| Pages:
1
2 |
jkruk
Nomad

Posts: 132
Registered: 9-21-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
Chula vista/catavina/Baja cactus
1. Dog friendly motel National city/Chula vista
2 Travel time from TJ to Catavina Easy one day? Room rate are rigs secure there?
3. Is it better to just stay at the Cactus and have a easier day
Destination Mullege Your opinions please Jim
|
|
|
mcfez
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
|
|
La Quinta Inn San Diego Chula Vista
www.lq.com
3 Google reviews - $95
150 Bonita Rd
Chula Vista, CA
(619) 691-1211
Vagabond Inn San Diego (Chula Vista)
www.vagabondinn-san-diego-chula-vista-hotel.com
2 Google reviews - $62
230 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA
(619) 422-8305
Stay at the Cactus. Baja should be explored without rushing around. :-)
[Edited on 12-21-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
|
|
|
mulegejim
Nomad

Posts: 470
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: San Clemente, CA/Mulege, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by jkruk
1. Dog friendly motel National city/Chula vista
2 Travel time from TJ to Catavina Easy one day? Room rate are rigs secure there?
3. Is it better to just stay at the Cactus and have a easier day
Destination Mullege Your opinions please Jim |
1. Not sure
2. Fairly easy day. Not sure about price. Rig would be out-in-the-open I believe.
3. Easier day. Good rate - show Baja Nomad card for discount. Dog friendly. Fairly secure.
Some like Catavina and others like Baja Cactus. I happen to like the Cactus, however I understand why others like Catavina. Jim
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
       
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
EL ROSARIO is 5 hours from the border (+ construction/ military delays if any). CATAVIŅA is 6.5 hours...
Baja Cactus is $35 and Mision Cataviņa is $85(?)...
MULEGE is 324 miles from Cataviņa or 400 miles from El Rosario.
Baja Cactus, El Rosario... a traveler's oasis:







[Edited on 12-21-2011 by David K]
|
|
|
bajaguy
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
|
|
Second the La Quinta Inn in Chula Vista. Bonita Road and the 805.
Take the 805 to the 905 east and cross at Otay Mesa, Corridor 2000 to the toll/free road south to Ensenada.
Also second the Baja Cactus......and don't forget to print out the Nomad discount card!!!. You can use it at the Baja Cactus.
http://www.bajanomad.com/club/card.htm
|
|
|
jeffg
Nomad

Posts: 175
Registered: 11-25-2004
Location: Vista, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
Regarding overnighting, I'd go on to Catavina. Figure 7-8 hours not pushing it, even with a stop for breakfast / lunch somewhere. Baja Cactus is
nice but El Rosario isn't really far enough and leaves you with a long second day. Catavina breaks up the trip just about perfectly.
(Actually, if it was me I'd go to Guerrero Negro the first day, and have a real easy second day.)
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
       
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
A lot depends on how early you cross the border, and how quickly you get through Ensenada, military check points and road construction.
Guerrero Negro is 3-4 hours beyond El Rosario (8-9 hours from the border).. and it is good to arrive and check in before dark... and it gets dark
early in the winter. PLUS, you LOSE an hour on the clock when you cross the state border, 2 miles from Guerrero Negro.
How about a treat, and take the 41 mile paved side road to Bahia de los Angeles? (3 hours from El Rosario)
|
|
|
LaTijereta
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
|
|
Catavina Hotel has been re-done under new managment..
Stayed there two weeks ago..Rate was $90 per night ($70 w/ FM3) ...Dog freindly.. New menu in the resturant/ food was not over priced.. Rooms have new
beds and working room heaters for this time of year..Full Time securtiy guard watching the parking lot at night..Lots of parking for the trailers/
rigs we were hauling down...
Perfect timing to drive into Catavina in late afternoon, with the low sunlight hitting the rocks and cactus..
Would give you a 6+ hour drive to Mulege the next day..
Democracy is like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin (1759)
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
       
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by LaTijereta
Catavina Hotel has been re-done under new managment..
Stayed there two weeks ago..Rate was $90 per night ($70 w/ FM3) ...Dog freindly.. New menu in the resturant/ food was not over priced.. Rooms have new
beds and working room heaters for this time of year..Full Time securtiy guard watching the parking lot at night..Lots of parking for the trailers/
rigs we were hauling down...
Perfect timing to drive into Catavina in late afternoon, with the low sunlight hitting the rocks and cactus..
Would give you a 6+ hour drive to Mulege the next day.. |
Sounds great, but pricey (understand the reason)... as I recall, it is only a dozen rooms?
If they are full, then you have the Cabaņas Linda motel across the street, or the bunk room at Rancho Santa Ynez, a mile south. So, do you have a
reservation number (if they can take them by satellite phone there)?
Baja Cactus has a U.S. phone number to take reservations... (619) 694-1082
|
|
|
PCbaja
Junior Nomad
Posts: 79
Registered: 11-26-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by jeffg
Regarding overnighting, I'd go on to Catavina. Figure 7-8 hours not pushing it, even with a stop for breakfast / lunch somewhere. Baja Cactus is
nice but El Rosario isn't really far enough and leaves you with a long second day. Catavina breaks up the trip just about perfectly.
(Actually, if it was me I'd go to Guerrero Negro the first day, and have a real easy second day.) |
I would have to agree this is a much better idea!
|
|
|
Jack Swords
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
We are leaving for La Paz next Tuesday. This is how we have done it for the past 12 years:
Stay at La Quinta in Oceanside (dog friendly), hit the border at 6 AM (Declaration lane), get permit, pay bank (sometimes need to walk back to
turnstile Immigration office), get to Guerrero Negro before dusk and have a great dinner. Next day, up at 4 (actually 5 due to time change) and get
to La Paz early evening. Needed backups due to construction, rain, being in Mexico, leaves us at Catavina, El Rosario, or camping in the desert. Any
delay means Loreto as the next stop (or Juncalito). Need to be always ready for the unexpected so carry some food, drink. Problem this time of year
is the very short days and avoiding driving in the dark.
|
|
|
bkbend
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 695
Registered: 11-27-2003
Location: central OR or central baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
1. Motel 6 I-5 at E street. $60 or so fenced parking with all-night security. Restaurants and grocery nearby.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
      
Posts: 20374
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by jkruk
1. Dog friendly motel National city/Chula vista
2 Travel time from TJ to Catavina Easy one day? Room rate are rigs secure there?
3. Is it better to just stay at the Cactus and have a easier day
Destination Mullege Your opinions please Jim |
rigs are secure in catavina. easy to make it to catavina in 1 day.
el rosario and catavina are VERY different. choose based on which town and hotel you prefer. does not make sense to compare them as if they are
similar alternatives, as catavina is in a special class far above el rosario.
|
|
|
LaTijereta
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
|
|
Here is the link.. I would say they have maybe 24 rooms, but they can get filled easy this time of year with the holiday travel..
http://www.hotelmisionsantamaria.com/en/catavina%20en.html
Democracy is like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin (1759)
|
|
|
BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 929
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
For whatever reason, I barely make it to El Rosario before dusk....And I swear I leave like... SUPER EARLY... hhah
|
|
|
Russ
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
|
|
Jim, I'd cross the boarded before sunrise. Haven't heard any horror stories on the toll road for a long time. I think you can make Guerro Negro
before sunset and the trip to PC in the morning is a breeze giving you time to unpack relax and enjoy the sunset.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
|
|
|
805gregg
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
|
|
Push on through to GN, then an easy drive the next day.
[Edited on 12-28-2011 by 805gregg]
|
|
|
dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
|
|
We cross at SY at 5am, see the sunrise around Santo Thomas, pulling into Ignacio Springs B&B in San Ignacio late afternoon for a great dinner,
wonderful night's sleep and killer breakfast the next morning before heading South.......probably not advisable for a HY1 newby though... ....dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
       
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
With the highway widening construction north of SANTO TOMAS, it may be best if a newbie not drive it in the dark...
|
|
|
dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
|
|
I totally agree with you DK......dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |