BajaNomad - Driving to Cabo suggestions

Driving to Cabo suggestions

nobaddays - 9-3-2012 at 03:46 PM

We are driving to Cabo San Lucas in late October. We planned on leaving Los Angeles at b 4:00am on a Tuesday, driving straight through to Santa Rosalia. Then 6:00am the next day to Cabo. We now may have to leave on a Sunday. What are you experienced Baja drivers thoughts on this? I know there is more traffic on a Sunday but less trucks right? Also maybe we would just go to San Ignacio. What are your thoughts??? Thanks

[Edited on 9-3-2012 by nobaddays]

RnR - 9-3-2012 at 03:50 PM

Three days!

Good Luck.

DavidE - 9-3-2012 at 04:15 PM

Let's see, if you put someone looking to the rear with binoculars and go 90 miles an hour, you'll get to the border in an hour and something. Somehow you'll have to convince immigration to open their office and in a big rush to boot. Get your tourist cards, go like a mad hatter around Tijuana and 75 miles later end up in Ensenada. Another two hours with absolute pure luck. Count on a full half hour to forty minutes getting through Ensenada down to Maneadero. An hour forty five minutes to San Quintín at Warp 10. Yell at the marinas at the puesto de control just north of El Rosario to "hurry up". Otherwise you'll lose 15 minutes without moving. Gas up in El Rosario. Oh jeez, you'll have to make up lost time and go almost twice the speed limit and average 88 miles an hour until you run into the traffic barriers on La Cuesta del Diablo.

All the above was penned with an intent of good humor to let you know you face huge obstacles on your 2-days to get to Cabo San Lucas quest.

Oh Jeez, I forgot about the inspection, spraying and then the tourist papers guy at the 28th parallel. Oh well.

oxxo - 9-3-2012 at 04:16 PM

I suggest leaving LA around 5am on Sunday (no traffic on 405 and much less traffic in north Baja on Sunday) Arrive in Guererro Negro about 6 or 7pm. Leave GN at 6am and arrive in CSL around 6pm. We do it all the time, 2 or 3 times a year.

We average 55 mph including stops for fuel and food. We drive 25 mph through the pueblos and around 70 mph out in the middle of nowhere. In 7 years of driving this route (about 20 round trips), I have never been asked for papers at the 28th parallel. Miltary stops going south are cursory at best. Usually it is "where are you going and are you on vacation." No sweat.

[Edited on 9-3-2012 by oxxo]

willardguy - 9-3-2012 at 04:19 PM

amnesia will still be open a day later! :coolup:

Wally - 9-3-2012 at 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oxxo
I suggest leaving LA around 5am on Sunday (no traffic on 405 and much less traffic in north Baja on Sunday) Arrive in Guererro Negro about 6 or 7pm. Leave GN at 6am and arrive in CSL around 6pm. We do it all the time, 2 or 3 times a year.

We average 55 mph including stops for fuel and food. We drive 25 mph through the pueblos and around 70 mph out in the middle of nowhere. In 7 years of driving this route (about 20 round trips), I have never been asked for papers at the 28th parallel. Miltary stops going south are cursory at best. Usually it is "where are you going and are you on vacation." No sweat.

[Edited on 9-3-2012 by oxxo]

x2

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Ateo - 9-3-2012 at 04:50 PM

I think Santa Rosalia is impossible from LA unless you drive at night.

I leave Encinitas around 5AM and usually get into San Ignacio as the sun is setting. October days are shorter.....

shari - 9-3-2012 at 04:59 PM

You can make it perhaps in daylight to San Ignacio but that stretch from Ignacio to Sta.Rosalia is a very treacherous, desolate stretch of road...particularly around Bonfil where there is alot of cattle on the road and big rigs on the mountain pass....not real smart to drive it at dusk or dark so my vote is to stay in San Ignacio the first night.

nobaddays - 9-3-2012 at 05:05 PM

OXXO your post is very helpful. I drove 4 years ago in March before daylight savings. We left Manhattan Beach at 4:00am arrived in Manaedero about 8:30 am, San Ignacio at dusk and drove between two busses for an hour or so into Santa Rosalia. We were not speeding, driving a 4 cylinder jeep. We only stopped for gas never to eat. Arrived in Cabo after a night at EL Morro hotel around 4:00pm. It is very doable. This time we will be in a Cadillac Escalde EXT.

maspacifico - 9-3-2012 at 05:10 PM

San Ysidro at 6AM on Sunday is the best....especially if you are carrying things. Get through Ensenada before it's a mess and San Quentin isn't quite up yet. I push to San Ignacio and treat myself to the Desert Inn or whatever they are calling themselves now. Dawn from San Ignacio to Cabo San Lucas is easy. For me, trying for Santa Rosalia is pushing it and not worth the 1 1/2 hour you save....and the hotels aren't as good. New highway between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas is sweet.

Of course my wife wants to stop at all the places I've seen 40 years before!

acadist - 9-3-2012 at 05:14 PM

I used to like to cross in the middle of the night and hit San Tomas by daybreak and have made it to Mulege and even Loreto in one day. That has changed now that the immigration office to get your visa does not open until 7 am. Guerrero Negro is a good day 1 stop. I only go to La Paz and can do this on day 2, then have an easy day 3 and roll into Cabo early. 3 days is very do-able.

maspacifico - 9-3-2012 at 05:32 PM

Didn't know the immigration office in San Ysidro doesn't open til 7....is that for sure? Used to be you had to knock on the door but someone would answer! The main one behind the inspection stations? I'm on an FM2 and don't sign "out" unless I fly out, then I need that stamp to return. Might be confusing the original question!!

DavidE - 9-3-2012 at 05:37 PM

The INM guy was there this morning at 0945 chatting with the sprayers. I got asked in March and showed them my inmigrado card only to get a 15 second lecture about the illegality of an inmigrado driving a foreign plated car.

nobaddays - 9-3-2012 at 07:14 PM

Very good advice and Shari we will stop at San Ignacio.

ARE YOU NUT'S ??

captkw - 9-3-2012 at 07:24 PM

HOLA..THIS ONLY MY THOUGHTS ON TRYING TO MAKE SUCH A FOOLISH PLAN AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE ROAD AWHILE (77) WHY ARE YOU IN SUCH A HURRY ?????? BIKES AND CRAZY DRIVERS DONT LAST LONG ON THIS ROAD !!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT A COKE CURVE IS??...BUT THIS IS MY OWN THOUGHTS AND PLEASE DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT..TO HELL WITH ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD K&T :rolleyes:

vivaloha - 9-3-2012 at 10:15 PM

Cruise daytime only - mo Bettah - the journey Is the destination

Marc - 9-3-2012 at 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vivaloha
Cruise daytime only - mo Bettah - the journey Is the destination

Alm - 9-7-2012 at 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nobaddays
I drove 4 years ago in March before daylight savings. We left Manhattan Beach at 4:00am arrived in Manaedero about 8:30 am

Confusion indeed. What will be your status in this next planned trip? Do you have to get FMT and pay for it, or stamp whatever you have? INM doesn't issue visas 24/7, they only "process" it 24/7, meaning - let you through if your papers are OK. If they are not - and you have to either obtain it or pay for - I am not sure about dashing through the border at 4 am. Driving before/after dark is a crazy idea anyway, 90% of time.

Bob and Susan - 9-7-2012 at 04:55 PM

i drive from the border home to mulege all the time...one day...cross at 7am

leaving LA at 4am puts you crossing the border at 7am easily

you'll be in santa rosalia in 13 hours
with a stop at mcdonalds in ensenada

you WILL slow down after dark and
remember you lose an hour when you pass Guerrero Negro

add one hour if women on board

figure 9- 10 hours to cabo the next day

edit: to avoid the spelling police

[Edited on 9-8-2012 by Bob and Susan]

bigmike58 - 9-8-2012 at 08:22 AM

I may need to see a doctor as I find myself agreeing with Bob on this one!!LOL :lol:

We leave the Hemet area at 4:30am hit Border at 6am (imigration had just opened) pulled into Mulege at 7:30pm... no night driving in Baja this way.

The above times included 2 girls (+1.5 hrs) and imigration (+ 15 min.) I have made the trip without women/imigration/food only fuel and donuts and arrived by 5:30pm... (only speeding in the wide open areas between El Rosario and Vizcano?sp).. This does include the time and money well spent getting my truck sprayed at the BCS border, (note to Cortez Blue- border-not boarder) :lol: