BajaNomad - bus company in english

bus company in english

bcguys - 4-30-2013 at 09:44 AM

Hi
After spending some time looking into flying from Loreto to Cabo san Lucas or renting a car (Huge charge for one way) we have decided on taking one of those very comfortable, high end buses (one way from Loreto to Cabo). Is there a web site in english and can I safely book ahead of time or is it more advisable to book when we land in Loreto. Thanks again for all the good advice. Janice

DENNIS - 4-30-2013 at 10:27 AM

A name for the bus company would help.

bajalinda - 4-30-2013 at 10:28 AM

www.ecobajatours.com Their website is in Spanish and English. Can't speak for Loreto, but their shuttle from La Paz to the Los Cabos airport fills up pretty quickly. If you are going to be in Loreto for a week or or more before going to Cabo, you could probably wait to book. If not, I'd suggest that you book in advance online. Perhaps someone from Loreto will chime in here.....

bcguys - 4-30-2013 at 11:27 AM

Thanks. I have looked at ABC buses, I believe. I don't think there are many that are high end and only making a few stops between those two spots.

vandenberg - 4-30-2013 at 11:37 AM

Ecobajatours website shows travel One way from Loreto to La Paz malecon at 685 pesos and La Paz to Cabo at 290 pesos. No direct travel from Loreto to Cabo. Need to transfer in La Paz. They do have nice equipment.

http://ecobajatours.com

[Edited on 4-30-2013 by vandenberg]

bcguys - 4-30-2013 at 11:38 AM

Would it be faster or could we get in earlier if we change buses in La Paz. We will be staying in Villa del Arco (near the Marina of Cabo) and I imagine this shuttle (ecobajatours)wouldn't make stops except to the airport. Thanks for the help. I am working on my Spanish but I need the extra help right now.

Bob and Susan - 4-30-2013 at 12:06 PM

i'd just take the ABC or aquilla bus...

they run on a schedule and
as for high end...hahaha they are all buses

I just rode north again on a bus...not too bad

I wouldn't buy a ticket in advance...hard to get a refund
just wait till you get there then ride

it is the way people ride up and down Baja
its fine and safe

bajalinda - 4-30-2013 at 02:16 PM

bcguys - you said "high-end" that's why I pointed you to ecobajatours. Their vehicles are actually vans (about 7 passengers) rather than busses. They are new, very comfortable and have computer connections, A/C, & movies on board too.

As Bob & Susan point out your other option is the Aguila or ABC bus. These are full-size busses - like Greyhound-size. The Aguila busses are also comfortable, have A/C, and movies too. I've never taken an ABC bus, but the Aguila bus is fine. Just get your ticket at the bus station in Loreto. (And either Aguila or ABC will probably take you farther into Cabo than the ecotour van. )

DavidE - 4-30-2013 at 02:32 PM

Fer cryingoutloud!

Loreto to San Lucas? Try Tijuana to Tapachula! The former is a short jaunt.

Big drawback to buses is not being able to sight-see good straight ahead. Let's you revisit "Five Fingers of Death" and "Enter The Dragon". I like Kindle or Nook because I can amplify the font and read. Things jiggle too bad with an ordinary book.

Take headphones. Better than listening to "The Slayer of Sonora and his Road Apples" from someone's boom box.

Pack an insulated bag with stuff from a Loreto market. Places to eat near bus stations are well aware of their lucrative location.

rhintransit - 4-30-2013 at 03:59 PM

Baja is not known for high end buses. two regular lines..ABC or Aguilar...whatever is leaving around the time you want to go. be sure to get an express bus. whatever it is, it's not going to stop at your hotel. it may or may not have functional seats. generally the ac works, too well, take a sweater and socks. the movies are violent but you don't need to watch. sound is loud. you neighbors may keep all the curtains drawn so your view may be limited to your side window or peering past the driver. southbound, I recommend the driver's side. ask for a seat in the front of the bus. don't accept one near the rear/toilet. you're going to want to avoid the toilet. also the bus depot toilets, but they generally work and are your only choice. take food/drink. you can buy water, soft drinks, candy, chips at the stops if you want

best tourist bet is Ecobaja. you can catch a bus from Loreto to the La Paz malecon then transfer to a bus to Cabo. there is no direct Ecobaja bus. total cost is around 875 pesos. they have an english website.

Marc - 4-30-2013 at 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
i'd just take the ABC or aquilla bus...

they run on a schedule and
as for high end...hahaha they are all buses

I just rode north again on a bus...not too bad

I wouldn't buy a ticket in advance...hard to get a refund
just wait till you get there then ride

it is the way people ride up and down Baja

its fine and safe

And it's fun! One of my ex wives and I did a bit of bus touring. She was a great sport

[Edited on 5-1-2013 by Marc]

Pompano - 5-1-2013 at 07:46 AM

Hola bcguys, I agree with Marc...taking a Baja bus CAN be a lot of fun....and always an adventure for your money. Just thinking about my own experience makes me smile.

Here's a light-hearted account I penned about a certain bus trip in Baja. Hope it helps to give you some perspective for your travel plans. Have fun..

The Bus

Back in September I took the ABC bus from Mulege to Tijuana.

It was scheduled to leave at 6:30 and I only had to wait until 7:30 for it to show up. (I figured I saved lots of dinero by missing an hour at Jungle Jims cantina.)

I was assigned a seat next to a window, which I liked. There are 2 seats side by side.. Cushy seats much like an airliner...reclining with armrests too. Per advice from those had gone before me, I had brought my own down pillow and fleece blanket. (The AC works very well...brrrr)

I took my seat with the seat next to me stayed empty for some time.

The bus began it's journey north...and the 2 nice Mexican ladies directly behind me talked of things of the day. Nice idle chatter of nothing and everything.

The coach was about half full to start, but quickly filled as we drove north. Remember, this was September in Baja and it was hotter than the Gates of Hell...yet the AC was so cold I was elated I had my warm fleece blanket and pillow with me.

We made the regular stops at Sta. Rosalia..dropping off a few, picking up more...and roared off up the Baja Road. The driver was very skillful and there was no quick braking or swaying in the turns.

We rolled on..the senoras behind me talking about one of the son's and his new wife...at least from what I overheard...but then it MAY have been a daughter and the lazy hombre who talked her into marriage.

The whole trip from Mulege to Tijuana was going to take 16 hours and it cost me $1100 pesos. I was traveling fairly light and only had my laptop w/case and one small bag...plus my pillow and bedroll.

I am tall..about 6'2" ...and sport a 'couple' extra pounds... and had stretched out onto the adjoining empty seat a bit to accommodate my frame. It was quite comfy. Until the next stop when a youngish senorita came aboard, walked down the aisle looking at her stub and the numbers above the seat pairs. She had the aisle seat next to me. I hastily moved my laptop elsewhere and motioned her to sit, which she did.

The bus rumbled on into the night...it was now about 11 pm. One of the movies we had already watched was Daffy Duck destroys Godzilla and The Giant Moth..I think. A classic for sure. The senorita next to me had now pulled most of my warm fleece blanket over her...leaving me shivering into my pillow. The ladies behind were now discussing something about relatives in Guaymas.

I somehow managed to ram some metal seat lever into my rectum as I was squirming to ease my old back injury. That made me jolt back against the young lady next to me, who awoke thinking most likely that the Old Gringo was groping her. This got everyone's attention on the bus away from the Dracula movie and onto me...sigh. I managed to allay the senorita's fears and offered her my soft down pillow to go with the warm fleece blanket.

The ladies behind were now talking about me.

The bus stops at the El Rosario bus stop and cafe in the middle of the night...quite a few people get off to have a snack or coffee. Looks very dark out there. Might even be some night fog. Not hungry or thirsty, I stayed put..as did the bundled-up sleeping senorita and the 2 ladies behind me. At least the talk had moved from me back to thier family issues.

We get underway after the 20 minute stop and then I realize I should have taken the bus stop's restroom opportunity. Ah, but this bus has a bathroom! But..shoot.. I had to wake the young lady to get past her. The blanket was firmly wrapped around her and she had a little problem getting free to let me by. The bus was now rocketing along at a pretty good clip, now taking some sharp turns, and I had to grab the overhead lockers to make my way aft...that's the rear, you know.

I knew I was getting closer to the bathroom because of the increasing smells wafting out of the blackness..whew. There were some green looking people sitting back there, and I thought.."These poor people are being punished for some reason. Why else would they be assigned seats next to this stinkpot?"

I open the door and squeeze inside..holding my breath...and somehow manage to shut the door behind me...had to slam it shut to make it latch. I had turned on the light, but quickly turned it off again...not a pretty sight, I can assure you. Luckily my business was to be done standing.

The bus was now really taking some sharp turns and the motion made me brace myself with both arms and hands outstretched to the narrow walls of the black dungeon..bathroom. Even braced as I was, I still got jostled a bit from side to side and then flung forward when the bus braked. I am fairly sure I had been making contact into the toilet and not the sink. I tried to listen to water sounds, but the ladies talking back in the coach interferred with my hearing ability, which is not good to start with in these noisy quarters.

I finished my business, zipping up, and turned to grasp the door latch...which was stuck.... and refused to open. Carumba! Now what the hell? I pushed and pulled and pounded, but nada..stuck..stuck in a stinking toilet and we're going to crash and I will be dead and covered with
..and then the door opens, thanks to a kind senor who I must have woke up with the pounding.

I weave my way back to the warmly-covered sleeping senorita who looks to be drooling into my pillow. The ladies are now talking about me again.Some other passengers are glaring at the ladies in a not-so-friendly way.

The night drags on as we slowly come off the mountains and race towards San Quentin, then make more fast miles towards Ensenada...almost dawn now. A brief stop, then on the tollroad towards Tijuana. Ladies go back to talking family..I feel like I know them all by now. Other busfolks nearby are not too happy with the gossipers.

We pull into the Tijuana bus terminal...about 16 hours after leaving Mulege..and me without a minute of sleep. Nor did the 2 ladies behind sleep. They were still talking. As the bus stopped and everything shut down, it got a little more quiet inside the bus..the lull just before everyone stands up and starts collecting baggage from the overheads and below the seats.

I stood up..turned around and faced the 2 ladies who were still chattering away. (I had learned a bit of slang some years back from my housekeeper, Carmen, who has a terrific sense of humor.) So standing facing the senoras, I made yapping motions with both hands..forefinger tapping thumb..and said with a grin, "Weedy, weedy, weedy." That brought laughs and clapping from the other passengers. The ladies were laughing a bit, too.

Carmen had told me that it meant ...'what people do when they gossip a lot.'

Ah..buses. Did I ever tell you about the time when my bus rolled and I was taken off the relief bus at gunpoint ...oh, I did?

motoged - 5-1-2013 at 11:54 AM

Roger,
GREAT story :biggrin:

Now, I am sure that any , uh, "inadvertant" frottage with the senorita was solely by accident (How does one say "potential co-pilot" en espagnol?) :saint:

We are all waiting for the gunpoint story......please. :coolup:

bcguys - 5-1-2013 at 01:06 PM

WOW. I did not exspect so much info. Thanks to everyone. We have traveled before by bus from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara. I will check out. thanks again Janice

bcguys - 5-2-2013 at 10:58 AM

It looks like we are going to book the Ecobajatours van. We have a lay over for 4 hours in La Paz which we do not mind because we have not visited La Paz. The van company said they can secure our luggage until we head off on the van to Cabo. I know Malecon restaurants can be exspensive and we do not eat at Senior Frogs :barf:

. Can someone suggest a decent mexican or seafood restaurant (fish tacos) not too far from this place on the Malecon. Unfortunately I can not walk far with my back and knees but we would like to relax, eat and stretch. Thanks again Janice

Bob and Susan - 5-2-2013 at 12:59 PM

the city is along way from the airport

a taxi can easily cost $25 us just to get off the tar-mac

bcguys - 5-2-2013 at 02:23 PM

The Ecobajatours said they have an office at the Malecon in La Paz and we will dropped off at Golden Plaza near the marina in Cabo so I think we will be okay. I guess they don't only drive to the airports.

vandenberg - 5-2-2013 at 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bcguys
It looks like we are going to book the Ecobajatours van. We have a lay over for 4 hours in La Paz which we do not mind because we have not visited La Paz. The van company said they can secure our luggage until we head off on the van to Cabo. I know Malecon restaurants can be exspensive and we do not eat at Senior Frogs :barf:

Since the terminal is on the Malecon between Independencia and cinco de Mayo, you have several choices. Kiwis across the street, right on the beach (not bad) Palermo, upscale, expensive, La Perla, an excellent place to relax and do some people watching. And many more at reasonable prices.
Enjoy yourselves

[Edited on 5-2-2013 by vandenberg]

bcguys - 5-3-2013 at 11:14 AM

Thank you very much vandenberg for the suggestions, I will check these out. Janice

rufflife - 5-8-2013 at 03:11 PM

I have used the Eco Baja Tours vans - And would happily do so again! They are not that expensive, you can purchase your tickets in advance, and they are much more comfortable than the bus. They are affiliated with Aguila, so I would not be surprised if they kept expanding their routes.

BajaBlanca - 5-8-2013 at 03:24 PM

On our drive home yesterday, i saw Brand New amazinglooking AGUiLA buses.

DavidE - 5-8-2013 at 04:20 PM

The wheelbase on a long bus puts a totally different aspect on ride comfort as compared to a van. Potholes that would fracture your spine in a van are barely felt in a big bus. My big issue in a bus is the lack of ability to see forward. Jackie Chan be damned.

Alm - 5-10-2013 at 07:44 PM

Quote:

Ditto. They are all buses. ABC/Aguilla run normal airconditioned Volvo buses. TAD better than Greyhound lines north of the border, more leg room. The stops are rather infrequent, and the speed is the same as anybody else on the road, i.e. very fast.