Santa Rosalia to Guaymas Ferry

Quote: Originally posted by bonanzaman

Hello, all...wondering if anyone has recently taken this ferry trip? The research I've done tells me to be prepared for possible delays for any number of reasons, but we will be coming back from Mulege to Colorado in late April, & the 500 odd miles driving it would save (especially the generally miserable strech on Mex 5), seems compelling. Our schedule is flexible, but I am most wanting to confirm that we would be allowed to stay in our car (with our dog) for the trip, since it is pretty much an all day trip. Any recent 1st hand reports would be appreciated! [Edited on 3-12-2019 by bonanzaman]

Not recent, but here's a story that may interest you. I did the crossing early '00's, and it is a very small ferry.... so IF you can stay in your car you may regret it. Back then IF you stayed in your vehicle you had to STAY there, and not roam about. Ergo, small craft, big winds, big waves, and mal de mar (sea sickness). The more the waves, the longer the crossing because they have to tack into and out of the winds, so a loooooong time being miserable if you have a propensity of up-chucking. Therefore, take buckets/tubs/towels/etc for a bad ride.

My crossing was ok, mild rocking, not so bad. A few years later two friends did it and had a horrible trip, everyone on the boat was sick other than one intrepid former sailor and the capitan. The loss of that day's drive up the chitty Baja corridor was well worth it for me (NM) and later my friends from Marfa, TX... the drive from Guaymas to Nogales is a breeze, but the Nogales crossing is always a biatch.... although I have heard there's a better crossing now in NG than used to was. Needs research.

The whole crossing ride depends on the weather, and can't be predicted until almost the time of crossing. Ya gots sea legs, not a problem. A land-lubber, beeg problem (possibly). Late April the evening breeze on the upper deck with all the locals should be a nice airy trip; more input i'm sure is needed, so ..

Buena Suerte, y buen viaje!

My folks and I used the Santa Rosalia to Guaymas ferry in the summer of 1973 after driving down the still unfinished Hwy. 1 to return home.
It was pretty new, having begun operations in 1972 when the pavement had reached Santa Rosalia, northbound from La Paz.

I found a photo we took before boarding the ship...

Quote: Originally posted by bajarich

In 1994 we took the ferry from Guaymas. The sea was so rough that most everyone was sick. All they did when someone heaved was to throw sawdust on it so the whole passenger compartment smelled like vomit. To make things even worse, the sea was still to rough for us to land in SR at the schedued 8 pm so we spent the next 4 hours circling around until the sea calmed enough for us to get into the marina at midnight. The next time we drove.

Don't leave yumawill, while some here 'talk the talk', most I think have actually 'walked the walk'!