Not that I haven't been on the "Baja road" before. I know how it looks. And I know how it feels - when all the car is shaking and making so much noise
at 65 mph - on a "good" stretch with 100 kmh sign - that you have to slow down 'cause it feels like you head is going to explode.
Took a bus recently from BOLA turn-off to Ensenada. 300 miles, 9.5 hours total. There was a 1-hour lunch stop, but other stops were very short - there
is nothing on this stretch to stop for. So it comes to mere 35 mph average. Military posts took only a few minutes, they either waved us through or
the guy went through the bus and out. Those buses go fast 50-60 whenever it's possible to do so without killing yourself. There are two drivers, one
drives and one sleeps, they don't take pit stops or to stretch the legs or chew on a banana or take a sip of water. I know that in a compact car I
will want to stop every 1.5-2 hours for one or another reason.
One thing I noticed was a lot of traffic around San Quintin/Camalu. Local "transit" wrecks made of an old school bus, farm trucks, etc etc. This is
where I think most of the time was lost. Also, quite a few Topez, Vados and "curvas peligrosos" where you have to slow down.
After thinking it over, I've chickened out and decided to break the stretch in half - one stop on the camp before the border, and another one at San
Quintin. I know that it "can" be done in one day, just curious how many of you would "want" to do this in one day. woody with a view - 3-17-2015 at 06:29 PM
EVERY time! we do it from the border in the same time but only stop for fuel and a quick taco or 3. MMc - 3-17-2015 at 06:39 PM
Easy! We go to the middle of Baja in a day all the time. The bottom of the spur is only 12+ hours.
If your pulling a trailer not so much. Your mileage may very.David K - 3-17-2015 at 06:42 PM
Oh yes, easily... if yo get an early start from San Diego... 8 hours normal driving... but like any Mexican road trip, there could be extra
inspections by the military, accidents, road work, or like today labor strikes against the entire population, instead of their employers as they shut
down traffic.
If you don't leave San Diego early enough, then a stop in El Rosario at the finest and incredibly inexpensive roadside motel in Mexico, 'Baja Cactus'
can be made (next door to the Pemex... where you must top off, as there are no more Pemex stations until Bahia de los Angeles is reached, 180 miles
away).
Great meals are on the other side of town, 2 miles, at Baja's Best Bed and Breakfast (and bar & restaurant), or even next door to Baja Cactus at
Mama Espinoza's Restaurant (they get either good or poor reviews, but always good from us). A simpler eating treat is about a mile and a half down the
highway, on the left, Tacos Mision... Tacos, Burritos, Stuffed Baked Potatoes!
Ensenada to BOLA
J.P. - 3-17-2015 at 06:44 PM
Its a pretty easy drive if you start early and don't fool around too much. I have done it pulling a trailer.Maron - 3-17-2015 at 08:17 PM
Good info, Does anyone know if Baja Cactus also has RV spaces? In the past we stayed at a hotel, with RV sites up above, can't remember the name.
Would prefer to spend our pesos with a friend of the Nomands.
thksWhale-ista - 3-17-2015 at 09:56 PM
You may be thinking of hotel Sinai- past the curve about another mile or so down the road after Cactus/Mama Espinosas. Bare bones RV spaces up the
hill above modest hotel.
Good info, Does anyone know if Baja Cactus also has RV spaces? In the past we stayed at a hotel, with RV sites up above, can't remember the name.
Would prefer to spend our pesos with a friend of the Nomands.
thks
bajaguy - 3-17-2015 at 10:05 PM
Check with Antonio at the PEMEX or the office above the PEMEX. He may let you park your rig at the gas station
Good info, Does anyone know if Baja Cactus also has RV spaces? In the past we stayed at a hotel, with RV sites up above, can't remember the name.
Would prefer to spend our pesos with a friend of the Nomands.
thks
Alm - 3-17-2015 at 10:33 PM
Thanks guys. 8 hours of normal drive from San Diego sounds a little optimistic, or - probably - my criteria of "normal" are different from David's
...
8 hours from the border to BOLA turnoff including all planned and unplanned stops is what I figure out, + 1 more hour for (poorly repaired) BOLA road.
As to the places to stop with RV - though not my situation - I think San Quntin 50 miles before El Rosario would work well for everybody. There is
nothing extraordinary about those, just a quiet and easily accessible camps. At least, Jardines is. Not right on the highway like El Rosario, no noise
there.
via San Felipe
BajaBreak - 3-18-2015 at 04:33 AM
We drove from BoLA to Ensenada, left around 6am, and decided to go by Coco's, eat at Alfonsinas, and again at San Felipe, then on to Ensenada. Seemed
like it was similar in time to the Pacific route, as we arrived around 3:30pm. Less mountainous, slow driving (except for the dirt from hwy 1 to
Gonzaga), and if you were to cross at Mexicali it seems like it would be quicker.
Just a thought in case you want to make a loop out of it. Have fun!
[Edited on 3-18-2015 by BajaBreak]Marc - 3-18-2015 at 06:45 AM
Good info, Does anyone know if Baja Cactus also has RV spaces? In the past we stayed at a hotel, with RV sites up above, can't remember the name.
Would prefer to spend our pesos with a friend of the Nomands.
thks
Don't expect special treatment at Baja Cactus because you are a Nomad. I would gas up there & head for BOLA. Takes 9 hours. Or as I almost always
did....overnight at Cativina and arrive at BOLA in the morning.Cliffy - 3-18-2015 at 08:05 AM
Stayed at Sinai last summer. Don't count on the hook ups.Cement pad and dirt parking. Rough road uphill but doable. Ate at restaurant there. Food OK.durrelllrobert - 3-18-2015 at 08:16 AM
Its a pretty easy drive if you start early and don't fool around too much. I have done it pulling a trailer.
I've done Ensenada (Punta Banda) to Loreto in a little over 15 hours pulling a 26 ft boat. About 600 miles with only one stop for fuel and leaving
around 4 in the morning.woody with a view - 3-18-2015 at 09:32 AM
if you're retired, why rush? if you're on vacation, DRIVE!chavycha - 3-18-2015 at 10:47 AM
Agree with Woody. Enjoy the scenery! The area around Catavina really catches my eye... take some time and wander in the boulder fields or look at
the cave paintings. Very cool spot especially if you catch it at sunrise or sunset.
As a point of reference, we recently did San Diego to Guerrero Negro, pulling a trailer. Crossed at 10am, arrived in Guerrero at about 8:30pm. That
10.5 hours included a lunch stop and the border crossing. Alm - 3-18-2015 at 10:57 AM
Thanks again. Will toss a coin, I guess. There is no rush.
Have been thinking about San Felipe route too, especially since I'll be coming from waay North than San Diego. But I'm not familiar with Mexicali
crossing. It looks like navigating Mexicali suburbs is not as straightforward as darting through I-5 and 1 Quota. Besides, 2 hours on "Coco dirt road"
with small wheels of a compact car won't be too enjoyable. chavycha - 3-18-2015 at 11:17 AM
Getting through Mexicali is actually pretty simple. Well-signed and a straight shot on the 5 once you're out of downtown.
The Coco's road would suck in a compact car. Doable, yes. Pleasant, no.Bob53 - 3-18-2015 at 11:40 AM
I used to always do that drive in one day. Not any more. I now stop and spend the night in San Quintin and finish the drive the next day. I usually
stop at Hotel Mision Santa Maria if I am driving my RV. You can park in the huge parking area at no charge. It's right on the beach. Alm - 3-18-2015 at 12:03 PM
Since we are on the subject, what low-key hotels in San Quintin would you recommend? I'm not too picky, things like view or restaurant are not
important.vacaenbaja - 3-18-2015 at 12:11 PM
I make the trip from Los Angeles to BOLA about three times a year. When I was younger I was always in a rush and would do it in a day. Nowadays I
start a bit late in the day and drive to San Quintin and stop at parcela 12 to eat then roll into El Rosario just about at sunset I then get a room
at Baja Catus and then do the rest of the trip after breakfast. More relaxed that way Bajaboy - 3-18-2015 at 12:14 PM
Since we are on the subject, what low-key hotels in San Quintin would you recommend? I'm not too picky, things like view or restaurant are not
important.
We like Hotel Villa San Quintin for a few reasons. First, we can make reservations online and arrive late. Second rooms are clean and have good
wifi. Third, there is a great park just around the corner that allows us/kids time to play.
My mistake - I said that Jardines in San Quintin is a quiet and easily accessible RV park - it was Posada Don Diego that I stopped at, in Col.
Vincento Guerrero. Jardines (Los Olivos RV park) is also somewhere in this area.Cliffy - 3-18-2015 at 07:41 PM
+1 on Posada I stayed there also.
Small sign on small side street right turn down dirt road for i/3 mile but fine for trailers. woody with a view - 3-18-2015 at 08:01 PM
...