If you hit them at speed, it can be bad and may even damage your car. Tagged baja, Previous They have been redone in some areas but if you are planning on driving the entire peninsula you will cross over some bumpy and pothole ridden road. Passing is really at will. You will undoubtedly notice that a large number of cars and trucks on the road are not in the best state of repair. A Baja Road Report Perspective - Deciphering the Point-of-View. Think random potholes and topes (speed bumps). ©2010-2021 | AllAboutBaja.com - Travel Guide to the Baja California Peninsula | No part of this website may be reproduced without our written consent. It is best to stick to the toll roads (which are better maintained and controlled), to drive during daylight hours only, to keep your fuel topped off, and to drive … Precautions can be taken to reduce the risk of all of these safety concerns. Love your posts, d. Comments on this blog entry are now closed to non-Travellerspoint members. The roads in Baja aren't horrible, but they aren't very good either. From Ensenada to El Rosario, just above Baja Sur where the road turns away from the Pacific, is the most crowded and least interesting part of the drive. I believe you have more of a risk getting in a car accident than from being a victim of a crime along the Baja Peninsula. This is part of a video journal of our travels on the Baja peninsula. 2. for vacationers from the U.S. but there really was very little of that. Many incorporated parts of the wreckage. City driving must be monitored very closely. Driving in Baja can be one of the most rewarding means of travel. México 19 is in the far south of the peninsula, and branches off Highway 1, 16 miles south of La Paz, and provides a shortcut to Los Cabos, through the charming town of Todos Santos. When I approach a vehicle, from behind, to pass, I always check to see if they actually have a mirror glass in their mirror. Muy interesante! This is overdue but we made it to La Paz Saturday, September 1st. Crossing the border at Chaparral there was no line at all. Topes are speed bumps which may or may not have been placed by the proper authorities. Posted by mrb430 Having a flat along the road may mean setting in a very dangerous situation. México 2 (and 2D, a toll road out of Tijuana that connects with Highway 2 near Tecate) runs from Tijuana to the East through Tecate and on to Mexicali. Every year thousands of adventurous travelers embark on road trips to Baja, but unfortunately not everyone knows makes adequate preparations for staying out of trouble and dealing with emergencies. Needless to say 80 kmp (50 mph) was about the average with times at 40 kmp (25mph) and highs of 125 kmp (77 mph) on strait aways. Exploring Baja on two wheels is a scenic adventure for motorcyclists, who get to see the desert, ocean and mountains along the roughly 750-mile long peninsula … Although you are not driving at race pace, you will be on-board very capable pre-running vehicles, combined with excellent food and a great visit to the Costa Baja Resort. Next As a result, we entered Mexico without stopping at Immigration! Oops! The most notable of these is … We've been settling in and getting to know our town and I can see many posts in our future about life in Mexico. 12:02 We passed the afternoon and evening drinking cerveza on the square and watching the local activities, which included a volley ball game, children playing, people cruising by, and - of all things - a film company remaking the town to use as a set for a Mexican film on drugs called "Polvo (Powder)". Drivers in Baja tend to have a common disregard for the traffic laws (yes, they really do have traffic laws) and many drivers lack common road courtesy. El Rosario is a thriving small town stretched out along the highway that offered us a great hotel, Baja Cactus, and a nice breakfast. Give older cars, and trucks, a little more room than you normally would. We were polite; they were polite. It is the north – south road for the entire 1000 miles, traveled by 18 wheelers delivering goods from the north, as well as Aquila buses, the Mexican equivalent of … That said, I do not want to scare you away from driving in Baja. Baja is in the westernmost part of Mexico and has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. It’s certainly pricier than driving the whole way, but still much cheaper than a tour group, and you are skipping the section of mainland Mexico where there do seem to be more issues with crime. They carry gas, oil, tools, and other necessities and provide service to anyone who needs help along the highway. Lucky for us, harsh and beautiful are not mutually exclusive and neither are harsh and enjoyable, evocative, interesting, or worthwhile, all of which effectively describe this journey. Somewhat lengthy (not always) random vehicle checks by the army or federal police, designed to prevent the flow of arms and drugs, can also make for a longer (time-wise) drive than you had originally planned for. The more insistent a person is, the more cautious you should be. My former next door neighbors, a retired American couple, owned houses in both Ensenada and San Felipe. This highway (really just a road) travels along the Bay of La Paz and passes by some very beautiful beaches and coves. Next up, days 3 and 4. There are exceptions to the rule and there are occasions when the good ones will slip up, as can happen anywhere. Then, I know that they will be able to see that I would like to pass. Also when you cross 28° north there is an agricultural booth that will spray the underside of your car as you enter the state of Baja California Sur and charge you 3 pesos for it. There ar… The truck drivers of Baja are usually great drivers and very considerate to oncoming traffic and those who want to pass them. Also, many streets and roads may lack basic markings, even one-way streets. 914 miles from Tijuana to La Paz through some of the most amazing country we've seen. One time they wanted us to roll down the tinted back windows to see inside, once I opened the tailgate, once we were asked for identification (I used my driver's license), and once we were asked for the registration for the car. The semi’s come flying down the road . Not sure if the pavement is warmer or something, but they are big and can show up out of nowhere. For the week of Jan. 18-24, t he state of Baja California (norte) is rated “red” (maximum alert, level 6) with non-essential activities restricted. The second part of Highway 3 goes across the mountains (out of Ensenada) to the east through Ojos Negros and Valle Trinidad to finally connect with México 5, on the Sea of Cortez, approximately thirty miles north of San Felipe. You hardly ever see any minor accidents in Baja, most accidents tend to be major. We had read about these and were somewhat apprehensive as to what to expect. It was pretty interesting to watch. September 2018 I was driving throughout Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula mostly and down to Bacalar) and it was much like your trip. If you feel that you are getting tired, pull over, splash some water on your face, go for a walk, have a short nap, do whatever works for you. We've been settling in and getting to know our town and I can see many posts in our future about life in Mexico. “We got pulled over within twenty minutes of entering Baja,” the family reports. The roads are often narrow, isolated, in disrepair or under construction, or being crossed by cattle or horses, and likely some combination of the above. We saw a semi-truck rolled over on its side after getting blown over on a mountain pass. We had a rather inauspicious beginning to our trip! Driving to the Baja Peninsula may not be the safest route of travel based on the state department's travel warning. Most (legal topes) are marked with signs or are painted yellow or white. We went through about ten. However, compared to other regions of Mexico, the Yucatan peninsula is relatively safe. The mountain regions in Baja don’t really give you any shoulder at all and usually, guard rails aren’t there either… Yes it is stressful to drive here. By: Author Celine & Dan Brewer. This was good and bad. On the other side, you'll find Tijuana, the state of Baja California and the greater Baja peninsula. They pass when they want to and so did we after awhile. This means that you should carefully plan your trip to make sure that you arrive at your planned destination of the day, before nightfall. Definitely recommend! ***When readers buy products and services advertised on our site, we often earn affiliate commissions that support this website. But we did spend our first three hours in Mexico as illegal immigrants! We didn't get any pictures because they are often in places you absolutely can't stop! The incredible scenery, friendly people, and unique experiences will more than make up for the extra care you must use during your time behind the wheel in Baja. No big deal, it was on our way. I just want you to know that this is not a drive to your corner market. The roads were much better than we expected as far as road conditions. If you are driving to Baja, from California, we highly recommend that you use our Tijuana border crossing map. While this is the most highly-traveled tourist route, it is also the main route for the large trucks that bring most of the supplies from the border area to the southern regions of Baja. We had expected this to be an area with beach resorts, condos, etc. I admit I was very intimidated about the thought of driving a rental car in the Yucatan Peninsula. Petty theft is unfortunately common in Baja California. ), and no guard rails were the norm in many areas. Just look at the number of shrines along the road, reminders of the need to pay attention while driving. When you pull up to a checkpoint and the military is there with machine guns you have to wonder. One possibility you may want to consider is driving down the Baja peninsula to La Paz, and then taking the Ferry across the Sea of Cortez to the mainland, and driving South from there. 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