timperkins
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 12-28-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Best Route to Gonzaga Bay?
What's the best route to Gonzaga Bay from San Diego? I've got a F250 with a Lance Camper and will be travelling with my wife and 2 kids.
I'm most interested in the differences between the Highway 5 and Highway 1 routes... We went Whale watching in GN last year with a side trip to BOLA,
so I'm familiar with Highway 1. I've never been on 5.
What are the distances and road conditions like from Puertocitas to GB? From Chapala to GB?
Thanks!
Tim
BTW, if anyone is interested in my trip report from last year, here's the URL:
http://www.glenrocksystems.com/Baja-Trip-Report.htm
It's big and takes awhile to load... not for dial-up users.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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What a great trip report! Thanks a bunch! I have dial up and a webtv, and still was fast to view.
The road from San Felipe to Gonzaga is 100 miles. first 25 miles is excellent pavement, the next 30 miles to Puertecitos is horrible pot holed asphalt
to none left. Puertecitos to Gonzaga (45 mi.) is a pleasure to drive now, as it was just graded. The road is dirt and rocky, but the view of the
islands are great.
The route into Gonzaga from Hwy. 1 at Chapala is 36 miles and is graded dirt. Halfway in is Coco's Corner. A stop here to meet Coco and sign his guest
book is almost a mandatory social event. Coco sells beer and sodas to make a living... bring some fresh fruit and become an instant friend. The time
from San Diego to Gonzaga is 8 hours using either route (for my Tacoma). San Felipe route is shorter, but more dirt roads. Your big camper will take
longer on the dirt, making the Highway One route a better one for you.
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timperkins
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 12-28-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Thanks, David... After some more research, I'm thinking about an SD -> San Felipe -> Gonzaga trip down via Hwy 3, then a Gonzaga -> Chapala/San
Quentin -> San Diego trip back via Hwy 1.
I can either go in Febuary or April... Will the water be much warmer in April? Which would you suggest?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The water will be almost 'swimable' in April, wet suit only in Feb. May through October are best (July-Sept is very hot, and water is like a bath
tub).
As for Hwy. 3 from Ensenada to San Felipe, that will take you longer than driving east to Calexico, but is a scenic route. Cross town Ensenada traffic
and the first 20 curvey miles to Ojos Negros is the slow part, the rest is quick.
Stay tuned to this board and the others here at Baja Nomad for more opinions and free advice (hey, you get what you pay for, LOL)...
My trip to Gonzaga last month was great... see a few photos at http://community-2.webtv.net/VivaBaja/1103
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