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GeoRock
Nomad
Posts: 329
Registered: 3-7-2003
Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always have one
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Favorite stops TJ to BOLA
Hoping Nomads and Lurkers will take the time to post their regular stops between crossing the TJ border and Bahia/BOLA. Where do you stop to buy
food, alcohol, tortillas, gas? Where do you stop to exchange money or use an ATM? How about your choice of hotels? And of course, your favorite
places to eat...
Please share your secrets....
I just found a new one to share. Las Margaritas Restaurant in Ensenada (Calle Primera 925, Esquina con Alvarado--that's the main tourist street).
They have a pretty decent bowl of Aztec (tortilla) soup for just $4.50. Their entree prices are touristy, but the soup is worth it. Stay away from
the vegetable fajitas, they were a poor choice for us. Great service.
They are located right next door to Los Churros, where one can buy a freshly made churro that has chocolate inserted into the middle for just 9 pesos.
Imagine that. And not too bad for a greasy, sugary treat.
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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I stop for gas, if needed, and beer always needed, toward Maneadero there are gas stations and a huge sub agencia. I typically stop only for food.
I've made Bof LA in 10 hrs with motorhome. I will try to make Guerro Negro on first day, on next months trip. I've been through north Baja so many
times I don't need to stop.
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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Favorite Stops
OK, Nomads, I'd like to hear about your favorite stops too!!
Let's start with BajaCactus. I will be making this drive in the first week in October.... Particularly interested in secure parking for all my
worldly possesions which will be piled in and on top of my Bronco..... Hope not to have to unload the roof at each stop...... CaboRon
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bajabum
Nomad
Posts: 144
Registered: 9-29-2003
Location: San Diego, Ca
Member Is Offline
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My normal profile for a trip to BOLA is: Top off tank at Pemex in Camalu and buy beer at agencia across the street. Then top off again in El Rosario
and at the gas station at the La Pinta in Catavina if open or out of the barrel from the guy across the street where I also fill up 2-5 ga cans for
the inflatable or emergency use. stop for Brunch at either the place just north of SQ on the left hand side called mission something or other or in El
Rosario at the little taco joint on the right (El Poblano?), awesome hand made tortillas. In BOLA my favorite resteraunt is the Las Hamacas for a
grande margaritta and a sea food combo or take them the days catch and let them prepare a fresh fish feast! On the way home we always stop at either
EL Poblano for tacos in Maneadero or El Pique between Maneadero and Ensenada for Adovada tacos or a carne asada torta (or sometimes both!). In recent
years I have stopped going to BOLA because of all the change and modernization. It stayed basically the same for the 30 years I have been going there
untill about 3 years ago and now its just not the same. I have opted for Gozaga bay instead or to just drive right on by and head farther south.
Work is just something I do to keep me buzy between baja trips!
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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gas station at the hotel in catavina is not open now but they are digging it up again for later
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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Closed Already ?
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
gas station at the hotel in catavina is not open now but they are digging it up again for later |
 I thought that gas station just opened within the last year .... Is this
digging thing a tradition with the gas stations in Baja ??  Sign me,
Confused CaboRon
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Why would you gas up at Catavina if going to BOLA after stopping at El Rosario? Two stations in BOLA now.
Well, unless you get truly atrocious mileage.
[Edited on 7-15-2007 by Hook]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3754
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Centro Mexicano, directly across the parking lot from Costco, is an awesome place for groceries, fresh pan, deli stuff, premium wines, you name it.
Wish we had one here in Gringolandia.
The Bancomer on the West side coming into Mandeadero is an excellent ATM stop, very low fees, and easy to access.
Cannot imagine why anyone would buy any gas except from Antonio in El Rosario!!!
The little restarante at Catavina, across the hiway from the gas station, is very good.
Just a few of the "Must Stops" enroute South.
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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Not recommended for you Georock........
but, Bajarunner, try the place right at the cut off for Gonzaga Bay. About 5 years ago I noticed alot of semi trucks parked there (a good sign
right?) My instints were right on! Great food! And cheap! Very nice people. The only draw back is if you have to go "potty" I hope you have
brought your own. Outhouse only, and a very used one.
Mean people suck!
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Debra
Not recommended for you Georock........
but, Bajarunner, try the place right at the cut off for Gonzaga Bay. About 5 years ago I noticed alot of semi trucks parked there (a good sign
right?) My instints were right on! Great food! And cheap! Very nice people. The only draw back is if you have to go "potty" I hope you have
brought your own. Outhouse only, and a very used one. |
Sounds like Rancho Nuevo Chapala. Great huevos rancheros!
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3754
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Debra, thanks,
I have been trying to get our gang to stop there for years, it just never fits the flow, somehow....
Gotta do it!
By the by, the difference, as you well know, between men and women,
for us men, all the world is our bano...
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Peloncito
Junior Nomad
Posts: 66
Registered: 1-9-2007
Location: Los Gatos, CA - Los Barriles, BCS
Member Is Offline
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I just made the drive (full length, TJ to Cabo) twice in four weeks. I filled up in Rosarito topped off in El Rosario then filled up again in
Vizcaino. Of course Vizcaino is passed the exit to the BofLA and I am driving on 1 versus down through San Felipe along the east coast. In any case,
it seems like more and more Pemex stations popping up along the way.
As far as beer, sodas and snacks.... Any Modelorama, La Tienda, or taco stand on the side of road I see!
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
OK, Nomads, I'd like to hear about your favorite stops too!!
Let's start with BajaCactus. I will be making this drive in the first week in October.... Particularly interested in secure parking for all my
worldly possesions which will be piled in and on top of my Bronco..... Hope not to have to unload the roof at each stop...... CaboRon
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Ron,
Regarding Baja Cactus:
First of all, make a reservation so you can be sure of getting one of the newer rooms that everybody raves about. I too, rave! Usually, you can park
in the lot inside the compound, surrounded by the hotel rooms. The front desk is open 24 hrs., and they watch. This works if you only have your
vehicle and aren't towing anything. I have stayed there several times with no problems. On some of the trips I am towing my 16' trailer and cannot
park inside. On those trips I have had to park down the driveway, near the entrance. It is still walled in but vulnerable to the street. I didn't
really feel that secure there but have not lost anything or had anything tampered with.
Be careful eating at Mama Espinosas. I got a horrible case of food poisoning there from eating crab burritos. I had to extend my stay at Baja Cactus
for 72 hours. I even passed out and found myself on the floor next to the bed. The last thing I remembered was sitting on the toilet. The staff was
worried about me and very attentive. Antonio was there too and the staff told him about me, and also that I was a Nomad. He personally offered to
drive me to the clinic, which I declined. He did drive me to a pharmacy and a grocery store, and offered his continual attention and concern.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65303
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Baja Cactus has security cameras all about... and they are monitored by motel staff as well as people in Tijuana who can alert the staff if they see
anything suspicious.
We will be there next Friday and Saturday evenings... Baja-Rosario Cultural Festival 2007
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by thebajarunner
Debra, thanks,
I have been trying to get our gang to stop there for years, it just never fits the flow, somehow....
Gotta do it!
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It definitely is NOT convenient for breakfast, coming from the north or south. Since we often are coming from a night in SQ or ER, we just have some
fruit on the road and put up with the grumbling stomachs until we get there.
But it is worth the wait...........
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
Member Is Offline
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On the way down, I always stop at the supermarket and the cerveza agency south of Ensenada for Pacificos and groceries. I stop at the cervesa agency
on the way back to turn in my bottles. I always buy gas at Baja Cactus's and Catavina - my VW bus has a very small tank. We stop for in the boulder
fields of Catavina for a picnic. I usually pull out the camp stove and cook something up and heat up tortillas. On the way back, we always stop at the
donut shop south of Ensenada. I used to stop in Rosarito, but I've read too much bad stuff here on Nomads, so I will pass on that until things get
better.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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????
Donut shop south of Ensenada.......good God, man....directions, please!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
Member Is Offline
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I couldn't give exact directions. I just keep my eye out for it as I head back. It is just north of the impromptu flea market fronting the shops on
the east side of the highway. The shop has a pretty good selection of donuts - and you can use their bathroom.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3881
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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Change money in San Ysidro -your choice of a dozen exchange places; I pick up newspapers at the 7/11 at the third toll booth to take to the checkpoint
guys, and sometimes a litre of coke or 7-Up if it's 99 cents; buy beer, salsa casera at the Gigante store on the corner; look for a fruit stand next
to the road as you're leaving Ensenada - buy giant mangos, avocados, pineapple.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
Member Is Offline
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We typically stop south of Ensenada at the Gigante or another supermercado for groceries and Tequila. There is an ATM nearby. We always hit Cielito
Lindo on the way up or down for the Jaiba (crab) and a room and a moonlight howl. In Ensenada we hit the fish market and in the evening have 1 or 4
Herradura margaritas at Hussongs. We also stop for ice/whatever at the market in El Rosario and of course gas.
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