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ondahrd
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 10-14-2020
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Traveling from San Diego to Cabo
I will be traveling to Cabo from San Diego with only one stop in Mulege over night. I have never done this before, but know most precautions, no night
driving etc... Car will have most provisions needed. Is there any cell coverage on the way? Should I rent a Satellite phone? Anything I need to know
that I might not be thinking of?
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10566
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Cabo is one of the least interesting places in Baja. Tourist trap. You will drive right by the best places.
There will be coverage most of the way. The exception being from
El Rosario to Guerrero Negro (about 200 miles). Look at the coverage map for your provider.
https://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html
You don't need a sat phone.
[Edited on 10-16-2020 by JZ]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I have to also wonder why zoom through the most fascinating peninsula on earth to go to a place at the very tip which is more of a circus than
anything Mexican or Baja-like?
It is really way too far to go in 2-days. Days are getting shorter. You cross into Mountain Time and lose an hour doing that, as well.
Average speed is 50 mph for the 1,000 mile drive. There are many stops and slow traffic for towns (unless you go the faster way, south from Mexicali),
about 6 military checkpoints, could be many wrecks on the skinny highway, range cattle and burros, etc.
NO CELL COVERAGE beyond El Rosario or San Felipe and none between the cities or in the hills, until you get near Guerrero Negro, 400 miles south.
You need a Mexican Auto Insurance policy if you want to be covered for liability as well as all else, since your U.S. insurance has no liability
coverage in Mexico... where you are held in jail until you pay for damages. www.bajabound.com is the company many of us use, and it sponsors this site.
You stop at the border and walk into the first building inside of Mexico with your passport to get the FMM tourist card. It is valid for up to 180
days. It is about $30 US.
Try and see some of the peninsula instead of zooming up and down it for Cabo. 
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CaboHenry
Junior Nomad
Posts: 25
Registered: 12-2-2008
Location: LAX,CA / CSL,BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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Ease up JZ..... Let the poor man (newbie) have his moment in Cabo.
JZ is right! You will surely be missing out on the best of the peninsula if you just rush down to the tip in 2 days. That's never the way to enjoy
Baja. Surely hope this isn't your first drive down to Cabo. If it is, slow down & enjoy the beaches! Enjoy the food! If bringing a pet/dog, let
them run the beaches a little (bring poop bags please). If you're on limited time and have business needs in Cabo, then fly down. Fares are great
right now. Otherwise I recommend spend a day or 2 less in Cabo and add to beach time along the way. Please, drive safe!
No need for sat phone. You will have cell most of the way but expect blank areas along the drive. But cell phone Navi continues to work. Internal sat
antenna I guess...
To JZ- As for cell Navi, what were the best navi phone apps you have used? I recall a post from you with some killer options. Also, beautiful dog, man
(different post).
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CaboHenry
Junior Nomad
Posts: 25
Registered: 12-2-2008
Location: LAX,CA / CSL,BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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Listen to DK. He knows what he's talking about.
All those road senerios he mentions are a regular thing along the drive. You might think you can get to Mulege before dark but depending on road
conditions that day you could be in the dark before GN!
Slow down and enjoy the sites!
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10566
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Quote: Originally posted by CaboHenry  |
No need for sat phone. You will have cell most of the way but expect blank areas along the drive. But cell phone Navi continues to work. Internal sat
antenna I guess...
To JZ- As for cell Navi, what were the best navi phone apps you have used? I recall a post from you with some killer options. Also, beautiful dog, man
(different post). |
Google Maps for paved roads. You can pre-download the map area for use when you don't have cell service.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Too far too fast. This scenario will involve driving in the dark early or late in the day.
I know Cabo well -- it's not a tourist trap. There are tourists there when the ships are in. Todos Santos is a similar trap when bus loads of
tourists come up from Cabo. It's all fascinating and fun. Some people don't get it.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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You are also welcome to print out my maps for the areas you are driving. They show the Kilometer Marker for road junctions and places along the way.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=88771
The kilometer markers reset to zero in several places as you go south. In the state of Baja California, they increase from 0 as you go south.
In the state of Baja California Sur, they decrease to 0 as you go south on Hwy. 1, but not on Hwy. 19, 53 or others.
Hwy. 1
Km. 0 BC:
Tijuana, Ensenada, San Quintín, L.A. Bay junction, ends at the state border (Km. 127 (from L.A. Bay jcn.)/ Km. 220 (to Santa Rosalia).
Km. 0 BCS:
Santa Rosalia, Loreto, Ciudad Insurgentes, La Paz (actually it's Km. 8 at city entrance/ Dove or 'whale tail' Monument), Cabo San Lucas marina.
Using Hwy. 19 via Todos Santos is faster and shorter to Cabo. It leaves Hwy. 1 at Km. 185... and this is Km. 0 for Hwy. 19. Cabo San Lucas is 124
kilometers south.
Kilometers x 0.62 = miles.
Never pass an open gas station if you are below the half fill line.
Must top off places:
El Rosario on Hwy. 1 (220 miles south of border) and San Felipe on Hwy. 5 (125 miles south of border). In both cases the next reliable gas station is
200+ miles away.
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ondahrd
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 10-14-2020
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I guess I should have been more specific in my question. I have been flying to San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas for many years. I have found my
second home in San Jose Del Cabo, what a great little city. I am driving down to leave a car. I will be crossing the Tijuana or the Tecate border. I
am up for suggestions on one more stop, but that's about it. Maybe do some traveling later across Baja when I have more time. But for now got to get
down there in a few days. Any help is appreciated
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6029
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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I drove at night...and lived!
Given the short daylight hours, and the distance you have to cover, you will be driving after dark! In my opinion, the most
dangerous time is right at sundown when it is hard to see or be seen by others.
Hopefully it could work out for you to take a meal and rest a bit, and continue when it is dark enough that everyone on the road has their lights on.
Watch out for drunks on the road in the evening hours!
If I were making that drive now, I would cross at Tecate, take the toll road east on Mex 2, then head south on Mex 5 before you get to Mexicali.
Buen viaje!
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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ondahrd
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 10-14-2020
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | I have to also wonder why zoom through the most fascinating peninsula on earth to go to a place at the very tip which is more of a circus than
anything Mexican or Baja-like?
It is really way too far to go in 2-days. Days are getting shorter. You cross into Mountain Time and lose an hour doing that, as well.
Average speed is 50 mph for the 1,000 mile drive. There are many stops and slow traffic for towns (unless you go the faster way, south from Mexicali),
about 6 military checkpoints, could be many wrecks on the skinny highway, range cattle and burros, etc.
NO CELL COVERAGE beyond El Rosario or San Felipe and none between the cities or in the hills, until you get near Guerrero Negro, 400 miles south.
You need a Mexican Auto Insurance policy if you want to be covered for liability as well as all else, since your U.S. insurance has no liability
coverage in Mexico... where you are held in jail until you pay for damages. www.bajabound.com is the company many of us use, and it sponsors this site.
You stop at the border and walk into the first building inside of Mexico with your passport to get the FMM tourist card. It is valid for up to 180
days. It is about $30 US.
Try and see some of the peninsula instead of zooming up and down it for Cabo.
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Have you done the Mexicali Border to San Jose del Cabo?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Review all replies above, add one more day at least unless you begin driving at sunrise... even then, see some sites and eat some tacos along the way.
A pull into San Ignacio to the plaza is a must do... only 2 paved miles off the highway. San Ignacio is the halfway point, 500 miles south. Really
nice motel just past the mission, called La Huerta.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yes, I have driven it, many times, the most recent in 2017, but over many days.
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BajaUtah
Nomad
Posts: 190
Registered: 10-4-2013
Location: Salt Lake City/La Ribera
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I've driven the peninsula round trip 7 or 8 times since 2010. It always takes 20-22 hours of seat time to get to my house in La Ribera (1hr north of
SJD airport) . I cross at Mexicali because I start off in Salt Lake City and that's faster than driving to San Diego and crossing at San Ysidro. I
drive Mx 5 because I hate the TJ/Ensenada/San Quintin valley part. Mx 5 has always been faster by 2-3 hours than Mx 1 for me. I have not done the
drive since Mx 5 was completed so I'm looking forward to my next trip in November.
If you are doing the drive this time of year SD to Mulege getting there in daylight is very ambitious. I recall one trip that was Mexicali to San
Ignacio and it was sun down at Guererro Negro and dead dark at Viscaino and the last hour was pretty scary to make San Ignacio. Mulege is 2+ hours
beyond SI. I have comfortably done San Felipe to Mulege in a 1 day drive but that was June/July daylight. Hell I've done San Felipe to La Ribera in 1
day but that was on June 21 (longest daylight). I left SF at 5am and got home about midnight.
I would encourage you to read the latest road reports as it looks like there is bridge work going on between the turn off to Punta Abreojos and Loreto
with reports of the road south of Loreto being shut down for 3 hours for blasting. I know I've sat for hours waiting for 1 lane roads to open and it
sucks and kills any type of schedule. I'm actually considering going down the Datil/San Juanico side just to avoid this - I did it north bound last
trip in a Jeep and it wasn't too bad but no way I'd attempt it in a non-off road vehicle.
I've always found that if you can average 50mph down the peninsula you are doing great so just don't assume you are dealing with US type county roads
down here. You'll be surprised how slow a lot of this is.
Andy
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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We have lived here 15 years and I really think you are putting your life at risk because the roads are absurdly NARROW. This requires so much
attention and one gets tired.
Perhaps consider flying to Cabo? Not that expensive and in two hours you are sipping your beverage of choice! On the beach! Total bliss!
If you are going to drive, stop in Guerrero Negro at the Terra Sal for a great room and head over to Malarrimo (or other places many can suggest) for
dinner. That is so easy to do.
Sleep.
Drive to Cabo straight if you are in a hurry.
I love the hustle and bustle and mega hotels in Cabo as much as I love the tiny village we live in!
Be safe and you will have a great time! Welcome to BajaNomads.
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Don Pisto
Banned
Posts: 1282
Registered: 8-1-2018
Location: El Pescador
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Mood: weary like everyone else
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| Quote: Originally posted by Lee | Too far too fast. This scenario will involve driving in the dark early or late in the day.
I know Cabo well -- it's not a tourist trap. There are tourists there when the ships are in. Todos Santos is a similar trap when bus loads of
tourists come up from Cabo. It's all fascinating and fun. Some people don't get it. |
different strokes I guess, maybe some of the wonderfulness of it is who ISN"T there!
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18390
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by ondahrd | | I guess I should have been more specific in my question. I have been flying to San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas for many years. I have found my
second home in San Jose Del Cabo, what a great little city. I am driving down to leave a car. I will be crossing the Tijuana or the Tecate border. I
am up for suggestions on one more stop, but that's about it. Maybe do some traveling later across Baja when I have more time. But for now got to get
down there in a few days. Any help is appreciated |
from san diego, take 8 east and cross border at mexicali, then 5 south to 1 south. you can drive the 8 in the dark, as it is easy road to drive in
dark, and you might need extra time to make GN by dark on first day.
stay first night at guerrero negro.
stay second nite at loreto or ciudad constitucion.
you wont need a sat phone, unless you feel naked w/o a phone signal. (anybody remember life before 1990s when we used to leave the house w/o an
umbillical cord?)
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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KasloKid
Nomad
Posts: 326
Registered: 8-29-2009
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My 2 cents worth....
mtgoats route has my vote.
Distances to Guerrero Negro are irrelevant... it's the time it takes to get to GN from San Diego. Navigating through Tijuana and Ensenada will add
quite a bit of time and further south one will experience delays due to road construction and detours.
No matter which way you go to get to the junction of Mex-5 and Mex-1 (55 KMs south of Cataviña), they're all about the same in distance, 600 KM (370
miles). Guerrero Negro is 180 KM's (110 miles) further.
Chula Vista - Mexicali West crossing via I-8 - S Felipe - Mex 5 and Mex 1 junction…. 624 KM's
Chula Vista - Tecate - Mexicali West crossing via Hwy Mex 2D, San Felipe on to junction… 595 KM's
CV - Tijuana - Ensenada - junction… 568 KM's
CV - Tecate - Ensenada - junction… 590 KM's
(Distances calculated by Garmin mapping software)
Using I-8 to get to Mexicali route is the fastest but you still have to navigate through Mexicali to get onto Hwy 5. Some have said it's easy
…others have difficulty due to the lack of clear signage but I can't attest to it personally. I've always cut over to Mex 2-D, shortcutting to
Laguna Salada.
If you're a bit intimidated by getting through large cities, then I suggest you cross at Tecate, take Mex 2-D to Mexicali as this route will dump you
out at the south end of Mexicali on Hwy 5. No fuss, no muss.
If you do this route, then I recommend you park on the US side at Tecate, walk across (all parties in your vehicle) into Tecate and get your FMM's. at
the INM (Instituto Nacional de Migració building. I've always found that finding parking is a challenge in Tecate. There's a small mini mall just
before the border. Park there. After you've acquired your FMM's, cross back into the U.S. then drive across into Baja. This route will be a bit
slower than taking the I-8 route as the speed limit is lower on Mex-2D.
If you want a bit of a more leisurely trip, leave early afternoon and get as far as San Felipe and spend the night. The next morning (get some eats
for the road as restaurants don't open before 7) you can easily make it to Loreto, Ciudad Insurgentes or Ciudad Constitución. The third day is an
easy day to SJ del Cabo.
As previously mentioned, top up your fuel at San Felipe or El Rosario. Next fuel can be quite a distance. Do your best to not let your fuel tank
drop below half. As a moto buff, the expression we use is "you see gas, you buy gas!!"
Hope this helps….
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2308
Registered: 4-23-2006
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the only time you have too much gas is when you are on fire.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca | We have lived here 15 years and I really think you are putting your life at risk because the roads are absurdly NARROW. This requires so much
attention and one gets tired.
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Many miles, there is no pull-offs, as the road is on a levee with no shoulders!
They have widened a few sections but are a long ways from making Mex 1 a safe road. The narrow section begins at Km. 0, south side of San Quintín.
This was the final section of highway to be built in 1973 (to San Ignacio), about 300 miles in just one year... very narrow.
Going east to Mexicali and then south on Hwy. 5 is the quickest and you get a modern highway for much of the drive instead of the skinny one. The plan
(mentioned by KasloKid) to cross at Tecate and use the toll highway (2-D) to the Hwy. 5 jcn. is a good one if you fear some Mexicali city driving (5
miles, signed for San Felipe).
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