BajaNomad

Road conditions San Felipe to Tripiu

cheapdate - 9-15-2009 at 09:18 AM

We are heading down to Tripiu and have always taken Hwy 1 in the past. We would like to explore areas off the Beaten path We are heading down from San Felipe in Oct, 2009. We are driving a 2004 Honda Pilot. What are roads conditions like? Is it possible to drive the back roads in a Pilot and can the route from San Felipe to Hwy 1 be done in one day if not are there places to stay or should we plan on basic camping.

Pacifico - 9-15-2009 at 09:25 AM

The route can be done in one day, but I think you would really enjoy staying at Alfonsina's in Gonzaga Bay if you haven't yet done so. It's a great place right on the water. Camping is an option as well - plenty of places to camp in Gonzaga.....

David K - 9-15-2009 at 09:32 AM

San Felipe to Puertecitos (55 miles) is paved, but is not a high speed highway due to many short, steep dips (vados) you must slow down for. Allow a min. of 1.5 hours...

A better road is now under construction from Puertecitos to Gonzaga Bay... but ends in a few miles.

The road south of Puertecitos after the new construction ends will be a VERY SLOW drive for you as the roadbed is full of large rocks and ruts... Expect 3 hours in a heavt duty truck to 5 hours in an light duty SUV to drive the 50 miles to Gonzaga Bay from Puertecitos.

Gonzaga to Highway 1 (37 miles) is a better, maintained graded road... and will take you perhaps 2 hours + a visit with Coco.

There are no accomodations when you get to Hwy. 1 at the end of your 9 hour drive... There is motel at Alfonsina's (Gonzaga Bay), however.

[Edited on 9-15-2009 by David K]

bajaponderosa - 9-15-2009 at 11:46 AM

My husband just went down to check the progress of the road paving form puertocitos to Gonzaga Bay. The road is now paved 10 miles with a very large bridge crossing the first mountain range. They are working on the road everyday. I love the trip on this raod you go slow enought to enjoy the scenery.

Cypress - 9-15-2009 at 12:32 PM

cheapdate, It's a great trip. Not sure what a Honda Pilot is, but if it has high clearance, good tires and maybe 4-wheel drive(probably wouldn't need it), you'll have an adventure to remember.:tumble:

Sidamone - 9-15-2009 at 12:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaponderosa
My husband just went down to check the progress of the road paving form puertocitos to Gonzaga Bay. The road is now paved 10 miles with a very large bridge crossing the first mountain range. They are working on the road everyday. I love the trip on this raod you go slow enought to enjoy the scenery.


I'd love to see a photo of the bridge if someone's got one.



[Edited on 9-15-2009 by Sidamone]

David K - 9-15-2009 at 01:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sidamone
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaponderosa
My husband just went down to check the progress of the road paving form puertocitos to Gonzaga Bay. The road is now paved 10 miles with a very large bridge crossing the first mountain range. They are working on the road everyday. I love the trip on this raod you go slow enought to enjoy the scenery.


I'd love to see a photo of the bridge if someone's got one.



[Edited on 9-15-2009 by Sidamone]


TW has a photo of it (or another) from 2 months ago, here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=39975#pid4327...

(Nomad search is great... just typed in bridge, and from the past year to find it)

cheapdate - 9-15-2009 at 03:35 PM

You guys and Gals are all amazing and full of great information! My husband and I am really looking forward to seeing some beautiful unspoiled spots and places. Sounds like we should allow sometime to explore that area. As I always told my kids

"we'll be their when we get their"

David K - 9-15-2009 at 05:52 PM

Good attitude cheapdate!

TMW - 9-15-2009 at 06:31 PM

I would carry an air pump and some plugs for your tires just to be safe. And take it easy.

larry - 9-15-2009 at 09:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
I would carry an air pump and some plugs for your tires just to be safe. And take it easy.


Good advice--I have destroyed tires two out of three trips to Gonzaga. There is a tire shop behind Rancho Grande minimart in Gonzaga.

I recommend camping at Beluga. The food at the restaurant at Alfonsina's is fantastic and not to be missed, although on the pricey side by northern Baja standards.

cheapdate - 9-16-2009 at 08:10 AM

Is it possible to continue south from Gonzaga without getting on Hwy 1. We would like to hug the coastline of the Sea of Cortez as much as possible all the way down to Santa Rosalia.
On another note, has anyone found a viable down loadable map or chip for a Garmin GPS unit specifically for Baja that's any good?


We'll be their when we get their! Where ever their is!

David K - 9-16-2009 at 08:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by cheapdate
Is it possible to continue south from Gonzaga without getting on Hwy 1. We would like to hug the coastline of the Sea of Cortez as much as possible all the way down to Santa Rosalia.
On another note, has anyone found a viable down loadable map or chip for a Garmin GPS unit specifically for Baja that's any good?


We'll be their when we get their! Where ever their is!


NO... the terrain is mountains and canyons along the coast south of Gonzaga that prevents a north-south route near the coast. There are 4 places you can reach the coast in this stretch, however. Only one is on a map (Puerto Calamajue) the others can be seen on Google Earth and are south of Puerto Calamajue, Punta Candelero, and Bahia Guadalupe (Remedios). The last two are reached from the dry lake along the road to L.A. Bay (see my GPS web page on vivabaja.com).

Here's the region with two unmapped roads added in:



The GPS map is good and is from http://www.lbmaps.com/

also: http://bicimapas.com.mx/baja_gps_map.htm



[Edited on 9-16-2009 by David K]

Puerto Calamajue, Punta Candelero, and Bahia Guadalupe (Remedios

BajaWaverunner - 9-16-2009 at 09:55 AM

David, do you know if those areas that you mentioned(Puerto Calamajue, Punta Candelero, and Bahia Guadalupe) are inhabited fulltime or ghostowns? Would be nice to have an emergency gas stop when doing a waverunner cruise from Gonzaga to BOLA.

David K - 9-16-2009 at 05:50 PM

Puerto Calamajue is populated by commercial fishermen... I personally have not been there... many Nomads have, however... do a Nomad search. It isn'r that far south of Punta Final (Gonzaga) to do you much good. Candeleros would be a 1/2 point... and it is easy to drive in there... just long.

Candeleros was deserted, just a lean to was seen, but it's been a few years since I was up there.

Guadalupe has a big hut on the beach, but was empty a ferw years ago.

Bajajorge - 9-17-2009 at 08:29 AM

Just read on another forum that the construction detours on Hwy 5 are all gone. The road is now a 4 lane from the Ensenada turn off at the military checkpoint south to San Felipe. A distance of some 25 miles.:bounce:

Gonzaga road?

freediverbrian - 9-17-2009 at 06:19 PM

Two years and ten miles, ?? I can not wait for 2015 when I can drive to gonzaga Or not, the same story bad roads good people good roads bad people .

BajaWarrior - 9-17-2009 at 07:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by freediverbrian
Two years and ten miles, ?? I can not wait for 2015 when I can drive to gonzaga Or not, the same story bad roads good people good roads bad people .


The first section is the worst and required bridges over all of the arroyos. Once they get to Isla Huerfanito it's smooth sailing (paving) all the way to Gonzaga Bay. We drove to Gonzaga in our beach truck ('88 Toyota 4x4) in June.

Good roads = I can drive my nice truck (Super Duty) to Gonzaga and pull my boat in two hours from our beach house below San Felipe! ;D

BajaWarrior - 9-17-2009 at 07:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajajorge
Just read on another forum that the construction detours on Hwy 5 are all gone. The road is now a 4 lane from the Ensenada turn off at the military checkpoint south to San Felipe. A distance of some 25 miles.:bounce:


Almost true, from just south of the army checkpoint it is actually only a two lane road but new then the 4 lane begins 15 miles north of town. We did encounter still two miles of dirt road less than two weeks ago though, heading out in the morning for San Felipe, will report back...

David K - 9-18-2009 at 07:53 AM

Hmmmmm... It is 31+ miles from San Felipe (traffic circle) to Hwy. 3 jcn. where the military checkpoint is... the new 4 lane construction north from town goes to ~ 1-2 miles south of the checkpoint... When done, that would give you very close to 30 miles of 4 lane road.

BajaWarrior - 9-21-2009 at 04:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaWarrior
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajajorge
Just read on another forum that the construction detours on Hwy 5 are all gone. The road is now a 4 lane from the Ensenada turn off at the military checkpoint south to San Felipe. A distance of some 25 miles.:bounce:


Almost true, from just south of the army checkpoint it is actually only a two lane road but new then the 4 lane begins 15 miles north of town. We did encounter still two miles of dirt road less than two weeks ago though, heading out in the morning for San Felipe, will report back...


Here it is... Just got back last night... Weather hot! Water warm! Just how I like it...

North to south.

Up to 7 miles north of the checkpoint they are working on the bridges on the west side of road.

New road begins two miles south of the checkpoint and runs for 10 miles, not to be expanded, that's it. Road, shoulder, drop off.

Becomes 4 lane for 18 miles to the Arches.

No dirt bypass at this time (but it's coming).

Lots of constuction at the Highway 3 & 5 interchange for an overhead bridge.

David K - 9-21-2009 at 05:13 PM

WOW!!!

An overhead bridge intersection?!! The Hwy. 5 & 3 junction is going BIG TIME!

BajaWarrior - 9-21-2009 at 06:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
WOW!!!

An overhead bridge intersection?!! The Hwy. 5 & 3 junction is going BIG TIME!


There is a very impressive amount of equipment and material there at the junction right now.

David K - 10-23-2010 at 03:11 PM

bump for 'john'.