djh
Senior Nomad
Posts: 936
Registered: 1-2-2005
Location: Earth mostly. Loreto, N. ID, Big Island
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mellow fellow, plays a yellow cello...
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How long is the bus ride LTO to TJ ?
Hmmm . . . a few more ?'s.
1. How long is the bus ride from Loreto to TJ? (hours)
2. How far it is from the TJ bus station to the TJ border crossing. Any words of advice...?
3. And how to get from there to San Diego Airport..? Accurate info much appreciated.... thx.
4. Also any suggestions about Baja bus preferences / prices would be appreciated. Seems the Aquila and ABC busses are quite new and nice...
I know I've seen these questions here somewhere before, but darned if I can find them....
I've driven and flown many times, but this is a first bus ride all the way to TJ for me.... I've only done shorter hops in the past (CSL to LaPaz and
back, Loreto to Santa Rosalia & back, etc.).
Thanks.
djh / David.
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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about 16 hours but it will seem like weeks
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Tips ??
Bring your own emergency roll of TP.
Take a sedative of your choice.
Bring whatever will keep you busy for 16 hours ......
Maybe a mini CD player with headphones or a book on tape ?
Reading can make you sick the way they rock and roll !
.
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
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It's been years since I took the bus into TJ and crossed the border there. A taxi is the most efficient way between the border and the bus station.
There may be a few bus stations, so know what company you will travel on and or locations of the terminals. Lonely Planet has all the terminal info,
bus company info, and travel times. If you are too cheap to buy one; just cruise to your local bookstore and do some homework there.
There was a tread recently about getting from the SD airport to the border. Basicly you take light rail and it drops you off right at the border.
There is more info in that tread about connecting from the airport to the light rail. It's not hard; but, I forget the bus number.
When I ride on any long distance bus I divide my stuff into two bags. One big bag, mostly full of clothes, toiletries, bulky stuff, etc.. goes under
the bus.
Then put into a daypack-
-TP
-CD or MP3 player
-Guidebook/Map
-Camera
-Sweater (besides TP this is next most important to combat overzealous A/C that will freeze you solid otherwise)
-Journal/pen
-Pictures from home (of home, pets, your city, etc) to show people (I tuck them into my guidebook)
-Cell phone, etc..
-Water
-Snacks
Basically, my daypack is like my vault. Full of all my important stuff that and always with me so I can watch it and guard it. I have a combination
travel type lock to lock it shut when I sleep, and if I am extra paranoid I use a 3/16" thick by 2' long cable lock (Designed to lock your bike seat
to your bike) to lock the bag to my seat. I almost always put it on the floor by my feet to further deter anyone from messing with it. After 10's of
thousands of bus miles in Mexico over the years, I've yet to have anything stolen.
I agree with Diver about reading making you sick. I listen to music and stare out the window mostly. Books on tape are great too. I like to sit mid
way back (don't get a seat in the rear in case someone lays a stinker in the bathroom). I sit on the right during the day to see the scenery and to
be able to watch bags loaded/unloaded from under the bus at each stop through the window. I sit on the left at night to avoid headlight glare that
usually gets blocked by a screen near the driver. If your seat sucks, you can often switch seats. Hang onto your ticket and keep it handy incase it
is checked.
Buy a ticket on a nice "Premera" or first class bus. Be ready to get off and stretch your legs at some stops every now and again(Take your daypack
with you!) If you are confused about how long the bus will wait at any stop, just take a clue from the crowd. If almost everyone gets off the
bus(but leaves their bags, etc) you can be pretty sure the bus will be there for 10 - 30 minutes or so. You can ask the bus driver, "Cuantos minutos
estamos aqui?" At least he will know there is a gringo on board and maybe look out for you. If your friend is off the bus and it starts to depart
without them yell, "Falta uno!" and they will stop and wait.
Often there will be taco and/or snack vendors at stops. Sometimes the bus stops at the favorite taco stand of the bus driver(They often have pretty
good taste, so if you see the driver go for something, it's probably good and usually most of the people on the bus will be hording around the taco
stand too!) Other times vendors will come on the bus during stops, this is rare on the high end buses; but, common on the lower end and 2nd class.
Have fun and enjoy the adventure!
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3825
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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It would be longer than 16 hours - more like 22. That's how long my bus ride from TJ-Loreto was a few years ago. They make meal stops, and stopped
in Ensenada and Guerrero Negro for more passengers for about an hour, and let people out at any small town where people want to get off or on.
From the TJ bus station to the border, there are several options depending on how much time and money you want to put into it. You can get a van at
the bus station which will take you to the walk-across line (more passengers, less money; or if just you, they'll start saying the price is $75, but
you could probably find one for $40). You could take a taxi - they'll start with $40, but I sternly offered $12 and they took it. You could take the
Centro bus for 75 cents, which will take you about 3 blocks off Revolucion. You can then walk to the Mexicoach bus station on Revolution and for
$3.25, take that bus to San Ysidro. It will take you across the border. But that cheap local bus/border crossing bus operation (only about $4.00) may
take a couple hours. I opted for cheap versus quick and it wasn't so bad. After you get across the border, get on the trolley and take it to
downtown San Diego to the America Plaza stop. Save your trolley ticket, and use it to take the 992 bus to the airport. It stops at each terminal.
Along with the stuff you bring on the bus, bring a small bar of soap to wash your hands. Sometimes the only hand washing facility at the toilets is a
barrel of water.
Almost always, the bus driver will yell out the amount of time the bus will be stopped, but keep an eye on him.
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