LoretoKat
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 5-10-2007
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Driving to Loreto in November........
Hello,
My husband, my 4 year daughter and I are planning to drive some wooden gates to our property in Loreto this November. I haven't driving to Loreto
before, the furthest I have driven was to San Felipe in 1981. And boy things have really change since then. I have read lots of different posts and
not sure what to expect. I have read no night driving and have read that TJ is dangerous. As a result I have some questions I would like to throw out
there. We are coming from San Pedro, CA (Los Angeles). We would like to get to Loreto as soon as possible. We have 10 days. Would like to do the drive
in less than 2 days if possible..........
*What border crossing? TJ or Tecate?
*Will we have any problems with bring in wooden gates?
*What town would be the best place to stay for our first night and what hotel/motel?
*Can we get tourist cards from AAA?
I would really appreciate any suggestions.
Gracias
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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Okay, I'll start off here:
Drive from LA to San Ysidro border crossing. Cross in far right lane. Get tourist permits at Immigration office there, pay fees at bank next door,
get papers stamped at Immigration office. Then walk over and declare your wooden gates with customs inspector. I don't know much about this process.
From here it's about 5.5 hour drive to El Rosario. Stay at Baja Cactus motel for about 350 pesos. The best value in Baja! Next day, get an early
start and arrive in Loreto late in the day.
Some people might encourage you to go to GN but I wouldn't in case there are problems with customs. Also, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the
drive down to ER.
Zac
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
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Or join Discover Baja travel club, get your Tourist card in the mail, also fishing licenses and insurance, cross at Tecate drive through to GN (by
4:30) go to the Malarrimo Hotel ($41) eat at the great restaurant there, arrive before noon in Loreto.
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Marmeon
Junior Nomad
Posts: 34
Registered: 8-14-2005
Location: Arcata, California
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I was going to say exactly what Bajaboy said. If you cross the border by 11AM, you'll have plenty of time to stop in Ensenada for pesos and get to El
Rosario by 6PM.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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Best to call Baja Cactus for reservation: 011-52-616-165-8850, or -8700 or choose from a few others in El Rosario. An hour or two south of El
Rosario, there's also a motel on the left just north of Catavina or a La Pinta in town. Have a great time. The desert will be beautiful.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Mulegena, have you actually stayed in the hotel on the north end? I've been past there countless times and have yet to see a vehicle in there.
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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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Mulegena, have you actually stayed in the hotel on the north end? I've been past there countless times and have yet to see a vehicle in there. |
No, I haven't stayed there, but have seen them with a few travelers now and again. Sometimes El Rosario is too early in the day to stop, so Catavina
would be the next choice.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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I've stayed there (In Catavina) cheap, nice people, spartan
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Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 5-19-2006
Location: Oregon/Loreto
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Mood: alegre
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LoretoKat
I just arrived in Loreto today, at 1 pm, and would like to share the following:
We crossed at the Tijuana Garita yesterday morning, 9 am. You have to maneuver your vehicle to the right around the Aduana (Customs) Agents to park
in the parallel spaces.
The Immigration Officer is in the last office on the north side of the building. You present your passport, the agent gives you an FM-T form and you
fill it out. You walk over two doors south, and pay at the bank window, $25.00 per visa. The bank agent will stamp your forms and you go back to the
Immigration office. One stamp later and you're ready to deal with Aduana.
Yesterday we brought a pick up in filled with building supplies, including a large custom made door and wooden gates. Bring a priced list of the items
they will be interested in (eg. -flat screen tv's, large expensive items, and such) and walk over to the agent and hand over your "declaration".
I put relative values on my declaration, and on items that actually cost me at least $5K I was charged 660 pesos. We were having a good day, at that
point. Some folks try to zip past them, but they are totally on to that approach.
Bear in mind that if you speak spanish your life is going to be easier! But if you can't, smile and use your best communication skills.
We drove hard, all day, and made it to Guerrero Negro by dark. DON'T DRIVE IN MEXICO AT NIGHT. We stayed at the Hotel Malarrimo and paid $35 dollars
for a double with two full beds. We snuck the dog in later, after we had a delicious dinner in their restaurant. (Pacific Halibut with garlic sauce,
$11.50 per plate, with soup and salad)
Today we had a leisurely drive into Loreto, and aside from working our way around a crashed flatbed carrying rebar, it was a perfect trip.
We got the goodies across the border, paid a small Customs duty and found all our property intact when we got here.
Que Buena Onda!!
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Martyman
I've stayed there (In Catavina) cheap, nice people, spartan |
We have also stayed there---the name is Linda's, and yes it is spartan, cheap and they accept the dogs. Also, the food is not bad---not fancy. If we
don't feel like spurging on the La Pinta, we stay at Linda's.
We usually find GN a little further than we want to go in a day, but when we stay in GN we stay at the Motel Ballenas in town---again, cheap, spartan,
clean, and VERY nice people. Our favorite place to eat is the Puerto Viejo next to Don Vincente's Hotel. We used to stay at Don Vincente's but grew
tired of his ever changing moods.
Have a good trip and good luck.
Diane and John
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supergrouper
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 8-9-2007
Location: Nebraska
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Can someone tell me how is highway #3 from Tecate to Ensenada? We will be driving from the East. Would this be the best route to take?
Thanks Bob
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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| Quote: | Originally posted by supergrouper
Can someone tell me how is highway #3 from Tecate to Ensenada? We will be driving from the East. Would this be the best route to take?
Thanks Bob |
It's as good a hwy as you can expect here. All 2 lane with lots of truck traffic, so, at times, it's slow going.
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LoretoKat
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 5-10-2007
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Thank you to all that have responsed to my questions. It really has helped with my apprehensions and decisions. Looking forward to my trip!!
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