BajaNomad

Beach Road (Buena Vista to San Jose Del Cabo)

kitjv - 2-26-2009 at 02:47 PM

We will be in the Los Barrilas area in late March. I am curious about the beach road from Buena Vista to San Jose De Cabo. Any info on general road condition, beach fishing, interesting sights, etc. would be appreciated. Thanks!

LaRibereņa - 2-26-2009 at 04:14 PM

Still unpaved - a washboard nightmare from La Ribera to Cabo Pulmo and beyond. Only worth it if you're gonna snorkle at Pulmo. The Marine Preserve prohibits fishing along a good bit of the coast. The new 'developers' have put up fencing and guard posts. Ugly, but the sea is beautiful, of course. Your rental (if you have one) may prohibit your taking the road at all. Check with them. The road is very rough on cars.

coast road

Cardon Man - 2-26-2009 at 04:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by LaRibereņa
Still unpaved - a washboard nightmare from La Ribera to Cabo Pulmo and beyond. Only worth it if you're gonna snorkle at Pulmo. The Marine Preserve prohibits fishing along a good bit of the coast. The new 'developers' have put up fencing and guard posts. Ugly, but the sea is beautiful, of course. Your rental (if you have one) may prohibit your taking the road at all. Check with them. The road is very rough on cars.


LaRibereņa is quite accurate in her description of the road. Let's hope it stays that way for years to come:yes:
That being said, if you'd like a taste of the road without driving the full distance, try the stretch from Spa Buenavista to La Ribera. If you've had a gut full of washboard by the time you hit La Ribera you can bail out and take the paved road to San Jose.

kitjv - 2-26-2009 at 05:18 PM

I will have a 4WD pickup. So the truck can handle a lot more than it might want to. We were thinking of taking a day trip to San Jose Del Cabo on this road since we had never been this way. Any particular recommendations on fishing or points of interest along the way? Thanks.

definitivamente

BFS - 2-26-2009 at 05:27 PM

That has to be one of Bajas finest stretches of coastal road.
Developers are trying there best to ruin it and have fenced here and there but it still offers fantastic views and that feeling of being "in the middle of nowhere" on a dirt track through endless cactus gardens with the sparkling sea as your companion. And some sweeeet little derechas here and there. I would say it is a cant miss kind of drive specially in a rental!
Have fun.

Aq

Bajahowodd - 2-26-2009 at 05:40 PM

Agree. If you've got a rental and it's 4WD, go for it. Years ago, we used to rent VW beatles and do that run.

kitjv - 2-26-2009 at 05:40 PM

Thank you. Actually, I am driving my truck.

It will be on my "must do" list.

One question: Sweet little "derechas"?
Quote:
Originally posted by aqbluegreen
That has to be one of Bajas finest stretches of coastal road.
Developers are trying there best to ruin it and have fenced here and there but it still offers fantastic views and that feeling of being "in the middle of nowhere" on a dirt track through endless cactus gardens with the sparkling sea as your companion. And some sweeeet little derechas here and there. I would say it is a cant miss kind of drive specially in a rental!
Have fun.

Aq


[Edited on 2-27-2009 by kitjv]

Paulclark - 2-26-2009 at 06:45 PM

Hi---I live on that road and enjoy it and drive it a couple times a week. If you leave Buena Vista and follow the coast to La Ribera that portion is usually in good condition with some washboard, but regularly graded as there are some development projects along the way. From La Ribera you can follow the coast out to the Hotel Punta Colorado and then you should detour back to the main road as the road south is sometimes blocked by a new developer at Punta Arena (Rincon). Following the main road south to Cabo Pulmo the road is graded monthly and sometimes beyond to Los Frailes. From Los Frailes south to Vinorama is usually is reasonable condition, however south of Viniorama to La Playita and San Jose del Cabo is terrible. Very rough and never graded. I would recommend you turn West at Vinorama and go over the hills to San Jose. That road is graded every couple of months and is the preferred route. Vinorama to the airport takes me 30 minutes.
If you have a camper on your truck it is slow going over washboard, but if you don't I recommend you reduce your tire pressure to 18 lbs and get up to 35 or 40 mph and you will find it fairly smooth going skipping from top to top of the washboard. This is where you find out if your shocks are any good!
We live between Cabo Pulmo and Vinorama, in a development called Castillo de Arena. Cheers

kitjv - 2-26-2009 at 07:19 PM

Paulclark: Thanks for taking the time to provide the info. I really appreciate.:yes:

slimshady - 2-26-2009 at 08:55 PM

Between Lighthouse Point and Cabo Pulmos you can see this beach.

bajacabopulmo.JPG - 32kB

kitjv - 2-26-2009 at 09:34 PM

...and not one person slathered in tanning oil. Exquisite!
Quote:
Originally posted by slimshady
Between Lighthouse Point and Cabo Pulmos you can see this beach.

slimshady - 2-26-2009 at 11:21 PM

Yes the entire beach can be yours. No timeshare salesmans or peddlers selling carved marlin figures.

mulegemichael - 2-27-2009 at 07:25 AM

....it's gotta be one of the most beautiful "backroad" drives in all of baja...leave early and drive slowly and take it all in..