Has anyone ever driven from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas?

[cbayer]

I would love some advice and input from anyone who has made this trip.

TIA!

[Kali]

1. I drove half way - to Guerrero Negro this past February

Good road, (pavement mostly in good shape, typical non-USAian lack of shoulders) 2 military checkpoints (we crossed at Mexicali going and Tecate coming back) plus the "state" crossing (Baja Norte y Sur - one was fine, the second had a bit of a dick running the show, but nothing alarming.

I wouldn't want to drive a big rig or pull a trailer but it was fine in a regular car. I say this as someone who has a fair bit of Northern Mexico driving experience, including to Batopilas at the bottom of the Copper Canyon system.

Be glad to expand if I can help. Be sure to make reservations and stay a day or two at Catavina if you've never been. Expensive but worth it for the local. (great beds too)

[cbayer]

2. Cool!

I'm going to cross at Tijuana and am getting my paperwork together for a departure in mid-Ocober.

Will be spending the winter in the Sea of Cortez and want to have the car available during that time.

I am also considering a drive to Panama in the Spring, so would appreciate your insights about northern mexico.

I have purchased Mexican insurance for the car, gotten my visa (good for 6 months) and have registered the car and boat for import. Are you aware of anything else I should do before crossing the border?

[Kali]

3. go east and cross at whatever that next crossing is

I hate cities, LOL. Are you pulling the boat or is somebody sailing? The road is curvy and some is kind of mountainous. The lack of shoulders can intimidate if you aren't used to it. And I noticed the drivers drove like stereotypical Californians (fast) rather than the somewhat slower Sonorans and Chihuahuans I am more familiar with. All drive faster than the speed limits and cross solid lines when needed for passing slow gringos or heavy trucks.

In Mexico truckers will signal a car behind them when it is safe to pass, they aren't making left hand turns.

You don't need a visa in Baja, though I read they MIGHT ask in Baja Sur at the crossing. They just waved us through and over the under vehicle pesticide spray - there were signs that it was $30 but nobody was collecting when we passed. They did look at passports at the checkpoints and made us get out while they did a grope of a couple pieces of luggage, no real effort was made.

Are you planning to take the ferry across or drive from the US for the Panama run? We were really close to taking the ferry to Guaymas, but time was a factor (we were in a rental car - Enterprise allows travel to Mexico but the daily insurance is a rip-off)

I have always felt safe driving in Mexico and even get caught traveling at night way more than I would like, a friendly attitude and willingness to try to comprehend goes along way (and "not" comprehending can be helpful at times too).

[cbayer]

4. Darn. Already did my entry paperwork and put Tijuana as my port of entry.

I hate cities, too, but I think you can get on the toll road right away after crossing the border.

The boat will be sailed down.

I did 8600 miles of US backroads this year and love winding, isolated, 2 lane roads, so I don't think that will be a problem.

So the truckers put on their left blinker to say it's good to pass?

I need a visa because I am staying so long. It is my plan to travel all over the peninsula once we get the boat down there, so I think I'm better off having it. Anyway, I had to have it to register the car and boat.

I've looked at the ferry, but I'm not sure yet. I may go back up to the US and then down from there, either through Texas or Arizona. Do you know anyone who has done the ferry?

The more research I have done, the more I am convinced that it's safe. I'm still not sure about central america, though. I've thought of dressing like a nun for that trip, lol.

Agree totally about attitude and trying to communicate. That's been my experience everywhere I have been.

[Kali]

5. oh you will be fine then

there were plenty of people pulling boats and campers but I personally wouldn't really want to do it.

good wine up north, but nobody really knows wine elsewhere, thought they sell and kind of promote the Baja wines and you can find some in shops. Everybody spoke English - we were bummed at not getting much Spanish practice. Ensenada was a little hectic on Sunday night when we went through but otherwise it was the only city traffic we dealt with. Watch for lights, stop signs and topes (speed bumps).

I am looking forward to spending more time in Baja, I loved the landscapes. Sea of Cortez side, next trip! The Pacific is too freaking hard to get to and it is cold.

[cbayer]

6. Great advice.

We are going to Ensenada first to have some work done on the boat before bringing it around to the Sea of Cortez. It will also give us an opportunity to acclimate and hopefully buff up some of that spanish.

I am really, really psyched. I have travelled extensively, but never lived out of the country. I am very excited about immersing myself in a new culture and this seems like a great place to start.

Hey! Maybe you can come see us while we are down there!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. can't wait to hear about it. I am going to Cabo in Feb

[cbayer]

8. Are you planning on driving?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. no, but wouldn't mind. It is a free trip w/air.

[cbayer]

10. From what I have discovered so far, it's best to get out of cabo if you can.

I think February is a great time to go, particularly if you are into wildlife.

Lots of bird migrations, as well as whales. The Sea of Cortez is apparently magical at that time of year.

Perhaps our paths will cross.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Yes, i have never been to Mexico - anywhere...and it definitely

wouldn't be a first choice destination - but I typically spend literally endless hours - researching and planning and looking for the very best places to stay and eat and see on trips - almost to the point of mania - haha. I may just take a break and decide not to know anything before I get there. Yes....I will let you know when I know more about when and where - will buy you a drink !!

Oh, by the way....I don't suppose you have access to Video on Demand on cable, do you?? Top Chef is soon to start again and they are in Nola. But, the coolest thing I watched on demand, was a 5 part series with Padma where she went down to Nola to find two, up and coming Nola chefs to join the show. It was so cool, you would have loved it...she went to old time establishment chefs and asked them what the buzz was for new cooks. then she would pick two and have them faceoff. I am going down there for Thanksgiving and I can't wait to seek them out. One was this amazing guy who cooked at a bar - served on paper plates ! and people are swarming the place -- It's called "We Got Soul". And then they had two food trucks with creative food - Concinta and IPO (cajun farm to market) ! They mentioned also - Maurepas Foods in Bywater.

[cbayer]

12. We are kindred spirits.

We recently took a very long road trip and I could literally tell you where we were going to eat pretty much every day.

I don't have On Demand at all. If it doesn't come over the air on stream on Netflix, I don't see it. But I would love to see Top Chef in NOLA.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Here's the link

to the videos of Padma's Picks. You can see them all - five parts including finale. Scroll down a bit and you will see the first one Padma's Picks - Grand Dame - think the first one was a faceoff between a Gallatoires chef and a Arnaud's chef. On the other episodes she gets into more off the wall type cooking.

http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/videos

There was a time when I wanted to quit my job and become a travel agent until they told me I would make $5/hr. But, what I am thinking about is being more than an agent - but to create an entire experience for people from where they sleep to where they eat to what they see. All based on their personal preferences - thought about creating an indepth survey of likes and dislikes to help create the trip. Have you ever seen a service like this? Wonder if anyone would pay for this?
Wouldn't it be fun!

[cbayer]

14. Thanks for the link!

Will save it for when the tourists after the weekend and internet access improves!

My husband and his partner have a travel business that creates individualized itineraries for people that want to go to Scandinavia. They don't do the food, but they do the locations and work with Scandinavian tour companies to create personal trips.

I have also considered doing something in the US for people that like something off beat. We did 8600 miles by car this spring, over a 2 month period. We called it "no chains" because we made a point of not staying in any chain motels/hotels or eating at chain restaurants or shopping (as much as possible) in chain stores. We also make a point of going to really unusual places that feature odd americana. I'm just not sure there are enough wacky people like us to make a business out of it!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. That's cool...my friend just went to Norway to find relatives - can't wait to

hear how her trip was.

I love the sound of your driving trip. Did you stay in any old motels - retro - just drive up and walk in? I think they are great. It is a mortal sin the way motels are built now...big boxes, hallways, can't open a window. Evidently cheaper to build? And, there's that safety thing. But, seriously, how many crazy bad people were out there banging the traditional motel doors down and killing people?

I also think there is something so nostalgic about going sightseeing. Maybe it's from pleasant childhood memories with family?

We just got back from Virginia and did Monticello. Yikes Jefferson was an amazing guy (except the slavery thing) - We learned that every morning he plunged his feet into cold water because he believed it would prolong his life. He lived to 83 when the average life expectancy was late 60's in those days. who knew ?

[cbayer]

16. We stayed in lots of retro motels.

Some were very cool, like the one in Santa Fe where you had your own car port.

Some were scary, like the one in nowhere new mexico where you got a shock when you touched any lamp.

But I love them all, regardless.

And eating regional food is my passion. Plus you get a chance to talk to locals and read the local newspapers.

We did Monticello on our trip 2 years ago and loved it. We also went to an old-time air show not far away from there with sing walkers and such.

Check out roadsideamerica.com when you get a chance. It's the best source for finding the offbeat attraction in the US.

Wish there were a similar site for Mexico.

Do you ever do geocaching? It's a great way of exploring areas that you wouldn't ordinarily go to.

This conversation is making me want to get back on the road!!

[cbayer]

17. I will be making this trip from November 29th to December 7th.

If anyone is interested in specific information about this drive, I would be glad to share.

I am putting together an itinerary now and would love any suggestions for places to stop, stay and eat.

[cbayer]

18. This trip went great and I would highly recommend it.

It's not for those who like upscale hotels and food they recognize.

It's not for those who like shoulders on their roads and prefer that the cattle be fenced in.

It's not for those who expect everyone to speak at least a little English.

And it's definitely not for those who are destination drivers and see only the point they are going to and not all the things in between those points.

But it's a very special trip for people who like to travel like I do.