MaxStar - 12-1-2012 at 10:28 AM
Hey guys. We're arriving on Tuesday and hope to be out of the airport and on the road by 5:30 pm. We plan on driving north initially and going through
La Ribera.
So, I guess it'll be getting dark right when we leave the airport. Any suggestions or warnings? Should I shack up for the night and wait until it's
light out?
Thanks
gorgekiter - 12-1-2012 at 11:20 AM
I haven't driven that section for a couple of years, but there were plenty of signs from what I remember. Pretty easy, but since its night time,
don't drive like a rally driver. Only issue will be finding your end location- not a lot of lights in that part of the world.
David K - 12-1-2012 at 11:31 AM
The paved road to La Ribera is just a few miles north of the Big white ball (Tropic of Cancer marker) and the Santiago town junction.
The Bat Cave of Santiago is also reached from the La Ribera highway junction!
MaxStar - 12-1-2012 at 11:43 AM
Great, thanks. I've driven it a few times during the day but thinking about it, I've never driven any kind of significant distance in Baja at night.
Thanks for the input
Osprey - 12-1-2012 at 03:26 PM
Got a neat new B&B here in La Ribera now: $70, Hacienda style.
www.haciendadepalmas.com
bajafreaks - 12-1-2012 at 04:26 PM
Its probably about 30-40 minutes to the La Ribera turn off, you cant miss the signs, you know the issues with driving at night, I would go for it just
drive slower than nomal and dont let your guard down.
SJ to cabo pumo
captkw - 12-1-2012 at 05:05 PM
you can also take the palo escopal (incorrect spelling) road... it start right accross from the airport exit.. not a lot folks know about it,..Shhhhh
!!! K&T 
[Edited on 12-2-2012 by captkw]
El Jefe - 12-1-2012 at 05:17 PM
You wouldn't want to try going through Palo Escopeta and then Vinorama after dark if you have not been that way before. The road has been recently
graded, but finding your way would be dicey. You might end up at the dump. It is so much easier to take the paved road to La Ribera and then south.
Way faster. This is totally doable after dark, but just slow down to about 40 Mph, really 40, and take it easy. Bright headlights coming the other way
and cows on the road are your biggest hazard.
EL JEFE
captkw - 12-1-2012 at 05:44 PM
Hola,, good point about after dark... I didnt think about them on a new road... and you left out 1 road hazard............drunk drivers !!
K&T
Floatflyer - 12-1-2012 at 06:30 PM
From the airport you are looking at 1.5 hrs to Cabo Pulmo. Forget the "Big White Ball" marking the Tropic of Cancer, it is gone and there is some new
construction for a possible replacement. Airport to the turn off to La Ribera at Las Cuevas is 31 miles. Distance from Las Cuevas to Cabo Pulmo is
23 miles.
You will know you are getting close to the turn off from Hwy 1 to the road to La Ribera when you come to the two topes in Las Cuevas, a very small
settlement just before the turn off. There is also a prominent sign pointing to the Cabo Riviera development. From this point there is new asphalt
all the way to La Ribera.
From La Ribera south towards Cabo Pulmo, the road is basically good, BUT there are a couple of sections with bad potholes. At night drive slower and
be on the look out.
From the end of the asphalt, you will have maybe 6 miles to Cabo Pulmo on a dirt road. It was graded recently and is in as good of condition as it
gets.
Have fun! FF
WOW !! I guess I'm a ol'timer !!
captkw - 12-1-2012 at 07:15 PM
Hola,,since when have we used miles in mex ??? thats a first for me..sometimes we use klick"s but not miles...no skin off my back..btw would that be
N/M or S/M LOL...K&T
ps..the route does have some tricky
cruves..Take your sweet time..there where signs that said parque natcinal and when you see the football field veer (turn) to the right.. the pave ment
will end after 5 min. or so then good gravel the rest of the way..If you cant find it...well..what can I say ????
[Edited on 12-2-2012 by captkw]
MaxStar - 12-1-2012 at 09:16 PM
Thanks again guys! I've been the Palo Escopeta way a few times as well but yeah, in the dark I dunno if I'll remember...
woody with a view - 12-1-2012 at 09:21 PM
just go! if the pucker factor is less than 2 you must be in Oakland. remember to report back here just how radical the trail is/was...
hope you score a late season SSE...
CortezBlue - 12-2-2012 at 08:21 AM
Max
We had a similar issue a few weeks ago. Best Western has a brand new hotel next door to the airport. It is really nice and we negotiated a $75 per
night stay. I would highly recommend getting a good nights sleep and a free breakfast and then start your adventure
We did go to Cabo Pulmo, La Ribera and Los Barriles and with all of the wind and cows on the road, what fight it.