Aborted Trip to Cabo San Lucas and La Paz

[pokerrick1]

This is the story of the best laid plans of mice and rats - - - I planned a road trip (without the boat) to go all the way down to La Paz and Cabo San Lucas (about 1,065 miles from the border at TJ) taking 7 to 10 days without any schedule - - - I am looking at places to possibly retire to in about a year and I know La Paz has a brand new very nice Marina and it is pretty well protected (from both a hurricane an a security standpoint). I did as much research as I could and I learned (incorrectly) that after the 4 lane toll road ends at Ensenada, my Baja maps showed a 4 lane road all the way to Cabo - - - and AAA told me the road was improved 4 lane highway (thanks AAA).

Well I got south of Ensenada and the road turned 2 lane UGLY! The sign says "Zona Cuervas 7 K/M" and after you get through that and go 1/4 K/M on straight road the next sign says "Zona Cuervas 8 K/M", and after youi get through that and go 1/8 K/M on straight road the next sign says "Zona Cuervas 9 K/M". Every 200 meters there is a cross or a shrine by the roadside where someone died trying to pass. So I got 75 miles south of Ensenada to a small town called Puerto Colonet in only 2 1/2 hours and I could see it wasn't going to get any better and I still had 925 miles to go plus the drive back! So I did the only reasonable thing and turned around and went back to Ensenada, where I spent the night after a few Margueritas at Hussong's Cantina (what a dump).

There is no reasonable way to drive this alone and certainly no way to tow an as there are gazillions of old 18 wheelers on the road and you WILL get sideswiped by one of them driving over the middle line on the road. It is hard enough with just a tow vehicle and no trailer. So I got back to MDR Tuesday afternoon and had to spend the rest of the wek just sailing and playing poker Oh well .

I will reschedule this trip by flying to Cabo and renting a car to drive the 125 miles up to La Paz. Early next month I am driving with friends to San Felipe to check that out but I know there is not only no recreational marina there but about the third highest tides in the world (21' +) You can anchor in 20 feet of ocean and be on the bottom in the morning - - - very scary. My eventual plan is to buy a 43"+ motoryacht to live on somewhere in Baja. I will not sell my M - - - I will take it with me to use as an everyday boat as the other will probably never leave the slip (sounds like a plan to me).

Anyone's suggestions, comments and ideas would be greatly appreciated (I already had one that the motoryacht doesn't have to have an engine).

Rick

[Divecoz]

I have not traveled over there ever , but I have driven thru Mexico a quite a bit / Matamoros to PDC and then on to Coz. Are You sure you were on the Auto Pista ? Thinking of retiring to Mexico ?? I assume you have made dozens of trips ,. . . stayed for months at a time,. .. . rented a home similair to what you can afford. Your looking into your FM3 status and one time tax free importation of household goods ?? and the list goes on How about Santa Rosa from Arizona and cruise down the S.C.
LOTS of folks do that. Or Buy My House on Cozumel

[pokerrick1]

If I were moving to Mexico I would only go somewhere in Baja. I was on Mexico #1, the MAIN (pretty much only) road south from Ensenada. I wouldn't be renting a home - - - that is why I am checking out marinas, I will have nothing to take that doesn't fit on the boat I will live on - - - everything else will be sold before I go.

Rick

[Al]

Discoz
Tried to find Santa Rosa on my map and could not find. Where is it.

Al

[David Mellon]

Remember the "hidden" costs of living in Mexico. No recourse to the law, incessant bribes, bad water, bad food, Very poor health care at any price. Just getting your personal belongings will require months and thousands in bribes. The folks I know who have moved there for work have quit their jobs and moved out of the third world never to visit again. If I want to visit a third world city I can just drive to a slum in Los Angeles. But...don't let me discourage you.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

i've driven on that road to Cabo on numerous occasions. recently did it in May of this year.
will be doing it again in December.
I have never towed anything as large as a Mac X, but have seen many boats towed that were larger than a Mac X. i have towed a Bayrunner/Westcoaster behind a motorhome in previous years.
once you get south of Ensenada, the road is typically no more than 18-19 feet wide and no shoulder on either side.
a road that narrow leaves very little space when an 18 wheeler is going north and you're going south (or visa versa).
without exception, every trip that i make, i will encounter an accident or two. typically a roll-over or into a ditch.
when i drive the road i only drive during daylite hours. usually 6am to 6-7pm on the first day...stay in a $25 motel...then get up at 5am and go another 12 hours. we usually arrive to our destination (either Cabo south or the border north) by mid afternoon the second day.

it can be done, people do it. the only advice i have is to take it slow and be safe.

[Divecoz]

Remember the "hidden" costs of living in Mexico. No recourse to the law, incessant bribes, bad water, bad food, Very poor health care at any price. Just getting your personal belongings will require months and thousands in bribes. The folks I know who have moved there for work have quit their jobs and moved out of the third world never to visit again. If I want to visit a third world city I can just drive to a slum in Los Angeles. But...don't let me discourage you.

Lots has changed since 1969 Dave. or up in smoke Over 400,000 have retired to Mexico . It is an adventure maybe not of interest to guys like MadMike but far beyound 99.9 of Americans . Anyway. . . . everyday the more we look like Mexico and we do BTW and thats not a good thing IMHO . They also look more like us and again that is not IMHO a good thing. Anyway you way off base as I have BTDT . . .and still doing it.

[pokerrick1]

I agree with Divercoz - - - lots has changed in Mexico in the past 15 years. Most police and the Federales are actually trying to help tourists now. They MUST have tourism. Bribes are MOSTLY a thing of the past now, especially once you get past Tijuana. Medical facilities in Cabo are EXCELLENT! The government is building a series of new marinas (much like the old mission system) where the marinas are no more than 100 miles (one day boat travel going reasonably with a motor) apart, in an attempt to ATTRACT 75,000 California boaters a year. Mexico has become a viable alternative for retiring Americans - - - and I MUCH prefer Mexico to the slums of Los Angeles. As for food, with the advent of those SUPER HUGE supermarkets all over Mexico, an American can find anything he wants. Just for the record, gasoline was almost a dollar cheaper there so I filled up BEFORE I got back to the States.

I ran into a military roadblock and search on the way back just south of Ensenada and, believe me, they were quite serious about finding drugs and weapons. Things have definately changed there for the better for Americans.

Rick

[ssichler]

My parents have made the trip in a large RV towing a full size Chevy pick up with two ATVs in the back.



According to my Dad it's very tight in some spots. Bobby's advice is good. Avoid driving at night at all costs. There are many cows that lurk around hidden corners. The road takes a circuitous path down into washes and up steep mountains. Personally I love Baja and wish more Americans thought like David Mellon but unfortunately too many think it's a great place and have been buying real estate like crazy.

[Divecoz]

Discoz
Tried to find Santa Rosa on my map and could not find. Where is it.

Al

My Bad Bud that should be be San Carlos . Santa Clara is on the other coast and a place I am looking to go to. Its a Way Laid Back (think Jimmy Buffet) Gulf Fishing village / small town, with just a few tourist.I admit though there are some etc etc etc . BUT I would also love to head down to San Carlos and there are several web site about trips down there.
try this for a start: http://www.sancarlosmexico.com/

[scott vos]

I drove down the Baja towing my M in April this year. We launched her in Puerto Escondido (10 miles south of Loreto) and sailed down to La Paz. We took 3 ½ weeks to make this journey as there are some of the prettiest, remote islands you will ever see. The wind was a consistent 15-25 knots so we could have sailed the 150 mile trip overnight. As for the drive and the roads, I would never do it again. I did not have any incidents or accidents but the potential for a really bad accident is there. I drove down during daylight hours as suggested above, stayed in Geuerro Negro first night, and got into Loreto mid day on the second day. The big rigs on the narrow roads in the mountains were my scariest moments. On my return trip to the states, I found that driving at night, 8pm thru 5am was much more relaxing and safe as all of the big rigs and most of the cars were off the road and with both lanes open, I could drive down the middle of the road with my high beams on. I could also see any approaching cars or animals on the road 50 miles away and could slow down and be ready for the pass. I will visit the Sea of Cortez again but we will fly down to La Paz and charter a 33 foot Moorings boat for two weeks, and then just fly home

scott