Blue12 - 12-5-2005 at 12:06 PM
Anyone have information on taking trips through baja with a buggy?
Thanks!
TMW - 12-5-2005 at 01:00 PM
There is a company called Wide Open Baja that does buggy tours. They use Score class BC two seat race cars. They have 4 day and 7 day trips and
probably others if requested. They travel as a group with chase trucks. Over the 4th of July a tour group was staying at Mike's Sky Rancho. There were
about 5 or 6 cars. People from all over the U.S. Their web site is.
www.wideopenbaja.com
Blue12 - 12-5-2005 at 01:35 PM
Thanks for the info. Called and it is a load of cash. Anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Phil C - 12-5-2005 at 06:18 PM
Your own buggy or someone else's?
TMW - 12-5-2005 at 06:50 PM
As an alternative you could rent a Jeep 4x4 or similar vehicle and with a Baja Almanac and some advise from the Nomads here you could put together a
really good trip. It just depends on what your looking for and how long you want to stay. Ken Cooke is leading a group over the Pole Line Rd the end
of Dec. That's an exciting trip, especially with all the new rocks that grew on basketball hill. Any trip in Baja will take you to places where you'll
meet many great people both natives and visitors like yourself.
Read the trip report from the Vermonter for what it can be like.
Blue12 - 12-6-2005 at 09:34 AM
Thanks for the advice TW. I just checked out the trip Ken Cooke is doing. Sounds great but don't know if we're "qualified" for it. But I did shoot
him a post for suggestions on a trip. We'd be heading down Dec. 31 and have to make it back to San Diego by the 6th or 7th. Looking for an
adventure!!! Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks!
Blue12 trip type??
John M - 12-6-2005 at 10:34 AM
Blue - what type of trip do you have in mind? Will you have the ability to travel off the highway, onto dirt roads? Will you be prepared to camp or
will you rely on motels?
What type of vehicles will you be driving - passenger cars, pick-up trucks, SUVs? What are the interests of your group? Plants, history, missions,
fishing, or...?
Will the six or seven days be the time you've alloted for travel in Baja?
John
Blue12 - 12-6-2005 at 10:44 AM
We just want a good adventure but some time to take in the area too. We are outfitted for camping if it is ok to camp. How cold does it get at
night?
We're going to have to rent a vehicle. If possible I'm guessing we'll try and find a jeep. Any suggestions where to rent?
Interests - Just want to see as much as we can - beaches, water, hiking, climbing, off roading, etc.
We arrive the night of Dec. 30th in San Diego so if we leave early the 31st we have from then until the 6th or 7th to get back to San Diego and fly
home. We want to spend our vacation traveling through and seeing as much as Baja as possible. So I guess that gives us probably 6 days of travel and
1 to get back to San Diego.
Hope that helps!!
Jamie
Blue12 - 12-6-2005 at 11:39 AM
Oh...we are NOT interested in the "spring break" scene. Love to see some little fishing villages, etc. and get into the heart of Baja. Rather stay
away from the touristy stuff if at all possible.
Thanks again!
Jamie
TMW - 12-6-2005 at 12:46 PM
Blue, your dates fit in perfect with Bajalou's Turkey Feast on the 31st in San Felipe. Look under the General Disc. We had a big crowd last year with
many Baja Nomads there. Get a Baja Almanac and we can spend some time going over places to go and things to do. Ask the Vermonter where he got his
Jeep or check with Discover Baja Travel club, they probably know where to rent a 4x4. From San Diego to San Felipe I would suggest taking I8 to
Calexico and cross into Mexicali and come down hwy 5 to San Felipe, it would be the fastest way.
bajalou - 12-6-2005 at 01:06 PM
TW is right - you'll meet several Baja Nomads, explorer types to exchange ideas with - lots of help for the trip you are wanting.
Come on down -
Blue12 - 12-6-2005 at 01:15 PM
Thanks so much for your help!!! Called a couple of place but they are all out of Jeep Wranglers. Some do have convertibles but I'm thinking a Jeep
would be safer. I'll keep looking and thanks for the suggestions on rentals. Hopefully we'll head down on the 31st and find everyone!!
Jamie
TMW - 12-6-2005 at 01:27 PM
I also suggest getting a GPS if you don't have one, any cheap one will do to begin with. A GPS and the Almanac can be a lot of fun. Getting lost can
be a lot of fun too.
Blue12 - 12-6-2005 at 01:49 PM
I'm getting really excited about coming but finding a 4x4 is not so easy. Any suggestions? Right now the closest I'm getting is a SUV or a
convertible.
A bit of surfing found this
John M - 12-6-2005 at 02:43 PM
CALIFORNIA BAJA
RENT-A-CAR
619/470-7368
SUV, 4x4 vehicles
Do you have a Baja map - like Auto Club or good map in front of you - Blue?
If so, and you head to San Felipe, there are neat spots to check out in that general direction. More to follow.
Blue12 - 12-6-2005 at 03:11 PM
I'm going to go grab a map at AAA tomorrow morning. How far of a drive is it for us from San Diego to San felipe? How early should we start out on
the Dec. 31?
Thanks!
Aaah, and there in lies....
John M - 12-6-2005 at 04:41 PM
...the magic that is Baja!
Leave your watch at home!
To just make the drive from the border to San Felipe, via Ensenada may take 5 to 6 hours, been a while since we've done that. One approach might be to
make each drive an adventure, by going slow - taking in the sights and smells of places you pass through.
While getting an Auto Club map, pick up a tour book, at least they used to have one dedicated to Baja - might be ten bucks or so if you are not a
member.
7 or 8 days and you are supposed to get a visa at the border, easily accomplished just as you cross into Baja. More on that later. The visa, last time
we got 'em were about twenty bucks each person.
Biggest early advice is not to rush your driving. And probably equally important do not drive after dark. Much of the country is open range and cattle
have a habit of coming up onto the roadway from the darndest places.
Get your map, lay it out on the floor, blend up a margarita or two, and just fall asleep on top of the map. Osmosis will take care of the rest.
John
Trips
mcgyver - 12-6-2005 at 06:36 PM
I would reccomend the Matomi Wash trip but I have not been up the wash this year, it was in extreamely bad shape last year and we had no rain at all
to fix it. My other suggestion would be San Felipe to Calamajue camping all the way, that would give you small fishing villages,hot springs, Cowpattys
for hotdogs and Cervesa and local gosip ( some of these people knew General Doolittle who had a camp there)and everthing else in between, abandoned
Onyx mines,the Green pools, Alfonsias, maybe a little futher down Highay 5 to meet Coco. You could spend a month on this stretch of road and not see
it all. Check out David K's web pages. With care you would not need 4WD ( Stay off the Beaches) and yes it can be cold but you can camp almost
antwhere and never see another person.
bajalou - 12-6-2005 at 07:22 PM
Great suggestions Mcgyver,
I think the Matomi is in really rough shape after the Baja 1000 went thru last month. I'm praying for a good gullywasher.
There are some nice canyons off of Valle Chico just west of San Felipe you might want to explore - palms, hot springs - great spots. Be worth a day or
so
Again DavidK's website has lots of this stuff - On this board he reported on "Exotic Canyons" after a trip there last year.
Side trip
John M - 12-6-2005 at 07:57 PM
How about a detour to Mike's Sky Ranch? Would be cold at that elevation but motel rooms would probably be available.
Blue, Mike's is off Highway 3. The turn to Mike's is about 2/3 of the way from Ensenada to San Felipe. A usually decent 20 mile dirt road, if you
take the correct road (use the road from the San Matias area rather than the one from Valle de Trinidad).
I agree with Calamajue wash as well - great scenery - and solitude, a route worth doing!
Should have asked earlier - will you be traveling in a single vehicle or have a companion vehicle along? Do you have some experience in the unlikely
event you become bogged down in sand or.......?
John
[Edited on 12-7-2005 by John M]
Blue12 - 12-6-2005 at 08:08 PM
One vehicle. Right now I have a small SUV reserved. Not too familiar with getting out of the sand. I guess it'll be just one more adventure 
any suggestions?
comitan - 12-6-2005 at 08:45 PM
Yes
Just remember you are in a rented vehicle probably not off road tires, stay out of the back country and beaches directly on the sand, you will have
much to see and do from San felipe to CoCo's with the amount of time you have, you don't want to spend what time you have fixing a vehicle or
repairing tires.
Mike's Sky Ranch for December trip
mcgyver - 12-6-2005 at 11:42 PM
Mike's is a nice trip and the road from San Matias was improved last year, rooms with meals are about $100 for 2 and the only heat is fireplaces,
bring a fat woman or 2 big dogs, a few triple margarita's in the bar and you will ignore the cold nights.
BTW it does snow there!
TMW - 12-7-2005 at 08:36 AM
Blue, pick up some plugs and an air compressor just to be safe. It doesn't need to be expensive. If you have it you probably won't use it and if you
don't have it you will need it. The weather can be warm, cool and cold. Mountains and pacific side will be cold at night for sure. be ready for all
kinds. When camping most anywhere is OK, but make sure you pull off far away from hwy unless your staying at a camp ground. Going down a lot of the
dirt roads there will be barb wire gates, if they don't say private property or keep out (english or spanish) you can go thru but make sure you close
it.
Blue12 - 12-7-2005 at 01:16 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions. We're trying to soldify the dates of travel by this weekend and then start planning a little more. I hope this all
works out. I'm going to pick up some maps and books at AAA later today. Everything sounds like so much fun! I wish we had more time!!!
burro bob - 12-7-2005 at 01:44 PM
Blue12
Just a couple of thoughts about your trip.
First go to Lou's party. You'll get so much advice there you'll be overwhelmed.
Second. When renting a 4x4 check to see that the insurance covers off road use. I heard a horror story once where the person rented a 4x4 but the
insurance only covered the vehicle when it was on pavement.
My suggestions for your trip. Don't try to do it all on one trip. It ain't possible. Pick an area, San Felipe to Gonzaga Bay for example. You could
spend every weekend for the next ten years exploring just this aea.
On Your next trip down check out another section of Baja.
The reverse of this logic is to make a dash to Cabo and back, a week is plenty of time for the driving, and see what parts of Baja you find the most
interesting. You won't have time to stop and smell many flowers but you will see a lot.
If you don't have a lot of survival or repair skills you should stick to places that are not too remote. It is quite possible to take a solo trip
through Baja, but use common sense. Know what you are capable of and stay within the limits of what you feel comfortable with, ie. if your worried
about the depth of the sand or your abilities to get yourself out of it, then dont go, get out and walk.
burro bob
bajalou - 12-7-2005 at 01:55 PM
burro Bob
Are you bringing both of your burros to the party or just one?
burro bob - 12-7-2005 at 01:59 PM
Lou
Do you think the crowd will be so big that we'll have to eat both my burros? I was just planning on bringing some potato salad.
burro bob
Blue12 - 12-7-2005 at 02:01 PM
There are 2 of us going so no solo adventures. I do like the idea of coming to the party and since now our flights are earlier on the 30th it looks
like if all goes well we arrive in San Diego at 11am and can start out then. Maybe we can head down and see some places on the 30th find a place to
stay or camp and then continue on and meet up with everyone at the party sometime on the 31st and sketch the rest of our itinerary from there. We'll
have until the 7th or 8th to get back to San Diego. We haven't booked the flights yet so I'm not sure.
So if we trot on down starting the 30th in order to make it to the party on the 31st, will we have time to see and explore or will it be too much of a
rush to make it on the 31st?
Thanks for the advice on the insurance. I didn't get all the details from Avis just that I have an SUV and ins is $25 day for Mexico.
Thanks!
burro bob - 12-7-2005 at 02:20 PM
Blue12
It only takes about 8 hours, tops, from San Diego to San Felipe, via I 8 to Mexicali and Mex 3. You can easily make it into San Felipe the same
evening you arive in San Diego.
Also on the 30th you could cross into Mexico either in TJ or Tecate and stay there. On the 31st you can move onto San Felipe. If you go the back way
via Laguna Hansen it will probably take you all day. If you go on any of the paved roads you'll be at Lou's for the first slice of turkey or machaca
burrito, your choice.
burro bob
mcgyver - 12-7-2005 at 03:05 PM
We are all forgetting to remind him of one off the most important things and that is to carry lots of water. 1 gallon per person per day is considered
the minium. Even in the winter I carry twice that if going offroad or south of Puertocitos.
Tecate & Pacifico don't count, carry twice as much of that also, you might find me dry on the road.
A shot of Cazadores is 
too for a cold
night in a sleeping bag.
Avis SUV
John M - 12-7-2005 at 04:02 PM
Blue, did you inquire as to whether the SUV has four wheel drive? There are so many places to visit that the 4x4 certainly wouldn't be necessary for
you to have a great time. But when giving advice here it is sometimes helpful to know.
Water, yes water, plenty of water.
Blue12 - 12-7-2005 at 07:15 PM
Just called Avis and they said they can request 4 wheel drive but it is not guaranteed. arg!! As far as restrictions on pavement...she said that the
ins. for mexico doesn't specifically state that you have to stay on paved roads but generally the policy is that you can't off road. hmm...maybe i'll
have them fax the fine print so I can find the loop hole!
Otherwise, anyone have other suggestions on rentals? I called california baja rental but they are out of smaller suvs. All they had available was
bigger ones that were out of my price range.
TMW - 12-7-2005 at 08:07 PM
What about a rental car company in TJ?
Blue12 - 12-8-2005 at 08:41 AM
If I find a place to rent a car in TJ, how do I get from San Digeo to TJ? Thanks!
comitan - 12-8-2005 at 08:49 AM
Take the trolly to the border, walk over to TJ get a cab to rental office.
David K - 12-8-2005 at 08:55 AM
Use a 'Taxi Libre' for great low rate... otherwise ask the price BEFORE getting into a yellow cab.
Blue12 - 12-8-2005 at 12:41 PM
AVIS Car Rental
Called Avis and they can't gurantee me a 4x4 but I do have an SUV and they put down my request, whatever that means. Their insurance covers me
through San Felipe. So...I'm thinking maybe I can get my own insurance if I want to go further? Don't know if I can though since it's a rental. My
only other option I've found is renting from California Baja for $1200 an Isuzu trooper 4X4. that's twice as much as the car from Avis!
This car deal is NO FUN!!
Blue12 - 12-8-2005 at 02:54 PM
Good News - Thrifty in San Diego - place to rent...
9 days for $373. It is $25 day for Mexican insurance but it still comes out cheaper than anywhere else. Plus, there are no restrictions on where you
can go in Baja. All it says is that you have to purchase the insurance. I called and they confirmed that there are no restrictions shown when going
into Mexico besides the insurance.
When I called though the rate was over twice as much as the internet quote so if you're renting try the internet. I rented from the San Diego
airport.
TMW - 12-8-2005 at 06:30 PM
See it's all coming together now. Never ever give up on something you really want. Now make it a great trip with lots of fun.