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utahman
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 1-18-2013
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Is this a realistic travel plan(s) to Mulege?
For the past couple of years my wife and I have been thinking about taking our kids to Baja, specifically Mulege. I have been once, approx 20 years
ago, and my wife has never been. We will be driving a Honda Pilot with a small utility trailer. We will take camping supply's along with a couple
kayaks and my motorcycle. We would not be camping at Mulege.
The basic plans with some questions are as follows
Plan A
Cross the border at Otay Mesa (1st choice) or Tijuana (2nd choice) as the sun rises. Drive all day until we stop at Bay of LA (approx 10 hrs??)
Layover a day at Bay of LA and then hit San Ignacio on our way to Mulege (approx 5hrs???) on Mex 1.
Plan B
Cross the border at Otay Mesa (1st choice) or Tijuana (2nd choice) as the sun rises. Drive until we reach San Quintin. Stay the night and drive to
Mulege the next day on Mex 1.
Plan C
Cross the border at Mexicali and drive to Gonzaga Bay. From Gonzaga to Mulege the next day on Mex 1.
I realize we are trying to pack alot of driving time into our little adventure. I also understand that the road from Gonzaga Bay to Mex 1 is dirt and
that the conditions of the road continually changes (I actually prefer Plan C because of this. My wife prefers Plan A because of this). We have a
limited time frame for this adventure because of school schedules and that is why this is not a "smell the roses" kind of trip.
My first question is: What time does the immigration offices at the border open to buy the tourist cards? I've read somewhere 9am.
Second question: Are these time frames / distances reasonable? We have taken 10 - 12 hour car trips before with little drama, but not 3 days in a row.
Third question: We were planning this trip for the first week in April 2013, yes Easter and the week following, is this crazy to do, or is the first
week of June better? I know it will be hotter in June, but is it unbearable? (I hate crowds but we will have our own space around Mulege).
If you have made it this far any recommendations / admonitions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Utahman + family
PS If we chose Plan C we would air down the tires  . I have quite a bit of desert
driving experience but none when help was possibly 50-100 miles away.
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BajaParrothead
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Posts: 460
Registered: 12-4-2012
Location: Portola, CA / Los Barriles
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The April trip might be a bear coming northbound crossing the border. We have waited up to four hours crossing at San Ysidro in past Easter breaks.
Now we generally cross Tecate around 7:00 AM, clear immigratin and arrive in Guerrero Negro between 6:00 and 6:30 PM without really pushing it. The
June heat is tolerable since the humidity is still reasonable as opposed to later in the summer months. The trek across from the Pacific at GN to the
SOC will be warm, but unless you stop at SI, it's only a few hours across and can be accomplished at day break before it heats up. Biggest challenge
for us is finding clean restrooms for my wife and two daughters. Bring your own TP and seat covers!! 
Good luck and enjoy!
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13212
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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youdo NOT want to travel during the spring break ... thousands of people on the road, beaches are PACKED like sardines, surely after 20 years, this
would not impress you favorably!
immigration at Tijuana is open 24/7, unless something has changed that I am not aware of. No idea of the times open at other locations.
BajaParrothead = welcome to bajanomad. quite considerate of you to chip in with advice !
I really think you should stop in san ignacio and stay at Jane's (Juanita's) guest house. Her place was the very first inn in the area. She is sweet.
The setting is a huge garden with a natural stream running thru it and you will need that coolness in June. It is HOT and it is HUMID. She has a
museum that is wonderful for kids to browse in, there is ice cream at the park, there is a huge church with huge stone walls ....
Here is a link to Juanita's place:
http://www.casaleree.com
Have fun !
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65107
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Daylight is longer in June, the weather is better (less chance of wind, warmer water to swim in)...
The border is indeed open 24/7, BUT the person with the money box for 180 day tourist cards is (or maybe) not there 24/7. If your trip is not over 7
days, then get the free card... otherwise, you should cross when there is a teller window or money person open for the paid FMM tourist cards....
Otay south is excellent... cross border, go about one mile south then turn left on Industrial Blvd. (signed for Tecate and Mexicali Cuota/toll except
you branch off on the Corredor 2000 free highway to Popotla, a town on the free Ensenada road, before the first Tecate toll gate).
Tijuana is better now with the new border crossing and then jump on the 'Scenic Hwy.' (Toll Road) to Ensenada.
However, my vote is to Cross at Tecate or Mexicali and go south to San Felipe and Gonzaga Bay... much faster, less traffic, no dozens of farm towns
with slow speeds, speed bumps, busses... Get that 'Baja Feeling' faster!
Gonzaga to Mulege is a long day drive, but very possible... specially in June with more daytime. 38 unpaved , but graded miles... go slow, have a soda
or cerveza at Coco's Corner, enjoy the fact you will have been on some of the Baja 1000 race course (an easy part, mostly paved)!
L.A. Bay is 40 miles off the the road to Mulege, so you will need to back track to keep on pavement... and just going there to sleep is a waste of an
80 mile drive... spend more time there than just an hour of daylight. Camping just north of town in one of many campos.. or motel in town or the Villa
Bahia or Raquel and Larry's Motel or Daggett's cabins...??? See http://bahiadelosangeles.org and click on the accommodations link.
Any of your choices will work if you want them to. The real thing to plan on is to expect to NOT stay on a schedule, do things the 'Mexican Way', put
away your watch, and just go enjoy the adventure.
[Edited on 1-29-2013 by David K]
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utahman
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 1-18-2013
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If we go to Bay of LA then yes we will stay at least one full day there. San Ignacio would be a stretch your legs stop with some ice cream thrown in
for good measure.
Thanks BajaParrotHead for the time estimation going back. We would be heading down on Easter Weekend and heading back 10-12 days later so I don't know
if that would still be in the "busy spring break time" or not. I guess that's why I'm asking. 
BajaBlanca thanks for the reply. I guess from DavidK's response the question I should have asked is when the "money box" opens.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
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Mood: Current
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Easter Sunday is when most go home, that weekend will have plenty on the road. The following week won't be so bad.
All you trips are very doable and should be fun. If you just want to get there, go with plan A. The road is best, the signage is the best, and we
drive it early morning all the time. Easiest to stay on course.We are usually past well Ensenada for sunrise. I find it faster to Ensenada
Otay is fine but you will question yourself, if you haven't done it before. Bring detailed map with you.
You'll be a bit of a target with kayaks, and bikes on a trailer. Research the ticket info. on this site, there is plenty. You can do what you think is
best after reading it.
Plan C, make sure everything tight and right. The services are more remote and will take longer to get back on the road.
Most things have a way of working out one way or another.
It might not be the vacation you planed, but it still could make a great story.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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tripledigitken
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Your mention of a small trailer sent up red flags for me. Make sure to have spare wheel bearings, bolts, leaf springs, spare tires, etc. Tire patch
kit and compressor too. If it has wheels less than 15" in diameter you are really at risk on the graded roads.
I would go south via Tijuana and spend your last day or two at Gonzaga Bay, then cross at Mexicali.
I wouldn't go during Easter either as it will be very crowded, particulary at Bahia de Concepcion.
Ken
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liknbaja127
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Registered: 1-17-2012
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I think ken is right, I have towed a lot, large and small trailers, hard to find
parts! bring spares, and it does slow you down, on road times. drive careful. I vote the San Quintin trip. have fun which ever way you go.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
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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NO,,NO,,NO !!!
That is the last,,worst,,crazy,,deathful time of the year to go any Where in mex.......Trust me/us on that !!! change your Timing or change your
travel plans...HOLY WEEK, Is not a time to be in mex, unless your hunkerd down with supplys !!! PS..added later,june is really nice in the northern
Lat's......
[Edited on 1-29-2013 by captkw]
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Marla Daily
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Registered: 9-2-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
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We recommend crossing at Tecate and driving to El Rosario the first night and staying at Baja Cactus (with advance reservation); then going on to L.A.
Bay, San Ignacio, or Mulege—whatever you decide—the next day. We do this route often, pulling a utility trailer. Just be sure to stop at all the stop
signs in Tecate and drive slowly through town up and over the hill headed south.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
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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SEE POst above
I'll make it simple,,the week before,, you have Crazy's driving south to get and hold the camp sites.....then you have "Holy week",,,,then,, the
massive rush north to return to the great free ....opps,, Ahh job,work scene.....more folks die in Baja in this time frame than the whole year
!!K&T...Yikes !!
[Edited on 1-29-2013 by captkw]
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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just go! keep the trailer off the dirt roads or you will beat it into its individual nuts and bolts and leave them strewn along the road.
and get that ice cream and sit under the big trees in the plaza at san ignacio and marvel at the mission and pay respects to all of the Indios who
died building it.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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no to Easter Week or anytime thereabouts. you will not enjoy the driving (crazies), the beaches (packed with crazies), the borders (well, more
crazies).
June is lovely, rarely hot hot. wait if you can.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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My son and I a few years ago during Spring Break on one of those crowded beaches
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absinvestor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
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I agree with kw and rhintransit- definitely no to Easter week. Beaches that normally have a dozen people go to thousands. I don't have experience with
driving the roads during that time period but have first hand experience with dealing with the camping crowds. The crowds in general are friendly with
many wonderful families but there are just too many people in all desirable camping areas. At least in the Mulege area the crowds start to form about
a week before Easter and stay Easter week. The day after Easter the crowds dwindle and within 4 or 5 days all is back to normal. Pick a different time
period and you'll have a great time whatever route you choose.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Bajaboy is right...the pacside beaches are deserted because all the locals go over to the gulf side beaches to party hardy...GN and many pacside towns
are like ghost towns during easter weekend.
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 8-5-2011
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I'd stay away from Mulege/Bahia Concepcion from Palm Sunday until the Sunday after Easter Sunday. Pure drunken chaos.
We stay at Santa Inez in our RV when driving to Mulege. A couple of miles south of Catavina, almost exactly 1/2 way (for us 8 hours) between the
border and Mulege.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
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Mood: Current
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Uathman, Go! Because you have a place to stay and going the week after the holiday, you'll be fine. Take which ever trip plan you chose, they all are
good. Bay of LA will be crowed that Sat. night. I haven't stayed there but there is a small hotel in Santa Rosalillita that might offer a alternative
to Bay of LA.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=64373#pid7766...
Here some info on it. It looks fine for a night.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
Your mention of a small trailer sent up red flags for me. Make sure to have spare wheel bearings, bolts, leaf springs, spare tires, etc. Tire patch
kit and compressor too. If it has wheels less than 15" in diameter you are really at risk on the graded roads.
I would go south via Tijuana and spend your last day or two at Gonzaga Bay, then cross at Mexicali.
I wouldn't go during Easter either as it will be very crowded, particulary at Bahia de Concepcion.
Ken |
2X
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
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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EASTER WEEK
Full hotels, full restaurants, lousy prepared dishes, short portions, crowded roads, drunk drivers, impatient truckers willing to pass blindly, many
stores and even tire repair shops closed, city cops looking for a little Easter Cheer for their wallet and girlfriend.
Then It Gets Worse
Fireworks day and night, roaring ATV raising choking clouds of dust. Buzzing water craft threatening to run over you, and leaving sheens of 2-cycle
oil in the water.
Seventy ghetto blasters and car stereos in three acres of beach, set to different stations and songs at volume setting 10. The only quiet time is from
7 to 8 AM. Lanterns and lamps blazing all through the night.
Outhouses overflowing, or when you finally get inside, there will be seven more behind you, waiting. People traipsing into the mangroves trailing
toilet paper.
Flies, more flies, and clouds of flies.
Local store shelves that resemble jungle plants after the passage of army ants.
Gasolineras with hoses draped over top the pumps. "Sorry! Maybe more mañana!"
"KA-FREAKIN'-BOOM!!!!!!" another high powered skyrocket.
I hide during semana santa. It's no different in Michoacan on the beach. I stock up on everything, make sure I have both earplugs AND earmuffs and
then prepare for WW III
June on the other hand is beautiful. But SHADE is at a premium. Usually the humidity is low, but the direct sun can be brutal. Bring some 7-day ice
chests, and packing quilts to wrap them in. The mild sea water is gorgeous.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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