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billklaser
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Registered: 3-31-2011
Location: Loreto, Lopez Mateos
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We drive to Loreto from San Diego 5 or 6 times a year. Usually cross at TJ about daybreak and get to San Ignacio in 11 hours. We are going down in a
week or so, but plan to cross at Tecate & go 5 . I think it is probably faster to go through Mexicali but never been on the road from Tecate to
Mexicali on the Mexican side. Not sure how many hotels are open at this time, so I am planning on stopping at San Ignacio for the night, if that
doesn't work will just drive into Loreto.
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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The beauty of crossing at Tecate is to avoid the 5+ miles of city traffic in Mexicali. You only have a little bit of city driving to get out of Tecate
and the toll road meets Hwy. 5 well south of the city traffic of Mexicali.
However, Mexicali is not that bad to drive across... lots of signs for San Felipe, most of them are correct (lol)!
Calexico/Mexicali West is a 24-hour border, Tecate is not and Tecate has an even shorter opening time now.
Mexico 2-D is the 'direct' route from Tecate to San Felipe and avoids city traffic:
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DIWR17
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Registered: 1-6-2020
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I just came back north last week from SJD. I did end up coming all the way up Hwy 1, through Ensenada crossing at San Ysidro.
Stayed at Coral Marina in Ensenada. Had the whole place to myself, very clean interesting entry, room service only.
3 temp checks from San Quentin to Ensenada. Did not see any checkpoints on the tollway going south that everyone has talked about.
I can tell you San Ignacio Bed & Breakfast is open(for essential travelers). As I call it, the Yurt Place. Great people there!
I did drive into GN for gas and Malarrimo, did not look open to me.
Mulege Brewery was open (bought a Growler), Don't know about accomodation.
Mulege to SJD, I would say traffic as usual, no more no less. There were a couple of Federale checkpoints north of La Paz. If you have the right
paperwork as in landowner,you could get through I assume. They are not worried about people heading north, just south.
Hope this helps.
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JZ
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Marina Coral is my favorite hotel in Baja Norte.
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David K
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What town is that in? Baja Norte is a big place.
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chippy
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Ensenada.
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David K
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Just 90 minutes from the border...
Might be really helpful if you didn't enter Mexico until 3-4 pm? Great if you begin your driving day in Northern California or elsewhere far away!
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DIWR17
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https://www.hotelcoral.com/
Ensenada. Paid $85 plus tax for a King Suite
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mtgoat666
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  | Just 90 minutes from the border...
Might be really helpful if you didn't enter Mexico until 3-4 pm? Great if you begin your driving day in Northern California or elsewhere far away!
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Dk,
Many people make Ensenada a destination to visit on their travels...
Ensenada certainly is a better place to visit compared to la paz 
Not everybody is in a hurry to rush to the baja desert to camp on a desolate, windy beach and be sunburned, sand blasted
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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The thread question is for places to stay between San Felipe and Guerrero Negro. Not sure how Ensenada was even brought up?
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bajaric
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Besides Alphonsinas, There is a downscale motel at Punta Bufeo; a few rooms back behind some beach front houses, also trailers at Rancho Grande that
may be for rent. Tourist traffic is pretty thin along there during the summer and it is not uncommon for an owner to lock up and leave for a few
days. In this area beach camping under a palapa is the traditional option, there are many beach camps and if one is closed just keep going to the
next one.
From San Diego it is about 5 hours to San Felipe, 8 hours to Gonzaga, past there you will be exhausted, driving on narrow road to make it to Guerrero
Negro, especially if you stop along the way for groceries or to eat or get FMM. I would stay in San Felipe, get a fresh start in the morning. I
believe a few hotels there are open, should check status before departure.
edit: Alphonsinas
[Edited on 6-12-2020 by bajaric]
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AKgringo
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I remember from the first post by the author of this one, that they are starting their trip from Reno. If they decide to skip southern CA and travel
down the east side of the Sierra Nevada range, spending a night in El Cento or Calexico would put them a few hours closer to Guerrero Negro.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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ranpar01
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| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | | I remember from the first post by the author of this one, that they are starting their trip from Reno. If they decide to skip southern CA and travel
down the east side of the Sierra Nevada range, spending a night in El Cento or Calexico would put them a few hours closer to Guerrero Negro.
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yep, I'm meeting my co-driver over Palomas tonight to discuss that very thing. We are definitely coming down 395 on the eastern side of Sierra. From
there though it's a debate whether we go through Palm Springs and Salton Sea (staying the night in El Centro and crossing at Mexicali), or going down
215/15 skirting L.A. and San Diego (staying in La Mesa and crossing at Tecate). I'm leaning toward the Mexicali crossing since it's 45 minutes
shorter overall (according to Google maps) but the main reason is the drive from El Centro to Guerro Negro is much shorter than the drive from La Mesa
to GN. My original post about the two crossings got very mixed replies - about half thought Tecate was the way to go and half preferred Mexicali.
This will be my first time driving (i usually fly into Cabo) so really appreciate all the replies I've gotten!
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bajaric
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The main advantage to crossing at Tecate is when crossing northbound (or it was until the hours changed). Going south, if you are already in El
Centro it would make no sense at all. From San Diego, the slight advantage of dodging the Mexicali traffic is more than offset by miles and miles of
twisty, windy roads, including going down La Rumorosa. Jetting out the I-8 to Calexico is, if not faster, easier, even with the Mexicali traffic.
Additionally, the crossing at Mexicali west has changed, and the route through town off the main drag and joins up with Hwy 5 south well south of
downtown making for a nice experience.
Starting in Calexico it might be doable to make Guerrero Negro, six hours to Gonzaga, then the new highway is faster, but still a long slog. The
Motel 6 in El Centro is not to be missed! Strange freeway truck stop vibe, ice machine down by the office, motel people hanging around....
[Edited on 6-12-2020 by bajaric]
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KasloKid
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Registered: 8-29-2009
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Knowing where you're starting from, and knowing this is your first time driving, Mexicali west crossing would be my choice with an overnight in San
Felipe.
After crossing, immediately park on the left side. If you're pulled over for inspection, park on the left after inspection.
You'll walk back towards the border on the left side (east side) and get your FMM's there. If you can't find the door, ask where to get your "tourist
visas".
It's 135 miles from the border to San Felipe with one stop for military inspection just past the Mex-5/Mex-3 junction.
Next day is an easy day to G Negro and if you find yourself arriving early, you can make the decision to push on to Santa Rosalia (134 miles), Mulege
(172 miles) or Loreto (256 miles).
As most will say, it's highly recommended not to drive at night.
A gps is a handy tool to have, or at a minimum, download David K's maps. They're very accurate.
Driving in Mexico is a lot different than driving in the USA... do some research for road sign meanings etc.....
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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The Hotel La Huerta in San Ignacio is great... 90 miles beyond Guerrero Negro. It is 2 miles into the old part of town off the highway, and go just
past the mission church.
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bajafreaks
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Posts: 401
Registered: 3-27-2007
Location: Gardnerville, NV./ Los Barriles BCS
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajaric | The main advantage to crossing at Tecate is when crossing northbound (or it was until the hours changed). Going south, if you are already in El
Centro it would make no sense at all. From San Diego, the slight advantage of dodging the Mexicali traffic is more than offset by miles and miles of
twisty, windy roads, including going down La Rumorosa. Jetting out the I-8 to Calexico is, if not faster, easier, even with the Mexicali traffic.
Additionally, the crossing at Mexicali west has changed, and the route through town off the main drag and joins up with Hwy 5 south well south of
downtown making for a nice experience.
Starting in Calexico it might be doable to make Guerrero Negro, six hours to Gonzaga, then the new highway is faster, but still a long slog. The
Motel 6 in El Centro is not to be missed! Strange freeway truck stop vibe, ice machine down by the office, motel people hanging around....
[Edited on 6-12-2020 by bajaric] |
Sent you a U2U.
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9345
Registered: 10-3-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by ranpar01 |
yep, I'm meeting my co-driver over Palomas tonight to discuss that very thing. We are definitely coming down 395 on the eastern side of Sierra. From
there though it's a debate whether we go through Palm Springs and Salton Sea (staying the night in El Centro and crossing at Mexicali), or going down
215/15 skirting L.A. and San Diego (staying in La Mesa and crossing at Tecate). I'm leaning toward the Mexicali crossing since it's 45 minutes
shorter overall (according to Google maps) but the main reason is the drive from El Centro to Guerro Negro is much shorter than the drive from La Mesa
to GN. My original post about the two crossings got very mixed replies - about half thought Tecate was the way to go and half preferred Mexicali.
This will be my first time driving (i usually fly into Cabo) so really appreciate all the replies I've gotten! |
I live on the NW side of LA. We always go out towards Palm Springs, then cut down to Mexicali.
If we start in the afternoon after a day of work, will generally stay in El Centro. If we leave at noon or earlier, will go to San Felipe.
Trust me, Tecate is not the best route. Ppl like DK like it coming North through there because they don't have Sentri for whatever weird reason.
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SFandH
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| Quote: Originally posted by ranpar01 |
My original post about the two crossings got very mixed replies - about half thought Tecate was the way to go and half preferred Mexicali.
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What you were seeing, I think, is 1/2 prefer to cross at Tecate and take highway 3 south to Ensenada and 1/2 prefer to cross at Mexicali and take
highway 5 south through San Felipe.
Few people cross at Tecate and go through San Felipe. Some, but not many.
And then there are those who live near the beach near the border and cross at Tijuana.
[Edited on 6-12-2020 by SFandH]
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ranpar01
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| Quote: Originally posted by SFandH | | Quote: Originally posted by ranpar01 |
My original post about the two crossings got very mixed replies - about half thought Tecate was the way to go and half preferred Mexicali.
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What you were seeing, I think, is 1/2 prefer to cross at Tecate and take highway 3 south to Ensenada and 1/2 prefer to cross at Mexicali and take
highway 5 south through San Felipe.
Few people cross at Tecate and go through San Felipe. Some, but not many.
And then there are those who live near the beach near the border and cross at Tijuana.
[Edited on 6-12-2020 by SFandH] |
That makes a lot of sense!
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