BajaNomad - Trip report: SoCal to Puerto San Carlos

Trip report: SoCal to Puerto San Carlos

geraldalexander7 - 9-11-2025 at 08:22 PM

Tues afternoon (5pm) 9/9

Cross south at San Ysidro
Lots of cars, took 45 min to reach "some thing to declare area".
1 hour to do paperwork for customs and get Tourist card(FMM)
The road along the border wall was closed. 😩
We had to drive thru TJ on the free road to Rosarito.
Stayed at a friends Airbnb in Rosarito.
Great place, ocean view.

Wed 9/10
Stopped along the main road in Rosarito for a few misc items.
Got some Chilaquiles for breakfast at "Que Padre" near Gushers pharmacy.
First time there, good choice!
Drove the free road for awhile then onto the toll road to Ensenada.
No issues. Roads in good condition.
Went thru Ensenada no stops.
Got gas in San Quintin
Arrived at Baja Cactus, El Rosario at dusk.
Topped off with gas.
Notes about Baja Cactus
We have been happy with BC many times but this stay we had no hot water.
We should have tested it when checking in, but we waited until morning and the guy tried to light it up but couldn't do it. Test it when you check-in

Thursday 9/11
Departed Baja Cactus
The store at the first intersection after leaving the hotel
has pretty much everything you need.
We paid 25 pesos for a bag of ice, good price.
Arrived at Cataviña and had several burritos made to order at the store near the gasoline vendors.
Roads were in good shape. A few potholes but nothing major.
Arrived in Guerrero Negro after an easy drive. Excellent road conditions.
Last January when traveling north thru Nuevo Rosarito area we encountered the worst
road conditions I ever saw in the area. They have done a great job at resurfacing the road.
Stayed at Hotel El Morro. $930 pesos
I like the hotel just as you turn into town but the wife wanted to try El Morro.
After trying EM I still like the other and about the same price.
We found Tony the fish taco man. He used to have the gray fish taco truck.
He has moved out of the truck into a real building. He said he has been there a year now.
His place is on the same block as the large orange/red water tank as you drive down the main road. Go around the block and you will find him.

To be continued.......

BooJumMan - 9-12-2025 at 05:54 AM

Thanks for the report!

I just crossed at San Ysidro for the first time in 5 years, heading south. Except I crossed around 7am on a Thursday. 0 cars and about 5 mins for the FMM. It was the first time I've seen an all electronic FMM process. The lady just took my passport, scanned it, then printed it out for me.

Also, for us, we didn't stop at Baja Cactus, but got to El Rosario about noon on the same day we left and had lunch at Mama Espinosas just for nostalgic sake, and wow I don't think I'll ever be returning. Quite possibly the blandest food I've ever had in Baja.

bajatrailrider - 9-12-2025 at 08:47 AM

Have to agree with you Espinosas food from 5 years ago. Worst food all Mexico

AKgringo - 9-12-2025 at 09:39 AM

It has been quite a few years since I have traveled down that stretch of Baja, so I appreciate the updates in case I decide to try it again.

David K - 9-12-2025 at 10:48 AM

In El Rosario: Tacos Misión is great. Meet artist Hugo Lopez who makes great stuffed baked potatoes.

lencho - 9-12-2025 at 01:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BooJumMan

...an all electronic FMM process. The lady just took my passport, scanned it, then printed it out for me.

Intriguing: you're saying the system that scanned it, knew your name and other pertinent data to print out the document, just from the scan? If so, you think it was character recognition of the data, or did it get all that off the embedded chip?

(Thought of the latter, is a little scary. What is on those chips?) :wow:

geraldalexander7 - 9-12-2025 at 08:21 PM

(FMM)
Last Tuesday we had to enter our info on the paper FMM form by hand.

Mama E’s is expensive and not worth it.
We go to Erika’s(next to OXXO) or
La Pasadita

BooJumMan - 9-13-2025 at 07:04 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by BooJumMan

...an all electronic FMM process. The lady just took my passport, scanned it, then printed it out for me.

Interesting that Gerald said they had to do the normal process of filling out the paperwork. This electronic version was the first I've ever seen, and thought maybe that it had been in service for a while at SY/TJ.

Anyway, they took the passport, and then scanned the front page with your photo and info on it, so I am assuming some sort of character recognition. Then a few seconds later she handed me a fully filled out FMM that I signed. She stamped and handed back my passport! The machine was sitting right on the counter to the left, I had never seen one before.

Anyway, sorry for hijacking your thread Gerald.

lencho - 9-13-2025 at 07:36 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BooJumMan

Anyway, they took the passport, and then scanned the front page with your photo and info on it, so I am assuming some sort of character recognition.

Thanks.
Pretty impressive. "Third world country" Mexico is not! :light:

geraldalexander7 - 9-13-2025 at 09:33 PM

Continued……

Friday 9/12

Filled the tank in GN
Long slow smooth drive to Santa Rosalia, gassed up then
continued on to Loreto.
It was hot in Loreto 90 +
Ate at BajaMar on the Malecon, good food.

Sat morning 9/13

Got some cash at Ley.
Street food on the way out of town.
Arrived in Puerto San Carlos early afternoon.
Roads were good, weather hot but good and
the flora was greener than I have ever seen it, beautiful.

Summary…..
Roads were great. Food was great.
People along the way, fantastic.
There is a reason I live in Baja as much as possible.
I will be working on improving my property, fishing, diving
here in BCS until we return to SoCal in January.
Haste Enero

David K - 9-14-2025 at 08:22 AM

Thank you for the detailed trip report! :bounce: