Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mazatlan to La Paz?
Any tips or anything I should know about before taking the overnight ferry from Mazatlan to La Paz? I am sure there's a few ins & outs involved.
We are driving a Toyota Tundra and my bud and i would prefer a private cabin. We plan to make the reservations a few days before departure some time
around Feb 7. Is this going to turn out as "well that's Mexico" or is the procedure routine? I will have all paperwork in order.
I am looking forward to seeing La Paz again. I have not been there for many years. My second wife and I spent new years eve 1980 there.
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
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Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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Go to bajaferries.com to get information on times of departure. Go early in the day to get your tickets to get on the ferry & for a cabin on
board. They let you board by the way you got your tickets that day of departure. They also put on most of the big semi-trucks first under the cargo
area of the ferry. We parked our jeep on top of the ferry which was ok, as I could see it from the lounge area.
The cabins are great especially since the ride will be 12 hours or a little more. It cost me about $300 dollars for the jeep, two people, the cabin
which has two beds,bathroom and shower with towels along with a meal for both of us. You have to drive your own vehicle on board and your buddy will
not be allowed to ride with you as you drive it onto the ferry. He will have to meet you inside,so tell him to meet you in the lounge. This avoids
where were you and mix ups that will occur.
The crew will tell you where to park the truck and they will secure it for you. Don't believe anyone that tells you as you drive up the ramp to get
on to the ferry's landing area for the vehicles that your truck may side backwards as you drive up, as it will not happen. These metal plates on the
ferry are like the old landing metal planks to me and my jeep had no problem nor did it slip backwards and I used 1st gear all the way up. I say this
as people told me that they had experienced the sliding backwards and it just never happened nor did I see it happen to anyone else. NOTE make sure
you have your passport, mexican money,Tourist pass papers in hand and tourist car pass attached to the window of your vehicle, as they check all of
them before letting you have your tickets or to board your vehicle.
You will each get a meal as it comes with ticket to ride on the ferry which you will eat in the cafeteria next to lounge. The lounge has a full bar
and a female host to get your drinks at the tables. They even have people singing on there and I bought a guy a drink just to get him not to sing
after his first really bad attempt to sing. LOL Very helpful and very clean ferry, I was truly surprised by how clean and helpful the crew were on
board.
They also let you go outside to be on deck. Take some dramine at least 3 hours before boarding and take two more after 6 hours just to make sure you
do not get sea sick. I never have gotten sea sick even when deep sea fishing but still take dramine just in case and I always eat something to make
sure I do not get a sick feeling. Well, it works for me and my wife, so we do it as I have seen enough sea sick people the last 40 years since high
school to make me never want to be that way even once.
They also have a little store that sells things on board and don't forget to take a coat and gloves since you will be traveling at night and do not
leave them in your vehicle as you do not get to go back to it once on board. I say this as if you go out on deck to see the sea at night you will
need them. They have a cafeteria on board which you will get your meal from. Not sure what time the ferry leaves from Maztalan but when I left from
La Paz in was in the early afternoon.
You will have an easy time of getting back into La Paz from the ferry landing when you dock. If you are looking for a hotel the Marina Hotel on your
way from the ferry docking to the malecon will be easy to find and has two queen beds for about $60 don't let them charge you more negotiate. The
beds are good not great but the beds at the other hotels are just awful in La Paz by the malecon unless something has changed. It costs about $5
dollars to take a taxi from Marina Hotel downtown to malecon marina where all the restaurants are and it is neat seeing the boats and lighted walkways
along the walkway as you select the restaurant that strikes your fancy. Note, there are several fine places to eat where the Marina Hotel is and it
has many big yachts in its marina also to look at while you eat and have a cold one inside or outside the hotels restaurant.
There are also so B&Bs in La Paz which you can find out about on the La Paz site like this bajanomad site. La Paz even at night is very safe and
my wife and I walked around and shopped without any problems. Lots of people walking the malecon at night especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
but crowded so much like San Diego Boardwalk day or night, easy to get around as you enjoy your stroll.
Take Care & Travel Safe--------"No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777
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latina
Nomad
Posts: 210
Registered: 3-19-2011
Location: La Paz
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Carnaval in La Paz (and possibly Mazatlan) runs from February 16th to 21st. If you are not a fan of LOUD music and big crowds, make sure your hotel
is away from the malecon if you will be here during this period...
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mood: Waiting
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Bajafun, This is great! A wealth of info! Thank you so much!
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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Try lapazgringos@yahoogroups.com if you are interested in a B&B in La Paz in addition to finding out about places to eat or see when you are
there. It is a free site, so you can use your same call name you use on this site if you wish since I do. Take Care & Travel Safe----"No
Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777
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CasaManzana
Nomad
Posts: 398
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Was Mulege:Posada Beach/now Zihuatanejo
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Mood: Naykid
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A few months ago we were going to buy a ticket...
...for this very same trip but backed out when the ticket lady said all cabins were closed off and she did not know why. For a 16 hour trip we felt
we had to have a cabin. Plan B worked out just fine- we took the day to drive north to the Topolobampo crossing, just a 6 hour ride over. Cabins
were available but for 6 hours we decided to pass. We have made that crossing 18 times now and have never had to have a reservation. And ya haven't
lived until you hear the truck drivers doing karaoke in the bar
Things are expensive, but at least we get a free trip around the sun once a year
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bajagrouper
Senior Nomad
Posts: 964
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rincon de Guayabitos, Nayarit, Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy and retired
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CasaManzana, I am in Mazatlan and want to ferry to La Paz, Can I turn in my Temp. Vehicle Permit either at the ferry dock or in La Paz...
I hear the whales song
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