BajaNomad

Shuttle or Taxi from Loreto to San Bruno?

fishmaster - 12-10-2021 at 11:53 AM

Greetings,
Although I am unable to drive down to Baja this winter, my friends Grant and Dar have invited me to stay at their place in San Bruno for 10 days. I'll be flying into Loreto on Jan 4 or 5th. and then head N again on the 16th.
My question is, how easy is it to get a taxi, shuttle, uber, bus, etc... from Loreto to San Bruno (or San Lucas, Santa Rosalia or Mulege)? And from San Bruno back to Loreto? I have never traveled this way in Baja as I always drive my own vehicle.
Thanks a bunch in advance for any help that you can provide.
Best fishes,
Steve

Bob and Susan - 12-10-2021 at 12:46 PM

rent a car

fishmaster - 12-10-2021 at 04:08 PM

I could rent a car, but I didn’t have a good experience the one time I did that in Cabo. Had price set before we flew in, but then they added on hundreds in fees abs insurance once we got there and had no other option. I don’t need a vehicle once I get to Grant and Dars.
Think I could find a taxi to take me that far? Maybe a shuttle from Loreto to Mulege?

Bob and Susan - 12-10-2021 at 04:54 PM

you are looking at a 3 hour drive each way

45 minutes down a dirt road

for your use ...there is no "real" public transportation

you need a rental car

a lot of people "think" they dont need a car but here you do

fishmaster - 12-10-2021 at 07:38 PM

OK. Just surprised there isn't a bus or something from Loreto to Mulege or Santa Rosalia? Bummer part is that once I get there, the car will just sit for 9 days until I drive back to Loreto.
45 minutes on a dirt road? I think you have the wrong San Bruno. It is all paved and only 10 minutes off the highway.
Has anyone rented a car in Loreto? Is one rental car company better than another? Anyone in town that might not rake you over the coals like they do at the airports?

[Edited on 12-11-2021 by fishmaster]

mtgoat666 - 12-10-2021 at 08:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by fishmaster  
OK. Just surprised there isn't a bus or something from Loreto to Mulege or Santa Rosalia? Bummer part is that once I get there, the car will just sit for 9 days until I drive back to Loreto.
45 minutes on a dirt road? I think you have the wrong San Bruno. It is all paved and only 10 minutes off the highway.
Has anyone rented a car in Loreto? Is one rental car company better than another? Anyone in town that might not rake you over the coals like they do at the airports?

[Edited on 12-11-2021 by fishmaster]


There are buses up/down hwy 1. They don’t post schedules online. Try calling ecobajatours or aguila (Google it). Or have your local friend stop into bus station and get schedule.

mtgoat666 - 12-10-2021 at 09:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by fishmaster  
OK. Just surprised there isn't a bus or something from Loreto to Mulege or Santa Rosalia?


Of course there is-- this is Mexico.

Whether it would work out for you personally (this is México ;D) is another question.

[Edited on 12-11-2021 by lencho]

[Edited on 12-11-2021 by lencho]


The schedules are sometimes inconvenient. But the busses are comfortable and the best (only) way to travel w/o car.

Bajazly - 12-10-2021 at 09:09 PM

The ABC buses are really nice and really cheap. Getting a ride 10 minutes off the highway would be no problem.

bill erhardt - 12-11-2021 at 07:05 AM

Steve....I have no personal experience recently, but I think it's safe to say that the answer to your question is that it is easy. There is an airport between Mulege and SR and I have flown several times from it to San Carlos, Sonora. I live in Loreto and the first few times did not want to leave a car at the airport while on the Mainland so took a bus from Loreto north to the airport. It's easy to get a taxi or shuttle to the bus station in Loreto from the Loreto airport. Let me know when you will be flying in to Loreto and I'll check the bus schedule from Loreto north to San Bruno.

Mulege Canuck - 12-11-2021 at 08:05 AM

i took a bus from Loreto to Mulege a couple years ago. Just take a cab from the airport to the bus station. Check for times of the buses on line. There are two bus companies. If you can get a flight that gets in early, it will give you lots of daylight incase you miss your planned bus and have to wait a couple of hours.

The buses are clean, cheap and comfortable.

wilderone - 12-11-2021 at 10:21 AM

Just go to the bus station in Loreto - check the routes and times for whatever bus comes in next going north. Buy a ticket for Santa Rosalia and tell the driver that you will be getting off at San Bruno. Any bus will drop you off anywhere. Easy to spend a couple hours layover in Loreto.

John Harper - 12-11-2021 at 10:59 AM

Why not ask your friends to pick you up in Loreto? They do have a car I presume?

1. Take them out to lunch
2. Pay for their gas
3. Maybe bring them a gift

It's reason for them to get out and have a nice day trip to Loreto, maybe do a little shopping, pick you up, have lunch, and head back to their place. With the money you save on a 10 day rental car, you can take them out for several meals during your trip.


John

[Edited on 12-11-2021 by John Harper]

Bob and Susan - 12-11-2021 at 11:04 AM

this is all bad advice...

if you dont have the money to rent a car for 10 days you should postpone your vacation till you do

taxi to the bus = $30usa
bus = $60usa

its about a 10mile walk from the street on a dirt road to chivato
probably in the dark humping a "carry on" with 10 days of clothes

this will sure be a story to follow in the future

oh yea then you need to get back to loreto later

BajaBlanca - 12-11-2021 at 11:45 AM

San Bruno is not too far to walk from highway 1.

I am not sure why, but there are very few buses running nowadays. I picked up a student who rode the bus from Santa Rosalia to the Abreojos turnoff on highway 1 and he had to catch the bus at 5 am and not another one until nighttime if I remember correctly. I picked him up at 8 am.

Probably pandemic bus schedule? Not enough riders? who knows.

I bet your friends will pick up up for a nice lunch in Loreto! That surely is the best solution.

Have fun, however you arrive!

gallesram - 12-11-2021 at 05:39 PM

The insurance is what makes renting a car in Mexico so expensive. Count on spending about $20/day regardless of which agency you use; it's required under Mexican law to carry liability insurance which covers injury/damage to the other driver. Your credit card doesn't offer that coverage; it only covers the damage to your car. I have tried to find ways around this but there are none that I have identified (happy to hear from anyone who disagrees). I use Fox Rent-a-car and have found them to be good; clean cars and decent rates. I have had 2 terrible experiences with Hertz in Loreto and would NOT use them.

The bus is very hit or miss, even with their posted schedules. You may spend a lot of time waiting around. If you have nothing but time and patience, then the bus will work. If not, I'd rent a car.

advrider - 12-11-2021 at 05:57 PM

You might see if your friends don't have a neighbor that could pick you up if they can't. I'm sure there is some local that has some kind of hustle and would love to make a few bucks.

mtgoat666 - 12-11-2021 at 07:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by gallesram  

The bus is very hit or miss, even with their posted schedules. You may spend a lot of time waiting around. If you have nothing but time and patience, then the bus will work. If not, I'd rent a car.


If you are on vacation and stressed for time, it is not a vacation.

Cancamo - 12-12-2021 at 06:19 PM

"I have tried to find ways around this but there are none that I have identified (happy to hear from anyone who disagrees)."

It's been a few years, maybe things have changed, but I have rented cars in Merida, Queretaro, and Oaxaca, always declining insurance, leaving a $2500 deposit on my credit card which was always refunded upon return. Weekly rates were peanuts on the economy vehicles.


That said, Fishmaster, I would just get a bus ride. It's how most of the country, (and most all of Latin America), gets around.

boe4fun - 12-13-2021 at 07:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by fishmaster  
OK. Just surprised there isn't a bus or something from Loreto to Mulege or Santa Rosalia? Bummer part is that once I get there, the car will just sit for 9 days until I drive back to Loreto.
45 minutes on a dirt road? I think you have the wrong San Bruno. It is all paved and only 10 minutes off the highway.
Has anyone rented a car in Loreto? Is one rental car company better than another? Anyone in town that might not rake you over the coals like they do at the airports?

[Edited on 12-11-2021 by fishmaster]

The first thing I would try would be to see if Grant and Dar have a neighbor/friend/relative near their place who could pick you up at either the Loreto airport or at the junction of Mex 1 and the San Bruno turnoff.
Next take a bus and hope a local will give you a ride out to their place. Last of all, if you’re going to rent a car, read this:
Important information shared previously by Valerie Farrington Teters:

Valerie Farrington Teters
January 22
Hi All- many of us have been going round and round about the insane cost of car rentals in Baja. Since we are on the East Cape frequently and have not yet brought a car down to leave at our home, as you can imagine, we’ve really felt slammed by the rental car costs-easily $500 per week or more for a compact 2 wheel SUV. I decided to invest some time this past week to really get to know the laws regarding liability and collision insurance requirements in Baja since the upfront cost of renting a car always sounds like a steal (in a good way) when you go to reserve online.

Here’s what I now know after a little research and a couple of phone calls. Liability insurance -always comes with every rental car in Baja. The laws mandate that the rental companies include $750,000 pesos of coverage with your rental. When they tell you you need liability insurance and tell you it’s going to cost $400 a week, that is NOT TRUE-you are being up-sold additional insurance that you do not need. Ask them and the agents will confirm that you have this coverage already included-or look right on the rental email-it’s on the front of it! Collision-almost all American credit card companies do provide collision insurance for rental cars in foreign counties. I made sure ours covered a Mexican car rental for the full extent of any damages. I called my CC, was transferred to an auto rental coverage specialist, had them review coverage for Baja with me, and they emailed the policy details to me within minutes. I made two copies and presented one to the agent and kept a copy with the car rental papers. One caution, should there be a claim, you would have to pay for repairs directly to the rental car agency and then your CC Co would reimburse you-and you leave a $2,500 US dollar deposit which is a CC transaction that never actually gets charged to your card. Lastly, yesterday I made a quick call to MEX, confirmed that our 17 day rental would cost $57 US (Kia Sportage) and included $750,000 pesos liability insurance. I also told them that I was bringing a copy of my collision coverage. I got the agent I spoke with’s name and wrote it on the proof of collision insurance copy.

Today when we arrived at MEX I was told the rental would be $1,400. I was very polite and very prepared. I presented her with a printed out copy of my itinerary showing $58 including $750,000 peso liability coverage. The agent was furious with me and tried to add a second driver (without asking me first)for $250, add collision and additional liability coverage....She was openly aggressive and angry. I remained calm and showed her my res #, proof of collision insurance and the name of the agent I spoke with the day before to confirm my rental and cost. She finally gave up and tossed us the keys and walked away. $58 US. Not $1,400 US for 17 days. BAM!
Hope this helps those of you in the same predicament. As someone else pointed out here-make sure you get pics of all dents and scratches with the rental facility as your time stamp before you drive away!

Sent from my iPad

pacificobob - 12-13-2021 at 07:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
this is all bad advice...

if you dont have the money to rent a car for 10 days you should postpone your vacation till you do

taxi to the bus = $30usa
bus = $60usa

its about a 10mile walk from the street on a dirt road to chivato
probably in the dark humping a "carry on" with 10 days of clothes

this will sure be a story to follow in the future

oh yea then you need to get back to loreto later


Do you have a black and white view on everything?

mtgoat666 - 12-13-2021 at 08:08 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
this is all bad advice...

if you dont have the money to rent a car for 10 days you should postpone your vacation till you do

taxi to the bus = $30usa
bus = $60usa

its about a 10mile walk from the street on a dirt road to chivato
probably in the dark humping a "carry on" with 10 days of clothes

this will sure be a story to follow in the future

oh yea then you need to get back to loreto later


Do you have a black and white view on everything?


Bobby and Sue are always a bit over the top, and wrong.

Bob and Susan - 12-13-2021 at 10:30 AM

you are right goat he's going to san bruno...only a 2 mile
"hump"

mtgoat666 - 12-13-2021 at 10:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
you are right goat he's going to san bruno...only a 2 mile
"hump"


san bruno is big enough town to hitch a ride. town may even have a taxi.
perhaps OP travels by backpack and is not too fat/lazy to walk 2 miles, eh?

Bob and Susan - 12-13-2021 at 11:17 AM

=perhaps the bus arrives after dark...
where is the house now....
he doesnt know...
its a dark walk from the road

does he have a helmet light?

this is a bad idea all AROUND

amigobaja - 12-14-2021 at 11:40 AM

A few years ago a buddy asked me to give him a ride to the bus station in Mulege for a trip to La Paz. I dropped him at the station by the arch. He got on the bus and enjoyed a four minute ride to the resturant/gas station south of town for a hour and a half dinner break for the drivers and passengers.

fishmaster - 12-16-2021 at 08:30 AM

Thank you everyone for the helpful and thoughtful responses (except Bob and Susan, what's wrong with you?).
The reply Boe4fun was particularly helpful! Way to go! I'm sure this will help me out in the future.
After several suggestions to look into bus rides, Grant was able to do some research and found that there are several daily buses headed N from Loreto:
"loreto-san bruno 12:45,14:20 y 17:30 horas y tiene un costo de $370 pesos."
$20 Sounds like a pretty good deal to me! If they won't take me into San Bruno, they can drop me off in San Lucas Cove and Grant can pick me up. My friends did offer to pick me up at the airport, but I thought I'd save them 7 hours of their time and driving up and down highway 1.
I really appreciate all the help! I'll report back in a few weeks.
Best fishes,
Steve

mtgoat666 - 12-16-2021 at 08:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by fishmaster  
Thank you everyone for the helpful and thoughtful responses (except Bob and Susan, what's wrong with you?).
The reply Boe4fun was particularly helpful! Way to go! I'm sure this will help me out in the future.
After several suggestions to look into bus rides, Grant was able to do some research and found that there are several daily buses headed N from Loreto:
"loreto-san bruno 12:45,14:20 y 17:30 horas y tiene un costo de $370 pesos."
$20 Sounds like a pretty good deal to me! If they won't take me into San Bruno, they can drop me off in San Lucas Cove and Grant can pick me up. My friends did offer to pick me up at the airport, but I thought I'd save them 7 hours of their time and driving up and down highway 1.
I really appreciate all the help! I'll report back in a few weeks.
Best fishes,
Steve


That's cheap. Cheap is good.
Mass/public transit is best way to experience a foreign country.

Ramblinman - 12-21-2021 at 09:56 AM

I am pretty sure there is a guy in Palo Verde that would shuttle you but last I heard it was 150 USD from Loreto to Punta Chivato so I suspect it would be close to 200 USD to San Bruno.??? Let me know if you are interested.

tcharlessmith - 12-24-2021 at 02:26 PM

The bus driver will drop you off at Ferretaria San Bruno if you ask him to. Just a 10 minute walk to Grant's place from there.

fishmaster - 1-17-2022 at 09:41 AM

A quick report of my bus ride from Loreto to San Bruno. EASY!!!
Got a ride from Loreto airport to bus station in Loreto (on main drag, just past the round-about). Hopped on the Aguila bus at 12:45. $370 pesos. Very nice bus. Air conditioned and very comfy seats. Only about 10 people on the entire bus, so everyone very well spaced out. Everyone fully masked. About 2.5 hour bus ride to San Bruno turn off. Bus pulled off and dropped me off, only about 10 minute walk to my friends house. Super easy and saved myself hundreds of dollars.

David K - 1-17-2022 at 10:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by fishmaster  
A quick report of my bus ride from Loreto to San Bruno. EASY!!!
Got a ride from Loreto airport to bus station in Loreto (on main drag, just past the round-about). Hopped on the Aguila bus at 12:45. $370 pesos. Very nice bus. Air conditioned and very comfy seats. Only about 10 people on the entire bus, so everyone very well spaced out. Everyone fully masked. About 2.5 hour bus ride to San Bruno turn off. Bus pulled off and dropped me off, only about 10 minute walk to my friends house. Super easy and saved myself hundreds of dollars.


Fantastic! Thanks for letting us know!:light: