RD55
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 11-26-2007
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
Transport from San Ignacio to San Francisco de la Sierra
Any info on transportation to San Francisco de la Sierra from San Ignacio? Availability? Cost?
In case if no transportation is available, what's the condition of the road from Hwy 1 to San Francisco de la Sierra? Is 4WD required? Recommended?
Background: Planning a trip in July and would like to include the cave paintings. I've never been to them before so I'd have to take the one-day trip
that's available to first-time visitors. My wife would never agree to the overnight trip anyway.
Flying to La Paz from Tijuana. Either rent car and drive or take bus from La Paz to San Ignacio. Not sure if the rental car companies will even
allow driving to San Francisco de la Sierra in their vehicles.
I tried searching but couldn't find anything.
La Paz is hot in July, but you can only go when you can get the time off.
I haven't posted much here, but I promise a trip report with pics if we end up going.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20354
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by RD55
Any info on transportation to San Francisco de la Sierra from San Ignacio? Availability? Cost?
In case if no transportation is available, what's the condition of the road from Hwy 1 to San Francisco de la Sierra? Is 4WD required? Recommended?
Background: Planning a trip in July and would like to include the cave paintings. I've never been to them before so I'd have to take the one-day trip
that's available to first-time visitors. My wife would never agree to the overnight trip anyway.
Flying to La Paz from Tijuana. Either rent car and drive or take bus from La Paz to San Ignacio. Not sure if the rental car companies will even
allow driving to San Francisco de la Sierra in their vehicles.
I tried searching but couldn't find anything.
La Paz is hot in July, but you can only go when you can get the time off.
I haven't posted much here, but I promise a trip report with pics if we end up going.
|
You can take tours that depart from San Ignacio. Try Kuyima, they are a good outfit.
July is sizzling hot. And I mean sizzling!
|
|
|
Bob and jane
Nomad
Posts: 272
Registered: 3-25-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
RD55,
You can hire a taxi or van to take you from San Ignacio to San Francisco. It takes several hours to get up there, but the views along the way are
wonderful. If you don't stay overnight there is only one painting you will be able to visit, it is at the side of the road shortly before you reach
the villages. The gate to access the paintings is locked. I believe you will need to get permits at the INAH office in San Ignacio before you go.
The office is just to the left of the church. You will probably need to get a guide from the village to unlock the gate. It could be a lot of trouble
for just one small sample of the paintings, or it could be a great one-day adventure. Take a cooler with cold beverages and food. And maybe enough
to share with the taxi driver and the guide. It will probably be a long, interesting day. Nothing ventured, nothing gained................
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
I'm not sure if Gary and terry at Ignacio Springs take people up there....they used to..check their website.
|
|
|
Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
|
|
There is good info on the day trip to the sierra here:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=35481#pid3709... Use the link a few posts down in the thread to read Ken's daughter's blog on the
trip.
And there are phone #s you can call, but you may need to speak Spanish:
INAH office in La Paz: 612-122-7389 or 612-123-0399
INAh office in San Ignacio: 615-154-0222
Also this email address, I htink to the office in San Ignacio: lukero2@hotmail.com
Have a great trip!
|
|
|
RD55
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 11-26-2007
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks to everyone who replied. Good info from all of you.
I called National Car Rental in La Paz and they told me that they allow their vehicles on dirt roads with certain conditions. First, you have to take
one of their Jeep Wranglers. Second, you are responsible for any damage to the underside of the vehicle.
I tried calling some other rental companies in Mexico, but couldn't figure out how to dial their Mexican toll-free number. For Budget, it's
01800-700-1700. Anyone know how dial a Mexican toll-free number from the United States? My Spanish is good.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65407
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Have you tried the 011-52 part first?
The road to San Francisco de la Sierra is graded, and I would say most everyone who lives up there doesn't have a 4WD.
|
|
|
wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3894
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
You don't need a permit for that cave. The caretajer with the key to the lock is in San Francisco. You don't need 4WD for that road - it's
twisty-turny, but you don't need clearance. You should just drive yourself - drive to San Francisco and ask around to see the cave.
|
|
|
rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by RD55
Thanks to everyone who replied. Good info from all of you.
I called National Car Rental in La Paz and they told me that they allow their vehicles on dirt roads with certain conditions. First, you have to take
one of their Jeep Wranglers. Second, you are responsible for any damage to the underside of the vehicle.
I tried calling some other rental companies in Mexico, but couldn't figure out how to dial their Mexican toll-free number. For Budget, it's
01800-700-1700. Anyone know how dial a Mexican toll-free number from the United States? My Spanish is good. |
in all I have heard from people renting cars, driving off pavement is forbidden. an exception for a specific class of vehicles may be in place, but
for a basic car...no. most people seem to follow the don't ask/don't tell policy. of course they also have to have a no accident trip.....
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
|
|
|
boe4fun
Super Nomad
Posts: 1040
Registered: 1-22-2006
Location: Margaritaville
Member Is Offline
Mood: Circling the drain........
|
|
If you're going all the way up there from San Ignacio plan on about 2 to 2 1/2 hours drive time. I personally would not bother to drive all the way up
there to visit "Cueva Raton" near the town, but rather plan one of the trips available by mule into one of the canyons. I would make sure to check
in with the INAH office in San Ignacio for the permit(s) for the trip and camera as they're both required. The drive up this last March was good, but
the last 2 or 3 miles is rough and slow going. March proved to be hot, getting up to 103 degrees F, according to the thermometer in the rear view
mirror of my Jimmy, so expect that in July it'll be a scorcher!
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.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65407
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by rhintransit
| Quote: | Originally posted by RD55
Thanks to everyone who replied. Good info from all of you.
I called National Car Rental in La Paz and they told me that they allow their vehicles on dirt roads with certain conditions. First, you have to take
one of their Jeep Wranglers. Second, you are responsible for any damage to the underside of the vehicle.
I tried calling some other rental companies in Mexico, but couldn't figure out how to dial their Mexican toll-free number. For Budget, it's
01800-700-1700. Anyone know how dial a Mexican toll-free number from the United States? My Spanish is good. |
in all I have heard from people renting cars, driving off pavement is forbidden. an exception for a specific class of vehicles may be in place, but
for a basic car...no. most people seem to follow the don't ask/don't tell policy. of course they also have to have a no accident trip.....
|
Pretty hard to get anywhere in Mexico without driving on some dirt roads... In Baja, Hwy. 1 would be quite the parking lot...! Rent the Jeep always,
if you don't want to walk miles and miles away from your car left back on the highway!
|
|
|
RD55
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 11-26-2007
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Have you tried the 011-52 part first? |
I tried:
011-52-01800-700-1700
011-52-1800-700-1700
011-52-800-700-1700
None of them worked.
----------------------------------
I found the non-toll-free numbers for Avis and Budget. A search for: Avis Mexico Contacto turned it up. Similar search for Budget.
-----------------------------------
Thanks, all, for the info about the road conditions. Even if 4WD is overkill, I'd rather spend an extra $150 a week to stay within the rental
company's rules.
------------------------------------
103 degrees? That can take some of the enjoyment out of a trip. Maybe I'll wait until October. Give me more time to plan too.
------------------------------------------------------------------
06-10-2009 edit: Budget's non-toll-free number was no good. They still haven't answered my email. Avis doesn't have 4WD vehicles.
I was able to talk to a person at National and they answered my email question about insurance promptly.
[Edited on 6-10-2009 by RD55]
|
|
|
dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
|
|
If there is any way to talk your lovely wife into a camping trip that is the way to go. October would be a much better time to go.The trip we went on
was fun with memories to last a life time. The paintings were anticlimactic compared to the mule ride,hiking up the canyons and wilderness camping. If
you go with an outfitter your only job will be to enjoy the trip. We went with Gary at Ignacio Springs B&B, highly recommended........dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
|
|
|
wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3894
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
For $150, I'm sure a ranch guide in the Sierra de la SF would be more than happy to pick you up in San Ignacio and be your guide for the day. INAH
can radio him and give him the offer - pack a lunch for all. Ask to go to his ranch too - they're historic in that area.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
