San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico and points south

mattbaxter wrote:
Anyone with experience driving from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico, or even further south? I know there are terrible tales of travel thereabouts but wonder if it is mostly an urban myth.

You decide:)
1. long lines , 1 to 2 hrs at the border Longer coming back to U.S. If you get pulled over by the U.S. agents for a secondary inspection for any number of random reasons, you can add another 1 1/2 hrs. at the border.
2. you have to buy mexican insurance. The laws are different in mexico.
3. get pulled over by the polica and you may end up paying a bribe to avoid court.
4. From San Diego to Ensenada you have to put up with masses of tourists:(
Other than a few minor issues, you decide:):):)

Skip TJ and Ensenada and go to San Felepi. Nicer weather, friendly people, you can find a RV site right by the ocean. You won't have to deal with herds of tourist, nice 5 blocks of little mexican stores to buy your mexican curios. Great shrimp. You will get a much more realistic experience of what mexico is really like.

If you choose to go to San Felipe, I have really enjoyed the food there. I love the stuffed shrimp, wrapped with bacon, covered with cheese and cooked in a little butter served at Baja Mar... hmmmm, did I forget to tell my Doctor about this stuff. :) Motels are just the basic Mexican motels, still a pretty good deal for the money, ask if the showers have hot water, that seems to be optional during the off season at some of the places. Unless you are working on your Spanish, don't plan to watch much TV. There is a government check point midway there, they are looking for drugs and guns, be polite and you will be on your way quickly. I really enjoy my visits there and look forward to my next trip to San Felipe. I have been to Tijuana, Ensenada and Tecate several times, just not what I am looking for. All of the above is just my opinion for what it is worth. JH :)

You couldn't pay me to go to Mexico these days although I went to TJ and Ensenada many times in the 60's and 70's

hotpepperkid wrote:
You couldn't pay me to go to Mexico these days although I went to TJ and Ensenada many times in the 60's and 70's

X2

This topic should be moved to RVing in Mexico Forum so you get current real world responses from RVers that travel in Mexico. Just returned from a month 800 miles deep on Mexico Mainland and entirely different than earlier posted responses AND Baja is easier to travel with an RV. Also go to the BajaNomad Forum, http://forums.bajanomad.com/ to get daily info. Good luck and you will enjoy the trip. Just cross at Tecate to make the trip easier.

rocmoc n AZ/Fld/Baja

Move from Roads and Routes to RVing in Mexico

Definitely urban myths.

We are currently in Southern Mexico and have been here for 4 months.

Go to Ensenada! Better yet, do an overnighter or two and do Mexico's wine country. It starts quite near Ensenada, and heads inland. Then you can exit at Tecate, an easy, fast crossing.

Wine country can be done in one LONG day, but why push an adventure in a foreign country, because it is a foreign country, and lots of fun. Just act the way you would visiting any country.

Mexican Insurance by the day is not expensive.

Border Wait Times website can give you an idea of how long it take to get through various crossings

http://bwt.cbp.gov/?com=0&pas=1&ped=1&plist=2502,5355,2503,2406,2302,2601,2303,2402,2404,l245,2305,2304,2602,2603,2604,2506,2403,2309,2307,2310,2608,2504,2408,2505

Lewis & Lewis . . . http://www.mexicanautoinsurance.com/ . . . . can give you some idea of insurance costs.

At the top of the forum for Mexico are "Stickys" telling about insurance and other paperwork required for Mexico travel. Lots of good advice.

We have been traveling in Mexico on and off for many years - since 1971 - the past 10 years or so spending our winters RVing all over Mexico - have been to almost every state in Mexico. Never once have we personally experience crime of any sort nor have we ever been hassled in any way by any type of law enforcement. We are not saying this cannot happen as we do know things do happen no matter where in the world you might travel.

We find much about Mexico that is interesting and even fascinating. Don't let the nay-sayers get to you with their myths about what things are like down here. There are people on this forum who do travel in Mexico all the time and who do know some facts about Mexico. Information is available here - just ask.

hotpepperkid wrote:
You couldn't pay me to go to Mexico these days although I went to TJ and Ensenada many times in the 60's and 70's

Thanks for your uneducated input

Crossing at Tijuana is really no biggie these days, get a map and stay on the main highway which is a toll road to clear the city. Next up is Rosarito Beach it is a funky place but for us it is fun to visit every summer. Next stop Ensenada, this is a great place to overnight after you get through the traffic. Go all the way though Ensenada and there is a RV park on a lagoon which goes to the Pacific. Past Ensenada is the vineyards of Santo Tomas established in the late 17 hundreds by Russian Immigrants. After Santo Tomas a great lunch spot in El Rosario which is Mama Espinozas restaurant. It serves fresh lobster and fantastic soups, some with crab claws. From the heading south you will drive throught the cirio forest of boojum trees on you way to Cataviña Map books will show that there is a gas station in Cataviña but there is not, get gas in El Rosario. If you decide to travel to Guerrero Negro it will be your next place to stop, not much of a place to hang out but from January to April the whales can be visited in Ojo de Liebre lagoon and tours are available in GN. From GN heading another 90 minutes or so SSE you will be in the desert with many cool rock structures, it looks unnatural but they are natural. You will come to San Ignacio, it is one of the first mission established and is a cute little town square. From there still heading SSW you will descend into the historic minig town of Santa Rosalia, it is the Northern most place where you can Ferry across to the mainland when the Ferry is running. Further due South you will start to see awesome beaches on the sea of Cortes' side. Then a few miles later you come to charming Mulege, great place to stop and walk around an awesome little town. From there and heading south still you will see amazing coastline views and little bays, big bays, and finally to Loreto, the very first mission town of the Californias. That is how far I have had personal experience with for the last 4 years, I hope this helps. Personal experience trumps negative input all day long.