BajaNomad - Route Thru Ensenada

Route Thru Ensenada

kitjv - 3-19-2007 at 10:03 PM

I will be crossing the border at Tecate & traveling on Hwy. 3 to Ensenada. It appears that Hwy. 3 intersects Hwy. 1 near the south end of Ensenada, thus, bypassing most of the downtown traffic. If so, this is good. Am I correct?

As an alternative route, someone suggested that I follow the road along the bay which will hook up with Hwy. 1 at the south end of town. This route seems to apply only if I am entering Ensenada from Hwy.1 from the north.

Please straighten me out if I'm a bit mixed up. My objective is to bypass as much of the downtown Ensenada traffic as possible by not staying on Hwy. 1 through town. Thanks! :?:

David K - 3-19-2007 at 10:46 PM

Yes, you are mixed up...

Hwy. 3 (from Tecate) intersects with Hwy. 1 just NORTH of Ensenada by El Sauzal.

As you near Ensenada, note the major split... South bound (San Quintin) traffic is recommended to go right (Zona Turistica)... This is the route I usually take, however, the inland route goes south, as well.

The main thing to watch out for on the right fork is where you must make a left turn to get on the south highway... It is after 'the heads', giant flag, bridge over riverbed... when you see a Pemex station on the left, turn left there. Pass a hospital, and entrance to Gigante market as you go uphill to a signal (another Pemex is on your left)... TURN RIGHT, and that's it... No more turns... You are on Hwy. 1 for San Quintin and La Paz!

There are signs, but in case you miss them or they are gone/ blocked from view... use the above notes.

David K - 3-19-2007 at 10:48 PM

After I posted I see Hose A did as well, with a map that shows both routes... great!

kitjv - 3-20-2007 at 06:27 AM

Thanks, Hose A & David K. Makes sense now. Your suggested route jibes with what I had been previously told.

We're leaving by motorcycle on Saturday for about a month. No itinerary, plans, nor schedule. Just the way we prefer to travel. Thanks again.

DianaT - 3-20-2007 at 07:54 AM

This last time through Encenada, we puposely did not make the turn that takes you by the
Gigante. In the past we had gone further south before turning, and this time we were surprised to see another sign several blocks further south that points back to Highway 1. That street comes out near the Costco and Home Depot

We like doing it that way --- less traffic for the several blocks.

Have a great travel and I look forward to hearing about your trip.

Diane

On edit, can someone tell me if my memory is correct? Didn't the sign at the beginning of town use to point toward the downtown route for San Quintin? Unless for other reasons, we never went that way, but I am almost sure the sign pointed that way??????

Thanks

[Edited on 3-20-2007 by jdtrotter]

tripledigitken - 3-20-2007 at 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kitjv
Thanks, Hose A & David K. Makes sense now. Your suggested route jibes with what I had been previously told.

We're leaving by motorcycle on Saturday for about a month. No itinerary, plans, nor schedule. Just the way we prefer to travel. Thanks again.

Will be looking for your trip report. Traveling Baja by motorcycle is awesome. Three friends and I rode to La Paz 2 years ago and it was a great trip. We had only a week though. Have a great time.

David K - 3-20-2007 at 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter
This last time through Encenada, we puposely did not make the turn that takes you by the
Gigante. In the past we had gone further south before turning, and this time we were surprised to see another sign several blocks further south that points back to Highway 1. That street comes out near the Costco and Home Depot

We like doing it that way --- less traffic for the several blocks.

Have a great travel and I look forward to hearing about your trip.

Diane

On edit, can someone tell me if my memory is correct? Didn't the sign at the beginning of town use to point toward the downtown route for San Quintin? Unless for other reasons, we never went that way, but I am almost sure the sign pointed that way??????

Thanks

[Edited on 3-20-2007 by jdtrotter]

YES, it originally said to use the left (inland) fork for San Quintin!

Your exploring the extended malacon blvd. past the Pemex is great news! Perhaps that is why I didn't notice a left turn sign there, last trip!??

I know it also is the way to the new route to San Felipe, just south of the Pemex corner... I have gone that way.

Maneadero Bypass

greg_surfs - 3-20-2007 at 04:19 PM

Now if somebody can tell me how to avoid the Llantera Infinito that Maneadero has become I would be grateful infinito. It's truly the one part of my trip that grates on me. The border and the spotty gauntlets prior to Ensenada I kind of expect, but when I get out of Ensenada I'm anticipating my imminent departure from the borderlands and, for some reason, I resent the heck out of the Maneadero mess. Sigh.

Alan - 3-20-2007 at 07:15 PM

My nightmare is heading north. I missed the turn one time and ended up driving right through downtown towing my boat. Power lines and Banners were hanging so low I thought I was going to wipe out their whole powergrid with my T-top and rocket launchers.

Packoderm - 3-20-2007 at 07:24 PM

Maneadero doesn't seem to be a major vacation destination. I used to enjoy driving through that hardscrabble area, but it has since morphed into a suburb (if you want to call it that) of Ensenada and goes on and on and on. This must have been how it felt for my grandmother who lived in L.A. way back when. At a certain point, she swore she would never visit Southern California again, and she has proven herself right - may she rest in peace.

greg_surfs - 3-20-2007 at 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Packoderm
Maneadero doesn't seem to be a major vacation destination.

You, sir, are a master of ironic understatement. Very funny.

David K - 3-20-2007 at 08:36 PM

Great tacos in Maneadero... Maybe stop for a snack and it will be more relaxing for you to drive through Maneadero. Really have never considered it a big deal... It is fun to try and get in front of all the slow traffic before the road shrinks from 4 to 2 lanes!

greg_surfs - 3-21-2007 at 04:20 AM

I spent enough time dealing with people trying to get in front of the slow traffic in NYC, LA, Honolulu, and Portland. Maybe that's what driving through Maneadero reminds me of and why I no likey. I prefer to take the edge off with a bottle of Negro on a bench in Santo Tomas.