BajaNomad

a safe place for the night in Guerrero Negro?

Dianamo - 12-13-2007 at 12:37 PM

Hi Nomads,

I'm having trouble getting my companions awake as early as I prefer, so.....if it is too late when I go through Guerrero Negro to drive any further, does anyone have any suggestions on a "SAFE" place to stay in GN?

I prefer to get up a little earlier and make it to San Ignacio for the night :yes: , but if history repeats itself, the others will sleep too late :fire::fire: !

Suggestions please! I always appreciate your advice!

Dianamo

oops! sorry for posting in the wrong category...

Dianamo - 12-13-2007 at 12:40 PM

I call these mistakes...."Blonde Moments"!;D

Cypress - 12-13-2007 at 12:40 PM

Motel Malarrimo!:D:D

shari - 12-13-2007 at 12:45 PM

Los Caracoles is right on the entrance to town on the right side, it's new and is lovely and reasonably priced too. Plus Nomad Sirenita is the receptionist there! Very safe!

losfrailes - 12-13-2007 at 12:53 PM

Absolutely no other choice than Posada de Don Vicente.

Completely closed in area with 24 hour security.

Moderate prices and good clean rooms.

Too many recommendations for this place for it to not be the choice for the money!

Cypress - 12-13-2007 at 01:55 PM

Oops! I really meant Los Caracoles. :D Malarrimo is a great place to have dinner.:)

Baja_Girl - 12-13-2007 at 04:05 PM

my vote is for "staying" at Los Caracoles, have your meals at Malarrimo...and do go to the sand dunes and roll around like a two year old.
lisa

shari - 12-13-2007 at 04:07 PM

I would eat at Las Cazuelas, half block up for Los Caracoles...fabulous food..my favorite in all baja..got to try the lions paw scallops in garlic butter...really nice folks and excellent food at great prices.

Bob and Susan - 12-13-2007 at 04:33 PM

if it's late and you ONLY want safety
and Semi-clean then the only place to stay is...

Posada de Don Vicente
first hotel in town

ALL the business travelers stay there

the price did rise to $24 a night:lol:

If you have extra time then go to the Los Caracoles...
way nicer

Malarrimo could be full becuase its whale season

SiReNiTa - 12-13-2007 at 05:15 PM

hmm...i would suggest hotel los caracoles...it's safe since we have 24 hours camara surveillance and also there is someone in reception 24 hours a day so it does not matter what tim you leave...there is coffee ready at 5 am so...lol...any way if you decide to make reservations go to www.hotelloscaracoles.com.mx
hope to see you!!

oxxo - 12-13-2007 at 06:50 PM

Los Caracoles is THE place to stay in GN. You can make reservations on line - which I recommend. Stayed there last night and wished Serenita a belated diez y ocho Feliz Cumpleanos.

By the way, we took Serenita's suggestion and ate at Asadero Cowboy accross the street from Caracoles. (the other place that was recommended, Asadero de Tijuana, was closed.) I had a "huarache" and was not disappointed. The place was packed with locals and we will go back.

vacaenbaja - 12-13-2007 at 06:59 PM

In my experience SiReNiTa at Los Caracoles serves up the most interesting "Baja Hot Dogs" in G. Negro! Saludos Chica!

David K - 12-13-2007 at 07:04 PM

Another reason to stay in Guerrero Negro: The highway patrol (federales) heavily cruises the highway between Guerrero Negro and Vizcaino... con radar! That is a real tough section to drive 50 mph (80 kph) in!!!

So, no 'pushing it, speed-wise to get to San Ignacio!

SiReNiTa - 12-13-2007 at 07:51 PM

true...these day's th federales are rael nasty as they want to get their kids cool gifts for xmas...if ya know what i mean...good thing i got my liscence!!!

vacaenbaja - 12-13-2007 at 09:05 PM

LIC., LIC., LIC. Lic. J. Martinez

Bob and Susan - 12-14-2007 at 06:44 AM

i've been thru Guerrero Negro many times this year and NO federal COPS

they were stationed there in the past
from time to time
so i drive slow

but i haven't seen them recently

david
did you see them this year when YOU drove thru

David K - 12-14-2007 at 09:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
i've been thru Guerrero Negro many times this year and NO federal COPS

they were stationed there in the past
from time to time
so i drive slow

but i haven't seen them recently

david
did you see them this year when YOU drove thru


Yes, that's why I mentioned it... there's plenty of drama already here, so I don't need to make up anything new !:lol:

Both times on that stretch, between Guerrero Negro and Vizcaino, last July... Two federales, giving semi truck driver a ticket (or ?) first time... and one was cruising and another was parked (near the El Arco road jcn.) the return leg.

It was reported here before our trip, and we confirmed it.

Bob and Susan - 12-14-2007 at 09:19 AM

wow!!!:no:

shari - 12-14-2007 at 09:21 AM

Cowboy tacos is owned by an old friend of ours and it's really good there..when he opened he asked me how to spell Vaquero in english and I wrote it down...cowboy...so he makes this HUGE sign and I sure laughed when I saw it....it said in big letters COW BOY TACOS

David K - 12-14-2007 at 09:28 AM

It is pretty dumb to have a 50 mph speed limit on straight, flat highway, in the middle of the desert. I can only imagine it as a way to bait a driver to go faster!

vacaenbaja - 12-14-2007 at 04:27 PM

Ever fly off the elevated Baja 1 at faster than 50mph?
50mph you may survive; going faster your more likely to become a cross on the roadway. It is not that you cannot go faster. Sure you can and for the most part safely...until something unexpected happens. Then that oh so precious thinking/reaction time gets exponentially shortened.
Your eating up space faster than you can stop your speeding mass. Mass times the SQUARE of velocity is what you end up dealing with. In short speed kills.

SiReNiTa - 12-14-2007 at 06:11 PM

we actually just had a guy here...today lol that bumped in to another guy...because....tan tan tan taaaaaaaan.....there was a dog crossing the road and the only way of not hitting the dog was to hit the other cars rear end...?????? lol...understandable as the guy works for a dog rescue center in todos santos...member i told you about him mom????

rts551 - 12-14-2007 at 06:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
It is pretty dumb to have a 50 mph speed limit on straight, flat highway, in the middle of the desert. I can only imagine it as a way to bait a driver to go faster!


How many times have you traveled this section of road that would bring you to this conclusion?

David K - 12-14-2007 at 07:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
It is pretty dumb to have a 50 mph speed limit on straight, flat highway, in the middle of the desert. I can only imagine it as a way to bait a driver to go faster!


How many times have you traveled this section of road that would bring you to this conclusion?


Since it was paved?

Oh, let's see: here were some of the trips I can recall: 1973, 1974, 1976, 1985, 2001, 2007.

Most of my trips are in Baja Norte, si, due to time limits (I am not retired or totally income independent)...

The comment applies to all straight as an arrow paved desert highways in Mexico... 50 mph is ridiculous and not very well honored, thus a good source for income to the officials. The same is true between Mexicali and San Felipe, away from population.

rts551 - 12-14-2007 at 07:55 PM

Just wondering because there are numerous accidents on that stretch of road. Mainly from people going to fast. Lots of traffic, cows, small ranches, and unaware tourists. Its an area I always slow down in and I travel it more than once every five years.

shari - 12-14-2007 at 08:18 PM

YOu are correct, that stretch of highway has an extraordinarily high number of FATAL accidents..we refer to it as the baja triangle as there are so many weird deaths on that straight stretch...I always take EXTRA caution there.

vacaenbaja - 12-14-2007 at 08:42 PM

Your quite right Shari. As long as I can remember there is something hypnotic about that flat barren stretch of road. perhaps it is the monotony of the seemingly never ending flat terrain makes one want to get out of there fast. I know that after a long drive coming from the south right around twilight that stretch of the road can be quite unnerving especially if you are a bit tired. The flat terain and the poor light makes it hard on the eyes. That" horse approaching the barn" reaction can kick right in especially if you are looking to stop in G. Negro for the night. Easy does it.
I know what David is talking about on those long baja straightaways.
Nobody seems to do the posted limit and if you did every car would be in line to pass you for miles. But once again,look at our freeways. Well lighted and constructed and yet people still end up upside down on a straight
stretch of road where the main factor was excessive speed. Just remenber the caution posted throughout the highway "This road is not designed for high speed driving."

DianaT - 12-14-2007 at 08:43 PM

We have seen some really awful accidents in that area south of GN----it appears to be much safer than it is, and we travel it often.

Diane

Al G - 12-14-2007 at 08:44 PM

Never:rolleyes:

Bob H - 12-14-2007 at 11:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
It is pretty dumb to have a 50 mph speed limit on straight, flat highway, in the middle of the desert. I can only imagine it as a way to bait a driver to go faster!


So, David, did you keep within the speed limit there? I can't imagine that! Hah.
Bob H

Al G - 12-15-2007 at 12:23 AM

Dk , are you sure you don't want to rethink your position...I don't have that much experience in Baja...but that run scared the crap out of me...I am sure in a small truck the perspective is different. speed is relevant to possible danger more often then (DUH) not...I was worried more where I could get off the road(2-4' drop off both sides) if I had a flat or power lose...not to mention if I had to make a fast correction...oh that was stated before...to not be a marker on the road...oh that was stated before...what about big fat motorhomes like mine...should I be speeding...I guess my problem is why? I like Baja...don't want to miss more then I have to... good nite Amigo...Albert

Bob and Susan - 12-15-2007 at 05:42 AM

at the exact spot that you're talking about...

i saw a BIG truck and trailer overturned last year...

no flats...
he must have swerved too fast ans the trailer went off the road

but
i ONLY drive slow beacuse of the threat of a ticket$$$$:lol:

David K - 12-15-2007 at 09:57 AM

I have cruise control on the Toyota, so driving the speed limit was no problem... I am never careless in Mexico as the semi drivers seem to be by all of us witnessing them flipped over on various highways. Straight, level highways have never been a problem for me and I find it intresting how some of you guys think that is a dangerous condition!:lol: :?:

This speed limit thread hijack started only with a suggestion by me to stay the night at Guerrero Negro and not try to 'push it' to San Ignacio... because the stretch was patrolled heavily by the highway federales... Just friendly advice... what I ope the originator of this thread was seeking.

rts551 - 12-15-2007 at 10:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
It is pretty dumb to have a 50 mph speed limit on straight, flat highway, in the middle of the desert. I can only imagine it as a way to bait a driver to go faster!



Actually I believe this is your comment that started it.

Speed on David

David K - 12-15-2007 at 10:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
It is pretty dumb to have a 50 mph speed limit on straight, flat highway, in the middle of the desert. I can only imagine it as a way to bait a driver to go faster!



Actually I believe this is your comment that started it.

Speed on David


Look even further up, where I mentioned the speeding tickets as another reason for staying at Guerrero Negro:

"Another reason to stay in Guerrero Negro: The highway patrol (federales) heavily cruises the highway between Guerrero Negro and Vizcaino... con radar! That is a real tough section to drive 50 mph (80 kph) in!!!

So, no 'pushing it, speed-wise to get to San Ignacio! "

Again, just friendly advice... local resident Sirenita responed to that in agreement, you will see...

rts551 - 12-15-2007 at 10:16 AM

I will see???? I travel this route constantly. And have no problems

David K - 12-15-2007 at 10:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
I will see???? I travel this route constantly. And have no problems


"You will see"... IF you look up the thread to Sirenitas reply.

I had no problems either, why I can't understand the horror stories... for a straight road???

shari - 12-16-2007 at 08:33 AM

This IS really important so PAY ATTENTION all you nay sayers...the stretch of road between Guerrero Negro although it is straight is VERY TREACHEROUS...it is narrower, and has these weird grooves or ruts in the pavement that causes a bit of swerving, it's so straight that most people speed ALOT, people fall asleep in it alot too, it is mesmerizing as well, hypnotizing...whatever is has is dangerous and MANY people have been killed there so please listen to local knowledge and take extra care there.

jorgie - 12-16-2007 at 09:34 AM

somebody on Nomads advises that when in a hole, stop diging !!!!!

SiReNiTa - 12-16-2007 at 01:12 PM

that stretch of road is bad...i have had friends have fatal accidents, and others where they are seriously inured...i mean bad things happen everyday and it does not matter if you know the stretch of road or not...we had a friend die on that stretch and he drove it almost every day!!! so...its not about how well you know he road or how many times you ahve driven it...it matters to be carefull...rules are obviously made for a reason...just because it's a straight stretch it doesn't mean it's not dangerous...so...if you don't drive 50 try 60 or 65...it gets you where you want to be...better late than never right??

shari - 12-16-2007 at 02:05 PM

Tourists who drive the road alot STILL don't know what happens on a daily basis in these parts...they don't have friends who are doctors, coroner, police etc....just because you have driven the road 100 times doesn't mean you know what happens on it daily. Actually tourists genereally KNOW very little compared to what they THINK they know. Maybe it is because everyone relaxes on this stretch that accidents occur more frequently(a fact) than in the dangerous curves and cuestas. Everyone knows to pay extra attention on the scary curves and cuestas..duh... but believe me it's the straightaways that KILL. So please keep this in mind.

GN to San Ignacio-----

Barry A. - 12-16-2007 at 02:18 PM

Just an observation-------I normally drive my pickup in Baja between 45 and 55, never over 60. On this particular stretch of road that you are addressing, I am always extra nervous for two reasons: #1 there are livestock everywhere, and #2 everybody, it seems, wants to pass me and they do it at the most inopportune times, which scares me to death. We often pull over, when possible, just to let all the folks pass us by and avoid frustrating them to the point that they do stupid things.

As said by many, all the highways in Baja are dangerous-------so, I believe that we should be respectful of this, and above all don't think that this is a "competition" with other drivers------it isn't-------and just be courtious as we are all in this together.

barry

Cypress - 12-16-2007 at 02:20 PM

Thought speed killed? :o Don't think many deaths occur between Puertecitos and Rancho Chalapa.:)

Barry A. - 12-16-2007 at 02:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Thought speed killed? :o Don't think many deaths occur between Puertecitos and Rancho Chalapa.:)


Depends on your definition of "death"------I have seen a great many dead vehicles on that stretch. :spingrin:

Cypress - 12-16-2007 at 02:33 PM

Barry A. Yea!:D My vehicle will never be the same.:D

Fred - 12-16-2007 at 03:31 PM

I consider most of HWY 1 dangerous. That is why my 79 Westfalia only passes maybe 2 vehicles on my way down south. And, then again maybe it is because this van is just not that fast. Anyway I stop every hour to rest.

bajajudy - 12-16-2007 at 04:27 PM

Fred I assume you have seen Packoderm's avatar?