tray
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Best Way to Gonzaga Bay?
I'm thinking about a last minute trip to Gonzaga Bay this weekend (Memorial Day). Couple of questions...
1) We are a group of four women, experienced travellers, but haven't driven this far into Mexico before. Is it safe?
2) We are coming from San Diego - what is the best route to get down there? We are just going to make a straight shot and do the drive in a day.
3) Does Alfonsina's camp sites have palapas? Or should we bring our own shade structures?
4) Any other tips are welcome!
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Ken Bondy
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I don't remember any palapas at Alfonsina's but they have a large shaded porch in front of the units:
ooops I think I misunderstood your question, you were asking about campsites. I am sure someone who has been there recently will answer.
[Edited on 5-26-2010 by Ken Bondy]
carpe diem!
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CortezBlue
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Follow the yellow brick road...........
1. I would say safe has a few definitions. Safe, as in are you going to have problems with the violence that you read about in the US media? Highly
unlikely. We travel to our home in San Felipe once or twice a month and we have never had any negative trips in the past 5 or 6 years. I would be
more concearned around safety regarding the condition of the road between Puertocitos and Gonzoga (Sorry if I mispelled DavidK)
I have not personally take the road, but from what I have heard you can make it in a standard, non 4 wheel drive, auto or truck may you may want to
make sure that you take your time on the road and drive safely.
2. I would take 8 to Calexico, or if you want a bit more expensive drive and you have time to kill you can always go through Tecate. I have made the
trip both ways. When coming via 8 we exited on Hwy 98 which is a good road a will shave a few miles off compared going I 8 all the way to 111 and
then south. Drive through Mexicali and take Mex Hwy 5 south to San Felipe and continue down to Puertocitos and down into Bahia Gonzoga.
3. Don't know about the facilites at Alfonsina's, but David K or Ken will have many photos to show
4. I would make sure that you fill up gas in San Felipe. I would also take some time to stop in San Felipe and go to the Taco Factory and have a few
tacos and beers. San Felipe needs all of the visitors that it can get.
Have Fun
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doradodan
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Bring everything that you think you will need, shade, drinking water, gas, spare tire's, tools, it can get very windy this time of year in that area
so bring 5 gallon buckets to put sand in to anchor your shade.(D.K. advice) Be prepared to be self sufficient, they have good meals at Alphonsinas but
with that road you might not make it that far without a breakdown, flat tires are common take it slow. I say break the trip in two San Felipe or
Percebu the 1st day and then off to Gonzaga the 2nd day. Take your time on that road!!
\"The time spent off the water, I\'m thinking of ways to get back in\"
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ofer
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No palapas at alfonsinas but rancho grande has them next door.
We'll be there tomorrow so look for a black F350 and come to say hello if you make it.
we'll be traveling the dirt road from puertecitos thursday and we always stop should anyone need assistance.
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3464james
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You shouldn't have any trouble driving south. I always cross at Mexicali and it is usually a snap. Going through Mexicali can be a bit intimidating
the first time. I picked up a good map at one of the good motels in Calexico.
Palapas available at El Rancho. Not at Alfonsinas. Good food at the new restaraunt at El Rancho, better than Alfonsina's IMO. Outhouses leave
something to be deesired, however.
Will probably be windy, supply accordingly. You can purchase ice, beverages, water, some food items, propane, at El Rancho. If the Pemex is open,
gasoline.
Start early, have lunch and gas up in San Felipe, drive down to Gonzaga by early afternoon.
We are going in June for diving. If you want to wait we are always looking for travel companions. One hint, IMO, rent a sat phone. Good insurance. You
only need to have it once to know. I had that once in a life time experience and it was worth it's weight in gold. All Roads Communication located in
San Diego will take care of your needs. Ship overnight or you can pick up. Have agood time!
Jim D.
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bonanza bucko
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Nobody has asked what kind of car/truck you will take. If it's a car you will be far better off going down Mex 1 and then south east to Gonzaga Bay
from Lake Chapala..past Coco's corner. The road south of San Felipe includes 21 miles of very bad washboard and some very hard draws...big rocks,
steep climbs and sharp rocks. A car can make it but there would be some doubt and it would take a long time....maybe 4 hours for the 21 miles....you
would need good tires and at least one spare. Coming in from Lake Chapala you would only face a sometimes bad washboard...about 31 miles of it.
We have had a house at Alfonsina's for 31 years. You will love the place. There are palapas at Rodriguez Rancho Grande beach a mile south of
Alfonsina's...you rent them at the "7-11" at the cross roads. You can also rent palapas at Campo Beluga on the south shore of Gonzaga Bay...look for
the signs on the main road just west of Rancho Grande. Beluga has showers....reportedly.
Rancho Grande has pretty much all the supplies you may need including bottled water, beer, sodas, canned goods and frozen goods. Alfonsina's Pemex at
the cross roads may be out of gas....they tend to run out on holliday weekends....be sure to gas up in San Felipe and, if possible, at the Pemex in
Puertecitos if you go in that way. Don't assume you can get gas..be ready for not getting it.
If you run into trouble there are lots of people who will help at Rancho Grande and at Alfonsina's cantina and motel...see picture above in another
post. Alfy's motel charges about $60/day and the food in the cantina is very good. Antonio is the manager. A good buddy, Barney, is in casita
number 37 on the beach and you should drop in and say hi....he's a good guy to know around there.
If you want more input or local color email me at wings@san.rr.com
BB
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CortezBlue
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PS
You can use bing maps to route your trip through Mexicali from anywhere in the USA
It is a great resource, they actually out did Google on there maps.
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BajaWarrior
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Bondy
I don't remember any palapas at Alfonsina's but they have a large shaded porch in front of the units:
ooops I think I misunderstood your question, you were asking about campsites. I am sure someone who has been there recently will answer.
[Edited on 5-26-2010 by Ken Bondy] |
Hey check it out, they never installed bolts on the post caps...
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Ken Bondy
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| Quote: | | Quote: | Originally posted by BajaWarrior
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Hey check it out, they never installed bolts on the post caps... |
Sure does look that way. Never noticed it, I will probably lose my structural license 
carpe diem!
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dizzyspots
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Mood: rather be on the beach at Gonzaga
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all this talk about how bad the road is????isn't it now paved all the way tp Huerfanito???...then rough washboard to Gonzaga??
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BajaWarrior
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Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dizzyspots
all this talk about how bad the road is????isn't it now paved all the way tp Huerfanito???...then rough washboard to Gonzaga??
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Correct.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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BajaGeoff
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I drove it last month....the road is not that bad...just a few rough spots you have to take slowly. It is easily doable in a 2WD truck/suv with a
little bit of clearance.
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David K
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With the road now paved to El Huerfanito, it is less dirt miles to Gonzaga that way (25). Otherwise Hwy. 1 to Laguna Chapala, then north 36 miles to
Gonzaga.
I-8 to El Centro area, then 111 south to Calexico and across... Follow the many signs for San Felipe (Mex. 5) south.
Papa Fernandez' has a camping beach, over the hill plus a restaurant.
Alfonsina's has the motel, restaurant, bar.
Rancho Grande has palapas, but reported VERY dusty since they scraped the surrounding desert clear of brush.
Campo Beluga (1.2 miles south of Rancho Grande & Pemex): nice palapas and cool showers, flush toilets. see: http://vivabaja.com/207/page3.html
[Edited on 5-27-2010 by David K]
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preston
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I concur with all the comments above ... and woudl recommend breaking the trip into 2 days as well. This will give you a chance to scout out the
options in Gonzaga before deciding where to stay.
I am in San Diego and will be leaving for Gonzaga in 2 hours (San Felipe around 3:00PM for Taco stop). I will be camping at La Costilla tonight with
my wife and Golden Retriever (please stop by if you are in the area). Costilla is 5 minutes south of Puerticitos.
I have a tACOMA WITH A 12' WINDSURFER ON TOP.
Safe travels.
Preston
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