Driving Baja: A Guide for First Timers

By Rachel McMillen

Specifically designed for Snowbirds and travelers who want to drive down the Baja Peninsula, this book is an invaluable resource both in planning your trip and in safely navigating once you get there. From arranging finances to stocking the RV, from obtaining maps and permits to taking the family dog, it's all covered here. And once you arrive, it takes you across the border and gives you roads, road signs, distances and campgrounds. It even has a simple dictionary to help you buy food and supplies along the way as well as an overview of the history and culture of the area. With easy-to-read print and useful charts this should be in every RV, vehicle and backpack!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jan 26, 2010
• ISBN: 9781426902116

Rachel McMillen

Rachel McMillen is a free-lance writer who has been "Driving Baja" for over 12 years. She is a nomad, a sailor and an adventurer who was born in England, raised in Australia and now divides her time between Canada and Mexico – when she is not traveling someplace else!

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Copyright 2009 Rachel McMillen

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Note for Librarians: A cataloguing record for this book is available from Library and Archives Canada at www.collectionscanada.ca/amicus/index-e.html

ISBN: 978-1-4269-0209-3 (soft cover)

ISBN: 978-1-4269-0211-6 (eBook)

Library of Congress Control Number:

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Contents

Introduction

Background

Before You Go

Roads

Road Signs

Crossing The Border

Food

Distances, Itineraries & Campsites

Appendix 1—Mexican Auto Insurance

Appendix 2—Common Mexican Laws

Appendix 3—Guide Books And Other Reading Material

This book is dedicated to Bud, who explored the magic land of Baja California with me so many times, and to the laugher, love and many adventures we shared there.

Special thanks to the warm and wonderful folks that call Baja California home, both Mexican and Gringo!

Thanks also to Terry, who drove these same roads and shared his knowledge and experiences.

A special thank-you to Lynne and Brian for their input and for putting the information found here to the test to verify its accuracy and usefulness and to Bev for her thoughtful insights.

Buen Viaje!

INTRODUCTION

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October.

The days are growing short. The leaves on the trees start to turn gold. The mornings are suddenly cool and crisp and formations of migrating birds fly overhead, heading south to warmer lands. As the days grow darker and colder the first snow starts to fall and we too start to think of moving south.

It is a pattern to that is so common and so familiar that we have given it a name: the Snowbird syndrome. While we are working, we are limited to a couple of weeks a year but once we retire many of us get the urge to take off to that sunny southern land of sandy beaches and blue seas for a longer period of time. Perhaps we could drive down. Maybe we could even take the RV. That way we could camp and relax, sip cold cervesas or icy margaritas on the beach till winter is over. Spend lazy days exploring or biking or swimming. Try surf fishing. Go boating. Rent a kayak. Ride an ATV up a sandy arroyo to a lush waterfall. Go scuba diving. Ride a horse along the beach. Go parasailing. Learn Spanish.

It sounds wonderful but could we really do it? Is it safe to drive there? Are the roads OK? What if the car breaks down? How do we buy food? Can we take the dog? What if we get sick? Can we drink the water?

Questions, questions, questions—and this book is designed to give you the answers you need to make your dream a reality. Mexico is marvelous and the state of Baja is within easy reach of anyone with an RV—or even simply a car. Join the thousands of Canadians and Americans who drive down every year and spend a few weeks or a few months enjoying the beaches, the surfing, the fishing, the whale-watching and the exploring to be had down Mexico way. You may even find yourself thinking about making Mexico a semi-permanent (or even a permanent) home. Is this possible? Of course it is. Is it feasible? Again, the answer is Yes. Is it easy? Well, the answer to that is also Yes but first you need to do your homework

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BACKGROUND

"What’s it. really like down there?’

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