BajaNomad

Bus to Guerrero Negro

Iflyfish - 10-22-2012 at 04:02 PM

I am contemplating a bus trip from Tijuana to Guerrero Negro. I have traveled for years on Mexican buses and prefer them to their US counterparts.

I have not been following this site for a while so am out of touch.

I am familiar with and follow the happenings on the mainland and know there have been incidents of late with bus robberies between Mexico City and Queretaro.

I am wondering if this has become a problem in Baja?

Iflyfish

rhintransit - 10-22-2012 at 04:27 PM

no

Iflyfish - 10-22-2012 at 05:25 PM

Excellent! Thanks
Iflyfish

shari - 10-22-2012 at 05:34 PM

when you get some dates in mind, lets work on getting you a ride down...maybe with Sirena or another nomad or nomadette!!! I quite like the bus and the stops it makes not to mention the movies.

DavidE - 10-22-2012 at 05:54 PM

The BIG danger is a bad a REALLY BAD kung foo movie. One of the best purchases I ever made for riding on a Mexican bus is an inflatable pillow. Inflate only to 25% and then jam it against the window sill. The "PLUS" IMHO is the best of the bunch.

Hope this posts I have been having a really bad time connecting.

shari - 10-22-2012 at 07:15 PM

oh yeah, I forgot about the ear plugs I put in to dull the HAYYYYYAAAAAA in the Kung Fu movies!!! I also take my pack or suitcase onto the bus and use it in front of me to put my legs up on to stretch out while watching the movie.

rhintransit - 10-22-2012 at 08:13 PM

I've done buses with armed guards, and been terrified at breakdowns in El Salvador, Guatamala, Honduras. I've slept in razor wire surrounded bus company compounds in Central America. I've felt like kissing the aisles in Tika (Costa Rica) buses when I climbed on after too many days on others. of course I was younger then, but not particularly foolish, just adventurous.
I've had zero concerns about any Mexican buses, other than safety issues. having lived off and on in San Miguel de Allende for several years total, and having frequented the Mexico City-Querretero-SMdA lines, am sorry to hear there are now problems. not surprised, but sorry.
Baja...no worries mon!

thebajarunner - 10-22-2012 at 08:54 PM

Last time we rode from Puebla to DF they showed Gigli
An armed holdup would have been an improvement

toneart - 10-22-2012 at 09:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
I've done buses with armed guards, and been terrified at breakdowns in El Salvador, Guatamala, Honduras. I've slept in razor wire surrounded bus company compounds in Central America. I've felt like kissing the aisles in Tika (Costa Rica) buses when I climbed on after too many days on others. of course I was younger then, but not particularly foolish, just adventurous.
I've had zero concerns about any Mexican buses, other than safety issues. having lived off and on in San Miguel de Allende for several years total, and having frequented the Mexico City-Querretero-SMdA lines, am sorry to hear there are now problems. not surprised, but sorry.
Baja...no worries mon!


I too have traveled extensively on Mexican, Guatemalan and Costa Rican busses. Never had a problem. One time my bus was stopped by a rebel group near Oaxaca. They strung a rope across the road. The bus stopped. They came aboard and made a speech about their cause. They then went up and down the aisle with a can for "donations". There was never a threat of violence.

When did you live in San Miguel de Allende? I wonder if we know each other. I lived there in 1980-1984. I was the trumpet player at Mama Mia's Restaurant the whole time and also had a stained glass studio/gallery there.

Tony

vgabndo - 10-22-2012 at 10:06 PM

I spent 21 hours on an ABC bus overnight to Loreto from TJ to end the "Curse of the Suzuki Sidekick". It could have been fun had I been bright enough to pack food. I also was dressed for Loreto, and froze my arse off all night long. The best part was the movie in the morning was The Alamo, with English subtitles. The Mexicans cheered at all the "wrong" places! It was a cultural mind-bender.:coolup:

Iflyfish - 10-22-2012 at 10:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
when you get some dates in mind, lets work on getting you a ride down...maybe with Sirena or another nomad or nomadette!!! I quite like the bus and the stops it makes not to mention the movies.


Sounds wonderful Shari! At my age and stage comfort and convenience are priorities as are good companions.

I am hoping to come down for the months of Dec, Jan and Feb return in March. I would love to drive down and back with another Nomad!! I can share expenses and some good stories.

I can easily fly to San Diego and link up with someone there.

Great idea!!

Iflyfish

sancho - 10-23-2012 at 10:18 AM

I've bussed TJ/La Paz a few times, leaving from
the Central Bus Station in TJ, about 4 mi. east of
the border, as opposed to the
small bus station 2 blks from the border. I take a
TJ city bus out to the Central Station instead of a
taxi, city bus $.40, taxi $12 +, Autotransportes de
Baja Calif has run the peninsula for yrs., don't know
if there is another Bus Co or not
Drivers are professional, they do not drive
recklessly, they know Hwy 1 better than any Gringo,
bus travel in Mex stopped being cheap 20 yrs,
ago, but to La Paz maybe $140 dlls, one way,
guessing G Negro $80 mas o menos

[Edited on 10-23-2012 by sancho]

busses

captkw - 10-23-2012 at 10:26 AM

And they do FLY !!! them things scream down and up baja!! just Hope your driver isnt disgrunted and decides before he loses his job decides to plow headon into another bus !! happened a few years ago when I was heading down and wasnt pretty !!!! and the wind shear can be a major thing to deal with as they pass !!!! can almost blow you off the "ROAD" I have never rode on one But have been told often Its great and cheap !!! K&T:cool:

Alm - 10-25-2012 at 07:58 PM

Yes, for direct bus go to Tijuana Camionera Central (aka Tijuana Otay). From small station near the border they only run buses to Ensenada where you have to make a switch.

ABC - Autotransportes de BC or Autobuses de BC, whatever it's called now - is the only game in town, I think. There used to be Aguilla as well, may be still is. In any event, there is just 4 or 5 buses a day on that route. Check ABC schedule: http://www.abc.com.mx/ - slow server, be patient with menus.

Haven't had and haven't heard of any bus robberies in BCN/BCS. You will see military checkpoints, though, and will probably have to show your ID and open the bags (keep an eye on your belongings). Mostly they check buses going North.

Not bad for comfort, bus washroom can be in poor shape, but they make pit stops and lunch/dinner stops.

Tickets cost the same or slightly cheaper than Greyhound on the same distance North of the border. For one person it's probably cheaper than gas + car wear. They have senior discounts, if my memory doesn't fail me (I'm not in this league yet).

Kungfu movies are probably 1/10 probability, usually they run same boring stuff as Greyhound in the US and Canada, only in Spanish. They won't run any movies after 12 pm, but sleeping on bumpy Baja road is compromised anyway. Get some sweater and/or throw, it can get cold in the night, depending where you are in the bus. Seats numbers are assigned - they are not some "chicken buses" from 1950s. Normal tourist buses with aircondition.

[Edited on 10-26-2012 by Alm]

Iflyfish - 10-25-2012 at 08:07 PM

Gracias amigos

Iflyfish

wilderone - 10-26-2012 at 10:03 AM

Bus fare to GN one way will be about 1005 pesos - about $80 USD. The central bus terminal is not the Otay (airport) location, but the Colonia la Mesa location. A taxi will cost $8.00 USD from the SY border. Take some 1 peso/2 peso coins for pay restrooms off the bus (they're 4 or 5 pesos, but worth it), plus your own toilet paper and soap.

Alm - 10-26-2012 at 12:48 PM

I saw the location for Camionera Central called "Otay Mesa" - so it was neither Otay, nor Mesa :) ... On another occasion it was called "East Otay". Go figure.

Mexican cabbies from SY to Camionera Central are inconsistent in price, can be anywhere from $8 to $15, though it's a short ride. There is also a public transit bus from the border to Camionera, $1 or so.

When flying in to SD, the cheapest way to Camionera Central is taking a cab to Greyhound terminal (a short ride $15 or so) and then Greyhound to Camionera Central for $8. When you buy a ticket at the SD Greyhound terminal, the "Camionera Central" is simply called "Tijuana terminal'. Greyhound bus gets pretty fast to SY, same fast as a taxi, but then it stops for 40-60 minutes to pick up passengers on the US side, and then another 20 minutes to play the "green/red lottery" at the border. Then it gets to Camionera in roughly 10 minutes. So plan about 2-3 hours total from SD to Camionera, including waiting for Greyhound at SD terminal.

Taking a cab from SD airport straight to SY could save time (compared to taxi+Greyhound), but only if you are either
a) lucky enough to catch the Greyhound at SY without waiting for an hour or two, or
b) walk through the turnstile and grab a mexican cab to Camionera Central.
Otherwise, taxi from SD airport to SY ($60?) takes about same long as taxi to SD Greyhound terminal and then Greyhound to SY.

Oh yeah, one more thing - Greyhound is charging same $8 to Camionera no matter whether you are getting in at SD terminal or at SY. The only difference is that they don't allow too much luggage at SD terminal even for extra pay (50 lbs max, I think) - while in SY you can load any weight in the same bus.

[Edited on 10-26-2012 by Alm]

wilderone - 10-28-2012 at 01:24 PM

The Greyhound bus in San Diego (on National Avenue) charges $17.50 to the central bus station in TJ. Cheapest and fastest way to Camionera Central is to take the trolley to the border, walk across, and take a taxi to the bus station. Tell the taxi driver you will pay $8. They will take $8.00. It will take about 1 hour from a downtown San Diego trolley station to the ABC ticket counter in TJ.
On the return trip, however, the Greyhound bus from the TJ bus station is a great option, costs $12 cash, is comfortable and air conditioned while sitting in the border line. You will walk across the border, and then wait for another bus on the SY side. No problem - the wait is about 10 minutes.
I just did this twice in the last 5 weeks.
PS: There is no currency exchange place at the TJ central bus station; there is an ATM machine which will charge over $5 USD in "comision". The restroom is 4 pesos.