Driving from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

[NJJack]

We are considering driving our pickup truck and Lance slide-in camper from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in March. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this trip or who has information to share. We are especially concerned about our safety. Thanks a lot!

[Alterego]

NJJack
It is apparent that you don't follow the travels/adventures of Tioga & George. They are making their annual trip down Baja at the present time. Go to the following website and you will get all the information that you could possibly need. Oh yeah--don't hesitate to drop George an e-mail asking any questions that you would like to have answered directly. He loves e-mail from readers of his website.
http://www.vagabonders-supreme.net/blog/blog.html

[stan oliveira]

Hi Thought you might be interested in a quick summary of our trip to Cabo earlier this year

Re: [chinookrvs] Cabo San Lucas

Just got back from our 3 1/2 week trip down the Baja to Cabo San Lucas and back. Thought I would share a few quick comments regarding our trip.

1. Gasoline is readily available throughtout the Baja and is going for $2.25 a gallon for regular. Only caution here is to count your change. They were sometimes a little slow in giving back all of your change. Also it is customary to tip the fellow who puts the gas into your tank and cleans your windows. I usually tipped a buck each time. (Approximately 10.5 pesos.)

2. The roads are in good repair all the way to Cabo. However they are narrower, and sometimes there are no shoulders or guard rails. Just keep 2 hands on the wheel and watch your speed. Also watch out for the "Topes" (speed bumps) as you approach the small towns.

3. Three cautions in regard to driving. Don't drive at night. Keep your speed under 55 mph. Give the trucks plenty of room on the curves. (Also, make sure you have Mexican Auto/RV insurance.)

4. Lots of free camping opportunities on the beaches. Also some beaches have a family or an individual who picks up the garbage and keeps the beach clean. Cost $5 to $7 a night.

5. Campgrounds are inexpensive and generally provide hot showers, flush toilets, hookups and security. Costs ranged from $10 to $15 a night.

6. Did not experience any hassles coming back into the US or with the military inspections when you head back north.

7. Costco and Home Depot are in Ensenada and Cabo. Super Ley and Mega supermarkets are also good places to stock up on food and supplies.

8. And most importantly, I highly recommend you take along a copy of Mike and Terri Church's "Travelers Guide to Camping Mexico's Baja." It is very informative and helpful. It provides excellent descriptions of where the campgrounds are located and what type of facilities they provide. Information is also provided regarding the free and let's say "rustic" campgrounds on the beaches. Great guide book!

9. Would also suggest that you take along a copy of AAA's "Baja California" and Lonely Planet's "Baja & Los Cabos." They also provide good information on campgrounds, things to see and do, as well as suggestions regarding places to eat. AAA's Baja California map is a good one.

Well, enough with the comments. If you have questions let me know. Would we do it again? You bet! Will most likely take off for Cabo again this fall.

One last comment. Our 98 Chinook Concourse had no problems and handled our off road adventures with no difficulties. Great rig!

Stan
Tustin, California

PS. Perhaps the best part of the trip was all the different types of interesting people we met on the beaches and campgrounds.

[ginger]

Check www.bajawinters.com. Wonderful caravan group that inexpensively escorts you all the way to Las Barrilles (50 miles north of Cabo) and leaves you at a beautiful modern RV park, East Cape RV, only 200 yards from the Sea of Cortez. They return every 2 weeks to assist you with the return trip from November through March. Wonderful, knowledgeable wagonmasters and tailgunners who know all the best spots and assist you every step of the way. Our cost a couple of years ago was only $800 and that included a whale watching trip and several meals as well as our camping for the first 8 nights. Travel was only 150 to 190 miles a day. It was a fantastic experience and we hope to do it again soon. Find all the info you need on their website.

[ABDriver]

Driving in Mexico is the same as driving anywhere else...with a few exceptions. As Stan mentioned, the roads are narrower than what you are used to and have topes (speed bumps, both marked and unmarked). The best advice I also can give you is to drive 55 or slower and don't drive at night. Stan's comments are right on the money except that he's a very generous tipper. Most folks tip about 5 pesos at the gas pumps. Speaking of gas pumps, when you pull into the station, watch for arrows indicating which direction to go. Check the pump to make sure it is at ZERO before the attendant starts fueling and stay right there as they fill it. When the pump is shut off, write the cost down on a piece of paper. That way, if it "accidentally" gets reset to zero, you know how much to pay. You pay the attendant right then and there so, with those cautions, you should have no trouble. Also, at any toll booth, count your change BEFORE you leave the booth. Ginger mentioned the caravan to Cabo...an excellent idea, especially for your first time. There are some problems around the border right now due to the "war" between the drug lords and the police. Once you get below Ensenada, there should be no problems. Most Mexicans will bend over backwards to help you. Just use a little common sense where you park. If you stay in campgrounds, you should have no trouble at all and there are some very safe beaches just south of Mulege. If you stay at the beaches, expect the food vendors to come by to sell you all kinds of fresh food and other supplies. If they don't have what you want, they'll get it and bring it to you the next day. I lead RV tours to Mexico, both Baja and the mainland, and have yet to have any major trouble at all. The worst thing I can recall right now is that one rig in our group lost some valve stem caps, a "trophy" sometimes sought after by the local kids. Have fun and enjoy yourself. If you see a big black Allegro Bus down there with yellow Adventure Caravan stickers on it, wave me down and say "Hi."
_________________
Jerry

[Motor31]

If you are going into Mexico I'd do some things:

First, make sure you have the insurance BEFORE you go in. There are more than a few agencies to buy from. Look in some of the RV magazines for agencies selling it.

Go to a bank in the US and buy pesos. Get about $150.00 (dollars) worth of them and keep them for tolls and other fees. You are far, far more likely to be short changed if you use dollars. Once you are in Mexico, look for a bank with an ATM. You can use your American card in the machine and it will give you pesos at the current exchange rate. Pay for everything you can in Mexico in pesos. You may have an American bank fee added to it so you might want to contact your own bank and ask about it. Secondly, some American banks will assume your card has been stolen and disavow the card if they suddenly get charges from Mexico. Contact customer support BEFORE you go south and let them know you will be traveling into Mexico so they can make a note on your account.

Contact the US Customs before you go south and ask them what you cannot bring back in the way of food stuffs. Example: packaged meats, even in US wrappers, can't be brought back if they have been opened. Eggs, even cooked, are not allowed either.

Find out the date when the passport requirement starts for return to the US. You either want to be back before then or get a passport before you head into Mexico (or Canada as well).

Bottled water in Mexico will be safe to drink; the same for purified ice (puro hielo) from a vending machine like in the US. Park water may not be. Use bottled water to drink, cook and brush your teeth in. Once you are back in the States, sanitize your rig's water system before you use it for those purposes.
_________________
Mike, Nancy and the Fuzzies
2005 MS 38 RL3
2001 Volvo MH (HDT)
2004 R1150RT (piggyback)
1996 Jeep Cherokee (toad)

[Adrienne]

Hi there--

Here are the new requirements for returning to the U.S. from Mexico and Canada:

Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI
Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable to fulfill document requirements:

U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including ferry crossings).
The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a wallet.
DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.

Until this requirement is in effect as noted above, U.S. citizens are currently exempt from the requirement to show a passport unless they are returning to the U.S. from outside the Western Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia). However, it is highly recommended that you be prepared to present documentation such as valid U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or naturalization certificate to avoid delays.

As you can see, we're all going to need passports soon if we're returning from any country.
_________________
Best--

Adrienne Kristine
Forum Administrator
http://www.RVTravel.com
http://www.FreeCampgrounds.com
http://twitter.com/AdrienneAXK

[dhg]

I spent eight weeks van camping in Baja last winter and I plan on heading back again in February.

I strongly agree with virtually everything that's been said so far; you're getting really great advice! The only thing I would question is the tipping at Pemex. I think that 4 or 5 pesos is adequate, and then only if they pump the gas AND clean the window, which they rarely did on my trip.

At Pemex I always buy a set amount, e.g. 300 or 400 pesos. Then you don't have to mess with change and as long as the pump was set to zero at the beginning and totals the right peso amount at the end, there should be no problems. I also use an octane booster when I'm there.

Highway 1 is in pretty good shape and the signage is great but it sure is NARROW. You should plan on keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel at all times.

Keep your eyes peeled for an "agua purifcado" sign in towns and, if you're lucky, you might find a place that can run a hose out to your rig and fill your tank with purified water. When I found a place it usually cost about 15p to 30p and was well worth it.

Since you are headed into Baja Sur, it is imperative that you get a tourist card. I missed my chance at the border but lucked into one in Ensenada (which may no longer be an option). You will be asked for it on crossing into Baja Sur at Guerrera Negra and if you don't have it there's a big fine in addition to the tourist card fee. You can get one at the border. In Tijuana you have to pull into the lane that says pull in if you have something to declare (I didn't so I passed it up........big mistake).

As to safety, I never had a problem and I was doing a lot of solo camping on desserted beaches.

Good luck and I hope you have a really great time.

dhg