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cabocarl
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 3-21-2012
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Best Route for first timer
OK - leaving in 2 weeks and can't wait. Driving from Phoenix to Cabo. I get a lot of different recomendations on route. we are driving a jeep
cheeroke (2x4) with me, my wife and dog. I am between 2 routes - Mexicali to san Felipe to Hwy 1 and south or Tecate to route one via either Hwy 3 or
Hwy 2 to Hwy 1 and south
will be looking for dog friendly hotels along the way, but probably not make reservations, as we don't know how far we will go each day.
any recomendations on our best route? Looking for "best" roads with least road work and least dirt. And of course gas and hotels.
thank you
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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When I lived in Las Vegas I always went Mexicali to Hwy 1 because it saved 279 miles and I found the old dirt road an adventure in itself. You would
save the same miles and you would be fine in the Jeep. I drove a 2 wheel pu, Jeep, others and never had a problem I couldn't fix (one overnighter in
Puertacitos but breakdowns are more fun than flying right by that part of Baja).
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
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We enjoy the Mexicali route best. But you are restricted to staying in San Felipe or Bahia Gonzaga. And then you still have some dirt road to go
on.
Because of that, the majority of the time we go through Tecate and spend the night in San Quintin or El Rosario.
In a car you may travel faster than us because we drive a full size pick-up and many times a flat bed trailer.
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
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Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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My recommendation would be: Mexicali-San Felipe-Puertecitos-Bahia San Luis Gonzaga-Hwy 1.
Allen R
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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Least dirt (more traffic) would be Tecate route.. Dog friendly hotels Jardines or Hotel Santa Maria in San Quintin. Baja Cactus (for a fee) in El
Rosario. Don't know south of San Ignacio.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bufeo
My recommendation would be: Mexicali-San Felipe-Puertecitos-Bahia San Luis Gonzaga-Hwy 1.
Allen R |
I like that route best (less traffic, pretty and cuts off miles) but he stated least dirt and wants hotels
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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The Mexicali road is shorter but you have to drive slower. The Tecate road is all 45+ mph.
The following 2 recent posts will give you an excellent understanding of the 50 or so miles of dirt road you will need to traverse if coming from
Mexicali.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=59793#pid7195...
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=59794#pid7197...
You stated the following. I therefore think the Tecate road is the way to go:
"any recomendations on our best route? Looking for "best" roads with least road work and least dirt. And of course gas and hotels"
[Edited on 5-2-2012 by Skipjack Joe]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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The San Felipe-Gonzaga run is more scenic, is fewer towns/ less traffic (besides being shorter).
The negatives are:
*The pavement between San Felipe and Puertecitos (52 miles) is not high speed (many short-steep dips/ vados).
*The newer section south of Puertecitos is modern, high speed highway until the pavement ends in 30 miles (watch for rocks on the road, however).
*The next 50 miles to Hwy. 1 at Laguna Chapala are graded dirt/ washboard perhaps... and to save tires and improve ride, many drop their tire pressure
to 20 psi. Have an electric pump to refill, or use the tire shop at Chapala at the Hwy. 1 jcn. and offer a tip. Fully inflated tires can get rock
holes.
*South of San Felipe and until Guerrero Negro, services are limited, few towns. Hotels/ motels: at Alfonsina's on Gonzaga Bay... you should go there
to see the beach and have a beer or shrimp or other lunch/dinner, at least also exist at Bahia de los Angeles, another gem, 42 miles on a paved side
road. Otherwise not until Guerrero Negro.
Suggest staying a night at San Felipe so you are rested for the long drive to the next big town, Guerrero Negro for a hotel...
South of Guerrero Negro are many big towns with all services: San Ignacio, Santa Roaslia, Mulege, Loreto, Ciudad Constitucion, La Paz, Todos Santos,
Cabo San Lucas.
A drive into San Ignacio, just a mile off Hwy. 1 on paved road, shouldn't be missed... Oasis, Mission, beauty surrounded by desert!
[Edited on 5-2-2012 by David K]
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bufeo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
| Quote: | Originally posted by bufeo
My recommendation would be: Mexicali-San Felipe-Puertecitos-Bahia San Luis Gonzaga-Hwy 1.
Allen R |
I like that route best (less traffic, pretty and cuts off miles) but he stated least dirt and wants hotels |
I thought about that, but he will have accommodations in San Felipe and Gonzaga, and I think it would be a shame to miss that coastline drive just to
avoid some dirt. You're probably right though, not everyone enjoys the least travelled road.
Allen R
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Sounds like your goal is to get to Cabo and enjoy that part of Baja---- Tecate to Ensenada would be the fastest and easiest way to go and then the
only dirt you will have to drive is where you come across road constructions zones.
In San Quintin --- hotel --- Jardines is beautiful but often booked as they have only a few "dog" rooms and they charge for a second dog. Hotel Santa
Maria is a good choice.
San Ignacio---- the Desert Inn is dog friendly.
Have a great time
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cabocarl
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 3-21-2012
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Thanks to everyone - I think I am leaning more toward Tecate to Hwy 1. Using this route, should I take Hwy 2 or 3 to pick up Hwy 1
thanks again
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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I have a house in Phoenix, always do the Tecate route. have been tempted to go through San Felipe but have never done it. the better of the two for
a newbie would be the road most traveled. proven, no washboard, dirt, etc.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Cabo Carl have yourselves a great first trip !! sure wish you had room to bring a ping pong table down for the kids here but that would be a
challenge on your vehicle
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DianaT
Select Nomad
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by cabocarl
Thanks to everyone - I think I am leaning more toward Tecate to Hwy 1. Using this route, should I take Hwy 2 or 3 to pick up Hwy 1
thanks again |
Hwy 3 and it joins Hwy 1 just north of Ensenada.
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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This guy says he is taking his first trip and to Cabo. I think sending him alone the back way may cause his wife (and dog) to beat the cr*p out of
him way before he hits the pavement on hwy 1. Come on guys, us old timers may love the off road adventure, but, lets not scare him on his first trip
K? LOL!
Mean people suck!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Hwy. 5 visual...
Mexicali to San Felipe is 4 lanes and 2 lanes wide, mostly newer style with shoulders (bike lanes) like this:
South of San Felipe are many miles of beautiful/ empty beaches... should ever tire of the 24 disco that is Cabo:
South to Puertecitos, is the old-style highway still...
Puertecitos village is a mile off the highway:
The new highway passes by the cove of Puertecitos (hot springs are on the shore on the other side of the point you see... the tide controls the
temperature in several pools of sulfur water mixed with sea water).
Soon you will see the 'Enchanted Islands' (this photo from before pavement)...
On new highway, nearing Isla El Huerfanito (The Little Orphan):
Isla El Muerto (the dead man):
Hwy. 5 construction, July 2011:
Your first view of Bahia San Luis Gonzaga:
The Gonzaga Pemex is part of Alfonsina's, at the turnoff to the resort.
Alfonsina's motel/ restaurant/bar is on the sand...
This was taken from the island, connects to the sand spit at Alfonsina's at low tide... Bahia San Luis Gonzaga:
Just south of Alfonsina's road is the road to Playa Grande, with palapas on the Big Beach:
South of Gonzaga to Coco's Corner 22 miles:
The road between Coco's Corner and Hwy. 1 (13 miles):
At Hwy. 1/ Laguna Chapala, signs:
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Debra
Super Nomad
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Thanks David, I hadn't seen the new road yet. Looks great. Gonzaga to Mex 1 though?
Mean people suck!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
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Location: San Diego County
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35 miles.. graded... rough for passenger cars.. see BryanMckenzie's post with video... He drove it last week in a VW Passat (or ?)... and didn't like
it much. We in 'good' Baja vehicles consider it a piece of cake!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Cabocarl
Check you U2U --- look up in the right hand corner and it will show you have a message in big blue letters.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I can do a photo journey down Hwy. 1 from Ensenada, but it would show towns, traffic, farm equipment, tractor trailers... sure all pavement, but 100+
miles longer drive and getting through Ensenada nightmare... Really, is driving slow for 50 dirt miles in a JEEP Cherokee that bad?
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