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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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BEST
| Quote: |
Looking for "best" roads with least road work and least dirt. And of course gas and hotels.
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David,
The man has defined best for us.
1. Hwy1 has less dirt road.
2. Hwy1 has more gas stations.
3. Hwy 1 has more hotels.
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yes... and others before me provided the options...
I just put up photos of the route on the Gulf side, so he can see what he is missing by going the 'best' (longer/ more traffic) route.
You know let him decide based on all the information possible. I believe I stated the limited hotel conditions between San Felipe and Guerrero Negro
well.
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Bajahowodd
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Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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The photo travelogue through Gonzaga is nice. But I have to with those who mentioned that this was Carl's first drive down to Cabo. For all we know,
the family might just get freaked-out by the long, empty stretches on Mex One, not to mention the hills, narrow stretches and hairpin curves.
Methinks that if Mex One turns out to be fun for them , they can consider the route through San Felipe on the way back, or on another trip.
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rts551
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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 |
Carl
Take interstate 8 to 94 at Boulevard. Cross at Tecate (easy). follow signs to Ensenada on hwy3. Take the tourist/marina/bar route through Ensenada
and head south.
Phoenix to San quintin is a good day so stay at Hotel Santa Maria in the south part of San Quintin. Its on the water, lovely rooms, dogs are no
problem and have a great restaurant (550 pesos or little over $40 for the night). next day further south.
Easiest way from our part of the country. Don't worry about the gulf route at this point, some of the people talking about it don't travel that much
anyway and certainly not from Arizona.
Have a great trip!
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redhilltown
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I'm going with crossing at Tecate and a nice pleasant drive through the wine country down to Ensenada. As a first timer it is a great way to see a
border town (Tecate) yet not deal with ridiculous amounts of traffic and people right off the bat and then a pleasant drive to Ensenada. You might
want to consult maps or other threads on here as to NOT take the route marked Highway One as you enter Ensenada but instead veer to the right and
follow the coast which takes you through the beach part of town and near the cruise lines....I always turn left at the military base and then come up
to make a right hand turn back onto Hwy 1 (which I dont think is hwy 1 but a major street)...I apologize as to the specifics but I bet David K has a
map of this!!!!!!! Maybe as you come back up and have some time and are ready for adventure you could go back up through Gonzaga and San Felipe...it
is stunningly beautiful. Have fun!
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David K
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Actually, the route along the harbor/ tourist zone is signed as the route to San Quintin now (I remember years ago they directed you the inland way).
I bet Pompano has some photos going through Ensenada, he is great at stuff like that... Others have posted maps of Ensenada, I have not.
Just know your goal is to go south/ parallel to the coast... and you eventually get through Ensenada! A left turn at the Pemex (on the left)past the
navy base is the usual way (passing the hospital) then a right at the big street (another Pemex on the left there)... this is Hwy. 1 southbound.
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mcpuitar
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Registered: 3-16-2010
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CaboCarl, I like Bajahowodd's idea of going south on one route and coming back on the other just for a change of scenery. Then a preference can be
established for future trips.
From Tucson I prefer the Gulf route through San Felipe, Puertecitos, Gonzaga, and Coco's Corner. For me it is a much more relaxing and scenic drive
and I especially like avoiding the truck traffic and congestion. We camp along the way so the limited hotel accommodations are not an issue. I can
see how a family needing shopping, restaurant, and hotel options might prefer the Pacific side. The wine country is nice too. Flip a coin and have
fun!
McPedro
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cabocarl
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Thank you to everyone. We have decided to cross at Tecate and take the wine country route to HWY 1 and go south.
Quesitons -
this time of year - do we need motel reservations, or can we just stop and find a hotel when we want to?
Is Hotel Santa Mariain San Quintin on Hwy 1? ie - easy to find?
thanks again everyone
Carl
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rts551
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About 2 miles off the HWY on paved roads. On the San Quintin Bay.
Reservations: 616 165 9008 or email: hotelmisionsantamaria@hotmail.com
Directions: Hotel Mision Santa Maria, at Los Pinos Pemex station (by the Los Pinos Ranch, south of San Quintin and actually in Lazaro Card##es) ,
turn West and follow the signs.
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Skipjack Joe
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You should make a reservation if you plan to stop at Baja Cactus. That's because it's such a good deal and has been heavily promoted here.
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by cabocarl
Thank you to everyone. We have decided to cross at Tecate and take the wine country route to HWY 1 and go south.
Quesitons -
this time of year - do we need motel reservations, or can we just stop and find a hotel when we want to?
Is Hotel Santa Mariain San Quintin on Hwy 1? ie - easy to find?
thanks again everyone
Carl |
It is about the only paved road to the right south of San Quintin, Km. 11 (I believe)... and as stated there is a Pemex Gas Station on the corner, and
a tomato processing plant (looks like a mall) on the other corner, where the paved road to the hotel joins Hwy. 1.
The hotel is not on the inside bay of San Quintin, but on the Pacific coast on an open bay/ beach, called Bahia Santa Maria (explains the hotel's
name).
The Baja Cactus Motel is by Km. 57, next to the Pemex station in El Rosario.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
... sure all pavement, but 100+ miles longer drive and getting through Ensenada nightmare... |
dk: ensenada is not a "nightmare." your fears are quite odd and perplexing...
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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Since my directions apparently confused some people here is the website and their MAP. and there are other paved roads off of HWY 1 like the one
going to the town of Santa Maria, so don't take it.
http://www.hotelmisionsantamaria.com/en/Mapa%20Santa%20Maria...
[Edited on 5-6-2012 by rts551]
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BajaBlanca
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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THOUGHTS ON ENSENADA
I would actually recommend staying in Ensenada for a day ... walking the main street is great fun and there are some really neat stores going up there
now ... we usually stay at the EL CORTEZ HOTEL which is about $68 and sometimes less,because
1. parking is underground and guarded all night
2. it is precisely across the street from some really neat stores
3. it has an absolutely fabulous restaurant - specialty for us is the fillet mignon. melt in your mouth delcious. I am sure there are other equally
good meals, but we are always so impressed with the sauce on this particular dish that we never waver.
I wrote a thread a while back about one of the stores in particular. it is called SWEET MEMORIES or DULCES RECUERDOS ... she has the most unique gift
packaging for the typical sweets she sells .... which come from all over Mexico ... we saw them all whikle we did our mega trip throughout the
mainland.
there is another store to the right of her somewhere which sells arts and crafts from mainland and Baja Mexico ... I just love supporting these ma and
pa shops and helping out the artista, artisans who are supplying them as well. Wish I could remember the name of the store ....let me search a
little....
[Edited on 5-6-2012 by BajaBlanca]
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rts551
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And the $575 on their website is Pesos...so as not to confuse people again.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
And the $575 on their website is Pesos...so as not to confuse people again. |
Sure glad you cleared it all up. 
And we have not needed reservations out there yet----short easy drive and worth it to be on the beach which is a great place to exercise your dog---at
least with our dogs, tired dogs make better riding companions.
Blanca, I don't think the Hotel Cortez is dog friendly??? And his dog will be with him. But good information for dogless people. 
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BajaBlanca
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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GOOD POINT ... and Diana, we have set aside a room here at the house to be dog friendly since we no longer have the COPA CABANA to cater to dog owners
...
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
GOOD POINT ... and Diana, we have set aside a room here at the house to be dog friendly since we no longer have the COPA CABANA to cater to dog owners
... |
Also good information and a good idea! 
Cabocarl,
If you decide to take a side trip out to see a rural fishing village, check out Blanca's place.
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durrelllrobert
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If you want a nice dog friendly motel that's on the water in Valle de San Quintin check out the Old Mill that has excelent rooms for $42. To get
there pass through the village of San Quintin (not much there) and Lazar Card##as (not much there either) and go a few miles more until you see the
sign for "Molino Veijo (The Old Mill)" on right side of road. Turn right down the dirt road and go about 3 miles. There is a great restaurant next
door.
If you miss that turn, the next intersection has a sign "Jardines Baja which is only about 1/2 mile down a dirt road. Another great hotel and
wonderful restaurant (but more $), not on water and maybe not dog friendly.
Bob Durrell
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CortezBlue
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Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by cabocarl
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 |
Well you will get all kinds of suggestions from this group
1st timer, maybe you should do this
Phx to san Luis , (take Araby rd. just outside of Yuma, SR 195)
After you cross about 50 yds after the gate turn right.
This is the toll rd that will take you to San felipe. However, I think you should take it to Tecate and then make your way south to Cabo etc.
This will give you a good feel for driving in Mexico.
On the way back you can then decide if you want to go north through coco's corner and up through San Felipe
I live in Fenix as well, U2U me if you have any questions
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