Just noticed that Google maps now has the 5 going all the way south and joining the 1. Interesting. I don't use Google maps much for Baja, I do use
the satellite view.David K - 5-27-2015 at 07:27 PM
The satellite images to El Huerfanito are from 2014 and show the pavement to that point. On past Gonzaga is 2010 images and no new highway. The road
is Mex 5, paved or dirt.JohnK - 5-27-2015 at 09:11 PM
Dirt is putting it nicely for some of the stretches. Not sure I'd want my son driving his Honda Fit south from Coco's. Actually south from the Gonzaga
Pemex.David K - 5-28-2015 at 09:11 AM
Dirt is putting it nicely for some of the stretches. Not sure I'd want my son driving his Honda Fit south from Coco's. Actually south from the Gonzaga
Pemex.
The pavement goes 12 miles south of the Pemex. The rest, as on any graded road can be driven in any 2WD if one is careful and drives slow. It can be
very annoying to drive 10 mpg for 2 hours, so the lowest cars and motorhomes or trailers may want to wait or use another route south.
If you need paved roads everywhere, than Baja California may not be the best choice for a vacation. The peninsula became famous for its dirt roads as
much as for its fishing and surfing. The first long distance off road (dirt road) race was in Baja, after all.
Even the paved highways in Baja often have dirt detours during repairs or rebuilding... some are miles long dirt detours.PaulW - 5-28-2015 at 10:08 AM
You all need to realize that the route for new paved road south of Gonzaga has not been publicized. In fact I do not think the final survey is
complete. We do know for sure it will bypass COCOs place and will be further to the west. Time will tell - a long time - Ha.
The last time I drove the road in my pickup I punctured a tire and bent a rim. And I was going very slow. Lots of sharp rocks to try to avoid.
PWJohnK - 5-29-2015 at 07:23 AM
Yeah, I'd never drive it in a regular 2WD car. That's why I bought the Tacoma. I had not seen the 5 being drawn on the map all the way down before. I
hope some newbie doesn't look at it and assume he can drive it. In addition to those sharp rocks, there are some soft sand stretches, depending which
of the 3-5 semi-parallel tracks you pick.TMW - 5-29-2015 at 09:48 AM
There are all kinds of vehicles on the non-paved section of road. From small cars to semis. If you stop for any length of time at Cocos you will be
amazed at what goes by and wonder what the heck are they thinking to be there. In April there was a couple pulling what looked like a 30 trailer out
to Hwy 1. They were complaining and wanted to know how far to the hwy. As I left Cocos for the hwy there was a semi hauling junk coming in. I wondered
what would happen when the two meet.
