BajaNomad - Chula vista/catavina/Baja cactus

Chula vista/catavina/Baja cactus

jkruk - 12-21-2011 at 07:44 AM

1. Dog friendly motel National city/Chula vista
2 Travel time from TJ to Catavina Easy one day? Room rate are rigs secure there?
3. Is it better to just stay at the Cactus and have a easier day
Destination Mullege Your opinions please Jim

mcfez - 12-21-2011 at 08:32 AM

La Quinta Inn San Diego Chula Vista
www.lq.com
3 Google reviews - $95
150 Bonita Rd
Chula Vista, CA
(619) 691-1211

Vagabond Inn San Diego (Chula Vista)
www.vagabondinn-san-diego-chula-vista-hotel.com
2 Google reviews - $62
230 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA
(619) 422-8305

Stay at the Cactus. Baja should be explored without rushing around. :-)

[Edited on 12-21-2011 by mcfez]

mulegejim - 12-21-2011 at 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jkruk
1. Dog friendly motel National city/Chula vista
2 Travel time from TJ to Catavina Easy one day? Room rate are rigs secure there?
3. Is it better to just stay at the Cactus and have a easier day
Destination Mullege Your opinions please Jim

1. Not sure
2. Fairly easy day. Not sure about price. Rig would be out-in-the-open I believe.
3. Easier day. Good rate - show Baja Nomad card for discount. Dog friendly. Fairly secure.

Some like Catavina and others like Baja Cactus. I happen to like the Cactus, however I understand why others like Catavina. Jim

David K - 12-21-2011 at 08:39 AM

EL ROSARIO is 5 hours from the border (+ construction/ military delays if any). CATAVIÑA is 6.5 hours...

Baja Cactus is $35 and Mision Cataviña is $85(?)...

MULEGE is 324 miles from Cataviña or 400 miles from El Rosario.

Baja Cactus, El Rosario... a traveler's oasis:

[Edited on 12-21-2011 by David K]

bajaguy - 12-21-2011 at 09:29 AM

Second the La Quinta Inn in Chula Vista. Bonita Road and the 805.

Take the 805 to the 905 east and cross at Otay Mesa, Corridor 2000 to the toll/free road south to Ensenada.

Also second the Baja Cactus......and don't forget to print out the Nomad discount card!!!. You can use it at the Baja Cactus.

http://www.bajanomad.com/club/card.htm

jeffg - 12-21-2011 at 09:32 AM

Regarding overnighting, I'd go on to Catavina. Figure 7-8 hours not pushing it, even with a stop for breakfast / lunch somewhere. Baja Cactus is nice but El Rosario isn't really far enough and leaves you with a long second day. Catavina breaks up the trip just about perfectly.

(Actually, if it was me I'd go to Guerrero Negro the first day, and have a real easy second day.)

David K - 12-21-2011 at 09:45 AM

A lot depends on how early you cross the border, and how quickly you get through Ensenada, military check points and road construction.

Guerrero Negro is 3-4 hours beyond El Rosario (8-9 hours from the border).. and it is good to arrive and check in before dark... and it gets dark early in the winter. PLUS, you LOSE an hour on the clock when you cross the state border, 2 miles from Guerrero Negro.

How about a treat, and take the 41 mile paved side road to Bahia de los Angeles? (3 hours from El Rosario)

LaTijereta - 12-21-2011 at 09:49 AM

Catavina Hotel has been re-done under new managment..
Stayed there two weeks ago..Rate was $90 per night ($70 w/ FM3) ...Dog freindly.. New menu in the resturant/ food was not over priced.. Rooms have new beds and working room heaters for this time of year..Full Time securtiy guard watching the parking lot at night..Lots of parking for the trailers/ rigs we were hauling down...

Perfect timing to drive into Catavina in late afternoon, with the low sunlight hitting the rocks and cactus.. :cool:

Would give you a 6+ hour drive to Mulege the next day..

David K - 12-21-2011 at 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaTijereta
Catavina Hotel has been re-done under new managment..
Stayed there two weeks ago..Rate was $90 per night ($70 w/ FM3) ...Dog freindly.. New menu in the resturant/ food was not over priced.. Rooms have new beds and working room heaters for this time of year..Full Time securtiy guard watching the parking lot at night..Lots of parking for the trailers/ rigs we were hauling down...

Perfect timing to drive into Catavina in late afternoon, with the low sunlight hitting the rocks and cactus.. :cool:

Would give you a 6+ hour drive to Mulege the next day..

Sounds great, but pricey (understand the reason)... as I recall, it is only a dozen rooms?

If they are full, then you have the Cabañas Linda motel across the street, or the bunk room at Rancho Santa Ynez, a mile south. So, do you have a reservation number (if they can take them by satellite phone there)?

Baja Cactus has a U.S. phone number to take reservations... (619) 694-1082

PCbaja - 12-21-2011 at 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffg
Regarding overnighting, I'd go on to Catavina. Figure 7-8 hours not pushing it, even with a stop for breakfast / lunch somewhere. Baja Cactus is nice but El Rosario isn't really far enough and leaves you with a long second day. Catavina breaks up the trip just about perfectly.

(Actually, if it was me I'd go to Guerrero Negro the first day, and have a real easy second day.)

I would have to agree this is a much better idea!

Jack Swords - 12-21-2011 at 10:38 AM

We are leaving for La Paz next Tuesday. This is how we have done it for the past 12 years:

Stay at La Quinta in Oceanside (dog friendly), hit the border at 6 AM (Declaration lane), get permit, pay bank (sometimes need to walk back to turnstile Immigration office), get to Guerrero Negro before dusk and have a great dinner. Next day, up at 4 (actually 5 due to time change) and get to La Paz early evening. Needed backups due to construction, rain, being in Mexico, leaves us at Catavina, El Rosario, or camping in the desert. Any delay means Loreto as the next stop (or Juncalito). Need to be always ready for the unexpected so carry some food, drink. Problem this time of year is the very short days and avoiding driving in the dark.

bkbend - 12-21-2011 at 11:12 AM

1. Motel 6 I-5 at E street. $60 or so fenced parking with all-night security. Restaurants and grocery nearby.

mtgoat666 - 12-21-2011 at 11:37 AM

Quote:

rigs are secure in catavina. easy to make it to catavina in 1 day.

el rosario and catavina are VERY different. choose based on which town and hotel you prefer. does not make sense to compare them as if they are similar alternatives, as catavina is in a special class far above el rosario.

LaTijereta - 12-21-2011 at 11:54 AM

Here is the link.. I would say they have maybe 24 rooms, but they can get filled easy this time of year with the holiday travel..

http://www.hotelmisionsantamaria.com/en/catavina%20en.html

BooJumMan - 12-22-2011 at 06:34 AM

For whatever reason, I barely make it to El Rosario before dusk....And I swear I leave like... SUPER EARLY... hhah

Russ - 12-22-2011 at 07:10 AM

Jim, I'd cross the boarded before sunrise. Haven't heard any horror stories on the toll road for a long time. I think you can make Guerro Negro before sunset and the trip to PC in the morning is a breeze giving you time to unpack relax and enjoy the sunset.

805gregg - 12-27-2011 at 07:30 PM

Push on through to GN, then an easy drive the next day.

[Edited on 12-28-2011 by 805gregg]

dtbushpilot - 12-27-2011 at 09:00 PM

We cross at SY at 5am, see the sunrise around Santo Thomas, pulling into Ignacio Springs B&B in San Ignacio late afternoon for a great dinner, wonderful night's sleep and killer breakfast the next morning before heading South.......probably not advisable for a HY1 newby though... :no:

....dt

David K - 12-28-2011 at 09:23 AM

With the highway widening construction north of SANTO TOMAS, it may be best if a newbie not drive it in the dark... :?:

dtbushpilot - 12-28-2011 at 10:08 AM

I totally agree with you DK......dt

David K - 12-28-2011 at 10:11 AM

Happy New Year DT :light:

dtbushpilot - 12-28-2011 at 10:15 AM

Thanks DK, same to you and the family.....dt

Bajahowodd - 12-28-2011 at 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaTijereta
Here is the link.. I would say they have maybe 24 rooms, but they can get filled easy this time of year with the holiday travel..

http://www.hotelmisionsantamaria.com/en/catavina%20en.html

I don't know about what the new ownership has for priorities, but, historically, this small hotel has had contracts with a number of tour operators; especially the whale tour folks. So, from now until late March, there may be many or most rooms booked for the tours.

Do not consider this very nice hotel as an option unless you make a reservation.