Guerrero Negro and afterward sucks on the boring scale. You will go all the way to Loreto. Information below but as you go into the second left turn entrance into town and around the little circle go forward just a bit 1/4 mile and look on the right for a nice restaurant and good Motel right next door with safe and secure parking in the rear. Big pool and reasonable rates.
LORETO Lodgings Hotels Motels Condos and rentals Baja California ...
Solare Resorts Boulevard Mission de Loreto Zona Turistica de Nopolo Apdo Postal 35, Loreto, B.C.S., Mexico 23880. bullet, Loreto Playa APDO Postal 127 ... www.bajaquest.com/loreto/baja05c.htm
Day three, take your time leaving Loreto because it is just a casual 1/2 day trip to La Paz from there. Be careful going thru Ciudad Constitucion as they love to give Gringos tickets so I hear but have never been a part of this process. Ciudad Constitucion, Mexico Forecast : Weather Underground
Ciudad Constitucion, B. C. S., Mexico (Airport). Updated: 7:42 PM MST on November 26, 2010. This station is not reporting! ...
www.wunderground.com/global/stations/76402.html |
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truckirwin
Since 10 Aug 2009
4 Posts
HR
Kook
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| Thu Dec 02, 10 12:39 pm |
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| Thanks all, keep 'em coming. I'm gonna send the youtube vid to my mom! |
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pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
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denoone
Since 13 Mar 2013
1 Posts
New Member
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| Wed Mar 13, 13 4:44 am re |
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Driving to Baja...Okey,my girlfriend once did that.
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denopolo.com |
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lekaks
Since 02 Apr 2008
151 Posts
Hood River, OR
Stoked
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| Wed Mar 13, 13 11:54 am |
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We just got back from Los Barilles last week and had a super fun drive home. The Baja, even the boring parts, is a very beautiful drive. The border to Mama Espinosa's is a great first day leg. There's a hotel right next to the Pemex. It will blow you away how nice it is.
In Loreto we discovered this great hotel right in Old Town called 1697. Four blocks from the water front and two great restaurants right next door. I highly recommend it.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g150772-d2371764-Reviews-Hotel_1697_Loreto-Loreto_Baja_California.html
The only real advice I would give is to know your vehicle inside and out and prepare for a breakdown. As long as your car is rolling or you can fix it if it isn't-- the drive is awesome. If your car breaks down and you don't know what to do, the drive can become inversely awesome. Before we drove down I made sure I knew as much about my vehicle as possible and what I could fix roadside if something went wrong, i.e. fuel pump, fuel filter, main belt, flat tire etc. In the middle of the desert, you have to be your own mechanic so bring some spare parts and the necessary tools.
Driving the Baja is a great adventure. The road is in great shape and getting wider/safer every year. The Mexicans are your friends and most would hand over their last plate of beans to prove it. Have fun and take the time to enjoy it.
Buena suerte y buen viaje...
This was our route home as well...
| ldhr wrote: | The very best formula I have found is this: Day 1 Leaving San Diego and drive for about 8 hours to a place called Mama Esponizos where there is a restaurant and small inexpensive hotel. It is on a hill and there are noisy trucks downshifting through the early morning and late evening hours but the ambiance of it all is worth it. They have a suburb breakfast and good coffee with the famous lobster tacos for dinner.
El Rosario, Baja California, Mexico: Carlos Fiesta's Baja Expo 2010
Mama Espinosa has been serving Baja travelers since way before the blacktop connected the two states of Baja California and Baja California Sur and her ... www.bajaexpo.com/cities/elrosario.htmL
Moving on out of there as early as you can would be great because this Day 2 is the longest day of your trip.
The beginning 1/2 is good but going around Guerrero Negro and afterward sucks on the boring scale. You will go all the way to Loreto. Information below but as you go into the second left turn entrance into town and around the little circle go forward just a bit 1/4 mile and look on the right for a nice restaurant and good Motel right next door with safe and secure parking in the rear. Big pool and reasonable rates.
LORETO Lodgings Hotels Motels Condos and rentals Baja California ...
Solare Resorts Boulevard Mission de Loreto Zona Turistica de Nopolo Apdo Postal 35, Loreto, B.C.S., Mexico 23880. bullet, Loreto Playa APDO Postal 127 ... www.bajaquest.com/loreto/baja05c.htm
Day three, take your time leaving Loreto because it is just a casual 1/2 day trip to La Paz from there. Be careful going thru Ciudad Constitucion as they love to give Gringos tickets so I hear but have never been a part of this process. Ciudad Constitucion, Mexico Forecast : Weather Underground
Ciudad Constitucion, B. C. S., Mexico (Airport). Updated: 7:42 PM MST on November 26, 2010. This station is not reporting! ...
www.wunderground.com/global/stations/76402.html |
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