BajaNomad

Transport from San Ignacio to San Francisco de la Sierra

RD55 - 6-8-2009 at 10:31 AM

Any info on transportation to San Francisco de la Sierra from San Ignacio? Availability? Cost?

In case if no transportation is available, what's the condition of the road from Hwy 1 to San Francisco de la Sierra? Is 4WD required? Recommended?

Background: Planning a trip in July and would like to include the cave paintings. I've never been to them before so I'd have to take the one-day trip that's available to first-time visitors. My wife would never agree to the overnight trip anyway.

Flying to La Paz from Tijuana. Either rent car and drive or take bus from La Paz to San Ignacio. Not sure if the rental car companies will even allow driving to San Francisco de la Sierra in their vehicles.

mtgoat666 - 6-8-2009 at 10:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RD55
Any info on transportation to San Francisco de la Sierra from San Ignacio? Availability? Cost?

In case if no transportation is available, what's the condition of the road from Hwy 1 to San Francisco de la Sierra? Is 4WD required? Recommended?

Background: Planning a trip in July and would like to include the cave paintings. I've never been to them before so I'd have to take the one-day trip that's available to first-time visitors. My wife would never agree to the overnight trip anyway.

Flying to La Paz from Tijuana. Either rent car and drive or take bus from La Paz to San Ignacio. Not sure if the rental car companies will even allow driving to San Francisco de la Sierra in their vehicles.


  • I tried searching but couldn't find anything.
  • La Paz is hot in July, but you can only go when you can get the time off.
  • I haven't posted much here, but I promise a trip report with pics if we end up going.


You can take tours that depart from San Ignacio. Try Kuyima, they are a good outfit.
July is sizzling hot. And I mean sizzling!

Bob and jane - 6-8-2009 at 11:43 AM

RD55,
You can hire a taxi or van to take you from San Ignacio to San Francisco. It takes several hours to get up there, but the views along the way are wonderful. If you don't stay overnight there is only one painting you will be able to visit, it is at the side of the road shortly before you reach the villages. The gate to access the paintings is locked. I believe you will need to get permits at the INAH office in San Ignacio before you go. The office is just to the left of the church. You will probably need to get a guide from the village to unlock the gate. It could be a lot of trouble for just one small sample of the paintings, or it could be a great one-day adventure. Take a cooler with cold beverages and food. And maybe enough to share with the taxi driver and the guide. It will probably be a long, interesting day. Nothing ventured, nothing gained................

shari - 6-8-2009 at 12:11 PM

I'm not sure if Gary and terry at Ignacio Springs take people up there....they used to..check their website.

Paula - 6-8-2009 at 12:16 PM

There is good info on the day trip to the sierra here:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=35481#pid3709... Use the link a few posts down in the thread to read Ken's daughter's blog on the trip.

And there are phone #s you can call, but you may need to speak Spanish:

INAH office in La Paz: 612-122-7389 or 612-123-0399

INAh office in San Ignacio: 615-154-0222

Also this email address, I htink to the office in San Ignacio: lukero2@hotmail.com

Have a great trip!

RD55 - 6-9-2009 at 09:05 AM

Thanks to everyone who replied. Good info from all of you.

I called National Car Rental in La Paz and they told me that they allow their vehicles on dirt roads with certain conditions. First, you have to take one of their Jeep Wranglers. Second, you are responsible for any damage to the underside of the vehicle.

I tried calling some other rental companies in Mexico, but couldn't figure out how to dial their Mexican toll-free number. For Budget, it's 01800-700-1700. Anyone know how dial a Mexican toll-free number from the United States? My Spanish is good.

David K - 6-9-2009 at 09:08 AM

Have you tried the 011-52 part first?

The road to San Francisco de la Sierra is graded, and I would say most everyone who lives up there doesn't have a 4WD.

wilderone - 6-9-2009 at 09:28 AM

You don't need a permit for that cave. The caretajer with the key to the lock is in San Francisco. You don't need 4WD for that road - it's twisty-turny, but you don't need clearance. You should just drive yourself - drive to San Francisco and ask around to see the cave.

rhintransit - 6-9-2009 at 09:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RD55
Thanks to everyone who replied. Good info from all of you.

I called National Car Rental in La Paz and they told me that they allow their vehicles on dirt roads with certain conditions. First, you have to take one of their Jeep Wranglers. Second, you are responsible for any damage to the underside of the vehicle.

I tried calling some other rental companies in Mexico, but couldn't figure out how to dial their Mexican toll-free number. For Budget, it's 01800-700-1700. Anyone know how dial a Mexican toll-free number from the United States? My Spanish is good.


in all I have heard from people renting cars, driving off pavement is forbidden. an exception for a specific class of vehicles may be in place, but for a basic car...no. most people seem to follow the don't ask/don't tell policy. of course they also have to have a no accident trip.....

boe4fun - 6-9-2009 at 09:36 AM

If you're going all the way up there from San Ignacio plan on about 2 to 2 1/2 hours drive time. I personally would not bother to drive all the way up there to visit "Cueva Raton" near the town, but rather plan one of the trips available by mule into one of the canyons. I would make sure to check in with the INAH office in San Ignacio for the permit(s) for the trip and camera as they're both required. The drive up this last March was good, but the last 2 or 3 miles is rough and slow going. March proved to be hot, getting up to 103 degrees F, according to the thermometer in the rear view mirror of my Jimmy, so expect that in July it'll be a scorcher!

David K - 6-9-2009 at 09:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
Quote:
Originally posted by RD55
Thanks to everyone who replied. Good info from all of you.

I called National Car Rental in La Paz and they told me that they allow their vehicles on dirt roads with certain conditions. First, you have to take one of their Jeep Wranglers. Second, you are responsible for any damage to the underside of the vehicle.

I tried calling some other rental companies in Mexico, but couldn't figure out how to dial their Mexican toll-free number. For Budget, it's 01800-700-1700. Anyone know how dial a Mexican toll-free number from the United States? My Spanish is good.


in all I have heard from people renting cars, driving off pavement is forbidden. an exception for a specific class of vehicles may be in place, but for a basic car...no. most people seem to follow the don't ask/don't tell policy. of course they also have to have a no accident trip.....


Pretty hard to get anywhere in Mexico without driving on some dirt roads... In Baja, Hwy. 1 would be quite the parking lot...! Rent the Jeep always, if you don't want to walk miles and miles away from your car left back on the highway!

RD55 - 6-9-2009 at 11:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Have you tried the 011-52 part first?


I tried:
011-52-01800-700-1700
011-52-1800-700-1700
011-52-800-700-1700

None of them worked.

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I found the non-toll-free numbers for Avis and Budget. A search for: Avis Mexico Contacto turned it up. Similar search for Budget.

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Thanks, all, for the info about the road conditions. Even if 4WD is overkill, I'd rather spend an extra $150 a week to stay within the rental company's rules.

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103 degrees? That can take some of the enjoyment out of a trip. Maybe I'll wait until October. Give me more time to plan too.

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06-10-2009 edit: Budget's non-toll-free number was no good. They still haven't answered my email. Avis doesn't have 4WD vehicles.

I was able to talk to a person at National and they answered my email question about insurance promptly.

[Edited on 6-10-2009 by RD55]

dtbushpilot - 6-9-2009 at 12:05 PM

If there is any way to talk your lovely wife into a camping trip that is the way to go. October would be a much better time to go.The trip we went on was fun with memories to last a life time. The paintings were anticlimactic compared to the mule ride,hiking up the canyons and wilderness camping. If you go with an outfitter your only job will be to enjoy the trip. We went with Gary at Ignacio Springs B&B, highly recommended........dt

wilderone - 6-9-2009 at 03:02 PM

For $150, I'm sure a ranch guide in the Sierra de la SF would be more than happy to pick you up in San Ignacio and be your guide for the day. INAH can radio him and give him the offer - pack a lunch for all. Ask to go to his ranch too - they're historic in that area.