Driving down the Baja Peninsula
If you have ridden the Six Flag monster roller coaster you will likely survive the Baja 1,000 mile “TRIP” from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas.
By U.S.A. standards the road is very narrow. Most of the road down from San Diego is 2 lanes; 1 in each direction. There is no center divider and often times no painted line. Moreover, most of the time there is no shoulder on either side of the road. This drive is not for the faint of heart. On the other hand if you drive an 18 wheeler it may not be that bad as you can scare the shit out of everyone else on the 2 lane road. Although there are tons of breathtaking views there are also many oooopses down the side of the mountains. ie. skeleton remains of different vehicles.
The scenic view is beautiful including the many crosses and flowers and shrines to some of those who came before.
If you are in for adventure, take a few days to do this drive. This is one of the most gorgeous drives in North America.
If you drive Baja, take your time and be extremely cautious. The road can be treachorous. Drive slow and you will experience a wonderful display of beauty.
The scenery is breathtaking though if you are the driver you won’t have much time to observe as driving needs 100% concentration on the narrow roads. If you are sitting in the passenger seat you may select to be blindfolded.
All kidding aside this is a drive that you should do once in a life-time (perhaps towards the end of your life).
Words of Advice
Knowing a little Spanish can come in handy.
Start will a full tank of gas and fill it up at every opportunity.
Do not drive at night or you may run into cows and other animals sitting in the middle of the land.
Your average speed will not be the same as when driving in the USA as the road goes through many small towns with plenty of speed bumps as well as school crossings.
Most of the Baja Peninsula is desolate. With the exception of a few scattered towns, there is really not much along this 1,000 mile expanse except for mountains, desert and sparse vegetation.
It’s advisable to have some pesos with you on the drive down. Most places will take dollars, however you will get hurt on the exchange rate.
It is advisable to carry a gas can, with gas in it and even more than 1 spare tire and a bunch of water.
At the USA / Tijuana border make sure you get a tourist card. If you do not get this card you may have problems crossing into Southern Baja as well as problems returning to the USA. Make sure when you cross the border to ask where you can get the card. The process isn’t that easy as you have to walk 1/4 of a mile to an office, then 1/4 of a mile to another office and then return to the first office to get your tourist visa stamped. It’s a fun welcome to Mexico.
Make sure you get car insurance. There are a number of places where you can buy insurance prior to crossing the border. This is really important.
During the daytime hours, the roads are patrolled by the Green Angels who will help with gas and minor repairs. At least this is what I have heard though have only seen a hanful of Green Angels on my numerous trips up and down Baja.
It is a long drive. The narrow land,set in-between the Pacific and Cortez Sea, is mostly arid and desert. Cactus plants and flowering agave grow right at the rim of the road and back into the land for quite a distance and the few solitary towns along either coast that are inhabited are nothing more than lean-to housing and huts.
The rest stops along the highway are simple one room stores with a few scattered tables and large, old-fashioned glass vitrines displaying modern-day edible items for purchase.
The road can be great, but in other places can be downright dangerous.
For emergencies, the highway is patrolled by the “Green Angels” but only during the daylight hours. They carry certain spare parts, so if anyone has problems, just stay put, they will show up eventually.
Always carry Mexican car insurance, obtainable at agencies close to the border crossings. Failure to do so, if you have an accident, could result in time spent sampling the hospitality of one of Mexico’s jails
