BajaNomad

bus tj to la paz

1Bajalover - 11-18-2013 at 01:49 PM

does anyone know the price of taking the bus
from TJ to Mulege and then on to La Paz - one
way?
I appreciate as there are mixed prices online
thanks!

Udo - 11-18-2013 at 02:44 PM

Last I heard from an acquaintance was that the cost was close to $200,00US. Plus it took two to three days, depending on the bus line.

apple - 11-18-2013 at 04:00 PM

I'd be curious to know too, but i'm sure the flight ($135-145) is definitely worth the extra $100.

I rode the bus about 9 years ago and it was interesting for a bit, but having to get off the bus in the middle of the night at checkpoints sucked.

DaliDali - 11-18-2013 at 04:48 PM

It's about <1000> pesos from TJ to Loreto.

I did it ONCE.....never again unless there is no other choice.

Uncomfortable seating.....my hind end was screaming by the time we got Ensenada.
Impossible to nod off because the bus pitches back and forth down the road, dislodging your head from the seat back.
It's cold......a lap blanket is needed.
A normal bus stop is non existent..it's wherever a person wants to get off or flag down the driver. And then there are "normally" scheduled stops all along the route, including a "lunch" stop that lasted nearly an hour.

From the Otay area in TJ, to Loreto took 21 hours all in.

Avoid it if at all possible.

sancho - 11-18-2013 at 05:25 PM

$200 dlls.?, not disputing the #, just surprised at
the cost. The bus WAS cheap back in the day, first
time I rode TJ/La Paz early '80's it was $14 one way.
Last I looked, 2 yrs. ago, it was ballpark $140 one way
TJ/La paz


[Edited on 11-19-2013 by sancho]

DavidE - 11-18-2013 at 05:39 PM

It is 1,220 pesos from Vizcaino to Tijuana. Autotransportes de Baja California. Double that to La Paz. 12 hours from Viz, 24 hours to La Paz. Perhaps a little longer. Depends on passenger traffic.

PACK SANDWICHES, snacks, and drinks in a large carry on. Reading lights do not work. A wad of TP is recommended. I sit on the right side in the morning and on the left during the afternoon. Passengers debark during stops.

One year I bussed it from Tecate to Puerto Angel Oaxaca. That was one long assed ride i'll tell ya. Three different buses. Four and 3/4 days.

Unless you like Cowboys and Aliens, Five Fingers of Death, and Car chase movies, bring ear plugs. Find a seat that stares into an inoperative monitor. No one wants to sit there.

Cold! I dress for fifty degree or cooler weather.

Avoiding boredom will become a major objective. Can't read at night, and the highway will jiggle your corneas loose if you try during the day. I have an e-Reader and set the text size way way up.

Bajahowodd - 11-18-2013 at 05:57 PM

Sounds like a very expensive way to take an awful trip. I also remember the cheap prices. What happened?

hmm, and this was suggestveed as a "pleasant" alternati

1Bajalover - 11-18-2013 at 11:10 PM

thanks for all the info - I had heard the buses were
all modern with movies and nice banos etc - this
really makes the plane look pretty sweet - and not
much more expensive
thanks again to all

laventana - 11-19-2013 at 06:37 AM

i took the trip in January and hope to never do it again. But with the new visa rules change I found myself without a valid visa for a bunch of complicated reasons. I turned my old FM3 in to get the new one and the delays were too long back then because of the newness of the system.

you can not get on a airplane without one. But you can get on a bus to get back to the USA for a trade show. Cost was about $150.00 from LaPaz to TJ from what I remember. very uncomfortable seats. and the military stops were actually a nice stretch of your legs. bring your own food and drinks can be picked up on the way.

BajaBlanca - 11-19-2013 at 08:39 AM

I recently took the bus to la paz and I agree

1. they are NOT cheap any more
2. they are not very comfortable, esp for long trips
3. getting off in the middle of the night is horrible
4.I took the bus at night since I sleep very easily on buses but I was not impressed with the comfort

fly if you can!

wilderone - 11-19-2013 at 09:32 AM

It's an interesting experience. Be prepared: bring light blanket, snacks, water. There are movies. Visit with your seatmates. I brought an inflatable kid's floatie (99 cents) to cushion my head and shoulder. Plus, no auto insurance, don't have to worry about car trouble, don't have to arrive hours early for a flight and just wait, you can see the countryside. Someone else is driving - that's a plus for me.

apple - 11-19-2013 at 12:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by laventana
i took the trip in January and hope to never do it again. But with the new visa rules change I found myself without a valid visa for a bunch of complicated reasons. I turned my old FM3 in to get the new one and the delays were too long back then because of the newness of the system.

you can not get on a airplane without one. .


You can not get on a plane leaving the country with out a visa, but you CAN fly within the country without one.

I flew from La Paz to Guadalajara a few weeks ago and no one asked for my visa or even my passport. My PA driver's license was sufficient.

Bajahowodd - 11-19-2013 at 05:58 PM

I really believe that the North American Countries (Canada, USA and Mexico) should look to the EU model where anyone with a photo ID such as a drivers license can travel throughout Europe with no visa requirement.

we are going to rent a car!

1Bajalover - 11-19-2013 at 11:45 PM

in TJ to drive south in - seems the best way as we
can see Baja (I love the ole brown desert there) and
camp where it is warm enough and stop wherever and
not be terrified by the bus drivers passing trucks on
curves, etc - and it is probably the cheapest way in
the long run -

any suggestions about rental companies at the TJ airport
would be well received

I love this site and have had many a welcome travel tip,
dental leads, hotel good and bads, road tips, not to mention bad jokes, invites, etc -
thank you - thank you all!

captkw - 11-20-2013 at 03:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I really believe that the North American Countries (Canada, USA and Mexico) should look to the EU model where anyone with a photo ID such as a drivers license can travel throughout Europe with no visa requirement.
********* REALLY !! and just think that every day you are told that you live in a great "Free" country !! NOT!! sorry USA folks...you are in the AGENDA 21....

dasubergeek - 11-20-2013 at 07:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by apple
Quote:
Originally posted by laventana
i took the trip in January and hope to never do it again. But with the new visa rules change I found myself without a valid visa for a bunch of complicated reasons. I turned my old FM3 in to get the new one and the delays were too long back then because of the newness of the system.

you can not get on a airplane without one. .


You can not get on a plane leaving the country with out a visa, but you CAN fly within the country without one.

I flew from La Paz to Guadalajara a few weeks ago and no one asked for my visa or even my passport. My PA driver's license was sufficient.


That is because both La Paz and Guadalajara are outside the "free" zone and they assume you already have your visa. Had you flown from Tijuana or Mexicali to Guadalajara, you would have been stopped for a visa check before you were even allowed to approach the check-in desk. (There's noplace you can fly to from TIJ that wouldn't require an FMM now that there's no longer a flight to Ciudad Juárez.)

Bajahowodd - 11-21-2013 at 05:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I really believe that the North American Countries (Canada, USA and Mexico) should look to the EU model where anyone with a photo ID such as a drivers license can travel throughout Europe with no visa requirement.
********* REALLY !! and just think that every day you are told that you live in a great "Free" country !! NOT!! sorry USA folks...you are in the AGENDA 21....


Noy quite sure what Agenda 21 has to do with my post, simply because as far as I know, it was non-binding, and did not appear to involve any form of travel restrictions. Care to enlighten me?