BajaNomad

Ferry pricing altering our EDIT: POSITION; BENT OVER!

Hook - 6-4-2007 at 01:16 PM

Well, I finally got some "definitive" information on pricing for the ferry from Topolobampo to La Paz for our rig. Our rig is an F350 with a 9-4 Lance on the back. Total length about 22-3. Total height about 11-4. They want 334.00 one way plus 71.00 per person. This is probably more than we want to spend on this, although we love the idea of getting in some mainland and Baja in the same trip.

We are rethinking this before our Friday departure.

Thought I would post this as I have seen many inquiries on how trucks with cabovers are treated on the ferry; RV or truck or what. Pretty much like an RV.

The Guaymas-SR ferry looks to be even more expensive, based on their website. But at least I could go to the oficina in Guaymas and maybe dicker with them on the cost. Dont really want to drive all the way to Topo from San Carlos for a potentially fruitless attempt at dickering.

Maybe we are driving to Nayarit instead...........

[Edited on 6-6-2007 by Hook]

amir - 6-4-2007 at 01:23 PM

Is that dollars or pesos?

Hook - 6-4-2007 at 01:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by amir
Is that dollars or pesos?


You think I would be complaining about a 47 dollar, 7 hour ferry ride for two people and a camper?

[Edited on 6-4-2007 by Hook]

cabobaja - 6-4-2007 at 02:04 PM

Wonder what the BIG RIGS pay??

larry - 6-4-2007 at 02:10 PM

Hook

Where are you going in Nayarit? I am headed for Guayabitos on July 4 (flying in to PV airport).

The most beautiful state in Mexico---Nayarit.

Hook - 6-4-2007 at 02:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by larry
Hook

Where are you going in Nayarit? I am headed for Guayabitos on July 4 (flying in to PV airport).

The most beautiful state in Mexico---Nayarit.


No firm plans, as we just made this pricing discovery. I guess the prices changed pretty dramatically about a week ago.

But if we go it would have been Rincon and Sayulita area. Never been....just curious about it.

If I had to guess, we will probably just hang around San Carlos for the whole time. I'll have to 'ho around as I am not bringing the boat.

Talk to me, Larry..........is there decent drycamping around Rincon or Sayulita?

larry - 6-4-2007 at 04:27 PM

Well, I have camped a lot in Baja (BOLA, Gongaga), but never in Nayarit. I always stay in Rincon de Guayabitos and take day trips to other beaches and sometimes into the sierra. Every beach in that stretch of coast has a different character (Guayabitos is like a lake, San Pancho has big surfing waves, Sayulita, Chacala and Lo de Marcos are in between).

Rainy season is starting now. It will be very hot and it can rain torrentially.

Guayabitos gets a lot of Canadians in the winter, but at this time of year it is almost 100% Mexican tourists and it gets crowded on the weekend with busloads of tourists, primarily from Guadalajara.

It is a charming little seaside town, a failed attempt by the government to create another PV or Cabo. There are dozens of hotels (prices ranges from about $25 to $80 per night) and family run restaurants. Everything is very affordable.

Lo de Marcos and Chacala are other seaside villages in the area---both very nice. But Guayabitos offers a variety of eating places and doesnt close down until maybe 10pm whereas the smaller towns are pretty quiet pretty early.

Sayulita, being quite close to PV is the most gringoized. Lodging is much more expensive there.

The San Blas area, north of Guayabitos a couple hours is interesting to see---crocodile farm, jungle boat cruise---but it is home to tiny bugs called jejenes which bite ferociously and discourage most people from staying in the area.

Hook - 6-4-2007 at 05:09 PM

Your info pretty much jives with what I've read. Guayabitos sounds like the combo of quaint and decent services that we like. Is there panga fishing?

capt. mike - 6-4-2007 at 05:20 PM

well Hook, i am flying to guaymas fri morning to drop off scuba divers, then hop to mulege to wait them out 3 days.
wish we could "hook:smug:" up.

next time, and enjoy your trek.
i love san carlos.
guayabitos is very popular with the BBP crowd, there is a nice resort right next to the strip. its on my list to visit when baja gets too many resorts built..............haha.
when i flew to PV in 2001 in june it was the rainy season, we got drenched every day!!

Hook - 6-4-2007 at 06:08 PM

I havent completely discounted the ferry yet. The wife says it's too expensive (which it is, of course) but maybe it's a one-time thing. One things for sure.....we wont drive all the way around instead. I'm figuring about 20 hours from SC to San Ignacio. Too much driving.

Maybe we will check out the mtns. of New Mexico or something afterwards.

I guess we are literally all over the map right now.

woody with a view - 6-4-2007 at 06:15 PM

considering the miles and fuel costs (edit: the costs of driving up and around vs. the ferry), $470 is cheap. but make a loop outta your trip.

[Edited on 6-5-2007 by woody in ob]

comitan - 6-4-2007 at 06:59 PM

Hook

The mainland ain't no fun at that time of year. Do as Woody suggests stick to your plan bite the bullet and take the ferry.

Hook - 6-4-2007 at 08:24 PM

We concluded tonight that that's what we will do, bite the bullet.

But it's just outrageous. A vehicle at 5.4 meters or under is 100.00. We are about 4 feet longer than that and they charge OVER THREE TIMES THE PRICE OF A STANDARD VEHICLE. yeah, we're a little higher but I doubt they are double stacking vehicles in there.

Someone asked what big rigs cost. Here is the pricing sheet. I found the site had major problems using Firefox.

http://www.bajaferries.com/modules/content/index.php?op=edit...

[Edited on 6-5-2007 by Hook]

osoflojo - 6-5-2007 at 11:39 AM

Hook, if you are still considering "dickering" with Guaymas give Diego a call at the number on the web-site and talk to him. Each time I have delt with him he seemed reasonable. No guarantee but maybe worth a shot. Suerte..........

rhintransit - 6-5-2007 at 04:20 PM

I have heard that the ferry run (Guaymas to Sta Rosalia) is unreliable...sometimes they go, sometimes no go, and if stuck on other side, one can wait and wait. which certainly would increase price with possible hotel/camping charges. anyone know if this is truth or rumor??? am from Phoenix and under 5.4 meters but have never been quoted a price as low as 100US...are you sure you got that right? thanks.

Hook - 6-5-2007 at 04:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
I have heard that the ferry run (Guaymas to Sta Rosalia) is unreliable...sometimes they go, sometimes no go, and if stuck on other side, one can wait and wait. which certainly would increase price with possible hotel/camping charges. anyone know if this is truth or rumor??? am from Phoenix and under 5.4 meters but have never been quoted a price as low as 100US...are you sure you got that right? thanks.


The link above is for the Topo-La Paz ferry. They show 1000 pesos for a vehicle under 5.4 meters. You still have the passenger ticket for 700 pesos but that's still a far cry from what they are charging us.

I'm not sure I wanna be on a ferry that only holds about 10-15 vehicles for a Sea crossing.......at least that's how the Guaymas ferry has been described. It's small size is also why they dont go in bad weather.

osoflojo - 6-6-2007 at 06:36 AM

Flexibility is key in planning the Guaymas ferry run. Not just "bad weather" can hold them up but also high winds in Sta Roselia make it difficult for them to dock. In Dec we had to wait about 24 hours but a night in San Carlos was not all bad. Also reservations are very advisable because of its size.

Pescador - 6-6-2007 at 07:15 AM

The last time one of our friends crossed over on the ferry, it was pretty rough and they told us there was a smaller Dina truck like they use for vegetables and the like. It is usually covered with a tarp and has sideboards. Anyway, it was really rough and it looked like the truck was going to tip over, so part way through the trip they hooked chains from the bumper to the top railing of the boat in an X pattern, both front and rear. When they landed in Santa Rosalia, it took the crew about 30 minutes to undo the chains and tightners. Everybody got sick on board and the wife said before she would go through childbirth 5 more times before she would ever get on board again.
I have crossed without a vehicle and it was a fun trip but the water was smooth.
If the truck was not so heavy, you could get Acudoc to load it on his boat and ferry you across.:lol::lol:

rhintransit - 6-6-2007 at 09:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
I have heard that the ferry run (Guaymas to Sta Rosalia) is unreliable...sometimes they go, sometimes no go, and if stuck on other side, one can wait and wait. which certainly would increase price with possible hotel/camping charges. anyone know if this is truth or rumor??? am from Phoenix and under 5.4 meters but have never been quoted a price as low as 100US...are you sure you got that right? thanks.


The link above is for the Topo-La Paz ferry. They show 1000 pesos for a vehicle under 5.4 meters. You still have the passenger ticket for 700 pesos but that's still a far cry from what they are charging us.

I'm not sure I wanna be on a ferry that only holds about 10-15 vehicles for a Sea crossing.......at least that's how the Guaymas ferry has been described. It's small size is also why they dont go in bad weather.


okay, price for Topo-La Paz. can anyone tell me driving distance Guaymas to Topo.? break it at San Carlos? when in day does Topo ferry leave? and directions to ferry in Topo...hard to find? any recommendations on hotel/places to stay near ferry if required for timing of trip?

Topo. puts it back in the import the vehicle dance, but since I've been told that the car can stay indefinitely, tied to owner's FM2 or 3, then at least it isn't the every 6 month dance. maybe an option for me from Phoenix...Topo-La Paz, r&r with friends in La Paz...then up to El Juncalito/Pto Escondido.

Hook - 6-6-2007 at 11:13 AM

Jim, was your experience on the Guaymas-SR ferry?

Rhino, the Topo ferry leaves every night at 11pm from Topo. supposedly you get in line around 9pm. Arrives La Paz at 5:30am.

Drive from Guaymas to Topo is about 4 hours on the toll road. Cant comment on hotels but we really did NOT like the looks of Topo. I think I would stay in Los Mochis, but with a night time departure, we'll just get in line that night. No hotel needed.

After the righteous tornilliendo (Spanglish idiom, LOL!) we're getting, we are going to pop for the cuarto privado as well. More dollars than sense, I guess; let's hope the malady is temporary.

Pescador - 6-6-2007 at 02:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Jim, was your experience on the Guaymas-SR ferry?

Rhino, the Topo ferry leaves every night at 11pm from Topo. supposedly you get in line around 9pm. Arrives La Paz at 5:30am.

Drive from Guaymas to Topo is about 4 hours on the toll road. Cant comment on hotels but we really did NOT like the looks of Topo. I think I would stay in Los Mochis, but with a night time departure, we'll just get in line that night. No hotel needed.

After the righteous tornilliendo (Spanglish idiom, LOL!) we're getting, we are going to pop for the cuarto privado as well. More dollars than sense, I guess; let's hope the malady is temporary.


Yeah, the experience was with the guaymas-Santa Rosalia Ferry. I have taken the Topo ferry to La Paz and stayed in the camper once I got in line. There was a big party in the lounge with live music, got to watch a disney film in the kids lounge. Kind of a fun experience all in all.