BajaNomad

Driving from Houston to Cabo

measomsan - 12-26-2012 at 03:19 PM

I have driven from T J to Cabo but never all the way from Texas. IS Mexicali thru San Felipe as good highway as going thru let's say Tecate accross to highway 1

Might be riding solo so any info would help

David K - 12-26-2012 at 03:47 PM

UMM, nope... but shorter and more scenic!

There is a gap of 45-50 unpaved miles north of Gonzaga Bay to Laguna Chapala on Hwy. 1.

The highway between San Felipe and Puertecitos (52 miles) is also a slow road with many steep dips (vados).

The unpaved section is graded and 2WD is all you need, but it is not all smooth... so don't be in any kind of hurry... and no RVs or trailers unless they are off road prep'd!

measomsan - 12-26-2012 at 06:06 PM

WOW thanks..new truck extra gas on board...might do that route

bkbend - 12-26-2012 at 07:02 PM

Once you get to Hwy 1 your closest lodging will be Guerrero Negro. Days will be short for a several more weeks. I think if you are just making miles you could make it or get real close from the border to GN in daylight. If you need FMM, food, groceries, bank, and/or want to stop and smell the roses you might need to think about lodging before you leave Gonzaga Bay.

honda tom - 12-26-2012 at 07:35 PM

San Felipe or Gonzaga to GN are both easily doable in a day, but a night at Gonzaga is always nice.

Marc - 12-26-2012 at 07:57 PM

Go on Mex5 to San Felipe and Gonzaga via Mexicali or Algodones (Yuma) to connect to Mex5. Avoid Mex2 because of miles of road work.

Bajafun777 - 12-26-2012 at 08:56 PM

If you are coming from Houston why don't you cross into Mexico at Nogales and drive down to Los Mochis, as the toll road is great from Nogales to Los Mochis. Spend the night in Los Mochis many places to stay there and then go to Topolobampo to where you can catch the Baja Ferry to La Paz which is 6 hour ride but not bad at all. Then at La Paz you have a four lane road to Todo Santos and then onward to Cabo. They have made more lanes going from Todo Santos on down to Cabo but not sure if completed yet. So you would still enjoy Baja but you would save a lot of time taking this travel route.

Go online and get the $12 dollar map showing everything even where the raised road bumps that are called topos are. The map also has explainations on each town before you get to them, along with where the upcoming toll booths are, the Federal Car checks are, military checks are, agriculture checks are etc. It is found online at ontheroadin.com great map and if going solo you can't get lost. I have taken this route about 8 times without any problems and it is safe along with you can travel at 65, however most of the people travel at 70 to 80 without any problems good visability. If you still want to do the whole Baja travel thing you can do it going back up to San Diego from Cabo, just a suggestion. Take Care & Travel Safe-----"No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777

Drive...Stop...Eat

Ken Cooke - 12-26-2012 at 10:05 PM

If it was me, I would take I-10 to I-8. Take a break in San Diego for a day. Great restaurants in Old Town, San Diego. Home made Tortillas, Yummy!

Take I-5 south, visit Discover Baja, Baja Bound, or any of your favorite Baja Insurance retailers, and enjoy the beautiful drive past Tijuana to Ensenada.

Brunch south of Rosarito Beach in Puerto Nuevo. Yummy!

Run down to El Rosario (Baja Cactus!). Have your top floor room reserved, and eat a great meal at Mama Espinozas.

Stop for lunch in Jesus Maria (north of Guerrero Negro) for some Tamales at The Tamale Lady (tamale stand). Eat again at Rice and Beans restaurant, San Ignacio. Drive some more...Stop...Eat again.

Bajafun777 - 12-26-2012 at 11:18 PM

Ken, since he had already driven from T.J. to Cabo maybe a change of flavor was on his mind just giving him something to consider. It would give him a chance to experience mainland along with putting his vehicle on the baja ferry while relaxing cutting across the water from Topolobampo to La Paz. The ferrry is something that I would encourage everyone to experience at least once as it is really clean and well staffed. I do agree that he needs to get insurance before he travels down and he needs to get his Mexico tourista card and car visa. However, Baja is always fun so he could still drive back up from Cabo to San Diego and experience it all. Take Care & Travel Safe------"No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777

David K - 12-27-2012 at 09:49 AM

Why not Guaymas to Santa Rosalia Ferry? Then he wouldn't need the $$$ bond on importing his vehicle to mainland Mexico (required south of Guaymas)... Nice that Baja (and NW Sonora) is exempt!

I still think the drive to Gonzaga Bay is the best choice is cheaper! Plus a possible meeting with Coco!

measomsan - 12-27-2012 at 10:10 AM

lot's of good info. thanks not going till last week in jan

805gregg - 12-27-2012 at 06:51 PM

It's probably cheaper to fly, check.

measomsan - 12-27-2012 at 07:24 PM

true that but an able to see what I want..bucket list. My neighbor in Cabo has been coming down for almost 20ty years. So I am the new guy. So he has never driven the east side. he is willing to fly up and drive with me. I' m no Pus--y but friend driving is kinda cool. anyway...looking at driving the east side :P

Bajafun777 - 12-27-2012 at 07:47 PM

David K, I haven't used the Ferry from Guaymas to Santa Rosalia so not sure how that Ferry is in size or condition. I would have to use something or have a friend that tried it telling it was good before recommending to someone else. However, having said that I might have to try that one of these times when I am driving mainland and jumping back over to Baja and not in a hurry to where the two lane Baja route is just too tiring on me at times.

You have to be paying attention on Baja roads very closely as compared to the easier driving on mainland toll roads. Seems like the easy "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN Trips" always has someone or something making it a more rushed trip taking the FUN out of it. When I drive down to Cabo I prefer giving myself 3 easy days of driving, so we can pull over to check things out on the way down and not pushing it like doing it in 2 days or less just too stressful.

If anyone has taken the Ferry from Guaymas to Santa Rosalia I would like to hear about their experiences in doing it. I use to have a boss that had married a Mexican National that was an attorney who owned a hotel in Guaymas. They loved it in Guaymas and really enjoyed being at their hotel when not chasing their professional careers. Take Care & Travel Safe---"No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777

David K - 12-27-2012 at 11:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajafun777
David K, I haven't used the Ferry from Guaymas to Santa Rosalia so not sure how that Ferry is in size or condition. I would have to use something or have a friend that tried it telling it was good before recommending to someone else. However, having said that I might have to try that one of these times when I am driving mainland and jumping back over to Baja and not in a hurry to where the two lane Baja route is just too tiring on me at times.

You have to be paying attention on Baja roads very closely as compared to the easier driving on mainland toll roads. Seems like the easy "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN Trips" always has someone or something making it a more rushed trip taking the FUN out of it. When I drive down to Cabo I prefer giving myself 3 easy days of driving, so we can pull over to check things out on the way down and not pushing it like doing it in 2 days or less just too stressful.

If anyone has taken the Ferry from Guaymas to Santa Rosalia I would like to hear about their experiences in doing it. I use to have a boss that had married a Mexican National that was an attorney who owned a hotel in Guaymas. They loved it in Guaymas and really enjoyed being at their hotel when not chasing their professional careers. Take Care & Travel Safe---"No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777


Here's a nice report with photos from 6 months ago: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=60976

BajaBlanca - 12-28-2012 at 06:02 PM

you're going to have an amazing trip - very smart to get different opinions !

Bajafun777 - 12-29-2012 at 12:48 AM

David K, checked out the report and this ferry ride did not even come close to the one from Topolobampo to La Paz, as a much better ferry in comparing what was written here. I will still probably check it out on one of my trips just to add it on to my bucket list which always seems to have additions and deletions, LOL. Take Care & Travel Safe-------"No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777

measomsan - 12-29-2012 at 07:35 AM

just looking at the ferry option from Ferry Guaymas to Santa Rosalia Mexico

looks like a streight shot down Tucon on hwy 15 to Guaymas. Does anyone know th drive time from the boarder to Guaymas ? and does this ferry still run?

I can not recall if Santa Rosalia in after the Plunge. Would hate not to see that again and this time stop and photo up. had a photo business for years then a divorce and did not pic a camera up again till the last few years, happly married again just fyi. My wife will be flying to Cabo with the dog so it is just me and maybe a buddy. anyway thanks in advance

RnR - 12-29-2012 at 07:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by measomsan

I can not recall if Santa Rosalia in after the Plunge. Would hate not to see that again and this time stop and photo up


The port of Santa Rosalia is about 8 miles south of the "Plunge".

Just make a small side trip back towards the north to re-experience it. However, there are only one or two places along the grade to pull over, stop, and take a picture.

measomsan - 12-29-2012 at 08:11 AM

Thanks for that. I don't recall to many places to stop, but dam, sure would like to catch that in a couple of good frames

measomsan - 12-29-2012 at 08:25 AM

one more if I might. The boarder crossing there. Compared to TJ or the others, about the same? crime much different if you have heard. Will pass thru early in the morning and should be out of town I would think in a 1/2 hr. just guessing on that part. looks like a major hwy all the way down

David K - 12-29-2012 at 11:12 AM

Border crossing where.. south of Tucson?

If yes, that has got to be a breeze compared to Tijuana (the world's busiest border crossing).

The 'Plunge' (Cuesta del Infierno) was widened and re-paved last summer... still steep, but safer now.