If I want to take the 12:00 or 18:00 ABC bus from the TJ to Loreto...how much time would you suggest to allow to get from TJ border, get your ticket ,
and get a seat (away from the toilet)? Departing Friday or Saturday. Thanks!Diver - 7-20-2008 at 01:44 PM
Not sure how you're planning to corss the border or if you need to pick up an FMT but here's an article on bus travel by Gene Kira that summarizes the
bus experince:
For the Baja travler/angler on a budget, the peninsula's efficient bus system is a realistic way of getting quickly, comfortably, and quite cheaply to
most of the major destinations.
In fact--while Baja busses might not be as fast as flying--they are actually much faster than driving yourself. On a high-flying Mex 1 bus, you can
snooze and relax, and still get from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas in about 24 hours.
In today's Baja, getting up and down the Transpeninsular Highway by bus is safe, easy, and convenient, and amazingly enough, U.S. tourists can tap
into the entire system right at the main Greyhound bus terminal in downtown San Diego.
Greyhound runs frequent daily busses from this facility at First & Broadway directly to Tijuana's main bus terminal, the Central de Autobuses de
Tijuana, for only $5.
From here, you can head down Mex 1 on Baja's main overland bus line, Autotransportes de la Baja California (ABC). Other runs take you across the
peninsula to Mexicali and south to San Felipe, or in fact, anywhere in Mexico.
There are four ABC busses per day going south on Mex 1 and four returning. The fares are quite reasonable, and you can pay at the terminal in dollars
at a good exchange rate.
Here are some approximate one-way fares for destinations on Mex 1: Ensenada, $8; San Quintin, $19; Mulege, $64; Loreto, $72; and La Paz, $93.
From La Paz, frequent Aguila busses depart for various Baja Sur destinations at the following approximate one-way prices: San Carlos (Magdalena Bay),
$14; Puerto Lopez Mateos (Magdalena Bay), $15; Los Barriles (East Cape), $6; San Jose del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas, $11.
As if these fares weren't already low enough, you can get a 10 percent discount for buying a round-trip ticket. However, these do not allow stopovers,
so if you'd like to visit, say, Loreto, on your way to Cabo, you'll need to pay full price for a series of one-way tickets.
You are allowed 25 kilograms (about 55 pounds) of checked baggage, plus any amount of reasonable carryon luggage. Ice chests and rod tubes are
allowed.
For the approximately 24 road hours needed to get from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas, here are some useful tips:
--If you don't speak at least basic Spanish, give yourself some extra time to make your reservation and buy your tickets, etc. The bus lines are not
particularly oriented toward tourists, so you might need to ask for help.
--The busses are air conditioned, with a restroom in the rear, and the seating is very comfortable, something like an airliner, but with a tad more
leg room.
--Take a baseball-style cap. The side windows of the bus go very high, and the sun can pour down on you if you leave the curtains open to enjoy the
view.
--Take a good set of ear plugs. You will want to sleep during an overnight run, and several “in-flight” movies are played very loudly, one after the
other. Be prepared for movies of such interesting subject matter as animated turtles and dancing lemurs, or norteño music featuring songs that rhyme
“pollos” with “arroyos.”
--Try to sit between seats 20 and 30, about in the middle of the bus. Too far up front, and you can't see much because of curtains going entirely
across the front of the passenger deck. Too far in back, and you're subject to engine noise and sometimes heady fumes emanating from the restroom
toilet.
--In addition to your identification, fishing license, etc., make sure you have a valid tourist card. You will need to show it several times during
your trip. No exceptions.
--Keep track of your baggage claim check. You will definitely need it.
--Pack your baggage so it can be easily inspected. On northbound runs, at least, you may be asked to open your bags several times at military
checkpoints.
--Take some light snacks and drinking water.
--Except for holiday periods, busses typically run with plenty of spare seats, but if you want a window, it's best to make a reservation, which you
can do when you buy your ticket at the station.
--After you return to Tijuana, Greyhound again comes to the rescue in getting you across the border. Frequent runs go from the Central de Autobuses
directly to the following Southern California locations, with transfers to virtually anywhere: San Ysidro and Downtown San Diego, $5; Oceanside, $9;
San Clemente, $17; Santa Ana, Anaheim, Norwalk, Long Beach, East Los Angeles, Los Angeles, $15.
For information: Greyhound, San Ysidro, 619-428-1194; ABC bus company office, Central de Autobuses, corner of Calzada Lázaro Cárdenas and Rió Alamar,
Tijuana, 011-52-664-621-2424, Ext. 121; La Paz bus station, corner of Av. Jalisco and Av. Heroes de Indepedencia 011-52- 612-122-4270, Ext. 112/113.
It's a good ride...Iv'e done it a few times...flyfishinPam - 7-20-2008 at 04:55 PM
hi there, i've done this many times. its best to take the 4pm bus or the 6pm because you get out of tj then pass through ensenada with a movie then
get about an hour or two out of ensenada stop at a roadside restaurant for about 45 minutes then back on the bus till Loreto. sometimes they'll stop
in santa rosalia in the morning and gas up where you can get coffee, then three hours to loreto. the trip goes fairly fast, if you come on the 4pm
out of tj expect to arrive around 5:30-6 am in loreto, if taking the later bus a couple hours later like around 10am. reason i say take the evening
bus is because most of the time is spent sleeping. bring a blanket its usually cold on them busses and dramimine if suseptible to car sickness
because there are lots of windy parts. there is a bathroom on the bus in back for emergencies, there are reclining seats and plenty of legroom. also
usually southbound for some reason you don't need to stop at military checkpoints. i think the one way trip is $1300 pesos or so. have a good trip.Diver - 7-20-2008 at 06:14 PM
Great info Pam.
Assuming you have your FMT or FM3 or whatever; how long before the departure would you arrive to get your ticket/seat ?BajaHawk - 7-20-2008 at 07:58 PM
Thanks Pan and Diver! That is great stuff. What do you think about the arrival pretrip time for the 4PM bus?bajabound2005 - 7-20-2008 at 08:32 PM
what is ceck-in?wilderone - 7-21-2008 at 08:52 AM
If it's convenient enough for you, you can buy your bus ticket the day before, and have your seat assignment. You could also get visa and pesos that
day so you don't have so many things to do on travel day. There's really no "check in" process. You just sit around the area where the bus will
leave, and they call out for boarding about 1/2 hour before its scheduled departure time to weigh and load baggage.flyfishinPam - 7-21-2008 at 01:54 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Diver
Great info Pam.
Assuming you have your FMT or FM3 or whatever; how long before the departure would you arrive to get your ticket/seat ?
northbound I've been asked for my FM even in the middle of the night south of cataviña. once I left it in my luggage in the compartment below and boy
did I get an earfull.
they will let you check your luggage a half hour before boarding the bus and there's a luggage holding check in place you can use if there waiting a
long time. I would think at least an hour prior to the bus departure would be fine. you will buy your ticket from the AGUILA/ABC counter and not any
of the others. the others will be happy to sell you a ticket to Loreto even though its not one of their destinations. Skeet/Loreto - 7-21-2008 at 02:08 PM
Thanks Pam and Others for the good Info.
I too have been on the bus several times even 20 years ago and it is still the Same.
And if you are inclined that way you can meet some Great People!!
SkeetVon - 7-21-2008 at 02:19 PM
About how many people on the bus are there usually traveling to Loreto on a non holiday week?
Can you bring a surfboard with you? Just curious and it does take you to todos santos right?wilderone - 7-21-2008 at 02:47 PM
The bus is pretty full - possibly totally full - but as you progress south, people get off, and there are fewer and fewer. When I went to Loreto, I
was the only one who got off, but there were several people who got off in tiny towns en route. A surfboard can fit underneath, so most likely you
can bring one. To go to Todos Santos you'd probably have to get off in La Paz and get on a different bus.backninedan - 7-21-2008 at 02:50 PM
My last two trips averaged about half full. It varies as folks get on and off.
If you have the option take an Aguila bus as apposed to the ABC line. I have ridden on both and the Aguila seemed to be a bit cleaner and the
seats more comfortable.
It is a great way to travel and I do it again in a heart beat.
