| Pages:
1
2 |
vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
|
|
Why don't you make Loreto the center of your trip. Easy to rent a car here and lots of destinations to visit. Like, Santa Rosalia, Mulege, Concepcion
Bay, San Javier, San Carlos on Magdalena Bay, La Paz and even Los Cabos and the southern loop are in easy driving distance. And above all, the
Soutern Satae is by far the better one. 
|
|
|
Dino
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 7-11-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
SUplies in TJ
Thanks for all the replies!!
I have an additional question - after getting the car in TIJ, I need to do some basic shopping and resuply, maybe buy a water & petrol canister,
camping gaz bomb and so on.
Is there any big supermarket on the outskirts, or somewhere handy? And maybe a small outdoor stuff hsop, with gaz bombs etc.
I do not want to spend too much time searching for stuff in TIJ.
Thanks
Dino
|
|
|
Dino
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 7-11-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
ad travel agent idea
thanks yankeeirishman , but sorry, no.
The trip is already overorganised for my liking.
Remember my best trip ever, where I had a 1:1000000 map of Turkey and hitchhiked through, nowing nothing. Wonderful. So many surprises, so many
wonderful places...
Heaps of them did not make it to a guide book yet 
I just want some quality time discovering the place with my partner, that's all.
Making Loreto the base sounds good, but I would need to get a greyhound down... Which makes planning the return bit more difficult. I will see.
Dino
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Go to Gigante in Ensenada, as you drive right past it heading south... Shopping in Tijuana may freak you out too soon on your vacation!
|
|
|
Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
I understand not wanting a "Travel Agent" (and I am one) but, Yankee has a good point.....if you don't know what's there you may drive right by and
miss some great stuff! May I suggest you grab a copy of "The Baja Adventure Book"
|
|
|
flyfishinPam
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: gone fishin'
|
|
Loreto would make a good starting point
You can either buy that VW bus and then sell it down here somewhere, or take the bus straight here and rent a car from here.
I have a 1971 VW bus in poor condition and people ask if I will sell it to them all the time. You would have no problem reselling it. If you do just
paint a " $ " sign on the back and folks will ask you how much you want for it. Should be easy.
The other option is take the bus Aguila or ABC run here from TJ three or four times a day. The cost is about $100 US one way and its a 16-18 hour
ride, mostly in the dark. You'll arrive in Loreto early morning then will be able to enjoy the town and rent from one of our two car agents in town,
Hertz or Budget. You can drive around and return it to Loreto or leave it in La Paz.
Here's a link to getting to Loreto:
http://www.bajabigfish.com/gettinghere.html
Have fun!
[Edited on 7-13-2005 by flyfishinPam]
|
|
|
Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
Pam, I've always wondered about how the food thing goes on the busses, do they stop (I've never seen a bus at a restuarant) or do you just pack your
own?
|
|
|
flyfishinPam
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: gone fishin'
|
|
The food thing o the bus...
The bus makes a stop for dinner on the TJ-Loreto run. I believe its in El Rosario where they stop to dine. All get out and the driver tells you how
much time you have. Usually the food is pretty good too. You can also take out to eat on the bus too. Or of course bring your own chow.
|
|
|
yankeeirishman
Banned
Posts: 1070
Registered: 3-5-2004
Location: Kalifornia
Member Is Offline
|
|
you said it better than I could!
| Quote: | Originally posted by Debra
I understand not wanting a "Travel Agent" (and I am one) but, Yankee has a good point.....if you don't know what's there you may drive right by and
miss some great stuff! May I suggest you grab a copy of "The Baja Adventure Book" |
|
|
|
wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3824
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
To backtrack just a bit, all of the major rental car companies have offices in TJ - so no problem. I assume you'll be crossing the border from San
Diego on foot. Before you cross the border for your trip, buy your Gaz backpacking stove and other vital gear at any one of several gear stores in
San Diego. There is no problem with walking this across, along with additional gas cannisters for them. Take a taxi to the rental car place where
you have made your RESERVATION, and then hit the road (with a MAP). Like David said, I wouldn't spend any time in TJ looking for stores to buy gear -
lots of traffic and no parking- get it in Ensenada. and you can stop and load up on groceries, including styrofoam ice chest, beer, ice, tortillas,
sweet rolls, eggs, instant coffee, etc. In the same area just down the street - keep an eye out - is a 99 cent store where you can pick up other
stuff if need be - All real cheap - so when you ditch it on the way home, no big loss. Before you get to Ensenada have fish tacos or El Pastor tacos
at an outdoor stand, stop at Mirador to take in the view. Other small stores all along the way have water, fruit, canned goods, eggs, etc. so you
can replenish your supplies as you go, along with restaurants too. Be aware that there is a fruit and vegetable check at the Guerrero Negro Baja CA
Sur border, where they might confiscate your fruit. And be sure to buy some tamales at the gas station on Hwy. 1 near Jesus Maria (before you get to
Guerrero Negro). You might think about buying some cheap wine while in San Diego too - some Charles Shaw is $2 bottle and decent - buy it at Trader
Joes.
|
|
|
turtleandtoad
Senior Nomad
Posts: 730
Registered: 1-20-2005
Location: Wherever I park. See sig for current location.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Good if fishing
|
|
Since you're doing a round trip, you may want to do an "unbalanced" trip, leave more time for your return than for the time to get to your turn-around
point. That way you can scope out the areas on the way down and figure out where to devote more time on your return trip.
I recommend that you include Mulege and Loreto on your list. And if you can, stop at one of the many beaches along the Bahia Concepcion, my favorite
is Playa Requesion, but since it's a camping beach, make it a day trip. Since I'm an RV'er I can't recommend places to stay but I'm sure that plenty
of Nomads will give you advice there.
Now that I've done the "Loop" around the cape from La Paz once, I would skip Cabo altogether, it's just like every other tourist trap (like "the
rocks" in Sidney, only not as many pubs) but the East Cape has some real interesting scenery. The Hotel California in Todos Santos is a good spot for
lunch.
On your way down, be aware of the "gas gap" between El Rosario and Villa Jesus Maria, about 315 km with no gas stations. The turn off to LA Bay (Bahia
de Los Angeles) is a little over half way between these spots and sometimes there is a local selling gas out of 55 gal drums from a defunct Pemex
station at the intersection, but don't rely on it. I understand that there is a new gas station in LA Bay now. Also in this section is Catavina, a
small village in the middle of some of the most unusual landscape I've seen. If you're into taking pictures, plan on spending a couple of hours here.
That time of year, since the whales aren't there, Guererro Negro is a waste of time. Gas up and keep going. If you like quaint oasis', stop in at San
Ignacio for a look.
There is so much to see, you really need to pick up some of the guide books. My favorite is Mike and Terry Church's "Travelers Guide to Camping
Mexico's Baja". It is geared to camping and RV'ing but has great travel tips, places to visit, etc. Check out their website, www.rollinghomes.com
You can also check out my TravelBlog for reports and photos on my first trip to Baja Sur.
Mike & Robin; Full-Time RV\'ers
37\' Georgetown w/3 slides & 275 Watts of Solar Power
06 Taco TRD
www.turtleandtoad.com
I am here
To paraphrase Frank Lloyd Wright; I\'m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let\'s start with keyboards. --
Mike Dean |
|
|
Dino
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 7-11-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
fantastic hints!
Thanks a lot! these are really usefull ideas. I will not cross by feet, I am taking a greyhound from LA to TIJ directly, and I have to check yet where
the stop is - I guess there is one at the airport. So I thought about renting a car at the airport, get some maps, and head out of TIJ. COncerning all
those guides you are mentionning - is it possible to buy them in Mexico somewhere? ordering from AU is the worst thing ever, doubles the price of
books, we even don't have our own amazon!!
What would you suggest with money - can I rely to some extent on ATMs, or get US$ cash and change somewhere (suggestions?), or use traveler's
checks(in my previous travels in europe/africa and orient, I never used them. but some people love them...)?
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
If you are in San Diego for anytime at all, all the books and maps are available at Discover Baja Travel Club (no, you don't have to be a member to
buy there, but members get a discount). Another place in San Diego that may have many or most of the same is Map Centre (and MapWorld.com), a map
store.
Web sites: http://www.discoverbaja.com and http://www.mapworld.com
[Edited on 7-14-2005 by David K]
|
|
|
Dino
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 7-11-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
San diego
I am afraid I will not make a stop in San Diego...
|
|
|
turtleandtoad
Senior Nomad
Posts: 730
Registered: 1-20-2005
Location: Wherever I park. See sig for current location.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Good if fishing
|
|
Re: Money in Baja
If you have an ATM card with the international pin (4 digit), you can use almost any ATM in Baja for cash. Of course it will be in pesos but you're
better off using pesos than US anyway. The exchange rates are better also. There are ATM's in just about every small town on Hwy 1. Just tuck away a
few US $20's so you'll have some when you cross back into the US. Oh, and most gas stations will NOT take credit cards so carry enough pesos to fill
your tank.
A couple of tips on driving and gas stations, DON'T drive at night (animals on the road and a lot of high speed truckers); Don't Speed! They use radar
(laser) guns! Learn the road signs (I taped a "cheat sheet" on my dash until I learned them).
When you gas up, make sure you see the attendent zero the pump, and when you pay, count the money out to the attendant, some of them will turn their
back on you and then turn back around and tell you you gave them a 10 peso note instead of a hundred!
Mike & Robin; Full-Time RV\'ers
37\' Georgetown w/3 slides & 275 Watts of Solar Power
06 Taco TRD
www.turtleandtoad.com
I am here
To paraphrase Frank Lloyd Wright; I\'m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let\'s start with keyboards. --
Mike Dean |
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
