ammie
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 8-14-2006
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drive baja highway 5 to Mexicali
Has anyone driven the baja from loreto to Mexicali staying along the sea of Cortez? I want to return from Loreto to Tuscon and want the quickest and
shortest route. It appears on the map that driving Highway 5 from Catavina would be the best. Also how many miles will I travel from Loreto to
Mexicali?
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1919
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Well, you can do it! Sort of
Either the map you are looking at, or the way you are describing the route is a little misleading.
Even then, it depends on the kind of vehicle you drive, and how you handle the 100 miles of dirt road.
You, more than likely, see the road that crosses the upper part of Chapala Dry Lake - this dirt road intersects Highway 1 about 35 miles north of the
junction of Highway 1 and the Bay of Los Angeles Road - 30 miles or so south of Catavina.
That is a washboard and fairly slow road from Highway 1 all the way through Gonzaga Bay and up to Puertecitos. Passable usually for a
passenger car if you go real slow (10 mph) for the 100 miles. Some years there are pretty severe washouts that might present a
challenge to a low vehicle.
With a pick up or sturdier vehicle you could maybe do it in half the time - better ride and easier on the vehicle if you are able to drop the tire
pressure. Of course you'd have to re-air the tires once you got onto good asphalt.
Currently, according to posts here, they are repaving the very potholed section north of Puertecitos - of course by the time you get there it could
have gone back to its horrid old ways for another 20 miles.
Once you get to withing 30+ miles of San Felipe it is very good road to Mexicali - good pavement.
This would make an interesting and delightful route as long as it isn't in the middle of summer.
Is it faster? I doubt it, besides the scenery and views may also help to slow you down. -
How many miles Loreto to Mexicali - a bunch.
John M
[Edited on 8-14-2006 by John M]
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Ammie
I have driven this route many times from Tucson.
As previously posted the route starts at Laguna Chapala (not Catavina),
It is approximztely 200 miles shorter BUT takes the same amount of time do to the washboard road from Chapala to the pavement north of
Puertecitos.
Miles --- Tucson to Punta Abreojos via 1 1000miles
Tucson to Punta Abreojos via 5 800 miles
to give you an idea
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MICK
Nomad
Posts: 499
Registered: 11-12-2003
Location: Rio Hardy
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Mood: livin the good life on the river
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If you go that way you may also need an extra spare tire. Some of the road is made from volcanic rock I have found a few on my travels there.
Mick
Getting there is ALL the fun!
Ok being here is fun to
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ammie
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 8-14-2006
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Thanks for your advice. I believe I will stick to Highway 1. I also will purchase a good road map of The Baja.
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osoflojo
Nomad
Posts: 378
Registered: 10-29-2004
Location: c.s.l./b.c.s.
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If time is the issue for you there is the option of the ferry from Santa Roselia to Guaymas then Hwy 15 to Nogales and I-19 to TUS. I would prefer to
stay on the Baja side myself but it is an option if you are running out of time. Ferrys used to run 3 days a week in each direction. Enjoy the trip
whichever way you go.
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1919
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Map
One of our Nomads shows a couple of maps available. The $5.95 one - pictured below is a dandy. Visit the website.
http://www.bajabooksandmaps.com/
John M
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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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Best roadmap is AAA
And it is free to members.
(I have a whole drawer full of them, dating waaaaay back)
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64834
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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'runner: Do you have any from about 1970-1972/3 when the northern half of Baja Norte was extra large scale and detailed (About El Rosario across to El
Huerfanito and north)???
I have them somewhere, but burried deep in my stuff... I would like to share some parts of it with you guys... That was a great work, and I heard that
Howard Gulick helped them make it... Previous editions were very poorly done and the ones made after Hwy. 1 was finished lacked the detail and had
errors again.
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cat127
Junior Nomad
Posts: 50
Registered: 7-23-2006
Location: Hawaii
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Any idea what the ferry costs these days?
Fate Smiles as Destiny laughs!
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