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mark49brown
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Registered: 6-18-2015
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Timing and safety question
Greetings all!
I'm new to the forum and have searched for this answer but am not getting a specific enough answer. My question is multifaceted; what is a realistic
round trip drive time down the Mex 1 from the US border to Loreto BCS. Also, is it advisable for me as a non Spanish speaker to try and make the trip
solo on a time budget?
I wouldn't worry about making the trip solo and being a total tourist during the day if time wasn't tight, but my question really pertains to how
smart is it to push into darkness driving to get down and back by myself. And is being in a 2010 Diesel truck asking for more unwanted attention?
The trip is to pick up a travel trailer, so there would be even more attention on the return. Would love some advice, thanks!
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larryC
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If the attention you are worried about is from banditos robbing you and taking your truck and trailer, that is so far fetched as to be a non issue. I
would worry about that sort of thing more in the US than I would in Baja. I don't like driving at night down here because of the road conditions in
much of the route to Loreto. It is a very narrow road with no shoulders and it is not uncommon for cows to wander onto the road. You will make your
own decisions but daytime driving is much safer.
Larry
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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basautter
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I agree with larryC. Highway 1 often is narrow, has no shoulder, and sometimes has a significant dropoff. Plus there are often big trucks coming in
the other direction. If you are going to drive in the dark anyway, I recommend early in the morning. I have done this, and the traffic has been very
light.
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El Jefe
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Four days. Two days down, two days back. You can get there in one day (16 hours) but you will have to drive in the dark. Not advisable.
Your truck is fine and not speaking spanish should not be a problem either. If you have XM radio other tunes going solo is EZ.
Don't push it. Figure out a way to have the time needed. And be sure as you can that the trailer is road ready for you to pick up. If you need parts
down there that could delay you considerably.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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SFandH
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Plus, driving at night makes it difficult to see those black cows standing in the road until it's too late.
Like El Jefe said, from the border it's two eight hour or so days to get to Loreto. Catavina is at the half-way point. There is a motel and camping
there.
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bajabuddha
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If you've never driven Hwy 1, and you're in a hurry, I'd say your best bet is to look into flying to Loreto. First rule, NEVER drive at night. Lots
of crosses on the side of that road the entire length, and i'm sure most of them were in a hurry. My advice is, make the time to do it safely and
enjoyably.
Time-wise, the hour-ratio is debatable on your right foot. Loreto is a two-full-day(light) drive each way.
The flight takes a couple of hours.... costs a few more bucks, but so does a casket.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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SFandH
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I don't think the trailer he's picking up in Loreto will fit in the overhead compartment. 
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by SFandH]
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bajabuddha
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Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  |
I don't think the trailer he's picking up in Loreto will fit in the overhead compartment.
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by SFandH] |
True, my bad.  Forgot that part.
Still, taking a few extra days is the main point.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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woody with a view
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sun comes up early this time of year, and stays out until dark which is almost 9pm. cross the border at 3am and you'll be on the best part of the
entire highway until the sun comes up and from there it's all downhill, so to speak. unless you drive like my Granny.
that said, it's a LONG drive but you should arrive with your possessions and dignity intact!
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David K
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Great answers above!
Where are you starting the drive from will depend on the drive times, of course. You said the border, but which border and what time will you be at
that border?
Two days driving with normal stops that include fuel, food, military checkpoints, and there is a possibility of accidents blocking the road,
construction delays, stops to take in the beauty of Baja and photos.
If you depart from Tijuana/ Otay/ Tecate and go south via Ensenada/ San Quintin, you first and important fuel stop will be EL ROSARIO (225 miles from
the border). If you cross the border by 8 am, you will drive to Guerrero Negro or perhaps San Ignacio and not be in the dark. Both towns have several
motels.
The important part is to not be in a hurry!
You must include the travel trailer on your Mexican auto insurance policy, otherwise the trailer will void the policy if you are towing and have an
accident. Speaking Spanish is not mandatory... smiling should be, however. It may be a lot easier for you to exchange your money before crossing the
border for pesos to buy gas and other things, than to figure out the correct amounts at the gas stations and other places.. but dollars are accepted
everywhere in Baja... just not always at the best exchange rate.
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mark49brown
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Thanks all for the quick response, I think I got what I needed. Not worried about getting car jacked, but about checkpoints and greasing palms. Not
speaking spannish doesn't help there either.
Appreciate the advice, looks like I'll have to plan for at least 4 days.
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SFandH
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Stop at a bank on the way down and withdraw some pesos using your ATM card for buying food and gas. Don't plan on using credit cards.
Get a tourist visa at the border crossing you use. Don't carry any weapons with you.
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bajabuddha
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Very wise, Mark. Far's greasing palms, you'll encounter about a half-dozen military 'inspection' checkpoints; southbound, most if not all will wave
you through. Northbound, they'll all go through your 'stuff'. Words of advice:
I always keep all doors locked, and if i'm alone I follow the 'inspector' closely, and not let others distract me away. Little things like cameras,
and palm-able items can disappear quickly. When they ask to search your trailer, lock your truck first, then walk back and open the trailer. Stay
with them as they search, be polite, but 'paying bribes' of any kind is not cool, although some will tell you ''oh, I give 'em a coke'' or whatever,
personally, I don't. They have a job to do, and it ain't my job to 'pay' em.
Most of Hwy 1 has been widened and re-paved, so don't get lulled into a sense of complacency. Stretches can be smooth, then holy hell breaks loose
and you have lots of potholes. You'll also learn about 'topes' on your way down; speed bumps that WILL slow you down.
One more bit of thought; on your way back north with your trailer, it's good to fall in behind a 'big-truck' semi, they know the road well, know when
to hit it and when to slow down. Stay back a ways; if you follow closely they'll think you want to pass. Turn signals are also used to tell you
"it's ok to pass me" in front of you.
Have a safe trip, and keep the black side down.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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Pescador
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| Quote: Originally posted by mark49brown | Thanks all for the quick response, I think I got what I needed. Not worried about getting car jacked, but about checkpoints and greasing palms. Not
speaking spannish doesn't help there either.
Appreciate the advice, looks like I'll have to plan for at least 4 days. |
If you expect to "grease Palms", as you call it, the trip may take much longer than you expect. Baja has military checkpoints and they are there to
stem the drug flow. Most will not even accept sodas or other small gifts, which is as it should be, so be cordial and respectful as they are just
doing their job. Your statement indicates a cultural misunderstanding from the old days when that was a more common practice.
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mark49brown
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 6-18-2015
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha | Very wise, Mark. Far's greasing palms, you'll encounter about a half-dozen military 'inspection' checkpoints; southbound, most if not all will wave
you through. Northbound, they'll all go through your 'stuff'. Words of advice:
I always keep all doors locked, and if i'm alone I follow the 'inspector' closely, and not let others distract me away. Little things like cameras,
and palm-able items can disappear quickly. When they ask to search your trailer, lock your truck first, then walk back and open the trailer. Stay
with them as they search, be polite, but 'paying bribes' of any kind is not cool, although some will tell you ''oh, I give 'em a coke'' or whatever,
personally, I don't. They have a job to do, and it ain't my job to 'pay' em.
Most of Hwy 1 has been widened and re-paved, so don't get lulled into a sense of complacency. Stretches can be smooth, then holy hell breaks loose
and you have lots of potholes. You'll also learn about 'topes' on your way down; speed bumps that WILL slow you down.
One more bit of thought; on your way back north with your trailer, it's good to fall in behind a 'big-truck' semi, they know the road well, know when
to hit it and when to slow down. Stay back a ways; if you follow closely they'll think you want to pass. Turn signals are also used to tell you
"it's ok to pass me" in front of you.
Have a safe trip, and keep the black side down.
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| Quote: Originally posted by Pescador | | Quote: Originally posted by mark49brown | Thanks all for the quick response, I think I got what I needed. Not worried about getting car jacked, but about checkpoints and greasing palms. Not
speaking spannish doesn't help there either.
Appreciate the advice, looks like I'll have to plan for at least 4 days. |
If you expect to "grease Palms", as you call it, the trip may take much longer than you expect. Baja has military checkpoints and they are there to
stem the drug flow. Most will not even accept sodas or other small gifts, which is as it should be, so be cordial and respectful as they are just
doing their job. Your statement indicates a cultural misunderstanding from the old days when that was a more common practice.
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Thanks Pescador and bajabuddha for steering me straight. I have lived and travelled in many 3rd world countries and I know each has its own
intricacies when dealing with the local law enforcement. New to Baja though so your advice in this regard is much appreciated.
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captkw
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Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Real Simple !!
If your in a rush,,,Forget the trip till you have the time to do it,,its not Kansas,,Tonto
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BigBearRider
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Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
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I am certainly not the most experienced Baja driver here, but if I were doing this, I would consider two options:
Option (1) crossing the border in the evening and take the quota (toll road) to Ensenada. It is the only part of HWY 1 that I would drive at night
without concern. It has two wide lanes in each direction and is IMHO by far the best road in Baja. It even has street lights. South of Ensenada,
the roads get worse.
I would then spend the night in Ensenada. Get a good night's sleep and leave for Loreto early in the morning. Accounting for a couple of breaks,
depending on how fast you drive, it is about 10-14 hours south of Ensenada. (Few people drive the speed limit. Some have made the trip from Loreto
to the border in about 10 hours, but that is way too fast for me.) The warm weather may make you sleepy. Be careful.
There are places where the road is very narrow, without a shoulder, and has lots of potholes. Be freaking careful.
Be aware that there are places where gas stations are sparse, and diesel may be hard to find in places. (For example, there is no gas for about 150
kms between Mulege and Loreto. There is a stretch north of Guerrero Negro where there is no gas for even longer, IIRC). Some maps indicate where you
can get diesel. So keep the tank full. Be careful.
When you are behind someone flashing the left turn signal, it usually means it is safe to pass. Or, it may mean that they are turning left... Be
careful.
Understand that it is quite possible that you will get a flat somewhere along the road. There are tons of "llantera" places everywhere that will fix
your flat for a few dollars, say $5.
You should never have to bribe anyone. (I have travelled through much of Mexico, all of Central America and most of South America by motorcycle, and
have never, ever, paid a bribe.) Be respectful to all officials. Smile, be courteous, cooperate, and if you do not speak Spanish, be even more
respectful. The military guys usually speak some English. You are likely to face more scrutiny going north, with a trailer, than going south. The
questions the military usually ask are, in order: (1) where are you coming from; and (2) where are you going. I usually get waved by at that time.
Every now and then, they ask me to step out of the car and do a quick look around in the car. Sometimes they ask what my profession is. There are
signs ahead of every military check point. Keep your valuables in your pockets at the stops, to be safe.
You will have to get Mexican insurance (I use Bajabound), and the tourist card (see other posts on this topic).
Option (2): fly to Loreto on Horizon/Alaska. Ticket should be about $200 one way. Rent a car with a tow hitch in Loreto. Most cars do not seem to
have tow hitches, so you have to make sure it does. The rental car company will likely show you where the spare tire and jack are, for the reasons
discussed above.
I have not rented a Mexican car and driven it to the US, but driven to Tijuana and dropped off there. You are then close enough to the border that
you can figure out the logistics for the trailer from there. There is a fee of about $500 for the drop off for a one-way rental. I did this two
weeks ago with a Jeep. It may be less in a cheaper car.
Which option is best is your call.
I will stress again, as others have before, avoid driving at night. It is very dangerous. On a recent trip from Loreto to Mulege, I encountered the
following on or right next to the road: (1) goats; (2) cows; (3) horses; (4) donkeys; (5) large rocks. All of these have killed people, and can kill
you. You are likely to see a few dead animals on or by the side of the road (mostly dogs, but possibly also cows and horses), struck by traffic.
On a recent trip to Bahia de los Angeles, I was forced to ride my motorcycle at night because I had gotten a flat that took a while to fix. The
road/bridge had washed out in a place near Bahia, leaving a drop of several feet into a rocky oblivion. I shudder to think of what would have
happened if we had not stopped just in time.
Be careful. Do not drive at night. You are not a pussy for not driving at night. You are just smart.
People everywhere are nice. Food is great. Be respectful. Please do not litter. In fact, please pick up some trash and put it in a trash can.
Baja is awesome.
Be careful. Did I say that before?
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by BigBearRider]
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by BigBearRider]
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by BigBearRider]
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by BigBearRider]
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by BigBearRider]
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AKgringo
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There is not much I can add to the excellent advice you have received, but you should be aware of the typical local cop shake down that might occur.
If asked for your drivers license, show it to the officer, but do not hand it to him unless it is a duplicate! The shake down is that you must find
and go to the police station and pay a fine before you get it back, or you can just pay right now and be on your way. They got me once in La Paz, but
the second time I insisted "No mordida (bribe)" and they let me go.
I can not imagine needing that trailer so urgently that I would do a dash to Loreto and back to get it! It would be like a parent taking a kid to
Disneyland and saying "Ok, pick which ride you want to go on, then we are out of here!"
Edit; If for some reason, the Federal Police want your licence, I think they do have the authority, but I wouldn't even think of offering them a
bribe.
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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mark49brown
Newbie
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Registered: 6-18-2015
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Again; fantastic advice from everyone, thanks!
I have travelled through a lot of the former USSR and they have the exact same shakedown described above! Corruption is an international language,
lol. Sometimes it has been convenient to pay just to keep moving but it's heartening to know that it isn't so bad in the Baja that insisting on
honesty might work if I encounter this situation.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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The return trip
As Woody stated the days are long this time of year. Last time i was in loreto I left at 0400 towing a 23 ft boat. Was over the el Rosario grade by
sun rise with very few tractor traiers/ busses coming towards me. Arrived at my house in Punta Banda, which is 2 hours south of the border (with
Ensenada traffic) at 1800 (14 hour drive) well before sunset. Did change drivers at GN though.
[Edited on 6-19-2015 by durrelllrobert]
[Edited on 6-21-2015 by BajaNomad]
Bob Durrell
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