Baja California 2017 Trip #2 Photos being posted...

I am thinking that the Trip Reports forum is largely unknown, being kind of buried as a sub-forum in the Off Road section?

Most of my trip was in 2WD, I only used 4WD a couple times, so a LOT of what you see anyone in any Tacoma (not lowered, however) can get to.

Here is the trip report of Jan. 30-Feb. 8, and at the moment I have 5 of the 10 days photos posted. More will be added later. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...baja-california-san-ignacio-to-loreto.474872/

 

I have 7 of the 10 days posted!
See photos like this...


and this...

 

I hate you because I'm jealous.

 

Dude, don' hate, go with me to Baja! You live almost next door to me... it will be easy!

I posted today all through to Day 9 (of the 10)... Here's a sample of what is in the trip report:













WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? Half of Canada is already down there! They go in the winter, but for me summer is best! Also less busy and the sea is warm like a bathtub!

 

@David K

I haven't driven past Rosarito in Mexico via car from Los Angeles

How safe is the drive to Baja? How long does it take ? Where do you guys make stops ?

 

Just look at my photos, I took 400 over the 10 days. Do you see anything unsafe?



Here I am in 1966, a year after my first trip to Baja with mom and dad... It is over 50 years later, and I am still going!


When I turned 16, I began to go camping in Baja without my parents, just high school friends and I... This is my dune buggy (my first car) here in Baja in 1975 (I was 17).


My next vehicle was a Jeep Cherokee Chief. Here I am on the Baja 1000 course in November 1975 near San Felipe.


The Jeep was always breaking and expensive to drive, it was new but made terribly. So, in comes Subaru with the 4WD wagon... 25 mpg, and I could get it to go everywhere. Here I am pre-running the 1979 Baja 1000, near Calamajué Canyon.
I owned three Subaru 4WD wagons ('77, '80, '87).


My first Tacoma was in 2000 (a 2001 Extra Cab 4WD Off Road).

All my 4x4s are bought for going to Baja!

Anyway... no, no problems at all in Baja!

 

Here's a couple's recent video of driving down Hwy. 1 to Cabo... and open containers are NOT legal in Mexico, so that was stupid, but it shows you how RELAXING it is to drive in Baja, be in Baja, etc. Oh, the lobster burritos are in El Rosario (not Santa Rosalia, per the video).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koE60_gacV8

 

Small world

I had a 79, and 83 GL Wagon 4wd subaru. I replaced it with a Subaru Justy 1997 4wd. I also have a gen 1 truck.

If you start in San diego, where did you stop the nights? If we stopped in Rosarito one night, where would the next night stops you would recommend?

Also is the road from Rosarito to all the way south, 2wd and highway ok?

I am familiar enough with Mexico as we go to Puerto Penasco yearly ,but there have been times pulled over by mexican police and shakedown for $$$

Thus I was inquiring

I have been to Cabo but via Plane only.

 

I posted the video above so you could see it is a paved highway... was completed in 1973! There are some dirt detours due to construction (they are widening the narrow highway south from Ensenada, and other spots). Rosarito is 20 miles from the border... Cabo is 1,000. If you can only make it to Rosarito in one day, then you have a LONG trip!

There are nice, inexpensive motels or hotels in many places. I also prefer going down Hwy. 5 from Mexicali than through Ensenada and all the farm towns to the south.

To not drive at night is the key. You miss so much scenery and you risk hitting cows and burros on dark nights.

Hwy. 1: possible nights stops:
225 miles from the border: El Rosario, Baja Cactus Motel.
530 miles from the border: San Ignacio, Hotel La Huerta.
700 miles from the border: Loreto, Hotel Angra.
925 miles from the border: La Paz
1,025 miles from the border: Cabo San Lucas

Why do you give the police $$$ ? Did you do anything wrong? It is a game some of them play on scared gringos. Challenge them to explain the infraction, and agree to go see the judge. IF you didn't do anything wrong, just be cool and in no hurry, they will let you go and look for easier prey. If you did do something wrong, the fines in Mexico are tiny (they are a poor country) and pay the $10-$20 fine. It is never hundreds of dollars as they claim... to scare you.

Look, I have been going south my whole life, of the hundreds of trips, I got pulled over maybe 5 times and not one led to a ticket. I did give one money and asked for a police escort out of Ensenada as I was towing a buddy with a broken VW, using a tow strap. It was so cool!

It is such a fun country if your attitude is right. Don't do drugs... not pot, nothing. Get high on Baja... it is enough!