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JohnM99
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Registered: 8-3-2015
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Advice for first trip
Hi
My wife and I are making our first road trip from San Diego to San Jose del Cabo in 10 days. We recently bought a place in San Jose, and are taking a
car to leave there for future trips (Honda Pilot 4WD). We have been reading a lot, but no substitute for experience, so thought I would ask a couple
of questions.
We are in no hurry, maybe plan to take 5 days or so. We thought we would mostly go on Hwy 1, but some side trips OK but we are not really not
offroaders. We thought we would drive to Catavina first day, then go a bit slower - some days only a couple of hours drive perhaps, other days up to 6
- a couple of questions -
If we were thinking of no more than 6 hours driving in one day, realistically, how far is that? 300 miles? 200? what is your advice?
Between Catavina and San Jose, what are your favorite overnight stops? Bahia de los Angeles? Mulege? Loreto? La Paz? (we have only been to Los Cabos
before).
Really looking forward to this - thanks in advance for your advice.
John
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woody with a view
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catavina to BdeLA is less than 4 hours so don't drive too fast if you're intent on driving 6 hours a day! stay at costa del sol. from there i'll let others chime in.
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JohnM99
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We are happy to drive less than 6 hours - just not much more. I understand Catavina to Bahia de los Angeles would be a relatively short day - but then
we have some time to look around.
Also - would you make reservations ahead? Or just play it by ear and look for a place to stay when you get there? We kind of thought a reservation for
the first night or two would be good - smaller towns - if we stay in bigger places later, easier to get a place perhaps.
We are just hoping to get to know something about the Baja, do some photography, and see some of the oddest places/things, and nicest places. Later on
in whale season, we would drive back up to Scammon's lagoon from San Jose some time (but too early for the whales right now).
So - hard far do you normally get in 6 hours? I am guessing 300 miles would be a bit optimistic....
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bajaguy
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Bahia de Los Angeles - Costa del Sol
Guerrero Negro - Salt works tour - Terra Sal motel
Bahia Asuncion - Sherri's place
San Ignacio
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woody with a view
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don't worry about a rez. we were just in town and it was deserted, but with the Baja1000 coming that will change. better yet, make the rez. figure
50mph as a baseline. in the central desert you can go 80mph for stretches.
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David K
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What the others said above + in San Ignacio, the La Huerta motel (just past the mission, on the right, set back in a big field, little super market at
entrance to field. La Huerta would be good for a reservation, but when is the question: hotel.lahuertabcs@outlook.es
Now, about missions... that is my big Baja connection lately, the Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834. If you will drive the 22 mile
graded dirt road to San Borja (road is from the Bahia de los Angeles highway, you wil see the furthest north stone mission in Baja. Founded in 1762,
the stone church was completed in 1801. It is a marvelous sight in the center of Baja! After touring the mission (José or his adult sons may provide
the tour), you can continue on west to Hwy. 1 (also 22 miles) to continue on south to Guerrero Negro.
San Francisco de Borja Adac, 1762
L.A. Bay area sites and road to and out from San Borja shown:
San Ignacio mission faces the town plaza, it is less than 2 miles on a paved side road off Hwy. 1, DO NOT PASS BY without a drop into San Ignacio for
a look (if you decide not to stay there that night). The mission was founded in 1728! Completion of the lava stone cathedral came in 1786.
San Ignacio, 1728
Baja is a land full of missions, they are artifacts that can connect you by touch to the past when travel to Baja from Europe was equivalent to a trip
to Mars from Earth, today! The mission at Mulegé and Loreto are along your route to San José del Cabo, which, of course, is the site of the 12th
California mission, which gives that town the name. Founded in 1730, relocated at least four times, closed for 20 years and then reopened until 1840.
Santa Rosalía de Mulegé, 1705
Loreto, 1697
A 22 mile paved highway goes from Loreto up to the second California mission at San Javier, and is well worth a visit to the finest preserved Jesuit
church in California!
San Francisco Javier Biaundó, 1699 (church constructed from 1744-1758).
[Edited on 10-21-2015 by David K]
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TMW
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Visiting the missions is a must see since you will be taking your time. Visit DavidKs web site for info on them and where they are, well worth it. LA
Bay is also worth a trip, a lot of history.
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bkbend
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Location: central OR or central baja
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For your first drive down Hwy 1, Catavina is a long haul unless you're beginning in the dark and not stopping much. It's probably the slowest piece
of the road with lots of towns, trucks, local buses and mountain curves. A more restful day one would be to stop in San Quintin or El Rosario. After
El Rosario you can start making better time and Bahia de los Angeles is about 5 hours, Guerrero Negro 6.5 hrs.
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David K
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Correct, Cataviña is 300 miles from Tijuana, a long first day. El Rosario in 225 miles south, has the nicest motel along the highway (Baja Cactus,
next to Pemex station), and makes the next day to Bahia de los Angeles a breeze... so you can have breakfast before you leave town.
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woody with a view
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the time will just have changed in 10 days time. Catavina is about 7 hours from the border.
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Udo
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My wife Jana prefers Mama Espinoza's "CALDO DE JAIBA", crab soup for breakfast over anything else.
Mama Espinoza's (restaurant) is two doors down from Baja Cactus.
They also have a great souvenir shop complete with products made from marble, plus a great historical photo essay on the walls prom previous Baja
racers.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Bob53
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I usually stay in San Quintin and then drive to Bahia de los Angeles the next day. San Quintin is about the half way point between San Diego and
Bahia. I usually stay at Hotel Mision Santa Maria. It is nice and is right on the beach. The food there is ok but I choose to eat at Jardines, one of
the best restaurants in town. Costa del Sol in Bahia is nice and has good food but it is right in the middle of town. Choose one of the older rooms
because the new rooms have very uncomfortable beds.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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Bob53
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Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
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The Baja1000 does not go through L.A. Bay this year so reservations are probably not necessary.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
10-21-2015 at 11:19 AM |
JohnM99
Newbie
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Registered: 8-3-2015
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Wow - thank you all for such good advice! What a great forum!
I had wondered if Catavina might be a bit far, so we will stop a little sooner the first night. I was attracted to the idea of seeing what that
landscape would be like at night. Will definitely look around there for some photography.
Any advice about favorite places in the south, and where you would stop? We have never been to La Paz - and plan to drive on the older road Hwy 1
between La Paz and San Jose, leaving the 4 lane.
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woody with a view
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i know, but there will be ALOT of people vacationing for the event nearby, and "HEY, let's go to BdeLA for a couple of days."
edit: and then i realized in 10 days the B1K is still a week or two in the future.....
[Edited on 10-21-2015 by woody with a view]
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JohnM99
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Which places do you like in B de LA? I see several are popular on Trip Advisor - and it seems Los Vientos has new owners....
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bajaguy
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Costa del Sol. Nice rooms and good food
Quote: Originally posted by JohnM99  | | Which places do you like in B de LA? I see several are popular on Trip Advisor - and it seems Los Vientos has new owners.... |
[Edited on 10-21-2015 by bajaguy]
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Bob53
Senior Nomad
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Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
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I agree. Costa del Sol is nice and clean. Air conditioned, not that you need that on your trip, and the food is good.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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motoged
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BoLA....Costa del Sol #1
Victoria, the owner/concierge/hostess is a good soul and being in town is more of an asset than out in the lonely wind at Los Vientos...
Costa del Sol:
Los Vientos:
Don't believe everything you think....
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Martyman
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I would recommend doing some camping. Adventures happen when you are out in the boonies with a campfire at night. Not too many adventures sitting in
a hotel room.
Also, I tend not to stop at obvious gringo hangouts. We're in Mexico and if you want to experience Baja (not the Baja) ya gotta get a leetle dirty.
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