BajaNomad

travel question for the crowd

Humboldt Chris and Robin - 9-7-2007 at 09:03 PM

After years of doing Baja over my winter break, we want to go down the mainland coast to Michoacan this winter and take the ferry across and come back through Baja. Lots of friends go down there and all that talk about mangoes, papayas, shrimp and tropical breezes has made me a little curious. While I can not imagine a better winter experience than a 30 mph bitter north wind at Gonzaga Bay or BOLA, we want to go check this tropical crap out. So here are a couple questions for the crowd that we'd like some input on.

- What about this car tax on the mainland? And is there another insurance policy besides the vagabundos yearly policy for Baja?

- We have a pop up camper and like to camp. How is it on the way down that Pacific Coast through Sonora/Sinaloa and south? Feasible?

- Does the ferry (we can be versatile about which one) require planning ahead? We will have us and at least one dog.

- I lived in Caborca, Sonora as a small kid and want to go through just to check it out 45 years later. Anyone been through there?

Please send insight, insults, an general banter here, as PM's, or email. Any info will be well received, likely ignored, and if you are in Humboldt County, I'll buy you a cold one! Thanks in advance unless you're already in Baja, then I'm just jealous!

Humboldt County

bajaguy - 9-7-2007 at 09:20 PM

Nevada????

DianaT - 9-7-2007 at 09:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Humboldt Chris and Robin
After years of doing Baja over my winter break, we want to go down the mainland coast to Michoacan this winter and take the ferry across and come back through Baja. Lots of friends go down there and all that talk about mangoes, papayas, shrimp and tropical breezes has made me a little curious. While I can not imagine a better winter experience than a 30 mph bitter north wind at Gonzaga Bay or BOLA, we want to go check this tropical crap out. So here are a couple questions for the crowd that we'd like some input on.

- What about this car tax on the mainland? And is there another insurance policy besides the vagabundos yearly policy for Baja?
For the part of the mainland where you want to go, you do need a temporary car permit. This can be obtained at the border. You will need a credit card, your car registration, and driver's license. If you have a lien holder on your vehicle and it shows on your registration like it does in California, you will need a letter from the lein holder giving you permission to take the car into Mexico. Have a few copies of everything, and if you cross at a small crossing, like our favorite, Naco, be sure your credit card is fairly new---machine is old and old credit cards don't work. Cost is around $30.00---has to be on a credit card---don't like leaving copies of the credit card, but that is a part of it. The permit is obtained at the Banjercito at the border. They put a hologram on your windshield, and this does need to be returned when you leave---they take it off your windshield. Check on your insurance. Our current insurance only covers Baja and some of the Northern States of the mainland. When we go further south, we have to increase the insurance.

- We have a pop up camper and like to camp. How is it on the way down that Pacific Coast through Sonora/Sinaloa and south? Feasible? Yes, but depending on when you go, it will be crowded---lots of snowbirds, but with a smaller rig, you can probably squeeze in. We prefer the central highlands and the colonial cities during snowbird season.

- Does the ferry (we can be versatile about which one) require planning ahead? We will have us and at least one dog. From what we have been told, and this is second hand, they say they take dogs, but the dog has to be left under the deck. We did that with our dogs in Canada, but the refrig trucks plugged in and were not running. When we took the old ferry, we did not have our dog with us.

- I lived in Caborca, Sonora as a small kid and want to go through just to check it out 45 years later. Anyone been through there? Drove through a couple of years ago---didn't really stop, except by the great old church

Please send insight, insults, an general banter here, as PM's, or email. Any info will be well received, likely ignored, and if you are in Humboldt County, I'll buy you a cold one! Thanks in advance unless you're already in Baja, then I'm just jealous!

We really like the Pacific Coast of the Mainland, but we prefer the old parts of the towns, the small hotels, and dislike the RV parks---unless it is off season. Whereever, have a great trip. Got married in Arcata---I assume you are in Humbolt county in California.



John and Diane

[Edited on 9-8-2007 by jdtrotter]

[Edited on 9-8-2007 by jdtrotter]

Humboldt Chris and Robin - 9-7-2007 at 11:05 PM

Humboldt County California

Thanks for that - we like small places, snowbird parks make me nervous!! Maybe I'lllook at the inland small towns as we rarely get to interior Mexico.

Married in Arcata? Ever take a geography class at HSU? You'd have probably had me!!

Mango - 9-8-2007 at 09:16 AM

When rolling down the coast of Northern Mexico, check out the town of "Los Alamos" ... its about 30 minutes inland from Mex 15 outside a town called Navojoa.




Also, old town Mazatlan might be worth a stop.

When in Michoacan (inland will remind you of Oregon) check out Patzcuaro (cool town/lake/area) and Urapan (great "water" park) If you like to play guitar,check out Paracho which is about 40km north of Urapan. The town is filled with guitar makers and the streets are literally lined with guitars.

Just a glimpse of the Urapan water park:


Along the coast the little town of Playa Azul is pretty nice; though, the best beaches are farther down on the Oaxaca coast.

Beware of remote camping on the beaches in Michoacan. A family I lived with in Playa Azul told me never to be on the beach at night outside of town because of the Columbian drug smugglers that land boats at night on the beaches. Take the warning as you wish... but they told me they shoot first and never ask questions.

There was a little entramada at the south end of the coastal road in town that had many people camping in tents, etc.. so you should be able to find a safe place somewhere. The locals are friendly.

The beach north of Playa Azul:



There are plenty of other beaches and places to explore. I hear there are some great beaches around San Blas that are on the verge of becoming developed, so you might want to check that area out before it changes too much.

I'd advise heading inland for at least some of the time to get a good feel of what Mexico is really about.

Have a great trip and I hope my banter helped some. :D

DianaT - 9-8-2007 at 09:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Humboldt Chris and Robin
Humboldt County California

Thanks for that - we like small places, snowbird parks make me nervous!! Maybe I'lllook at the inland small towns as we rarely get to interior Mexico.

Married in Arcata? Ever take a geography class at HSU? You'd have probably had me!!


Geography? How rare---John's B.A is in history, but his Masters is in Geography. It such an under taught subject in this country.

Did not attend school in Arcata---we were living in Crescent City at the time--short time. John was teaching at Pelican Bay---had the Unitarian Minister in Arcata make us official. I would say I was too old to attend school as I was 40+, but after we returned to the Central Valley, I finished college. :lol:

We have traveled a lot in Mexico by bus and car---U2U if you would like a few suggestions of places we like.

Diane

toneart - 9-8-2007 at 01:02 PM

I think Mango's suggestions are terrific. Be advised that Los Alamos has a major music festival in the winter. It would be very interesting to attend, however, lodging is very expensive during that time and I would imagine that camping would be pretty crowded and noisy. Sorry, I don't know the dates of the festival.

If you should go inland, don't miss San Miguel de Allende. It is a major art colony with two art institutes. The town's reputation and commerce revolve around it's artists and teachers. I lived there for two years in the early '80's, played jazz in the same club(Mama Mia's) for the whole time and also had a studio gallery for my glass art with my then girlfriend Glenna Rabasa), who was/is a major painter and sculptor. I returned after 20 years, sat in with some of the same musicians and wrote and published and article, "La Madre, Dust on the Soul", in a Northern California Art Journal, Art Matters. It describes what it was like to return to Mexico, the matriarch, who regenerated and nurtured my varied art mediums.

Chris,
My nephew, Nick Hardwick graduated from Humbolt State about three years ago. Don't know if he was in one of your classes.

Dianne,
I returned to school and graduated from San Francisco State University when I was 39, and launched my second or third of many lifetimes. :wow: It's been quite a ride!

bajabound2005 - 9-8-2007 at 06:16 PM

Didn't someone post recently that the ferry was ridiculously expensive, especially if towing? Would love to get all the facts! Please add what you know.

rts551 - 9-8-2007 at 06:33 PM

Last I checked, about $250 each way for a pickup.