BajaNomad

Arizona border crossing?

bajablue - 5-28-2007 at 07:10 AM

I am going to be making the drive down through Baja for the first time through Arizona. I am going to pick up a new car in Scottsdale, to bring down to Cabo for someone. Can anyone give me any advice on where to enter and what roads to take? I would like to get from Scottsdale, to El Rosario the first day, so if anyone knows if that is do able, that would be great as well. I will be driving during the day time. Have a great Memorial day!Gracias, Nomads...

rts551 - 5-28-2007 at 07:15 AM

Down to Interstate 8. Over to Hwy 94. SE to Tecate.. cross the border...south to Ensenada.. etc. El Rosario long day but no problem

osoflojo - 5-29-2007 at 06:35 AM

Directions posted are correct but I have never been able to make it from PHX to El Rosario in one day(at leat not all in daylight). I guess I have to big of an anchor dragging behind me.

rhintransit - 5-29-2007 at 06:58 AM

I'm from Phoenix and have always wanted an alternative...I currently drive to Tecate and down. thanks for opening the issue again.

I have considered crossing at Algodones or Mexicali and using Mex 20 to Tecate but have had discouraging reports re that road, grade, toll, speed traps. any fact and actual experiences on that route would be helpful.

I have done the Phoenix to Guaymas run many many times when I lived in San Carlos. agree good road, possibly good alternative. what has stopped me in the past is the car import issue. Sonora only passes need to be returned AT KM 22 ONLY within 6 months. a temp import sticker could be returned anywhere but I had thought that was also a 6 month deal. in another forum recently I was told that was not the case, that as long as I had my FM3 (or FM2) I could have the car in the country indefinitely. truth? if so, the ferry route, while expensive, would be a welcome relief. one day Phoenix to Guaymas, catch evening ferry if timing is right, Santa Rosalia in am and home to El Juncalito (near Pto Escondido) easy the next. what do you guys say?

osoflojo - 5-29-2007 at 12:52 PM

You no longer need any kind of vehicle permit to drive to Guaymas. Only if you go beyond................

Mexitron - 5-29-2007 at 01:03 PM

We were thinking of going that route but we're coming from Fort Worth, TX and would enter somewhere in Chihuauhua and go over the mountains to Guaymas...anyone here tried that route?

rts551 - 5-29-2007 at 01:56 PM

Oso

I leave Tucson about 4:00 in the morning... usually not traveling fast and make El Rosario by 5:00 unless I get pulled over in Tecate which is like almost never. F-250 and sometimes flatbed ATV trailer..

DianaT - 5-29-2007 at 02:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
I'm from Phoenix and have always wanted an alternative...I currently drive to Tecate and down. thanks for opening the issue again.

I have considered crossing at Algodones or Mexicali and using Mex 20 to Tecate but have had discouraging reports re that road, grade, toll, speed traps. any fact and actual experiences on that route would be helpful.

I have done the Phoenix to Guaymas run many many times when I lived in San Carlos. agree good road, possibly good alternative. what has stopped me in the past is the car import issue. Sonora only passes need to be returned AT KM 22 ONLY within 6 months. a temp import sticker could be returned anywhere but I had thought that was also a 6 month deal. in another forum recently I was told that was not the case, that as long as I had my FM3 (or FM2) I could have the car in the country indefinitely. truth? if so, the ferry route, while expensive, would be a welcome relief. one day Phoenix to Guaymas, catch evening ferry if timing is right, Santa Rosalia in am and home to El Juncalito (near Pto Escondido) easy the next. what do you guys say?


Crossing at Mexicali a few times and heading for Tecate, we always had one problem---we got lost, but maybe that is just us. :yes::yes: We have also taken that route on the bus.

It is a good road, but it is a very steep grade. If you stop and look down in a couple of places, there are lots of reminders of people who tried to come down the mountain without brakes.

It is A LOT steeper than crossing the mountains on Highway 8.

It is an alternative, however.

Diane

you can hook up with me

capt. mike - 5-29-2007 at 02:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
I'm from Phoenix and have always wanted an alternative...I currently drive to Tecate and down.

I have done the Phoenix to Guaymas run many many times when I lived in San Carlos. agree good road, possibly good alternative. what has stopped me in the past is the car import issue. what do you guys say?


and fly direct to MMLT if/when you need.
get in touch. Do you know Rudy from here who has a place at Pto Escondido? he was one of the 1st to rebuild post fire.

Wingnut - 5-29-2007 at 04:08 PM

Bajablue, I have made the run through Tecate with Osoflojo and agree, El Rosario is one heck of a day of driving. You might note that rts551 leaves at 4 AM (Holy Cow!) to make that run. You will lose an extra hour just getting from Scottsdale to the West side of Phoenix. Plan a shorter route, by staying over in Yuma the night before and leaving from there. As for the Guaymas ferry, you have to hope the schedule holds up and make sure you have reservations. The ferry is a lot smaller than the one that runs from Mazatlan. We took it last Xmas and lost a day due to weather, but it really does cut down the time on the road. And it's a lot easier drive than down Highway 1.

never mind. i found it all thx.

capt. mike - 5-29-2007 at 04:34 PM

wing nut, how much is the ferry these days? for a small truck explorer ford and a utility trailer, say about 8' long?
i am thinking about hauling furniture/appliances down from phx.
and/or - how can i look up current info re MMGM - SRL run?

got it.

[Edited on 5-29-2007 by capt. mike]

bajablue - 5-29-2007 at 10:00 PM

Thanks for all the tips. I am going to leave from Phx around 5 and cross through Tecate. I don't know that other road very well and I will be driving a new "nice" truck down, so I don't want to risk it. I will check when I get to were I get, hopefully El Rosario.. Thanks again..

capt. mike - 5-30-2007 at 04:21 AM

blue - trust me, that's a very long day to rosario.
you might make SQ safely.
keep your options open.

osoflojo - 5-30-2007 at 06:14 AM

Capt Mike, their rates are on their web site but with your rig it sounds like it would not be a good deal for you. www.ferrysantaroselia.com

David K - 5-30-2007 at 07:22 AM

El Rosario is only a half hour from San Quintin and Baja Cactus Motel is worth it... right bajablue?

Hook - 5-30-2007 at 09:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by osoflojo
Capt Mike, their rates are on their web site but with your rig it sounds like it would not be a good deal for you. www.ferrysantaroselia.com


NOTHING is a good deal on THAT ferry, based on their posted rates.

Consider the Topo ferry to La Paz. Good road all the way down, good road up from La Paz. Much cheaper; newer ferry that rarely sells out due to it's size. At least that's what I've been told. Gonna try it next month.

thx Flojo

capt. mike - 5-30-2007 at 09:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by osoflojo
Capt Mike, their rates are on their web site but with your rig it sounds like it would not be a good deal for you. www.ferrysantaroselia.com


i found it and a nogales agent who answers Qs.
not cheap but for the TIME i'll save vs going to tecate and down - worth it plenty plus the gas saved.

so, i am looking at this pretty hard, at least one way. if i get time i may drive it back south to north - never done it that way before, 1st time driving south i hitched an aeroplane ride back to phx a directo...sweet!:bounce:

capt. mike - 5-30-2007 at 09:31 AM

hook, keep me posted on that trek next month, maybe i can tag team with you. a day or 2 in la paz with a rig would be nice plus i have never driven la paz north to anywhere!

elgatoloco - 5-30-2007 at 10:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajablue
I am going to be making the drive down through Baja for the first time through Arizona. I am going to pick up a new car in Scottsdale, to bring down to Cabo for someone. Can anyone give me any advice on where to enter and what roads to take? I would like to get from Scottsdale, to El Rosario the first day, so if anyone knows if that is do able, that would be great as well. I will be driving during the day time. Have a great Memorial day!Gracias, Nomads...


Someone else's car? Take the road south from San Felipe thru Coco's back to Hwy 1. When you get south of Mulege take a right and head over to La Purisima, beautiful country. Make sure to fuel up and check that the spare is in good shape. :biggrin:

Wingnut - 5-30-2007 at 11:47 AM

Capt Mike, I saw Osoflojo gave you the website for the Guaymas ferry. I know the time we went down it was fairly expensive for just the vehicle we had, so I imagine it would be less expensive from Mazatlan, but who knows. Moving a trailer and all might just be better to take Highway 1. But I am relatively new at this traveling by vehicle. Mostly I flew down and back.

Bajablue, good luck with your trip. Just be prepared to stop come nightfall as you do not want to drive at night on Highway 1.....

bajablue - 5-30-2007 at 07:31 PM

OK, left AZ @ 5am and got to El Rosrio at 3pm. Great drive, once I got into Baja. I got a ticket in Yuma in a speed trap, but I was speeding , so who I am I to complain. He was at the bottom of a hill on a bend, when the speed limit switched from 75 to 65. I was doing 80, ooppps.. As expected in my new truck, I got pulled over by the Federales outside of Maneadero, at the old Military stop. Two officers, just making people pull over and took a $40 bribe right in front of me off a couple other gringos and then tried to hassle me on the new truck , but had all in order. After about 20 min of looking at everything and waiting for me to make the offer, they finally let me go. That is always disappointing, but I guess part of the baja ride..