iclarke
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 12-5-2006
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new baja goer, trying to budget trip, please help
Hello,
I am going to be traveling Baja in march for two weeks with my girlfriend. We plan on staying at campgrounds and renting a car to travel bewteen. We
are going to drive no further south than central Baja. We may stay at a hotel 1-3 nights. We may go to a few cheap restaurants here and there.
Otherwise we are going to try and cook over campfire/ camping stove. We are packing our stuff in backpacks so we can do some hiking. I hope this
information isnt too vague, but how much cash should we bring for such a trip? If you need mroe information to answer this question please let me
know. I woulkd appreciate any adivce.
-Ian
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Sounds like the car rental will be your largest expense. Where do you plan to do that?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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This may need a lot of research by you on what it is that Baja offers that interests you!
The Baja Cactus Motel in El Rosario (next to the gas station) is a wonderful, inexpensive place to stay and do day tours out from. Many places to eat
in El Rosario too... Mama Espinoza's is next door, but is a tourist place and expensive compared to the others...
To see sites near various destinations in Baja, please check out this web page I made to help people see what is in an area: http://community-2.webtv.net/vivabaja/tours
Also check out the Baja Trip Reports Forum here at Baja Nomad... Many trip reports with photos there!
We are here to help you discover the beauty and adventure to be found in Baja!!!
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iclarke
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 12-5-2006
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I am not sure where to rent a car. I am flying in from San Diego. I was hoping to find a rental place in the states that will let me take a car over
the border. Are there any places in Mexico that rent cars right over the border from Tijuana? I really want to avoid spending time in Tijuana.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Car Rentals for Baja
Here you go: http://www.cabaja.com/
[Edited on 2-28-2007 by David K]
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midwifevicki
Junior Nomad
Posts: 25
Registered: 1-11-2004
Location: SOLANA BEACH CA
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There are so many beautiful places to visit for free in Baja that you really don't need a lot of money. Stay away from tourist restuarants and look
for the taco stands where the mexicans eat. You can eat for 2-3 dollars and beers are usually a dollar. The tortillas in Baja delicious. Make a big
camp fire cook up some beans and you're set. Local grocery stores will have all the basic and cheap. If you are north of San Quintin it is safer to
camp around others...not necesarily a campground but not completely isolated. Once you go further south you will be safe camping on your own. Most
towns have decent motels for about 30-40 $ per night whereas the La Pintas are about $80. Make friends with locals and off roaders,fishermen and
surfers and they can guide you. Travelers are usually very friendly in baja....strike up a conversation with just about any traveler in a gas station
and they will tell you about their favorite spot.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Take a 1000 bucks along
You might only need 500 but it ain't that much when yer on the road.
Use common sense, don't be to flashy(I should talk:lol If you drink alcohol
you'll spend more money....on everything.
Hint: rent a vehicle you could sleep in if you had too. Ah the old surfing vans.....sweet memories!
Vicki, do surfers really tell you where the best spots are?
Good info in there girl!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Put half your money in pesos. Pesos are best for buying gas because you pay what's on the pump instead of someone trying to calculate it for you and
getting a little extra.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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With two weeks, I'd plan on getting into the northern portion of Baja Sur. Plan on hitting Mulege area at least, and definitely hit Bahia de Los
Angeles. In March, much of northern Baja, especially the coast, is very similar.
If any place rents a RAV-4, 4wd, that would be the perfect vehicle for you. No place you couldn't go.
Bring a dome tent, something that you can easily pitch and take down. At remote locations, it is generally not safe to leave valuables in camp while
you are gone. Leave the minimum at your tent, if you must leave it unattended.
Oh, and dont carry 1000 dollars with you. Bring an ATM card and take out a couple hundred at a time. Create another post here and ask where the ATMs
are in northern Baja. Get pesos, not dollars.
I think 500/week is reasonable if it includes 2 modest hotels per week. Without hotels, you could spend much less if you eat at stands, buy your own
groceries. Make inquiries about buying fish from the local pangueros wherever you go.
Bring along a collapsible ice chest for the few perishables you will want to carry. I prefer this to buying a cheapo styrofoam chest that ends up in a
landfill in short order. The collapsibles can be used trip after trip. Yeah, they usually leak a little. Get some plastic garbage bags and use them to
line the inside.
Buy some cheap beach chairs once you get to SD that you can leave with a local on your last day or so.
You coming with a single burner backpacking stove? If so, buy a half dozen tamales at a time. Its an easily steamed meal in one pot and you can also
wrap them in foil and place them on the engine block while driving.
Personally, I'd count on having lunches at stands. It's almost as cheap as what you can make.
[Edited on 2-28-2007 by Hook]
[Edited on 2-28-2007 by Hook]
[Edited on 2-28-2007 by Hook]
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Garry
Nomad
Posts: 100
Registered: 11-1-2002
Location: SACTO, CA
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BUS
Cheap Bus Service south from T.J.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3824
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Don't forget that you'll need tourist visas (about $28/ea). The toll road is about $7 total one way (TJ to Ensenada). If you stay at a campground,
figure $5-10/nt. But you can find a place to camp free every night if you want. A car rental from San Diego allowing you to travel in Mexico (there
are a couple), with insurance would be pretty expensive - maybe $500/week. All the major car rental companies have offices in TJ. Once you cross the
border into TJ (take the trolley to the border and walk across), take a taxi to your car rental company. Once you get on the correct road toward
Rosarito/ Ensenada on Mex. 1, you're out of the woods. A compact car would do you fine. Buy a sackful of nuts, dried fruit, cheese, oatmeal, dried
soup in San Diego, and then supplement with what you find in Baja stores. And bring a folding shovel in case you need to dig out of the sand.
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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Three years ago we expend two weeks in Baja Driving from San Diego all the way to Cabo, most of the time we camp on the beach I only used the hotel 3
times Once The Baja cactus on our way down, Los arcos in la Paz and Sinai(El Rosario) on our way back,I only espend $1300 including gas.
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
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| Quote: | | Originally posted by HookIf so, buy a half dozen tamales at a time. Its an easily steamed meal in one pot and you can also wrap them in foil
and place them on the engine block while driving. |
Not the way I drive. You'd have to weld those suckers to the engine block.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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DanO look at it like this, if you get lost you can always fallow the tamales back 
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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BAJACAT, I like it! I like it!
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BAJACAT
DanO look at it like this, if you get lost you can always fallow the tamales back |
Good point. They beat the hell out of breadcrumbs.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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