We will be driving a 4x4 Ford F-250. We have not traversed the pennisula prior to this trip.
[Edited on 2-21-2012 by TioPablo]CortezBlue - 2-20-2012 at 05:27 PM
Hmmm
You must have been reading my mind, I am interested as well.
PS Your post needs edited from "for" to "from"Roberto - 2-20-2012 at 05:38 PM
You need to make a decision about which way to go. South through Gonzaga, or north-then west-then south through Ensenada and Highway 1.
Personally, if this is your first time, I would probably go though Ensenada. I, on the other hand, would go south through Gonzaga.
Either way, I would take two days my first time. Take it easy and stop overnight.Bajahowodd - 2-20-2012 at 05:45 PM
If you consider yourself to be intrepid, and don't mind many miles of dirt, just head South.
But, as Roberto mentioned, if you go up to the 2 and head over to Ensenada, you will be able to ride on paved highways (most*) of the time.
* there does continue to be construction delays where you may have to navigate some dirt.bajalou - 2-20-2012 at 05:48 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
But, as Roberto mentioned, if you go up to the 2 and head over to Ensenada, .
I think you mean Highway 3.dtbushpilot - 2-20-2012 at 05:55 PM
Welcome to Nomads.
You should be able to do it in 8 hours or less depending on how your vehicle does on washboard.
I'm going to get flack for telling a Baja newby driver that you can do it in one day but realistically it's no big deal.....dt
[Edited on 2-21-2012 by dtbushpilot]Marc - 2-20-2012 at 06:53 PM
Just last week we figured 8 or 9 hours from G Negro to S Felipe. We found ourselves in G Negro at 12:30 PM going north so we decided to head for El
Rosario instead. Rolled in very cold weather and at darkness to Baja Cactus.Leo - 2-21-2012 at 12:43 PM
It's doable in one day. We did it from San ignatio to San Felipe. Mind you we got there just before dark. Make sure you have good tire repair stuff
and a spare. Stop at Coco's Corner and say hello. he turns 75 this Saturday.David K - 2-21-2012 at 01:02 PM
Letting some air out of the tires really will help prevent the (sharp rock caused) flats most of us who have been through Gonzaga have had. For me, I
would drop the air down ~30% of normal... ie. 32 psi to 22 psi. When I haven't, I can expect to get a flat!Roberto - 2-21-2012 at 01:53 PM
All, of course it's doable in one day. But just because it can be done does not mean it should be.
If I had never traversed the peninsula before, I would want to stop and smell the flowers. That's why I suggested an overnight stopover. But, YMMV I
guess.desertcpl - 2-21-2012 at 02:13 PM
cut the trip in half and spend the night at Gonzaga, stay at Alfonsinas you will not be disappointed, then the next morning head out for GNDavidE - 2-21-2012 at 02:16 PM
I can 2nd what DavidK said. For some reason the stones on that route are extra cruel to tires that have full pressure. A hardheaded friend lost 2
brand new Michelins which were not covered by road hazard. An expensive lesson. Rather than try a marathon run at it, I like to diddle-bop a bit at a
time, staring at cacti, rock formations, the occasional amazing man made structure or cascabel slithering across the hard packed gravel.Bajahowodd - 2-21-2012 at 05:27 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
But, as Roberto mentioned, if you go up to the 2 and head over to Ensenada, .
I think you mean Highway 3.
Oops. My bad.BajaBlanca - 2-21-2012 at 06:49 PM
TioPablo - welcome to the baja nomad world !! I recommend the MALARRIMO HOTEL in Guerrero Negro - they have a wonderful curio shop. They have a great
filet mignon at their restaurant.
For whale watching, if that is what you plan to do - visit my friends at MARIO'S, which is the huge palapa on the right side of the road, right before
you get into G NEgro proper ... although MALLARIMO may have their own tour guides ??? I am not sure.
Have a wonderful trip - DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT is the most sage advice we always give first timers .... make sure you gas up in El Rosario as the next
gas station is miles and miles away.coloradoboardheads - 2-21-2012 at 08:12 PM
Hi
We drove down in December. Crossed border at Mexicali at 7:00 AM and arrived GN at about 4:00 PM. So from SF to GN took about 6 hours.
Very good tires, oil dampened shocks, Toyota Tundra full of windsurfing gear. Hard driving. I have a fair amount of backroad driving experience.
If you are not in a hurry, highly recommend stop at Gonzaga Bay as suggested. On return we stayed at Papa's on the beach. Ugly outhouses...beautiful
beach...friendly folks.
Have a blast!Desertbull - 2-21-2012 at 09:08 PM
Geez Roberto! Stop and smell the roses? What the hell? Bwahhhhh...I just took 4 days to wander around the middle of both coasts and a bunch o stuff in
between!
You can make it from GN to the border via San Felipe easily in one day just driving normal, but it's nice to take a breath and poke around a bit while
you stretch you legs for a few minutes.
Enjoy!Sprocket - 2-21-2012 at 10:28 PM
just got back today from this trip. Whales were awesome. GN to turn off I just crused trying to save fuel. my e350 gets 10mpg on a good day. we left
GN at 9am cali time and we were at cocos at 12pm then went on to Alfonsinas for lunch (wierd incounter found couple missing from fallbrook just
kicking it there). had the best shrimp tacos then took off to SF got there at 4pm.
I aired down to 30 but did not want to go lower fearing sidewall damage to tires. I was able to hold 25 to 30 most everywhere. side roads worked out
at times and other times not. so I just kept on the main road.
Came across a f250 just putting problems with diesel engine.
be prepared for major wash board!
have fun.
[Edited on 2-22-2012 by Sprocket]
[Edited on 2-22-2012 by Sprocket]Leo - 2-22-2012 at 07:45 PM
If it's your first time; Yes, smell the sea of C. at Gonzaga (don't think there are many roses). If Alfonsinas takes you. We had a small well behaved
dog for which he gave us a hard time. Asked too much for the night, so we went on because it was fricken cold, blowing in from the south. High tide at
the same time, so we had to drive through the salt water to get there and so un-hospittable.
So we did it in a day, but not by choice. Of course follow David K's advice; take some air out. Makes a world of difference.
Have fun!
