Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Bus to Guerrero Negro
I am contemplating a bus trip from Tijuana to Guerrero Negro. I have traveled for years on Mexican buses and prefer them to their US counterparts.
I have not been following this site for a while so am out of touch.
I am familiar with and follow the happenings on the mainland and know there have been incidents of late with bus robberies between Mexico City and
Queretaro.
I am wondering if this has become a problem in Baja?
Iflyfish
|
|
|
rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
|
|
no
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Excellent! Thanks
Iflyfish
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
when you get some dates in mind, lets work on getting you a ride down...maybe with Sirena or another nomad or nomadette!!! I quite like the bus and
the stops it makes not to mention the movies.
|
|
|
DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
|
|
The BIG danger is a bad a REALLY BAD kung foo movie. One of the best purchases I ever made for riding on a Mexican bus is an inflatable pillow.
Inflate only to 25% and then jam it against the window sill. The "PLUS" IMHO is the best of the bunch.
Hope this posts I have been having a really bad time connecting.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
oh yeah, I forgot about the ear plugs I put in to dull the HAYYYYYAAAAAA in the Kung Fu movies!!! I also take my pack or suitcase onto the bus and use
it in front of me to put my legs up on to stretch out while watching the movie.
|
|
|
rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
|
|
I've done buses with armed guards, and been terrified at breakdowns in El Salvador, Guatamala, Honduras. I've slept in razor wire surrounded bus
company compounds in Central America. I've felt like kissing the aisles in Tika (Costa Rica) buses when I climbed on after too many days on others.
of course I was younger then, but not particularly foolish, just adventurous.
I've had zero concerns about any Mexican buses, other than safety issues. having lived off and on in San Miguel de Allende for several years total,
and having frequented the Mexico City-Querretero-SMdA lines, am sorry to hear there are now problems. not surprised, but sorry.
Baja...no worries mon!
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
|
|
|
thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3732
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
|
|
Last time we rode from Puebla to DF they showed Gigli
An armed holdup would have been an improvement
|
|
|
toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by rhintransit
I've done buses with armed guards, and been terrified at breakdowns in El Salvador, Guatamala, Honduras. I've slept in razor wire surrounded bus
company compounds in Central America. I've felt like kissing the aisles in Tika (Costa Rica) buses when I climbed on after too many days on others.
of course I was younger then, but not particularly foolish, just adventurous.
I've had zero concerns about any Mexican buses, other than safety issues. having lived off and on in San Miguel de Allende for several years total,
and having frequented the Mexico City-Querretero-SMdA lines, am sorry to hear there are now problems. not surprised, but sorry.
Baja...no worries mon! |
I too have traveled extensively on Mexican, Guatemalan and Costa Rican busses. Never had a problem. One time my bus was stopped by a rebel group near
Oaxaca. They strung a rope across the road. The bus stopped. They came aboard and made a speech about their cause. They then went up and down the
aisle with a can for "donations". There was never a threat of violence.
When did you live in San Miguel de Allende? I wonder if we know each other. I lived there in 1980-1984. I was the trumpet player at Mama Mia's
Restaurant the whole time and also had a stained glass studio/gallery there.
Tony
|
|
|
vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
|
|
I spent 21 hours on an ABC bus overnight to Loreto from TJ to end the "Curse of the Suzuki Sidekick". It could have been fun had I been bright enough
to pack food. I also was dressed for Loreto, and froze my arse off all night long. The best part was the movie in the morning was The Alamo, with
English subtitles. The Mexicans cheered at all the "wrong" places! It was a cultural mind-bender.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
when you get some dates in mind, lets work on getting you a ride down...maybe with Sirena or another nomad or nomadette!!! I quite like the bus and
the stops it makes not to mention the movies. |
Sounds wonderful Shari! At my age and stage comfort and convenience are priorities as are good companions.
I am hoping to come down for the months of Dec, Jan and Feb return in March. I would love to drive down and back with another Nomad!! I can share
expenses and some good stories.
I can easily fly to San Diego and link up with someone there.
Great idea!!
Iflyfish
|
|
|
sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
|
|
I've bussed TJ/La Paz a few times, leaving from
the Central Bus Station in TJ, about 4 mi. east of
the border, as opposed to the
small bus station 2 blks from the border. I take a
TJ city bus out to the Central Station instead of a
taxi, city bus $.40, taxi $12 +, Autotransportes de
Baja Calif has run the peninsula for yrs., don't know
if there is another Bus Co or not
Drivers are professional, they do not drive
recklessly, they know Hwy 1 better than any Gringo,
bus travel in Mex stopped being cheap 20 yrs,
ago, but to La Paz maybe $140 dlls, one way,
guessing G Negro $80 mas o menos
[Edited on 10-23-2012 by sancho]
|
|
|
captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
|
|
busses
And they do FLY !!! them things scream down and up baja!! just Hope your driver isnt disgrunted and decides before he loses his job decides to plow
headon into another bus !! happened a few years ago when I was heading down and wasnt pretty !!!! and the wind shear can be a major thing to deal with
as they pass !!!! can almost blow you off the "ROAD" I have never rode on one But have been told often Its great and cheap !!! K&T
|
|
|
Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2745
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Yes, for direct bus go to Tijuana Camionera Central (aka Tijuana Otay). From small station near the border they only run buses to Ensenada where you
have to make a switch.
ABC - Autotransportes de BC or Autobuses de BC, whatever it's called now - is the only game in town, I think. There used to be Aguilla as well, may be
still is. In any event, there is just 4 or 5 buses a day on that route. Check ABC schedule: http://www.abc.com.mx/ - slow server, be patient with menus.
Haven't had and haven't heard of any bus robberies in BCN/BCS. You will see military checkpoints, though, and will probably have to show your ID and
open the bags (keep an eye on your belongings). Mostly they check buses going North.
Not bad for comfort, bus washroom can be in poor shape, but they make pit stops and lunch/dinner stops.
Tickets cost the same or slightly cheaper than Greyhound on the same distance North of the border. For one person it's probably cheaper than gas + car
wear. They have senior discounts, if my memory doesn't fail me (I'm not in this league yet).
Kungfu movies are probably 1/10 probability, usually they run same boring stuff as Greyhound in the US and Canada, only in Spanish. They won't run any
movies after 12 pm, but sleeping on bumpy Baja road is compromised anyway. Get some sweater and/or throw, it can get cold in the night, depending
where you are in the bus. Seats numbers are assigned - they are not some "chicken buses" from 1950s. Normal tourist buses with aircondition.
[Edited on 10-26-2012 by Alm]
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Gracias amigos
Iflyfish
|
|
|
wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3858
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
Bus fare to GN one way will be about 1005 pesos - about $80 USD. The central bus terminal is not the Otay (airport) location, but the Colonia la Mesa
location. A taxi will cost $8.00 USD from the SY border. Take some 1 peso/2 peso coins for pay restrooms off the bus (they're 4 or 5 pesos, but
worth it), plus your own toilet paper and soap.
|
|
|
Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2745
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
I saw the location for Camionera Central called "Otay Mesa" - so it was neither Otay, nor Mesa  ... On another occasion it was called "East Otay". Go figure.
Mexican cabbies from SY to Camionera Central are inconsistent in price, can be anywhere from $8 to $15, though it's a short ride. There is also a
public transit bus from the border to Camionera, $1 or so.
When flying in to SD, the cheapest way to Camionera Central is taking a cab to Greyhound terminal (a short ride $15 or so) and then Greyhound to
Camionera Central for $8. When you buy a ticket at the SD Greyhound terminal, the "Camionera Central" is simply called "Tijuana terminal'. Greyhound
bus gets pretty fast to SY, same fast as a taxi, but then it stops for 40-60 minutes to pick up passengers on the US side, and then another 20 minutes
to play the "green/red lottery" at the border. Then it gets to Camionera in roughly 10 minutes. So plan about 2-3 hours total from SD to Camionera,
including waiting for Greyhound at SD terminal.
Taking a cab from SD airport straight to SY could save time (compared to taxi+Greyhound), but only if you are either
a) lucky enough to catch the Greyhound at SY without waiting for an hour or two, or
b) walk through the turnstile and grab a mexican cab to Camionera Central.
Otherwise, taxi from SD airport to SY ($60?) takes about same long as taxi to SD Greyhound terminal and then Greyhound to SY.
Oh yeah, one more thing - Greyhound is charging same $8 to Camionera no matter whether you are getting in at SD terminal or at SY. The only difference
is that they don't allow too much luggage at SD terminal even for extra pay (50 lbs max, I think) - while in SY you can load any weight in the same
bus.
[Edited on 10-26-2012 by Alm]
|
|
|
wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3858
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
The Greyhound bus in San Diego (on National Avenue) charges $17.50 to the central bus station in TJ. Cheapest and fastest way to Camionera Central is
to take the trolley to the border, walk across, and take a taxi to the bus station. Tell the taxi driver you will pay $8. They will take $8.00. It
will take about 1 hour from a downtown San Diego trolley station to the ABC ticket counter in TJ.
On the return trip, however, the Greyhound bus from the TJ bus station is a great option, costs $12 cash, is comfortable and air conditioned while
sitting in the border line. You will walk across the border, and then wait for another bus on the SY side. No problem - the wait is about 10 minutes.
I just did this twice in the last 5 weeks.
PS: There is no currency exchange place at the TJ central bus station; there is an ATM machine which will charge over $5 USD in "comision". The
restroom is 4 pesos.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
