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cabocarl
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Registered: 3-21-2012
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Phoenix to Cabo - driving with dog
OK – I have searched and see a lot of partial answers, but can’t find the full answer. We are thinking of driving from Phoenix to Cabo with a dog. I
see a lot of things about crossings (don’t want to do the ferry – have heard the pet storage is not very good). But is there a map with the best
crossing and route and places to stop for the night? How many days from the crossing to Cabo? We do want to see scenery, but in the end it’s really
just getting to Cabo. Thanks for your help
Carl
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mcpuitar
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Carl--Welcome to Baja Nomad. I live in Tucson and when I don't want to take the ferry (usually due to wind or the extra expense of taking a vehicle
on board) I've been driving down Mex 5 lately, crossing at either Algodones or Mexicali East, then down through San Felipe, Puertecitos, Gonzaga,
Coco's Corner, meeting up with Mex 1 at Laguna Chapala. Then you would proceed south from there until you run out of land. This route cuts off about
150 miles of the trip (over crossing at Tecate for example) for us in Arizona, and can be a good way to go depending on the type of vehicle you are
driving. Wouldn't recommend an RV or towing a trailer because parts of Rte 5 are still rough, though nothing compared to the old days. It's under
construction and currently paved (to the understandable dismay of many) to about 20 kms north of Gonzaga. They have been completing about 10 kms per
year over the past few years. There is much posted about this route (maps, photos, places to stop/eat/camp, and other useful info) by David K and
many others if you browse BN (mostly under "Road Conditions" and also some under "Trip Reports" I believe). Look for subject headings such as
"Roadwork to Gonzaga", etc. Even if Cabo is your only destination, I wouldn't do the 1-way trip in less than 3 days because there is so much along
the way to see, taste, smell, feel... and don't like to drive it at night (main reasons: Rte 5 has some unexpected dips in the vados and there are
often fresh rockslides in the crazy-steep roadcuts they have recently blasted for the new hwy; and Rte 1 has a lot of cows, livestock and other
critters).
I'll be heading down again in May but will likely take the Santa Rosalía ferry then, depending on weather. By the way, the Santa Rosalía ferry is not
bad for dogs. I take mine and they stay in the car for the roughly 10-hour crossing. I can go visit them on the auto deck whenever I want to. Good
luck and have a great trip.
McPedro
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Cypress
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Mood: undecided
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| Quote: | Originally posted by cabocarl
OK – We do want to see scenery, but in the end it’s really just getting to Cabo. Thanks for your help
Carl |
Welcome to Baja Nomads. Maybe just take flight down, then rent a car and head north for a day trip?
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cabocarl
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thanks for the responses.
Cypress - yes we want to experience the trip - we usually fly as we spend 4 to 6 weeks in cabo 3 or 4 times a year. But we now have a dog and from
Phoenix USA is the only direct flight and they won't take dogs. AA will, but has to make a stop and will not if the temp along the way is above 85 -
so being in phoenix - this is often - so unless someone has another option - we are driving
mcpuitar - I read the santa Rosalia ferry was not very good with actually keep their schedule. So if the dog is in the car for 10 hours - is there a
place to walk them. My concern with the La Paz ferry is the pets are with the trucks in cages and the air quality if pretty poor. the only ferry
I've been on was about an hour. How long is the trip if you take the santa rosalia ferry?
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vandy
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Phoenix to Tecate crossing, leave really early to cross the border (6 hour drive) before noon.
Straight ahead, left at first light, right at first light, across RR tracks then straight to Ensenada. Stop at all stop signs, they are everywhere.
Before Ensenada, look for sign for San Quintin, and bear right through Ensenada near coast.
Stop at all stop signs.
You'll be early for a hotel in San Quintin...try El Rosario for a pet-friendly place with internet, possibly Baja Cactus.
Or go on to Catavina, like I sometimes do, in the dark SLOWLY.
But I camp in the desert.
If you make it to Catavina, then one more huge day to Cabo.
Two-day drive for the truly serious.
Your average hard driver will make it in three days from Phoenix.
Regular people will stay in San Quintin/El Rosario, then Guerrero Negro, then Loreto, taking four days. Some people realize that when they reach a
perfect spot, they stay there, and skip Cabo
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BajaBlanca
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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welcome to Baja Nomad ... have a great trip.
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mcpuitar
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 3-16-2010
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Carl, Usually the SR ferry is good about keeping their schedule. There have been 6 times out of 24 SR ferry crossings when I have had to wait at
least 12 hrs, sometimes 24 to 48 hrs, to cross (4 times for the wind/waves to die down, once for a mechanical problem with the boat to be fixed, and
the other time was my fault--I got to the terminal office late and they had given my car space reservation away so I had to wait for the next
crossing). Just stay overnight and enjoy Guaymas/San Carlos or Santa Rosalía for a day or so, which could be a problem if you are on a tight
schedule. At least five other times, when returning to AZ I've had to change plans and drive up Baja when I had planned to take the ferry but found
out it wasn't crossing that day afterall. Please read my lengthy posts about taking dogs on the SR ferry from 2 years ago (March 16, 17, 18 2010 and
then again on Jan 13, 2011), all on page 2 of the following thread:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=44761&pag...
McPedro
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captkw
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Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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dogs
HOLA, as that I've been crossing the borders awhile, I can tell ya dogs are no problem,,if yours are aggresseve ? show the ck points along the way
that they are leased and under control....very important and when out with your dogs be aware that most local folk's are rather afraid of gringo dogs
and just saying" no problem" is not the answer for them, espesaly when their are childin involed,,I have found that,, direct control of your dog and
saying" no mordia" and smiling makes them feel more comforting rather than sitting on your a-s on a beach with your dog unleased while they are
walking past with the kid's.. hell that's not good just about anywhere...remember a great dog owner will go out of the way to make other folk's feel
safe around your dog's and is really apprecaded any where... and yes you know that your dog isnt gonna bite,, but that dosnt mean crap to other
folk's..... K & T 
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goldhuntress
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mcpuitar, nice posts about the dog/ferry issues. I'm not planning on taking the ferry but if I do that is excellent info.
cabocarl, drive down Baja, it's a great experience. Have an awesome time and hopefully we'll get a trip report out of you!
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bajasuzie
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Location: San Jose del cabo
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Mood: 
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Carl...U2U me..
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DavidE
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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 stayed at the Le Espinata hotel in guerrero negro and when I slammed the car door, the place sounded like a dog pound. That place allows dogs it
seems.
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Hook
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cabocarl, as someone mentioned, it would help to know what kind of vehicle you are in. Are you bringing camping gear? Hoteling it all the way down?
Necessary to know this before recommending a route.
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cabocarl
Newbie
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we are in a Jeep Cherokee. 2 wheel drive. Looking to stay at hotels along the way
I have looked at the site and used "search" for maps, but really can’t find any detailed ones – any help would be appreciated
Thanks for all the coments
Carl
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captkw
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Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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cabocarl
Hola,I would suggest you bring some sleeping bag's and at least min camping gear...baja is alway's a GREAT place to sleep on beach's and star/moon
gaze..just a saying !!!! and if your heep (spanish) should brakedown,, at least you can sleep warm... and long peice of small rope to make a dog
run..I like to use the cararbin hook's that look like the one's for rock climping.. with a 6/8 ft leash.. makes living with dog's easy.... and a
eyelet on the bottom of both bumber's.K & T
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Hook
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Jesus Christo, Vandy. Three days from Phoenix to Cabo? The poor wife will want a divorce on the spot, when they get there. Even his dog may abandon
him.
I would avoid the Tecate to San Quintin corridor. Just too much traffic and not very scenic. Go Phoenix to Mexicali East, then down the Gonzaga route.
Just when are you going? Semana Santa is coming...............
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Bajahowodd
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I also had to shake my head at the statement that from Catavina to Cabo is one huge day. To say the least.
I'm guessing that cabocarl is not in a giant hurry, as he expressed an interest in seeing the sights along the way.
I lean toward the advice about crossing at Tecate.
Don't know if you have any interest in Ensenada. It has a bunch of great restaurants and good hotels.
We cross at San Ysidro when heading South. Although there was a time when we were hellbent to get to Cabo ASAP, over the years, we have learned to
take our time.
Our usual itinerary from Orange County CA is to make it to San Quintin the first day, where there is a wonderful hotel called Jardines Baja, with
perhaps the best restaurant in the whole area next door, run by the same family. They have pet friendly rooms, but not many. You would be advised to
make a reservation ahead of time.
We usually make it a fairly short second day, going only as far as Guerrero Negro. I'm not up on the pet situation in Guerrero Negro, but you will
find several good restaurants and the hotels I can recommend are Caracoles and Cowboy.
Our next day, we usually stop in Loreto. Many hotels and restaurants. I won't even get into recommending a hotel in Loreto. We've stayed in several.
We tend toward Hacienda suites, which is not on the water, but has a really good restaurant next door (Domingo's Place) but as I said, many options
and some good ones by the water.
From Loreto, it's an easy day to Cabo, but we will often just stop in La Paz to enjoy the malecon. In La Paz, we have gravitated over the years to
Suites El Morro that is on the malecon, where a number of good restaurants can be found.
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captkw
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Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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going south
Hola,I have to agree with the last two post's...catavina to cabo in a day.........what the hell can I say to that ??? dont plan your trip in baja just
let it happen !! If you slowed down you might even get to see,feel,enjoy and find some great folk's,places, and let's not forget to mention the food
and all the other thing's you might get to enjoy..I bet good peso's that if you took you time coming down the baja, that by the time (if) you got to
cabo you very well just might turn aroud and come back to the real baja !!! "catavina to cabo in a day" would you please let us know what day,, so
that we can together with the army and police make shure the road will be cleared for you !! K & T
[Edited on 3-23-2012 by captkw]
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El Camote
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canine leasing vs. owning
| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
show the ck points along the way that they are leased and under control....with your dog unleased while they are walking past with the kid's.. K
& T |
I use to lease my dogs too but got so attached at the end of the lease period, I bought them outright.
With a Jeep Cherokee, I wouldn't hesitate to take the hwy. 5/gulf side to hwy. 1. You could either spend the first night in San Felipe and stop for
lunch the next day at Gonzaga bay or, better yet, depart Phoenix early-whirly and make it all the way to Alfonsina's for the first night. Gonzaga bay
is magical and worth the overnight and the short distance of bad road.
Besides, your pup will love the millions of spots to pull off the road and sniff the cactus on hwy 5.
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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Bajahowodd
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By the way....
After I made my last post, I checked the mileage chart. It's 762 miles from Catavina to Cabo. A huge day indeed, considering that most of the driving
is on a two lane, with serpentine hills, as well as lots of small town with topes, stop signs and traffic lights. I'm guessing that it is 15 hours at
best. But at best.
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mcpuitar
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Agree with El Camote. With Jeep 2-wheel-drive, you'll be fine on Rte 5 and you'll avoid all the truck traffic up north on Rte 1. From AZ and other
points east of Mexicali, it's a good way to go when not taking the ferry. Take 4 days if you can, five would be even better. Since not camping
suggested lodging stops: Gonzaga, San Ignacio, Loreto, then on to Cabo. If you get a late start out of PHX, you can do nights in San Felipe, Guerrero
Negro, Loreto. Get a good map of Baja and you won't get lost.
Many places allow dogs in the rooms but Alfonsina's does not. But there's
another option in Gonzaga for non-campers who don't want to leave dogs in the car--Sacrificio has cabins now.
McPedro
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