Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Commercial Shipping & Ferry - Mazatlan to La Paz?
I have a complex question that was posed to me that I could not answer. Could anyone help weigh in on this for Ed and Michelle?
We are in San Miguel de Allende, near the geographic center of Mexico. We are considering heading over to the coast and taking the ferry to La
Paz and heading home through Baja. Any thoughts? We understand that the road is now paved below Pertocitos? We would have about 3 weeks to drive
home. I figure 5 days in La Paz and then meander our way up though Baja.
Our other option is to head back to the coast and reutrn up through the beaches on the mainland. I am trying to gather information about the ferry.
I was given the link to www.tmc.com and told we could ship the truck camper commercially and stay in the camper during the voyage from Mazatlan to La Paz. I am trying to
understand the translationand calculate the actual costs. It is complicated because we have Red (the dog) with us.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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I am sure you have to have a room and you are not allowed to stay in your camper under any conditions this has been the rule since a ferry rolled over
at the dock in Topolabompo.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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David K
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The road is paved below (south of) PUERTECITOS, but not all the way to Hwy. 1. Let him know there are still almost 50 unpaved, but 2WD okay miles.
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: | Originally posted by comitan
I am sure you have to have a room and you are not allowed to stay in your camper under any conditions this has been the rule since a ferry rolled over
at the dock in Topolabompo. |
Even back in 1966, they locked the cargo hold and it took special effort just to go check on our dog, as I recall. I do remember better the ferry from
Santa Rosalia to Guaymas in 1973 and the same story... just a short time in the car area to check our dogs.
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
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Just got back. We took the ferry from Mazatlan to La Paz. I will try to post a trip report and images mañana.
Be sure to book ahead if you want a guaranteed cabin. You can't stay in the vehicle. I do not know about animals. They told us that we could not
return below while underway.
[Edited on 3-3-2012 by Marc]
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BajaBlanca
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Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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we have gone on the ferry a couple times in the past 12 months - you are not allowed to stay in your vehicle, you are allowed to take pets and check
on them, walk them - the trickiest part was having all the documentation to ferry our vehicle across. Absolutely everything must be original ....
Also, at the end, for some bizarre reason - the driver goes alone to the ramp and drives the vehicle out, while the passenger(s) must exit with the
rest of the crowd and meet up in the parking lot.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
we have gone on the ferry a couple times in the past 12 months - you are not allowed to stay in your vehicle, you are allowed to take pets and check
on them, walk them - the trickiest part was having all the documentation to ferry our vehicle across. Absolutely everything must be original ....
Also, at the end, for some bizarre reason - the driver goes alone to the ramp and drives the vehicle out, while the passenger(s) must exit with the
rest of the crowd and meet up in the parking lot. |
Exactly how it was in 1973!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Here is the travel blog from Ed and Michelle. They are great people who went on one of my Baja Grande trips in 2007.
Travel Blog:
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Ed-and-Michelle/
[Edited on 3-3-2012 by Ken Cooke]
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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I would put the puppy on light rations for 24 hours before the crossing but give lots of water. The cargo area can get unbelievably choked with smoke
during loading but clears out when underway. Other drivers get paranoid when they see anyone but crew go down to the vehicles area when underway. Then
they raise hell so they are very strict about letting anyone go down there. You will be directed to your parking spot. BE ALL EYES. The deck is
uneven. You rig can tilt into the one next to you. The car park guides place shim boards for you to drive up on. It will be plenty dim in there. Wear
dark glasses before to help adjust. Were few signs when I last went. Cabin orientation & location is confusing as hell, so write # down and don't
lose it.
FANTASTIC FAN "Endless Breeze" model is worth it's weight in gold for pets and humans. This fan is made in USA and puts out a tremendous air flow for
2 amp draw. Worth every danged cent, I would not cross again with a pet without one. GOOGLE Fantastic Fan Endless Breeze for a look-see.
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Bajahowodd
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Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Couple of thoughts.
First, it does my heart good to know that these folks are not allowing people to hang out in the vehicle area. It is absolutely a safety issue.
That said, I'm somewhat curious about Blanca's post about document requirements. Because, Baja has less restrictions (i.e. no vehicle permit required)
and this is a domestic trip. Seems it would be like someone at the state line by GN requiring all original documents for your vehicle, which, as far
as I can tell has never been reported.
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