TJ Crossing January1, 2 or 3?

What we like to do is set a goal and then have a backup plan in mind. Like "let's get to GN in one day" (usually simple) but if we get delayed and run out of daylight then "let's camp at Rancho Sta. Ines or get a room in Cataviña or get a room in El Rosario or camp at Cielito Lindo" or......... There are many here with much more windshield time in Baja then us but over the years we have had a hard fast plan derailed by the following unplanned events, in no particular order: flooded vado (three+ hour delay),road construction various places traffic stopped or controlled one lane, Semana Santa parade HWY 1 shutdown (El Rosario-that was a fun diversion and we took lots of photos and dropped copies of them off on a subsequent trip thru town) Dia de La Revolucion parade in Colonet HWY 1 shutdown (another great chance for photos and cultural immersion),overturned flatbed truck blocking both lanes in the windy mountain ridge south of El Rosario, overturned dump truck full of scrap metal south of Punta Prieta area, fatal one car overturn in the big vado on north side Cataviña (two+ hour delay - local authorities needed permission from SQ to move the deceased body from roadway) , fuel delivery problems (fuel filter in truck as well as fuel delivery to station delayed),four flat tires on one trip, three occurring in one day, extra long leisurely lunch at El Paraiso with a few extra beers to wash down the mariscos, stopping to assist broke down vehicle and ferry occupants back in the other direction for nearest assistance, broken sway bar mount on truck found just prior to heading on to the dirt (before road was paved) - this involved a funny bit of education on my part, as the welder who fixed the part wanted $20.00 to do the job (very fair) but likely felt that to do the actual repair in the 15 minutes it could be done in would be bad form so he stretched the job into 90 minutes so I might think that I was getting a solid deal- next time I will ask a price and tell him I will gladly pay him extra to 'mas rapido por favor', the point being that it helps to have something in mind as a fallback so that you don't push yourself too hard. Roll with the punches and remember the journey is at least half the adventure. Having said all that my money is on you hitting the border at o'dark thirty and making it comfortably to the Malarrimo and the stars aligning and they DO have abalone on the menu that night.

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Originally posted by elgatoloco What we like to do is set a goal and then have a backup plan in mind. Like "let's get to GN in one day" (usually simple) but if we get delayed and run out of daylight then "let's camp at Rancho Sta. Ines or get a room in Cataviña or get a room in El Rosario or camp at Cielito Lindo" or......... Having said all that my money is on you hitting the border at o'dark thirty and making it comfortably to the Malarrimo and the stars aligning and they DO have abalone on the menu that night.

Things like slow trucks, military checkpoints, accidents all have to be part of the estimate of travel time... In a perfect world, it takes 5 hours to get to El Rosario from the border and 9 to Guerrero Negro. Days are short in winter and you lose an hour with the time change at the state border.

Really, just enjoy the journey and not just the destination... Baja has a whole lot to offer between Tijuana and La Ventana... Sounds like you are open to experience more than one or two places on your trip.

A side trip (paved) to Bahia de los Angeles is a big part of experiencing Baja... Also, do take the mile side trip into the town plaza of San Ignacio... Drive into Mulege and take the road to the very end along the river and have a meal at El Patron, with your feet in the sand.

Bahia Concepcion is next and you will want to make contact with the water there... it's addicting.


Bahia de los Angeles, just 8-9 hours from the border, but a whole world away!


Entrance road to San Ignacio, don't miss this!


Mulege... some call it the Hawaii of Baja!


Bahia Concepcion


Bahia Concepcion

The important thing is to not be in a hurry! While there are road crews finally widening sections of Mex. 1, most of the highway in the center of Baja is only 19 feet wide, with no shoulders and often on elevated roadbeds with no easy pull offs...


Photo taken south of San Quintin, about 200 miles south of the border.





[Edited on 11-22-2010 by David K]