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shermsla
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LA to San Jose Del Cabo 4th July weekend (ish)
Hi, total novice here. I've read a number of the posts regarding the drive South (which are enlightening) but I still have a number of questions that
I'm hoping you (very) helpful people can answer!
Some background. My wife and I have visited Los Cabos many times, have bought a plot of land to build a house and have now rented an apartment to use
while all that happens. And we plan to drive down over the holiday weekend to deliver a car for our use. We've never set foot on the rest of Baja and
we certainly don't have unlimited time (unfortunately).
The original thought was to drive to Guadalupe day 1 (from LA), obviously crossing at TJ, then spend nights 1 and 2 there, set out day 3 and get to
SJC on day 4. Flying back to LA the next day.
But, having read several of the posts I'm beginning to wonder if we're being too ambitious, so I'd like to ask the following:
If we go route 1 through TJ and spend 2 nights and a day in Guadalupe should we plan on spending 2 nights, rather than 1, to complete the journey?
Or should we just go Mexicali route 5 and spend 3 nights on the road?
In either case, I'd be eternally grateful for recommendations (in both cases) on which towns we should realistically aim to get to for our overnights
and where in those towns we should stay and eat.
And if there's anything else I need to know, well, I'm all ears!
Thanking you all in advance,
Sherms.
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AKgringo
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Welcome to the forum!
I prefer the east side (MX 5) when I travel south from Northern CA, mainly because it avoids a lot of SOCAL, TJ, and Ensenada traffic! I have never
driven it in July though, and the west side of the peninsula is probably a little cooler.
If I was starting my drive from L.A., I think I would cross at Tecate and either drive down through Guadalupe, or head east on MX 2D over the La
Rumorosa grade which will bypass a lot of Mexicali traffic.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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RFClark
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Hi,
We go back and forth often. If you have never driven the road you should plan on 2 nights and 3 days to get there. Going down HWY5 you can spend night
1 in Guerrero Negro. Spend night 2 somewhere around Loreto and drive to SJC on day 3. It stays light later this time of year and the total driving
time is about 19 Hrs. 6 or 7 hours driving per day is plenty. There’s a military checkpoint between Mexicali and San Felipe at HWY 3. The next
checkpoint is prior to Guerrero Negro. The 3rd is at San Ignacio. The last military checkpoint is about 26KM prior to Loreto.
There are 2 police checkpoints at La Paz but both are currently unmanned. Currently because of accidents there is an increased police presence between
La Paz and Los Cabos.
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
5-27-2022 at 08:25 AM |
shermsla
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RFClark. LA to GN in one day? Google maps tells me that a 13+ hour drive. Currently we’re thinking of stopping night 1 in Mexicali, then i think
night 2 in GN, night 3 in Loreto and arrive SJC day 4. Does that seem realistic?
Anyone got any sleeping/eating recommendations in those places.
Thanks again.
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Howard
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I just sent you a U2U
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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RFClark
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We leave from San Felipe, so yes a night there and you can reach San Ignacio the 2nd Night. There’s a B&B in San Ignacio called Ignacio Springs.
They have yurts, a great bar, serve dinner for a little extra and include breakfast.
It’s about 6 hrs from San Felipe to San Ignacio. That gives you more time to sightsee between Santa Rosalia and Loreto the next day. Good Chinese
food in San Felipe and Santa Rosalia. The General’s in San Felipe for tacos. There’s a good Mexican Restaurant just south of the 5/1 junction
which is about 2 hrs south of San Felipe it also has point to point internet suitable for WiFi phone calls.
Mulage south of Santa Rosalia has a number of good restaurants. We like Hostorico Las Casitas for food and they rent basic rooms too!
George’s in Loreto is my favorite there. There are other good places. We usually stay at Hotel Tripui south of Loreto they have a good restaurant
and there’s good restaurant at the Marina next door.
There’s a great beach restaurant/Bar called Vista al Mar between Loreto and Tripui really worth the stop.
Constitution has lots of restaurants. Baja Teriiyaki is good!
We don’t stop in La Paz often but lots of good places.
Todos Santos is worth a stop if you have time the Hotel California is great for food and as a place to stay.
Pescidaro is on the Highway has lots of excellent restaurants if you like Carnitas tacos, Carnitas Machin is to die for! Also Lucky 23 Restaurant
next door.
Just outside Cabo is the Colucci Café has great food and coffee drinks.
Cabo is full of places!
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David K
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Good job RF! Very helpful data!!
Since I am a map guy, let me give the town spellings, as they might appear on highway signs:
Ciudad Constitución (abbreviated: Cd. Constitución)
Pescadero
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AKgringo
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I read an article a couple of years ago about Pemex stations in Baja Sur, which included a map. The article had been translated from Spanish, and it
included English versions of the various towns.
Pescadero showed up as "Fish Monger", and La Paz was labeled "The Peace".
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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pauldavidmena
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Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  | I read an article a couple of years ago about Pemex stations in Baja Sur, which included a map. The article had been translated from Spanish, and it
included English versions of the various towns.
Pescadero showed up as "Fish Monger", and La Paz was labeled "The Peace". |
Fish Monger is just south of All Saints, which is about an hour from both The Peace and The Ends.
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boe4fun
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | Good job RF! Very helpful data!!
Since I am a map guy, let me give the town spellings, as they might appear on highway signs:
Ciudad Constitución (abbreviated: Cd. Constitución)
Pescadero |
Don’t forget Mulage!!!
Two dirt roads diverged in Baja and I, I took the one less graveled by......
Soy ignorante, apático y ambivalente. No lo sé y no me importa, ni modo.
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RFClark
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Siri doesn’t do Spanish place names! That said it’s difficult to miss much there’s only one paved road going south!
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by boe4fun | | Quote: Originally posted by David K | Good job RF! Very helpful data!!
Since I am a map guy, let me give the town spellings, as they might appear on highway signs:
Ciudad Constitución (abbreviated: Cd. Constitución)
Pescadero |
Don’t forget Mulage!!! |
I didn't see that in his reply??
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shermsla
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Thank you everyone, super helpful information.
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DIWR17
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If you're time limited, you can do it easy from Ensenada in 2 days. Yes, Hwy 5 is a much better trip but if you're coming from the LA area may be
easier to go down 1. Border crossing going south at San Ysidro is a breeze. We're doing the return trip down in a week.
My usual schedule is, Hotel Coral Marina (Ensenada), Yurt Place(San Ignacio), San Jose by 6pm the next day.
Just watch your stuff at the Military checkpoint at San Ignacio.
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shermsla
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Thanks DIWR17. We're booked thru the 5 route, 3 nights, Mexicali-GN-Loreto, 2 nights in SJC then fly back to LAX.
I'll let everyone know how we get on!
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Howard
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Don't forget, you must get tested for COVID within 24 hours before your flight back to the states.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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shermsla
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Yes, thanks Howard, we'll get that done at our hotel in Cabo.
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Alm
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Before they finished Hwy 5, I used to take Hwy 1 from Tijuana to Bahia de LA. I don't think it ever took me less than 7 hours to get to the BOLA
turn-off. Make it 8 hours to Guerrero Negro. There are curves, speed bumps, San Quntin traffic, 8-wheelers making it through the curves at 20 mph in
front of you. This is a 2 lanes road, one lane each way.
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RFClark
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Yes, that’s why HWY5 is better. San Felipe to the 28th 4 1/2 hrs at 100KPH! San Ignacio is about 6hrs plus a lunch stop and a gas fill up at the
28th!
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BajaBlanca
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The military checkpoints can be scary if you have never seen them before. The guys have machine guns and sometimes ask you to exit the vehicle. They
are looking for drugs and firearms. Take purses wallets and docs with you as you exit, keep an eye on the guys at all times.
In G Negro one pays a tiny fee for spraying the vehicle for agricultural reasons.
Congrats on the new home and new adventure!
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