LianeR
Newbie
Posts: 18
Registered: 9-30-2008
Location: Loreto - Washington
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From Phoenix..better to use Ferry?
My husband will be working in Phoenix in 2 weeks and then we were going to head to Loreto. Would it be better to pick up the ferry at Guaymas to
Santa Rosalia...or go over to Mexicali and head down? Since there is a travel alert for the drug cartels/banditos in Nogales, we are a tad
concerned as we've not traveled thru mainland MX before. Curious if anybody here has gone the ferry route and what they thought of
it--problems--concerns, etc
....Thank you!
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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First of all you need to go to Tecate, then down through Ensenada, Santa Rosalia, and into Loreto. If you watch out for your surroundings, do not
travel at night, you should probably have no trouble with the drug cartels.
The ferry from Guaymas to Santa Rosalia is small and can be a rough ride in windy seas. The road from Nogales to Guaymas is a 4 lane highway and is a
real piece of cake. You can check current prices online for the ferry at
http://www.ferrysantarosalia.com
I personally prefer the drive down the peninsula because it gives me time to slowly adjust to being in Baja and I think that Baja really begins from
El Rosario south, but you have to take into account your own personal comfort as well as time frame.
[Edited on 10-17-2008 by Pescador]
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LOSARIPES
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Posts: 283
Registered: 8-14-2008
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I did the route PHX-LAP. PHX to Tecate was nice, smooth and a pleasure. Bring some music to sing along.
Crossed at Tecate, drove through "La ruta del vino"....... nice drive and very interesting... curvy road, nice scenery... went through Ensenada and
on down south. Got to San Quintin by 6pm, checked into a hotel -can't remember the name- and was half-way right there.... next day was about the best
drive I've ever had.... Baja Sur... forget the ferry... avoid Nogales.... my op.
Aripes
God bless America
and Baja tambien
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Just completed a Trip from Texas to Loreto.
Origninally planned on the Ferry but it was out of Service so had to take the Long Way Around.
Departed Amarillo TX 7:30 Am stayed first Night at Yuma AZ. Departed 5 AM went through Tecate stopped for Brakfast at the Grande Apple Pie Place on to
Guerero Negro stayed at The Don Gus. 3rd Day drove into Loreto after a short side trip along the River at Mulege.
Roads were good all the way, some construction where the road is being widened, one short detour south of San Quintin.
If you get a chance going by Ferry is Fun and different. In San Carlos you might want to stop at the Posada and see the unusal Wood Carving in the
Bar.
From Loreto to Constitution it is more Lush and Greener than I have ever seen in my 38 years in and around Loreto. Loads of Mary magadelena.s
blooming!!
It is worth the drive over the Mountains.
Skeet
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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i drove it from phx once.....next time if i EVER have to do that again it will be via the ferry. the gas savings alone will make it worth it. and the
time savings, well i can't speak for what your time is worth. the valle de guadalupe is worth a look i agree.
as far as nogo is concerned - you only take about 20 min getting thru town. there are cops everywhere. non event.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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My friend, my girlfriend and myself took the ferry from LaPaz to Mazatlan. We had a wild night of partying with everybody on the boat. Great Fun!
Later, we were crashed out on the deck in our separate sleeping bags with my girlfriend in the middle between us. Some drunk guy woke up my
girlfriend and asked if he could slide into the bag with her!!. She started yelling and I awoke to see him stumbling/running away. I guess that
technique is not to profitable.
so...take the ferry, have some fun.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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it's 1040 miles door to door from my place in Phoenix to my place south of Loreto. every time I drive I think about the ferry. every time I end up
driving the long way. or now...flying.
I know the road to Guaymas, lived in San Carlos for a year or so. I know the road to Tecate and south on Mex 1. the former is better, with some
tolls. the latter is okay, no tolls, but LONG and dangerous enough that I"ve already totalled one car. hence, the preference for flying.
the deciding factors, when driving, have always been the expense of the ferry and the uncertain schedule, with cancellations for weather common.
if you can deal with those, by all means, take the ferry...
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
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Hola LianeR,
As a fellow "newbie" I can share our journey from Texas to Cabo via the ferry last April. Travel time from Ft. Worth, TX to Cabo San Lucas was 72
hours. First night we stayed in El Paso, second night in Nogales, AZ and the last night on the Los Mochis Ferry to La Paz. We were going to take the
Guaymas ferry but never could get a straight answer if the boat would be in dry dock for work at the time we would be traveling. We crossed the
border at 7:30 am. Driving past Guaymas required us getting the "windshield permit" which cost around $30 USD...no big deal...just incase you have to
go this route. The tollroad was easy to drive with four lanes 90% of the way. Unless we were going thru the small towns my husband was driving 70
mph. Arrived in Los Mochis aroung 5:30 pm. Went to the ferry office to buy tickets for us, the SUV and our cabin...total cost $330 USD. Went out to
eat, returned at 10:00 pm to get on the ferry then drank a bottle of wine while sitting on the top deck as we pulled out of port at midnight. Woke
up at 6:00 am, off the ferry by 7:00, ate breakfast on the malacon in La Paz then drove down to Cabo. Walked into our condo by noon...72 hours later.
A week later a of our frineds that lives our condo was taking his boat back to Reno. He has driven the baja several times but this time he took the
ferry over via La Paz. His report was "this is the only way to go". Faster and smoother. I have heard the ferry times have changed. I know you are
looking for info on the Guaymas ferry but if you have to go further south maybe this info will help. An other reason for us going to Los Mochis was
the ferry traveled 7days a week. At the time we were looking to go thru Guaymas the ferry was only 3 days a week and we were told if there is a
machnical or weather delay then things can really back up.
Like Capt. Mike said "cops everywhere"...we passed thru several check points...again no problems...and we had the SUV "packed" with things for the
condo.
Hope this helps.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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| Quote: | Originally posted by karenintx
Hola LianeR,
As a fellow "newbie" I can share our journey from Texas to Cabo via the ferry last April....etc
.
Hope this helps. |
thanks for the great current info karenintx. can you tell us what happened with the car import sticker...another thread has been discussing that
topic. are you keeping it, turning it in within the year? or did you turn it in? if so, where/how? thanks.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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We usually drive down Baja to our home on the east cape. Many, many times we have made the trip. This year after our summer visit north, we drove to
Mazatlan to see cousins before coming home. The Mazatlan ferry was not operating, so we drove back up to Los Moches/Topolabampo.
Karen's post above is accurate regarding the ferry. Just be aware that it can sometimes run late. Ours didn't get in until 2 pm due to rough seas. Was
supposed to arrive in LP in the early morning. This was two days ago.
The drive on the mainland is so easy compared to Baja. Cruise control at 65-70 mph most of the way. Make sure you stop for the car permit because you
will need it to get on the ferry and they also check when you get off. The permit office is on the main hwy just south of Nogales. It's hard to miss.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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LianeR
Newbie
Posts: 18
Registered: 9-30-2008
Location: Loreto - Washington
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I guess my main concern now is how often is the ferry cancelled in Guaymas due to bad weather. We've driven down the peninsula a number of times but
are usually driving from Washington. This would be our first venture onto the mainland because we'll be working in Phoenix. Anybody here taken that
ferry into Santa Rosalia?
Sounds like Nogales is a non-issue....had read somewhere the drug cartels were in full operation there with some recent shootings.
Thanks everyone for your input,
Liane
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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The next time I go down I will go ahead and take the la Paz Ferry and Drive back up to Loreto.
The Guaymus Ferry is just not that dependable anymore.
Skeet
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karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
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Mood: Living The Dream
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About the import sticker...
We crossed the border on April 12th and our FM3's were due for renewal on June 2nd so when the sticker was issued it showed an expiring date of
June 2nd. We were told as soon as our FM3's are renewed then the sticker is automatically renewed to match the expiraton date of your FM3. It was
suggested to keep a copy of our current FM3's in the car "just in case" we were traveling on the mainland or the Baja and get pulled over by the
police. Since the Baja is a free zone we thought about pulling the sticker off. We weren't to worried about the $30 fee...but then we decided to
keep it in case we want to spend some time on the mainland.
We have an American friend that has a garage door business in Puebla for the past 6 years. He also confirmed the information that as long as your FM3
is current it will extend the expiration date of the sticker. He has kept his Texas license plates on his truck as we plan to do with our SUV.
Your question asked about the "import sticker"...we did not "import" our car. The sticker we bought allows us to drive out of the free zone areas.
My question is...are we talking about the same thing? Like I mentioned we will keep our Texas license plates.
Hope this is what you were needing.
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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 karenintx
About the import sticker...
Since the Baja is a free zone we thought about pulling the sticker off. We weren't to worried about the $30 fee
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Karen,
That would have been a dire mistake.
The purpose of that temporary import permit is for the Mexican authorities to have control over vehicles entering and leaving their country. They have
to remove that sticker or otherwise have visible prove the vehicle left the country, the restricted zone that is in this case.
[Edited on 10-18-2008 by vandenberg]
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Wingnut
Nomad
Posts: 171
Registered: 5-5-2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Mood: Baja Pensive
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LianeR; My friend Osoflojo and I have taken the ferry from Guaymas to Santa Rosalia and find that it cuts a whole day off the travel when we go down
to Cabo. It is a small ferry and I would make reservations ahead of time to be sure you have a spot. The only draw back to this is the weather. Due to
the size of the port in Santa Rosalia, if the winds are too bad they can not dock, so they don't know they are going until hours before they do. The
trip is overnight and I highly recommend you pay the additional money for the very tiny and cramped cabins. Being in the main salon with all the
people while you are trying to sleep is impossible. Everything depends on how much time you have to arrive at your destination. If you aren't time
constrained too much, it is a very pleasant trip and fun. Bring something to eat. The menu and offerings in the salon are pitiful. Have everything you
want to take in the cabin with you ready to grab from your vehicle once you are loaded. They do not waste time loading. Take a jacket as you may want
to go on deck during the voyage and it does get cold on the water. Have fun and make an adventure out of it. Oh, the drive down from Tucson is major
highway all the way. No problems at the border or from any of the drug dealers. Cross the border in early am and drive on to Guaymas. You should make
it just in time to load for the evening trip across the Gulf.
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