anjianbitionjf
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 8-9-2006
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a few questions - first road trip to baja
we're an american couple in our mid 20s. we're taking our first road trip down to baja in a just a few days, for a couple of weeks or so. we're
thinking of crossing from san diego to tijuana, and then head down to bahia de los angeles, mulege, bahia concepcion, loreto, etc. we've travelled
southern mexico quite a bit and are fluent in spanish. we're chill, not party kind of people, and don't plan to go all the way down to cabo. anyways,
we have a few questions:
(1) we were thinking of taking our newer volvo wagon and getting mexican insurance for it. we've been hearing that a few american cars have been
stolen/vandalized recently though, and of course there's always the issue of big potholes, etc. and the possibility of flocking up our car. so we're
wondering whether we should buy the bullet and rent a car instead. we called a few american car rental companies and they let us take their cars
accross the border (paying, of course, quite a bit extra for mexican insurance). what do people think? previous experiences? any input on this would
be great!
(2) we know it's going to be hot and humid, but we're wondering whether it's to the point that it'd be uncomfortable to camp. also, any
recommendations on cheap (ideally <US$20) cabin style (or so) accomodations in BOLA, mulege, bahia concepcion and loreto would be great. we just
don't want to stay in bigger hotels.
(3) we're vegetarians. we're wondering how hard will it be to find food. we've been hearing that there's less fruits and veggies in baja than in other
parts of mexico, since everything has to be shipped from mainland.
(4) is it worth crossing the border back through mesa de otay instead of san ysidro?
we've heard it's really bad to cross back through the latter.
thanks in advance! we'll report back and post pictures.
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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# 1a cars a car there up and down the#1 every day just drive either just like its yours and you will be ok
# 2 the term is a personal thing if tour volvo has air ya can allways sleep in the cool cheaper then a room but id advise just go for it try it you
can allways change. in loreto at hotel brenda is about $22.00 has air some times lol its mexico so check it out
3 Iloreto there are fruit and vedge stands in town plus a fle market on hyw1 on i think saterday morning big store in town too
# 4 depends where your going just take your chances most memories are not made because everything went as planed
the most inportant is to slow down live a little let mexico catch up with you
injoy
jerry and judi
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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dang dug i need spell check
jerry and judi
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DavidT
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 4-9-2005
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I believe Avis is the only major company that allows their cars past Ensenada. They used to allow travel all through Baja, but now, on their website
travel is limited to 450 miles. That gets you to about BOLA. You have to have Mexican insurance and the fine print says you have to stay on paved
roads.
Last October I stayed at Campo Naranjo and Ecomundo in Conception Bay, palapas $10 to $22 a day. Daggets camp in BOLA has palapas, but I haven't
been in three years. That was July 4th weekend. Hot but the fishing was great, made it easier to handle the heat. Cabin style might be in the $40
up range. If you get into Baja Sur, splurge and stay at http://ignaciosprings.com/
Great place and great people.
Crossing the border at either Otay Mesa or San Ysidro is, I think just a combination of timing and luck. More experienced travelers will have their
favorite times and places to cross.
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
Posts: 745
Registered: 8-30-2003
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Just take your own car the roads are not that bad as far as car being stolen that mostly happens in TJ and Ensanada so just dont stop there or if you
do dont leave your car unattended It will be safe in BOLA the road in is now paved all the way the section of pot holes near Catavina have been
repaired
most Us rentel companies dont want you taking their cars past Ensenada few would let you take one to Loreto.
DAND
[Edited on 8-10-2006 by BajaDanD]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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I used to take my Porsche 911 down.... don't have it anymore (sigh) but still take new vehicles and don't sweat it. Mexican insurance is a must!
As to accomodations, you want a/c and you want cheap... probably not too easy to find both, but in LABay the a/c will be essential this time of year.
Border crossings are a crapshoot.... never a guarantee of easy passage. My favorite is Tecate, and it will give you a chance to drive through the
Guadalupe Valley and see some very nice country en route to the border.
Waits there are typically half (or less) those in TJ.
Also, with elevated terror levels today the waits may get worse for a few weeks. Who knows?!?! or as we say ?Quien Sabe?
There are many, many references here on Nomad to each and every query you posed, take a few minutes, crank up "Search" and you will find these topics
thoroughly vetted....
and yes, some people on this board need spell check>> and they need it in a very big way!!!
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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Call your insurance company to see what is already covered when driving in Baja. For instance, we have ours through AAA of Southern California and I
am covered for damage and theft all over Mexico, but not liability. So, we only purchase Mexican liability coverage when we go.
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob H
Call your insurance company to see what is already covered when driving in Baja. For instance, we have ours through AAA of Southern California and I
am covered for damage and theft all over Mexico, but not liability. So, we only purchase Mexican liability coverage when we go.
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But you still have to get the vehicle back to the US to have it adjusted...
And the theft issue is important, better make very very clear that 'stolen vehicle' is covered in Mexico under the US policy.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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Border crossing delays
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp
Check out this website. Will give you interesting insight into the border crossing delay times.
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Debra
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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The only problem you will run into being a vegan is that you won't be able to eat in restaurants, most everything is cooked with animal fat (anything
worth eating that is)
Mean people suck!
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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I usually call people by their name or screen name. In your case I will not tax my brain (what I have left). Is it an ego thing or paranoia thing?
With the paranoia you have now, I question your choice of Baja????? I hope you enjoy yourself, but must say I have my doubts. The best advice I can
give (and only advice) is stop worrying.
Life has a cost and if you worry about all the little things the cost is to high. Mexico is not for veggie people. Baja is 50% about the food.
Don't be angry, I only want you to "smell the roses"
Volvo Rent a Jeep!
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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anjianbitionjf
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 8-9-2006
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thanks everyone for their input. we're so looking forward to this trip! we'll report back when we come back.
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