BajaNomad

Questions Loreto to San Felipe

Sher - 5-10-2018 at 01:58 PM

Driving Loreto to San Felipe soon. This will be the first time. What is a good half way point to spend the night? Recommendations for a good hotel? How many hours should we allow, (I have heard the road is pretty bad in some parts.) We would like to be in San Felipe by 3 PM Saturday. Also how long should we allow to get from San Felipe to Mexicali border? Is it better to go to another border than the Mexicali border? Which one? How long should we expect to be at the border on a Monday? Thanks so much for all the help.

chippy - 5-10-2018 at 02:11 PM

San Ignacio Hotel La Huerta or Guerrero Negro Hotel Terra Sal. GN would be my choice.

[Edited on 5-10-2018 by chippy]

[Edited on 5-10-2018 by chippy]

bajagrouper - 5-10-2018 at 04:09 PM

I drove that route in March, stayed at the Cowboy Hotel in GN...at the state line the highway turned into pot hole city going north, watch speed.
At Laguna Chapala turned on to Highway 5 to San Filipe, took 6 hours @ 240 miles...Stayed at El Capitan Hotel in SF...Next day drove the 120 miles to Mexicali in 2 hours....

David K - 5-10-2018 at 05:21 PM

While I love the La Huerta hotel in San Ignacio, you easily could continue on to Guerrero Negro giving yourself a better start on the next day's drive.

There is about 20-23 unpaved miles from Highway 1 towards Gonzaga Bay and it is mostly a construction zone for the new Highway 5. There could be delays or just slow driving if you do not have an SUV or truck.

Yes, 2-2.5 hours from San Felipe to Mexicali Border (downtown)... However, if you are going from there to San Diego area, I would suggest taking 2-D west to Tecate for a low-stress border city experience since you hardly go into Tecate to get on the border fenceline road.

If you want to be in San Felipe by 3 pm, then leave Guerrero Negro by 9 am, no rush. However, you just never know what might delay your drive (military checkpoints, truck accident, flat tires, etc.).

Since you are going right by, a visit to Gonzaga Bay for lunch at Alfonsina's is recommended! The view of a most beautiful bay from the restaurant there is sure worth a stop.

basautter - 5-10-2018 at 07:17 PM

I just did that drive in one day last week. Although I would not recommend that, I would opt for Santa Rosalia, a very cool town. Get an early start and go SLOW on the dirt road on the dirt when you divert from HW 1. Have fun! :bounce::bounce::bounce:

Sher - 5-11-2018 at 12:45 PM

Thank you everyone! I SO much appreciate the help. We have decided to stay in Guerro Negro at Hotel Terrasal and then on to San Felipe the next day. We will likely leave at 7:30 AM and hopefully stop at Gonzaga Bay as David K suggested and have lunch at Alfonsina's. We are going to do some golfing in San Felipe the next day; then go thru Mexicali and on to Scottsdale Arizona to pick up another car and turn a car in. We live in Alaska. But are heading back to Cabo after we get the new car. Thanks again for all the help.

David K - 5-11-2018 at 01:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Sher  
Thank you everyone! I SO much appreciate the help. We have decided to stay in Guerro Negro at Hotel Terrasal and then on to San Felipe the next day. We will likely leave at 7:30 AM and hopefully stop at Gonzaga Bay as David K suggested and have lunch at Alfonsina's. We are going to do some golfing in San Felipe the next day; then go thru Mexicali and on to Scottsdale Arizona to pick up another car and turn a car in. We live in Alaska. But are heading back to Cabo after we get the new car. Thanks again for all the help.


Welcome to Nomad. There are so many sites you could visit rather than just drive so many hours... so consider the journey along with the destination.

To get to Alfonsina's, turn east at the Pemex gas station. A security gate will be opened for you to pass to the restaurant, at the end of the drive, after the private homes along the runway, 1.8 miles away.

The second road, not the first, is for Alfonsina's, at the gas station:







Sher - 5-11-2018 at 01:39 PM

Thank you so much David. Especially for the photos of how to get there. So much appreciated!

David K - 5-11-2018 at 01:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Sher  
Thank you so much David. Especially for the photos of how to get there. So much appreciated!

It is what I like to do, help others find some Baja magic! :light:

Here is my map of the area: