BajaNomad

Female driving to Cabo from San Diego alone...is it safe?

Kellyctango - 2-18-2014 at 04:11 PM

Hi,

I plan on going to Cabo in March to live for a few months and my girlfriend who lives there says that there is no way I should drive alone! I am a 55 year old independent woman...she says that only a seasoned Baja traveller, and one who speaks Spanish should take that drive! I will be driving a Silver Kia Soul with tinted windows...if that makes any difference.

I could use some experienced advise....please;D

Thank you!

Kelly

David K - 2-18-2014 at 04:20 PM

Welcome to Nomad...

I know lots of Baja traveling females... : jeans, Paulina, M, Alejandra de Baja, Baja Bucko, etc. etc.

Tinted side windows for front passengers is illegal in Mexico and Tijuana cops will pull you over if they can.

Don't travel in the dark... don't pass El Rosario without topping the tank (next gas station is 200+ miles south. Emergency gas sold at a couple places at higher prices (Cataviña, L.A. Bay jcn.).

Learn as much about Baja as you can to enjoy the trip... is is very special!

MMc - 2-18-2014 at 04:27 PM

You'll be fine. The road is good shape. Do your homework and have fun. I would make sure the car is in good shape and you know how change a flat. Take pesos for gas, food & lodging not all places take plastic.
There is a place here for looking for riders but I love dong the ride by myself. My wife was done the trip solo a couple of times and enjoyed it.
If the windows are the stock tints they are OK.
Your friend needs to get out of her comfort zone a bit more.

Ateo - 2-18-2014 at 04:28 PM

You will be fine. Solo women drive thru Baja every day.

Just take your time, soak up the scenery, don't drive at night, follow the law and you should be fine. Probably worse to be a solo woman driving thru some big cities in the USA.

Enjoy your trip.

Full disclosure: I'm a man and so is DavidK, so it would be nice to get a females perspective here.

bajacalifornian - 2-18-2014 at 04:29 PM

DK spells it out. This forum will show you the stops. Stop afternoons.

Enjoy the hell out of it.

female driver

captkw - 2-18-2014 at 04:35 PM

Hola,,Yes,,Lets hear from some ladys on this subject...DK..about the the side windows,,is this a new thing ??? I have seen soo many cars with tintded side windows and thought that its legal in Baja ??? fill us in on the facts about this in Baja please....Thanx...K&T

David K - 2-18-2014 at 05:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
Hola,,Yes,,Lets hear from some ladys on this subject...DK..about the the side windows,,is this a new thing ??? I have seen soo many cars with tintded side windows and thought that its legal in Baja ??? fill us in on the facts about this in Baja please....Thanx...K&T


I read all about it here on Nomad... several times... try search.

The suggestion is to roll your windows down until you are out of Tijuana, so they can't see... I am no talking about factory tint, I am talking about the gangster tint you can't see in through... which is illegal in California too.

No cop wants to walk up to a window he can't see inside.:light:

DK

captkw - 2-18-2014 at 05:05 PM

Thanx for the reply I know in cali. the front side windows must be stock..and for good reason for All...but in Baja I see SO many cars with heavy tint on the front side windows !! I assumed it was legal as SOO many cars/trucks are that way ????

Kellyctango - 2-18-2014 at 05:06 PM

Thanks everyone! The windows are factory tinted, so no worries. Please keep the replys coming...I appreciate the help!

Hola Kelly

captkw - 2-18-2014 at 05:19 PM

Welcome to the Sand box !! you might also checkout the "SPOT" units that track you movements in real time for a safetly reason.. and do you have a big dog to bring with you ?? if not and you a dog lady you will find one in BAJA...Enjoy!!

[Edited on 2-19-2014 by captkw]

J.P. - 2-18-2014 at 05:23 PM

My windows are factory tint but I always Roll a front and back one down when I approach a Check point whether it be in the U. S. or MEX. just to signal my willingness to cooperate.

Ateo - 2-18-2014 at 05:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
Welcome to the Sand box !! you might also checkout the "SPOT" units that track you movements in real time for a safetly reason.. and do you have a big dog to bring with you ?? if not and you a dog lady you will find one in BAJA...Enjoy!!

[Edited on 2-19-2014 by captkw]



A SPOT is a GREAT idea. It can send for help too!!

yep

captkw - 2-18-2014 at 05:29 PM

But a BIG dog and a friend with ya goes a long way in the outback for a "Lady"....and any blond will get more noticed....

SFandH - 2-18-2014 at 05:33 PM

Watch out for speed bumps (topes) in populated areas. There is usually a sign beforehand - usually.

chuckie - 2-18-2014 at 05:38 PM

If you send pictures and bring Jack Daniels I will protect you...:cool:

elgatoloco - 2-18-2014 at 06:01 PM

Wear a wedding ring. :dudette:

DENNIS - 2-18-2014 at 06:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Wear a wedding ring. :dudette:


Definitely. :light:

alacran - 2-18-2014 at 06:08 PM

Good luck.

Hola Kelly # 2

captkw - 2-18-2014 at 06:12 PM

A can of bear spray with a "GOOD" paint job to make it look like a fire extinguisher !! Will easy stop 4/5 bad guys if no wind or the wind is behind you !!!But, Kelly, once you get south of Enesanada its rather safe !! common sense and get to where your going before 3 pm will go a long ways !!!Have a FUN,,SAFE TRIP !!!......K&T

Barry A. - 2-18-2014 at 06:19 PM

My info might be a tad dated, but my Mom and my Aunt drove to Cabo & back several times in the '50's in a VW bus before the paved road and had no serious problems at all. :lol:

Barry

basautter - 2-18-2014 at 06:31 PM

There are a lot of Mexican women hitch-hikers looking for rides from town to town, often at bus stops. Consider giving them a ride, and you will have company!

CortezBlue - 2-18-2014 at 07:03 PM

So this topic has come up before, and this is just my opinion.

I am sure that you can drive to Cabo along the fully paved roads. traveling during the daylight.

However, I DO NOT recommend that you broadcast what your plans are.

I think most folks on here are honorable and would be helpful, however, you don't know who is reading this and piecing together enough information to figure out who you are. They may befriend you to corner you in a remote location.

If you google

"Female driving to Cabo from San Diego alone...is it safe?"

I am sure you will find some great articles and probably your post on this site.

bent-rim - 2-18-2014 at 07:30 PM

Watch out for bicyclists!

liknbaja127 - 2-18-2014 at 08:17 PM

We will be leaving the week of the 12th, of march, going as far as Guerrero
Negro, you are welcome to join our group. That will get you a good start!

willyAirstream - 2-18-2014 at 09:42 PM

Take liknbaja127s offer - perfect solution. The rest of the trip is a snap. Stop by Mulege if you need a dog. [ other then chuckie ] :)

bajalorena - 2-18-2014 at 10:12 PM

I've done it twice, and would do it again (when my daughter no longer works for an airline). An additional piece of advise is to watch your speed. I did get pulled over once for going a little too fast, and talked my way out of a ticket by explaining that I needed to get to where I was staying that night before dark. He let me go with a warning, but it would have been better to not even have been stopped. You might want to pick up some audio books, too.
Take notice of the changing terrain along the way, it is beautiful in so many different ways. Have fun and be safe!

Paulina - 2-18-2014 at 10:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Wear a wedding ring. :dudette:


This is not a joke. Get yourself an obvious wedding ring, fake is good so you don't worry about loosing it. Here's how I did it;

Fake wedding ring.

Mexican auto insurance.

Know how to change your tire, practice it until you're confident. Make sure that the lugs aren't on too tight that you can't loosen them.

Have your car completely gone through so that you have no mechanical worries.

Wear comfortable, conservative clothing for driving. You don't want to be on your knees changing out your tire in shorts and thongs.

Don't let your fuel get below half a tank. Granted, there are more Pemex stations now than there used to be, but better to be safe than sorry. Have pesos to pay for your fuel and know how to count it out.

Don't drive at night. Don't pick up hitch hikers, even women.

Don't be overly friendly with men, or wave, or smile, or make extended eye contact. It's considered flirting. Conduct your business ie Pemex, Oxxo for sodas, Military, and leave.

If you have access to men's clothing, throw a pair of men's working boots and clothes in the back seat. The bigger the better. If you're asked, just say "He's following me with the truck and boat." (I would hang men's clothes outside my trailers, as my husband was "out fishing".)

Don't drive at night and know where you plan to stop for the day.

At Military check points, get out of your car, but only let them look in one door at a time. After they look in your drivers door, close it, then walk around to open the other door. Keep your purse/back pack on you when you get out.

Take your own t.p./baby wipes for bathroom stops. Have water and snacks in your car.

The Spot is a good idea. I had a Sat phone with numbers for Amigos that I knew would come find me, (and still would ;-).

I also had a big dog(s) (one was a 240 lb English Mastiff), but you can do it without one.

Be confident and use common sense. Trust your instincts. Don't be in a hurry, it's a beautiful drive.

P>*)))>{

I'm sure I'll think of something else, so you might see an edit...

flyguy - 2-18-2014 at 11:12 PM

I drove down to Cabo in my early 20's with my girlfriend and her twin sister in a $500 1986 GMC Vandura, with out a clue.... looking back I would have done things a bit different, however we had a wonderful problem free trip with many kind gestures from travellers and locals alike. Be smart and go in to the trip with a positive outlook, enjoy! You only live once :P

kELLY,,kELLY,,kELLY

captkw - 2-18-2014 at 11:38 PM

after leaving san Quintin and past the check point..the roads is down hill and curvy,,you will come into "EL Rosairo"" and on your left is a PEMEX ( gas station) stop and fill your tank to the MAX and I mean MAX fill.. after leaving the Pemex the road turns east at the "Curve" and every thing starts to change....once you cross the long brige the road goes uphill and curves with NO shoulder with the next stop will/should be Juesus Maria before G.N. and fill again...Very,,Very important...then after a while you will come to a Lonnnng downhill with shots of the sea of cortez...but take your time going down that GRADE... >>>>>> Break....Before crossing the border also stop at the Yellow "casa de cambio" on the east side of interstate 5 and get 3/4oo dollars changed into peso's ..north of the border,,,sorry I wrote that sorta backwards...LOL<<<LOL,

Mulegena - 2-18-2014 at 11:54 PM

Paulina listed considerations and their fixes pretty well.

I'm a seasoned Baja resident lady and have traveled the peninsula alone for years.

I'm stateside for a couple weeks and will be heading back down to Mulege in early-mid March.

You're welcome to caravan with me if our schedules coincide. U2U me if you'd like (see upper right of page, blue lettering U2U).

Right On girls !!

captkw - 2-19-2014 at 12:15 AM

Bundo and group together...GO,,,Go,,and get OUT there !!! stick together and have a FUN trip together !!!

Whale-ista - 2-19-2014 at 12:22 AM

So I posted a lengthy response to Kelly, and it showed up twice. I tried to delete the second post and both disappeared.

Not sure what I did wrong but too tired to post The whole thing again.

In a nutshell: Im Kelly's age and just returned from second whale watching trip as a woman traveling solo. Agree with many of Paulina's and others points.

Plan ahead and make hotel reservations.
Learn enough basic Spanish to be polite.
Carry two wallets: one for daily use, one to keep more cash and passport.
Get your car serviced before you leave and know enough basic car repair to keep an eye on things.
Dress modestly especially in the inland areas. It's not the beach, so no bathing suits etc.

I travel with a small dog, more for companionship than security. She does make it easier for me to interact with people- she's a small friendly poodle and people often come over to pet her. But there are downsides to a dog as well. As others have said, if you want one there are plenty to adopt in Baja.

There's plenty of good food, natural beauty, and good people to enjoy.

Have fun!

Whale-ista

captkw - 2-19-2014 at 12:29 AM

Hola,,, hope you two connect and about whales...I love um but sure in hell,, hope to miss them in/on my boats !!! I don't think she knows about the U2U gig yet and for me I have to go thru hell to get there on a laptop (u2u night mares)...have fun,,safe, travels...K&T

UnoMas - 2-19-2014 at 07:34 AM

Kelly,
Hook up with Mulegena, traveling with a seasoned veteran that knows all the good places to stop, eat and some history will make for a great trip. Welcome to Nomads and have a fun!:coolup:

Mulegena - 2-19-2014 at 10:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by UnoMas
Kelly,
Hook up with Mulegena, traveling with a seasoned veteran that knows all the good places to stop, eat and some history will make for a great trip. Welcome to Nomads and have a fun!:coolup:
Yes, traveling alone can be daunting especially for the first time in a new place like Baja. If our schedules can coincide I'll be pleased to travel with you at least to Mulege where you can stay with us. btw, we're heading to La Paz shortly after I get home so chances are we can caravan there, too, then it's a few more hours on good road to your Cabo destination.

ElFaro - 2-19-2014 at 12:20 PM

A couple more suggestions if I may...
Security: Cover your stuff in your vehicle with a small tarp or use opaque containers to discourage "prying eyes" at stops. Run a cable lock around your spare tire and through the vehicle frame to keep it from being stolen. If possible chain or cable lock your hood down from the inside to slow down "hot wiring" your car/truck. Lock everything up - Gas cap, doors, windows, compartments, etc. At inspections and gas stations I have to unlock it before anyone can access it. Put inexpensive items in the door pockets, on the dash, and in the glove compartment you can stand to lose rather than cell phones and/or electronic gadgets.
Money: NEVER take $100 bills into Mexico nor give change to someone for a $100 bill. They are hard to cash or get rid of. At least the old ones!!

Comfort: Take a small electric heater for your hotel room...most of the cinder block constructed rooms are cold and the hotel room heaters usually don't work or have poor output.

100 dl Bills

captkw - 2-19-2014 at 12:52 PM

Hola,, What I do is change 400 or so into peso's at the yellow casa de cambio in chula vista on the east ...side of 5 and the last exit and then I buy food/booze/ for the week and break my 100 at the stores that I know will take them also can run into a bank.L.B...not a problem for me...do not,,Not have pesos on you at all times !! you are in mexico so act like it !! if you use us bucks you going to lose money and for the canucks,, well they have even a harder time with their money !! pemexs are Always a peso or two off and bring a small cheap solar calculator.........keeps everybody even !!! K&T

Udo - 2-19-2014 at 01:03 PM

You'll be fine on the drive.
My sister has done it three times, and never had an issue.
When driving through towns (especially Ciudad Constitución), slooow way down. Stop for pedestrians completely. Count to 3 at stop signs.

One advantage you'll have over your male counterparts: cops don't like to argue with women.

willyAirstream - 2-19-2014 at 07:14 PM

Recent change - banks will no longer change us dollars to pesos, unless you have a dollar act. At the bank. Using your us debit or credit card at atms for pesos works great. Rates vary.

BajaBlanca - 2-20-2014 at 06:05 PM

another female here and all the advice above is great. when I travel alone, I try to have plenty of food and water to last me the whole trip (usu 10 hours) cause I just wanna get there already (((:

when you get out at military stops, take your purse and all documents WITH YOU and keep an eye on the guys the whole time. There have been stories here where folks only realized later that documents/cameras were missing.

Have fun and let us know how your trip went.

Kellyctango - 2-21-2014 at 12:09 AM

Thank you all so much for the great advice!!!...What a wonderful community you all have here, I'm quite grateful!:bounce:

redmesa - 2-21-2014 at 09:42 AM

I have done it and will probably do it again but traveling alone is not my first choice. It is a long lonely drive in many areas and a companion can make the time easier and more comforting. Driving through many parts of the U.S. is much more intimidating. I usually stay and gas at the same known places while on the road.

David K - 2-21-2014 at 07:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kellyctango
Thank you all so much for the great advice!!!...What a wonderful community you all have here, I'm quite grateful!:bounce:


Naturally, we want to see a fun filled trip report with photos when get home safe and sound!:light: