BajaNomad

can anyone confirm there is a gas station in BOLA?

steve5555 - 10-2-2018 at 07:25 PM

Going down next week I need to know ion I can get reliable gas in town? Also purified water for sale by the gallons?

thanks, steve

woody with a view - 10-2-2018 at 07:38 PM

No, there are two stations. And water!

JZ - 10-2-2018 at 07:57 PM

Get gas when you enter town, not when you leave. Sometimes you can get a surprise.

Alm - 10-2-2018 at 08:29 PM

Fill up in El Rosario - I believe this is the last "official" gas. There will be small towns with gas in a barrel before BOLA, but no gas stations. The last barrel is at the turn-off from Hwy 1 to BOLA, look for small pickup, the price and amount I won't comment on.

These tourist gas worries are... well, tourist worries. Even without barrels you should still arrive to BOLA with tank about half-full. You may fill additionally a small can in El Rosario just in case.

Once in BOLA, you top up as soon as you are there. 99% of time there is gas in BOLA, but if on your day of departure both stations are closed for some reason - you got the picture.

There is purified water in BOLA, to refill 5 gal jar. Also purified water in grocery stores. Btw, bring your own groceries from Ensenada, in BOLA everything costs double or triple and assortment is poor.

mtgoat666 - 10-2-2018 at 08:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
Fill up in El Rosario - I believe this is the last "official" gas. There will be small towns with gas in a barrel before BOLA, but no gas stations. The last barrel is at the turn-off from Hwy 1 to BOLA, look for small pickup, the price and amount I won't comment on.

These tourist gas worries are... well, tourist worries. Even without barrels you should still arrive to BOLA with tank about half-full. You may fill additionally a small can in El Rosario just in case.

Once in BOLA, you top up as soon as you are there. 99% of time there is gas in BOLA, but if on your day of departure both stations are closed for some reason - you got the picture.

There is purified water in BOLA, to refill 5 gal jar. Also purified water in grocery stores. Btw, bring your own groceries from Ensenada, in BOLA everything costs double or triple and assortment is poor.


I might add that there is no need to bring sand, cactus, wind or seawater to BOLA, plenty available in town!

thebajarunner - 10-2-2018 at 09:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
Fill up in El Rosario - I believe this is the last "official" gas. There will be small towns with gas in a barrel before BOLA, but no gas stations. The last barrel is at the turn-off from Hwy 1 to BOLA, look for small pickup, the price and amount I won't comment on.

These tourist gas worries are... well, tourist worries. Even without barrels you should still arrive to BOLA with tank about half-full. You may fill additionally a small can in El Rosario just in case.

Once in BOLA, you top up as soon as you are there. 99% of time there is gas in BOLA, but if on your day of departure both stations are closed for some reason - you got the picture.

There is purified water in BOLA, to refill 5 gal jar. Also purified water in grocery stores. Btw, bring your own groceries from Ensenada, in BOLA everything costs double or triple and assortment is poor.


I might add that there is no need to bring sand, cactus, wind or seawater to BOLA, plenty available in town!


Spoken by one who has likely never been there

mtgoat666 - 10-2-2018 at 09:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
Fill up in El Rosario - I believe this is the last "official" gas. There will be small towns with gas in a barrel before BOLA, but no gas stations. The last barrel is at the turn-off from Hwy 1 to BOLA, look for small pickup, the price and amount I won't comment on.

These tourist gas worries are... well, tourist worries. Even without barrels you should still arrive to BOLA with tank about half-full. You may fill additionally a small can in El Rosario just in case.

Once in BOLA, you top up as soon as you are there. 99% of time there is gas in BOLA, but if on your day of departure both stations are closed for some reason - you got the picture.

There is purified water in BOLA, to refill 5 gal jar. Also purified water in grocery stores. Btw, bring your own groceries from Ensenada, in BOLA everything costs double or triple and assortment is poor.


I might add that there is no need to bring sand, cactus, wind or seawater to BOLA, plenty available in town!


Spoken by one who has likely never been there


I have been there!

Alm - 10-2-2018 at 11:15 PM

One of those occasions when I have to agree with the Goat - there is indeed plenty of sand, wind, and thorny bushes in BOLA :)

For the next few weeks there will also be some bugs after rain. But, when you gotta go then you gotta go, eh?

redhilltown - 10-2-2018 at 11:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
Fill up in El Rosario - I believe this is the last "official" gas. There will be small towns with gas in a barrel before BOLA, but no gas stations. The last barrel is at the turn-off from Hwy 1 to BOLA, look for small pickup, the price and amount I won't comment on.

These tourist gas worries are... well, tourist worries. Even without barrels you should still arrive to BOLA with tank about half-full. You may fill additionally a small can in El Rosario just in case.

Once in BOLA, you top up as soon as you are there. 99% of time there is gas in BOLA, but if on your day of departure both stations are closed for some reason - you got the picture.

There is purified water in BOLA, to refill 5 gal jar. Also purified water in grocery stores. Btw, bring your own groceries from Ensenada, in BOLA everything costs double or triple and assortment is poor.


That may be true as to a typical day, but 99% is pushing it if you believe that is the state of affairs after a major tropical disturbance with roads washed out.

steve5555 - 10-3-2018 at 06:13 AM

Hey Great- thanks for the info! I will make sure not to come to town on empty.

Alm - 10-3-2018 at 10:29 AM

Good point on roads washed out - after recent storm there may be interruptions with supply of fuel (and anything else) for the next couple of days. Big vado in Catavina was full of water yesterday, though traffic is allowed - slowly. It's better to avoid traveling after major storm.

StuckSucks - 10-3-2018 at 11:16 AM

DouglasP - 10-3-2018 at 11:23 AM



Other side of the road....:D

white whale - 10-4-2018 at 01:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DouglasP  


Other side of the road....:D


I can chime in as I filled up here also and was the first and only one that was self serve that I came across in a dozen + gas stops north and south. Was weird not to see anyone outside. this was March '18

I believe the other was closed at the time.

thebajarunner - 10-4-2018 at 03:19 PM

And now the really big question we have asked for several years...

How in the world did someone come up with the bright idea that LABay needed a second station?

In all the years it has been since it was added we have never traded at the one that is Bay-side. Just habit, I guess
Easier to fill up quickly on the right, headed in...
and yes, always top off heading into town.

But..... two stations? Someone had more money and less good sense than credit may be given.

StuckSucks - 10-4-2018 at 03:24 PM

When I was there a year ago, the station on the land side was out of gas, but the bay side station still had some. I was thrilled to see estación numero dos.

JZ - 10-4-2018 at 03:49 PM

First one coming into town on the right has diesel. The other one does not.

AKgringo - 10-4-2018 at 05:39 PM

Does one of the stations have a liquor store? It seems to me that the bay side station had one, not sure about the other.

[Edited on 10-5-2018 by AKgringo]

woody with a view - 10-4-2018 at 07:58 PM

The one on inland side is supposedly owned by Xitlali family.

We like the other one. All the pangueros fill up there and the beer is icy cold when we roll into town!

Edit: supposedly

[Edited on 10-5-2018 by woody with a view]

TecateRay - 10-6-2018 at 11:11 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
First one coming into town on the right has diesel. The other one does not.

I would change that to ...usually has diesel.

JZ - 10-6-2018 at 05:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TecateRay  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
First one coming into town on the right has diesel. The other one does not.

I would change that to ...usually has diesel.


I've been there when it doesn't have gas, but not yet had an experience with diesel.

Last year some guys staying at the same hotel headed out for a ride down South while we were loading up. About 20 mins later than came back - no gas for their bikes.

We had 20 gallons and didn't need it all so I gave them a full tank.

ehall - 10-6-2018 at 05:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by TecateRay  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
First one coming into town on the right has diesel. The other one does not.

I would change that to ...usually has diesel.


I've been there when it doesn't have gas, but not yet had an experience with diesel.

Last year some guys staying at the same hotel headed out for a ride down South while we were loading up. About 20 mins later than came back - no gas for their bikes.

We had 20 gallons and didn't need it all so I gave them a full tank.



Buying some good Baja karma

Alm - 10-6-2018 at 06:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  
And now the really big question we have asked for several years...

How in the world did someone come up with the bright idea that LABay needed a second station?

Same reason why it has countless hotels and campsites, with vacancy rate way above 50% most of the time. Not much else to do in this *hole, to make money.