BajaNomad

Tucson to San Felipe via San Luis Crossing???

YosarianRem - 3-21-2009 at 02:06 AM

Hello,

I've searched on this and many other forums, but have been unable to find any current information. It appears that it may be faster and less hectic to cross at the San Luis Colorado border crossing and either take Highway 2 to Highway 5 and then south....HOWEVER.....I'm hoping there is a scenic and reasonably direct route on "secondary" roads that cut diagonally to the Southwest from San Luis.

Any information on times and directions would be greatly appreciated. I've driven to from Tucson to Alfonsina's dozens of times.....always through Mexicali or the Mexicali truck crossing. I'm going to try San Luis this time......but just fishing for any extra info. Thanks for a wonderful forum.

Yosarian

[Edited on 3-21-2009 by YosarianRem]

David K - 3-21-2009 at 08:52 AM

Welcome to Nomad Rem...

Having a good map really helps!

Udo - 3-21-2009 at 09:47 AM

Yosarian...
Copy David's map, or go by an Auto Club office and pick one up.
I have done the trip from El Faro to San Luis many times (en route to Sonoyta and Pto Penasco).
Mex 40 and 4 are not well marked and you will be traveling through several small towns, plus 90% of your trip will be through farmland where tractors rule the road. In winter, you may encounter a washout or two from winter run-off and unless you are driving a large vehicle you won't have any troubles.
My advise is to follow the flow of traffic because others may be doing something close to what you want to do. The road will be very green and scenic, and stop for some of their fresh and very inexpensive produce. Most of it is exported to the US anyway. You will need a camera that records aromas as you drive through this area, it's a sensory experience you won't soon forget!

Riom - 3-21-2009 at 06:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by YosarianRem
I'm hoping there is a scenic and reasonably direct route on "secondary" roads that cut diagonally to the Southwest from San Luis.


Depends what you call scenic. If lots of straggly farm towns (Guadalupe Victoria goes on for ages), and constantly keeping an eye out for topes, tractors, mud on the road, people wandering across the road are what you like, winding your way across that corner will be scenic. But assuming you keep to urban speed limits it's slower, and a lot more effort than simply taking Hwy-2 up to the Mexicali bypass to Hwy 5 then south.

To put it another way, if your reason for crossing at San Luis is to make the route "faster and less hectic ", taking those farm roads would cancel it out, however scenic.

Going north, I still find going through Mexicali to the east crossing better than going to San Luis, despite the faster road, as San Luis seems to have longer waits and more stressed border control people.

YosarianRem - 3-21-2009 at 11:00 PM

David- Thanks for the "Welcome" and the map. I've got the same map, but it never looks the same on the coffee table as it does on the dash! I enjoy your website. Keep up the good work!

Udowinkler- Thanks....exactly the info I was looking for. It sounds like the perfect alternative to Hwy 2 to 5. I appreciate the info.

Riom- Thanks....straggly farm towns are scenic if I haven't seen them dozens of times before and I've grown accustomed to watching out for topes and tractors......

bajalou - 3-22-2009 at 07:41 AM

I personally prefer coming into Mexico via Los Algodones. Then Baja 8, turning south to C. Morelos (it's marked as a turn to San Felipe). There are some topos at about 6 miles from Algodones and in some of the other towns.

Like you YosarianRem, i enjoy the small towns along the route at all times of the year, and I've been through them dozens of times.

CortezBlue - 3-22-2009 at 05:00 PM

I have gone both ways, and I would take the Cuota 2(toll Road) to 5. It is fast and easy.

Udo - 3-23-2009 at 05:53 PM

There is a lot to be said for the aromatherapy of the farm country. Shame that movie cameras don't have smell-a-vision.
If speed is your object, save the time and head down the 2 or 8 to the Mex 5.
I personally would take the time and drive the scenic way, buy some produce and eat some of the local fare. Try their birria and some of the different carne asada...you'll never forget those flavors! Have just a nibble at each town and by the time you make it to Mex 5 you won't be hungry for dinner when arriving in San Felipe.
Makes me hungry now! YUM!!!

David K - 3-24-2009 at 07:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by YosarianRem
David- Thanks for the "Welcome" and the map. I've got the same map, but it never looks the same on the coffee table as it does on the dash! I enjoy your website. Keep up the good work!

Udowinkler- Thanks....exactly the info I was looking for. It sounds like the perfect alternative to Hwy 2 to 5. I appreciate the info.

Riom- Thanks....straggly farm towns are scenic if I haven't seen them dozens of times before and I've grown accustomed to watching out for topes and tractors......


Thank You...

cantinflas - 3-24-2009 at 08:45 AM

I use Algodones then highway 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 and on to San Felipe.

YosarianRem - 3-24-2009 at 03:05 PM

Thanks for all the great advice.....I"m going to give the 2,3,4,5 route a shot.....trip report to follow......hasta pronto