The latest reports of road conditions along Mexico's Hwy 1 through
Baja California.
For a complete drive description from Tecate to Cabo San
Lucas read our Driving Baja, Nov,
2004 Road Report for the entire peninsula. This page currently
contains updates from our readers who have recently made the trip.
It would appear that the Federal Hwy police are
getting very serious about speeding between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas.
There have been two car policing this stretch of road for a long time
- you could pretty much anticipate where to find them.
On a recent trip from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas 7 Federal Hwy Patrol
cars were seen. They come in a variety of configurations too, from the
Crown Victoria Intercepter to 4x4's and Pickups. It's very easy to
come right up on one of these officers and not know it. Three cars
were entirely black with just the Federal Hwy Police lettering front
and back. The cars are equipped with video cameras and some have
radar.
They patrol with good reason too. Overloaded trucks, cogestion caused
by particularly slow drivers or a laden truck and the vast diversity
of speed at which people travel this section of Hwy 1 has caused many
accident.
So, keep it slower, 65mph seems to keep them happy. Remember, Mucho
Ojo!
June 22, 2005
We want to mention our immense feelings of gratitude
toward the police agent Roberto Barajas of the
Subcomandancia Zona Oriente Gonzales Ortega He is a real "ORGULLO
MEJICANO" my husband and I got stuck, the car broke at the exit from 5
highway to Mexicali's He was so much help we can't thank him enough!
Make sure his name is big - thanks Agent Barajas
May 14, 2005
Cabo San Lucas to Tijuana
Bruce and Debbie- - Veteran Baja Drivers
Some friends of mine,
Bruce and Debbie, just finished driving from Cabo San Lucas (Land’s End)
to the border and they sent back a quick note concerning the condition
of the Baja highway. “Construction
on the two bridges on the road south of
Constitución
is getting close to being finished. We found Loreto to be very quiet as
a lot of eating places closed even on
a Saturday night.
Gas is only a problem if you are heading south and plan to go to Baha
Los Angeles,no gas there but there is a guy selling at the turn off for
30 pesos a gallon which is not bad really.
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New emergency number for Baja California (Norte)
In an emergency in Baja California all you have to do is
remember the numbers 0-7-8 and you will connected to the
Secretary of Tourism of Baja California ( Norte) with English speaking
operators 24 hours a day. They can help with everything form auto
accidents to medical emergencies including providing transportation to the
border and Baja care will arrange for an ambulance on the north side of
the border if necessary.
As far as Baja California Sur you will still want to dial
0-6-6 to reach emergency services and yes they too have English speaking
operators 24 hours a day.
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Going over the border northbound, to Tecate through the
Ruta de Vino
was the way to go, (but mums the word
(Insider
information)) The signs coming into Tecate say USA
stight ahead but when you get there you find you have to go up and
around to the right to get on the right side of the homeland security
barriers and then run parallel with border fence heading west and thro
the massive gates.
We
had four cars in front of us, to cross the border, nice.”
That’s it. Not much to
talk about but as Hurricane season is now upon us we hope that any last
minute repairs and bridges are up before the real rains could come. Stay
tuned for more updates as the road conditions change into the rainy
season. Let us if you have any other Baja road reports you would like to
add we would greatly appreciate it.
April 14, 2005
Tecate to Cabo San Lucas
Hwy 1 has probably never been in better shape. Winter
rains did cause some washouts and damage to the highways in vados, most of that has been repaired.
Road widening continues south of Ensenada, but delays are
limited. Resurfacing is a constant process north of Guerrero Negro into
Baja California. (Norte)
There are three major bridge detours, between Mulege and
Loreto, just north of Santa Rita and again just north of El Cien
Traffic continues to grow between La Paz and Cabo San
Lucas. Much of the freight consumer on a daily basis by the growing city
of Cabo San Lucas comes from the mainland of Mexico and arrives in La Paz.
Yes, these truckers and other commercial traffic can be
dangerous with their excessive speeds and overloading but for that reason
we all must be a little more awake when traveling the Baja.
Notice the people on the upper bank trying to signal for
the oncoming traffic in a turn to slow down. This had just happened when I
arrived. However notice in the following photo how quickly an ambulance
had stopped.
March March 4. 2005
Tecate to La Paz
Victory - Baja Rookie Driver
We crossed the border at Tecate on Feb. 27, 2005, at 6:00
a.m. PST. The road to Ensenada was in good shape and the scenery very
beautiful. Between Ensenada and La Paz we encountered six military stops.
Three times they just motioned us through. The other three times they
asked where we were going, what we had in the truck and whether we were on
vacation. The only vado that had water running over the road was just
south of San Quintin. It was an enjoyable, if long, trip.
Click here for more Baja Weather
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February 02, 2004
All of Baja
Will and Eliza
Drove from Tijuana to San Jose Del Cabo January 30 -
February 2. Will is a seasoned traveler, but this was my first time. We
caravanned with Lou in 2 trucks loaded inside and on top with household
articles. Will prepared me for bad roads and harassing military
checkpoints, but we had neither.
Paid 75 pesos in tolls between Tijuana and Ensenada.
Checkpoint at Maneadero, only checking N-bound traffic. Fruit and customs
stop before Guerrero Negro, 20 pesos for fruit spray, no search.
Checkpoint before San Ignacio, questioned regarding destination, no
search. Checkpoint before Loreto, waved through. Checkpoint before La Paz,
asked about destination, no search. Each time we told them we were
vacationing.
Several bridges being built over bad arroyos, but the
detours were not a problem.
We did have one scary moment before El Rosario. It was
dark, and a truck was stopped on the road without any warning
flares/fires, fairly close to a curve. We were able to pass fine, and Lou
followed right behind us. As soon as we had finished passing, a car came
from opposite direction. My heart leapt as I watched in my rearview
mirror, but the driver put on his brakes and Lou moved over quickly. Whew!
We never drove at night again...
January 31, 2005
Beware in Catavina of Cops!
From John - Veteran Baja Driver
Watch out for the police in Catavina as they will stop you for any
reason possible. We brought a boat down last month and they were going to
write us a ticket for the motor sticking out the back too far and no red
flag. They also stopped the freind I was with a few weeks earlier because
he was going too fast in the school zone (not posted). Go really slow in
Catavina!
January 31, 2005
Loreto to San Javier and Agua Verde
Diane - Baja Traveler
Just returned from a couple of weeks in Baja. The road
from Highway One just south of Loreto to San Javier is in very good
condition. Another traveler, however, had his street tires on his truck at
80 lbs and had two flats.
Also the road south of Loreto out to Agua Verde is in good
condition.
On the main highway, be careful when approaching the deep
vado just north of Catavina as the road was quite damaged by all of the
rain. Also, the road in and out of Guerrero Negro has some deep pot holes.
We have never seen Baja so green with so many wildflowers.
It is beautiful.
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