Phil S - 3-29-2010 at 05:26 AM
After 20 years of driving to Loreto area every year. we are thinking of trying the ferry this time in first part of November. Anyone make this trip
recently??? Where do you enter Mexico? Is it a one day drive to Guymas (sp?) Advance reservations a must? How much lead time is necessary to assure
you are in time to catch the ferry?
Recent post (couldn't find in search) mentioned ferry conditions, so don't need that information. Anything we'd want to stop & visit on the way
down that would require more planned driving time? We'll be coming from West Valley of Phoenix area. Thanks. Aren't Nomads the Best???????
bajaguy - 3-29-2010 at 07:15 AM
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=44761
vandenberg - 3-29-2010 at 08:08 AM
Hi Phil,
We considered the Guaymas ferry when returning from Phoenix in Feb. Especially with the freshly washed out bridges up north. We decided against it,
because of the fairly large chance that weather conditions (windy that time of year) could hold up the ferry for days, so you'll be stuck in Guaymas.
And, with a car loaded down to the gills, always a worry not to be able to park in a relatively secure location. But the weather shouldn't be of much
concern in November.
Will see you then, and don't forget our blood pressure monitor cord.
Hook - 3-29-2010 at 09:55 AM
I think it's highly unlikely you would be delayed by winds in early November.
I believe the ferry asks you to report at 6pm the night of the planned departure. My experience is that they know 12-24 hours in advance if they are
running that night. So, you dont have to hang around to find out. You can call during business hours and talk to them.
I can recommend safe places to park in the area, specifically in San Carlos which is only about a 20 minute drive to the ferry. And it's beautiful
here, like Loreto.
osoflojo - 3-30-2010 at 05:08 PM
Hook got it right, seldom have I ever been delayed more than 12 hours, once did not have a reservation and was delayed 2 days (my fault). If you are
stuck in Guaymas take Hooks advice and go to San Carlos. If money is not to tight I would recomend a cabin as the regular accomidations are rather
spartin. Suerte.
Agavedaze - 3-31-2010 at 05:02 PM
I wrote the February to March, 2010 Santa Rosalia Ferry initial report that "Bajaguy" kindly provided the link to. Between that and all of the
detailed contributions from people who really know that ferry, most of the ferry essential information has been covered. I would agree with the last
two posts, in November weather-related problems shouldn't be an issue.
As for some of your other questions, since our trip begins in Tucson, we cross at Nogales. If you are starting out in west Phoenix, crossing at
Lukeville, traveling east through Caborca to Santa Ana, and then down to San Carlos and Guaymas is another great option. I have not been that way in
years, however. Maybe another "Nomad" can fill us both in. I can tell you what I know about Nogales, however.
There are two places to cross, downtown at the Deconcini port or the Mariposa truck crossing west of downtown. We cross at Mariposa because we find
it to be easy and fast (Exit 4 off I-19 onto Mariposa Rd.) It is well signed to the border. This is a toll road around Nogales.
If you don't have anything to declare, there is really nothing to do at the border crossing itself. All of the tourist visa, car permit, banjercito
transactions occur at a roadside "customs" station at Km 21. We plan our trip to be at Km 21 by 8 or 9 AM on an average weekday. We can take care of
business in 30 minutes or less.
On our last trip down, we planned on driving only as far south as Guaymas. In this case, no vehicle permit is required to drive to Guaymas, board the
ferry, and go to Baja. It was strangely incumbent on us to be clear and decisive on this because we encountered some indecision from the immigration
and bank staff. Everyone wanted to sell us a vehicle permit that day. If you travel south of Guaymas and Empalme, then you need the vehicle permit.
On the trip back from Santa Rosalia to Guaymas, we had to again be very clear to another official wanting to see our vehicle permit that our intent
was to travel north to Nogales from Guaymas, and that a vehicle permit was not necessary. Everything was fine, but be well-researched and firm.
There will be three tolls to pay between this truck bypass around Nogales and San Carlos. The others will be outside of Magdalena and Hermosillo. My
husband and I don't pay the Magdalena toll because we love to drive through town. This is a beautiful, quaint mission town. Padre Eusebio Francisco
Kino is buried there. We stayed at the El Toro Motel once for a long weekend. It was a great place to stay with a really good restaurant. That was
four years ago though.
Magadalena is the only side trip we take usually. Hermosillo is a beautiful city that is easy to navigate through. Kino Bay is beautiful, and the
coastal Seri Indian communities are really interesting. But, in our opinion, if you're looking for beautiful and quiet beach, or more to do in town,
San Carlos can't be beat.
Generally, when our destination is Baja, we just travel as fast as we can from Tucson to San Carlos. This takes close to 7 hours if we only spend
about 30 minutes at Km 21, and don't have much of a delay at the military checkpoints. This last trip, they weren't interested in our vehicle at all,
even north-bound. Of course, it takes longer to get back across the border at the end of the day (any day of the week anymore). Hopefully, some of
the congestion at the Mariposa Port of Entry should be relieved after the new entry facility, currently under construction, is completed.
I hope this helps with some of your trip planning.
[Edited on 4-1-2010 by Agavedaze]
[Edited on 4-1-2010 by Agavedaze]
Hook - 3-31-2010 at 07:48 PM
I'd just like to add that, with respect to declaring goods/not declaring/red light-green light, you could theoretically pass through 2 or 3 of these
checkpoints if you are coming through the MARIPOSA border crossing. These are Mexican checkpoints. More on that in a second.
First off, you will encounter a rather new checkpoint manned by US personnel about 100 yards north of the border. They are talking to EVERYONE who
crosses, it appears, when it is being manned. And being manned is becoming very common. Usually it is only a couple minutes delay but I have heard
that some have been detained, separated from their car, their car x-rayed, etc. One person I know claims the ordeal took almost two hours as they
really grilled them.
Now, back to the Mexican checkpoints. The first is immediately on your right as you cross the border. This one is intended for persons who plan on
going directly in to Nogales, Mexico. Declare/non-declare/red light-green light, the whole works. Using this will force you off the toll road and into
Nogales UNLESS you can convince them to let you back up after being inspected and getting back on the toll road. I have heard of it being done.
Next comes the rather new checkpoint about 5km into Mexico on the toll road. This is a pretty large area with designated parking for those who want to
declare IN ADVANCE of going through the red light-green light business. We have been using this area regularly as we bring goods down from the States.
We enter with our list of declared items and pay our duty, after personal exemptions and duty exceptions. In three major trips through here, two with
a full trailer and the bed of an F350 loaded, we have yet to be physically inspected. Our list of items and their valuations are taken at face value.
We lowball some, but not outrageously. I have 2nd hand info that the new crop of Aduana agents are sporting laptops for finding the actual valuation
of items on the internet, if they decide to question your valuations. One friend who is a notorious lowballer got caught by these laptop-toting
newbies. No fine, just the duty. The REAL point here is that doctored receipts are being challenged.
So, after you clear customs at this checkpoint and pay your duty, you are still required to do the red light-green light thing right there. And you
still go through a cursory visual inspection by agents right there who can pull you over even if you get the green. This happened to us last time
through. We showed our duty receipt (about 1 minute old) but the agent still wanted to see our factura (receipt of sale) of a large item we had. We
showed it and he motioned us through.
At this point, you will go through yet another Aduana checkpoint associated with the famous K21 immigration checkpoint. Even those who chose to go
through Nogales, Mexico by using the aforementioned border checkpoint will have to pass through this one; the toll road and free road have converged
by then. This is another red/green gauntlet. One time here we were flagged again after getting the green (large load, of course) but the duty receipt
paid at the earlier checkpoint got us on our way quickly.
I was never asked about any car permit in either direction, when I took the ferry from Guaymas to SR and back in Dec. 2009.
[Edited on 4-1-2010 by Hook]
Agavedaze - 3-31-2010 at 08:06 PM
Good review of different situations and experiences here. When we travel, we camp. We go in empty and we leave empty to avoid a lot of curiosity and
time loss. Also, we travel for only 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Just the vehicle permit was the only issue for us.
Phil S - 4-25-2010 at 09:07 AM
Just got back to review. good recommendations to all. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Pretty sure we'll go ferry just to be able to say we
"did it"!!!