Hi, I'm planning a trip to Cabo San José for the recording of a documentary. We don't have a truck, just a regular car. Is it doable?55steve - 3-6-2014 at 11:43 AM
Decent paved road all the way - I don't see any issues.carlos - 3-6-2014 at 11:51 AM
Thanks. What about visiting missions like San Bruno, or San Juan?DENNIS - 3-6-2014 at 12:04 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by carlos
We don't have a truck, just a regular car.
What kind of regular car?chavycha - 3-6-2014 at 02:36 PM
Sure. Highway 1 is an okay paved road all the way. Compare it to a small state highway in the US. Some sections are better than others
maintenancewise but there's certainly nothing which would prevent it from being traversed by a regular automobile.bajabuddha - 3-6-2014 at 02:45 PM
For all-around travel, you're better off in a small car than a full-size pick'emup. Better fuel economy, easier passing and navigation on the highway
with big semi's and busses, and crotchety old gringos (ahem) pulling RV's... hotels abound the entire stretch.
Missions, no problem if they're in the many towns unless they're remote off-road stuff. San Ignacio, Mulege and Loreto are snaps, and you can park
easier too. If you have any particular concerns of where to stay or eat, you'll get it here. Happy trails.dasubergeek - 3-6-2014 at 02:49 PM
Just be hyper-vigilant for topes (massive speed bumps) and vados (dips in the road). Some of them are impressively tall (or deep) and you may have to
approach them diagonally in order to avoid getting hung up on them. Of course, if you do, a zillion people will show up out of nowhere to help you,
and just pay them a little propina for their help.motoged - 3-6-2014 at 03:11 PM
Good advice offered so far....keep the top half of your gas tank full, have a few good maps, keep your camera batteries charged (car charger unit good
idea)...eat lots of tacos at the street stands....
and tell us what your documentary is about.....StuckSucks - 3-6-2014 at 05:39 PM
What everyone already said: you won't have a problem with a car. That said, if you can get your hands on a higher-clearance vehicle (especially 4x4),
that will open the doors to LOTS of really cool places. Driving the length of Baja is not an insignificant task, and with the taller vehicle, you
could really take advantage of the experience.David K - 3-6-2014 at 05:56 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by carlos
Thanks. What about visiting missions like San Bruno, or San Juan?
Missions??? San Bruno Colony of 1683-1685? San Juan ...? Bautista de Ligui/Malibat?
San Bruno ruins are on a hill top, not near any 2WD roads.
Ligui can be driven right to, but its ruins are all gone... washed away from flash floods a dozen years ago. There is a cross and area set up next to
the original location along the easy 2WD road between Hwy. 1 and Playa Ligui. I am happy to assist with any details. See the photos and data...
Here is a chart that shows the relationship between the founding of the 21 Franciscan missions in Alta California and the founding of the 27 Jesuit,
Franciscan, and Dominican missions founded in Baja California, and how they occurred during the same period. The missions on the Baja California
peninsula are in bold text:
1 -1697 Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó *
2 -1699 San Francisco Javier Biaundó *
3 -1705 San Juan Bautista de Malibat (Ligüí)
4 -1705 Santa Rosalía de Mulegé *
5 -1708 San José de Comondú *
6 -1720 La Purísima Concepción de Cadegomó
7 -1720 Nuestra Señora del Pilar de la Paz Airapí
8 -1720 Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Huasinapí
9 -1721 Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Apaté
10-1724 Santiago el Apóstol Aiñiní
11-1728 San Ignacio de Kadakaamán *
12-1730 San Jose del Cabo Añuítí
13-1733 Santa Rosa de las Palmas (Todos Santos)
14-1737 San Luis Gonzaga Chiriyaqui *
15-1752 Santa Gertrudis *
16-1762 San Francisco de Borja Adac *
17-1766 Santa María de los Ángeles
18-1769 San Fernando de Velicatá
19-1769 San Diego de Alcalá
20-1770 San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
21-1771 San Antonio de Padua
22-1771 San Gabriel Arcángel
23-1772 San Luis Obispo de Tolosa 24-1774 Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Viñadaco
25-1775 Santo Domingo
26-1776 San Francisco de Asís (Dolores)
27-1776 San Juan Capistrano
28-1777 Santa Clara de Asís 29-1780 San Vicente Ferrer
30-1782 San Buenaventura
31-1786 Santa Bárbara 32-1787 San Miguel Arcángel (Dominican)
33-1787 La Purísima Concepción 34-1791 Santo Tomás de Aquino
35-1791 Santa Cruz
36-1791 Nuestra Señora de la Soledad 37-1794 San Pedro Mártir de Verona
38-1797 San José
39-1797 San Juan Bautista
40-1797 San Miguel Arcángel (Franciscan)
41-1797 San Fernando Rey de España 42-1797 Santa Catalina Virgen y Mártir
43-1798 San Luis Rey de Francía
44-1804 Santa Inés Virgen y Mártir 45-1817 El Descanso (San Miguel la Nueva)
46-1817 San Rafael Arcángel
47-1823 San Francisco Solano (Sonoma) 48-1834 Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
* = The 8 Baja mission churches of original 1700's construction standing and intact. All others in ruins, vanished with modern churches built on the
site, or gone.
[Edited on 3-7-2014 by David K]Alm - 3-6-2014 at 06:19 PM
Truck is more comfortable but spendy. Larger wheels, you don't notice all the road "imperfections" as much as in a compact car. Hwy 1 does have a lot
of sections where you will feel those, so slow down then.
As noted, keep your tank more than half full, in El Rosario make sure it's 100% full because there is a loong stretch after.
Obeying speed limit 40 km in towns is in your best interests. Nearly all towns will have "topez" on highway even if there is no "topez" sign, this is
the only way to make a crazy Mexican (or same crazy Californian ) to obey speed
limit - to put something on the road.carlos - 3-7-2014 at 10:39 AM
Thanks a lot for all the advises!
The documentary is about the foundation of Baja, so the plan is to visit most of the missions (including the ones that are in ruins and almost nothing
is left, which is part of the investigation -why no one is preserving them, etc) but also great spots like El Oasis de Mulegé and Guerrero Negro.
Recommendations on places to eat and to visit (with a 2 door sedan) are very appreciated!carlos - 3-7-2014 at 10:43 AM
David, that's a shame to hear. How recently were you at San Bruno? was there anything left?David K - 3-7-2014 at 11:07 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by carlos
David, that's a shame to hear. How recently were you at San Bruno? was there anything left?
A shame? The ruins of San Bruno on top of a hill were photographed by Edward Vernon and that's what is in my web page. It is the Ligui ruins that were
washed away (if that is what you were disappointed about)... I have visited Ligui (San Juan Bautista) in 1976, 2001, 2009 and 2012.
I hope you have success with your venture and both Max and I are available to assist as we wish the factual history of Old California (Baja) be told!
My email is: info at vivabaja.com
A sample of the missions you can get to with a 2WD sedan...
David K - 3-7-2014 at 11:36 AM
North to South:
El Descanso
Guadalupe (del Norte)
San Miguel
Santa Catalina
Santo Tomás (site 3)
Santo Tomás (site 2)
Santo Tomás (site 1)
San Vicente
Santo Domingo
El Rosario (site 1)
El Rosario (site 2)
San Fernando
San Borja
Santa Gertrudis
San Ignacio
Mulegé
La Purísima
San José de Comondú
San Bruno Colony (several miles off highway 1, north of Loreto, no sedan road to it, so a long hike, last I heard)
Loreto
San Javier
Ligui in 1975 (San Juan Bautista mission)
Ligui in 2001
Ligui monument in 2009
San Luis Gonzaga
That's it of missions you can drive to in a 2WD sedan... all the other missions to the south are modern churches built on the original site or nothing
remains. The Todos Santos church (final site of Pilar de la Paz mission) uses some of the old walls.
[Edited on 3-7-2014 by David K]carlos - 3-9-2014 at 01:32 AM
That is great a resource, thanks a lot!
I went to Santo Tomás 2 weeks ago and there was even less left..
[Edited on 3-9-2014 by carlos]
[Edited on 3-10-2014 by BajaNomad]wilderone - 3-9-2014 at 08:39 AM
Best of luck to you, Carlos. Be sure to interview INAH personnel who may know about Baja mission ruins and their work to preserve them. Also see the
museum and library in Tecate at the CAREM offices (online info), whose mission is to preserve historic sites.Nye - 3-9-2014 at 11:41 AM
Baja road trip advice-extra serpentine belt for that model make hv great day.David K - 3-9-2014 at 12:04 PM
Carlos, thanks for the newer photo at Santo Tomás final (3rd) location, in town... I will ask Doug to shrink it to fit here (800 pixels) until you
can... The INAH museum in Tecate (just east of big baseball field in the center of town) is a nice place, with a great map of the missions from Ed
Vernon's book on a wall in their presentation room, and our book is for sale there. Tell Zella you heard about CAREM from us on Baja Nomad.carlos - 3-11-2014 at 12:41 AM
Great tips, expect some emails soon! thanks a lot.
) to obey speed
limit - to put something on the road.
