Lessons from the road: What I wish I’d known before driving the Baja peninsula

I’ve taken a batch of roadworthy trips successful Mexico. But the 1 that continues to replay successful my caput is the month-long travel I spent driving the full Baja peninsula, from Cabo up to Ensenada and backmost again. Let maine archer you— it was 1 of the astir unthinkable roadworthy trips of my life. The rugged landscapes, untouched beaches and roadside taco stands made it an escapade I’ll ne'er forget. But I’ll beryllium honest: I went successful wholly blind. I had nary thought what to expect oregon what to program for.

If you’re readying to thrust the Baja peninsula, present are a fewer things I privation I had known earlier mounting out.

You don’t request a 4×4, but you’ll privation one

A due off-roader makes things truthful overmuch easier. (Peek)

You tin perfectly thrust Baja without a 4×4. The main highways are paved and successful decent condition, and you’ll inactive spot immoderate jaw-dropping scenery. But if you privation to get disconnected the beaten way — and spot me, portion of the magic of Baja is successful the remote, chaotic places — you’re going to request a 4×4. Some of the champion spots, similar hidden beaches oregon distant villages, necessitate tackling washboard ungraded roads, sandy paths, oregon rocky trails. If your imagination is to onshore connected a secluded formation with nary 1 other successful sight, you’ll privation a conveyance that tin grip the journey.

Sometimes the thrust is simply a full batch of nothing

I anticipation you similar looking astatine this, due to the fact that it’s what lies successful hold a batch of the time. (Wikimedia)

Baja’s scenery is raw, rugged and strikingly beautiful. But determination are stretches of road that consciousness endless. Specifically, the drives betwixt San Ignacio and Guerrero Negro, and past Guerrero Negro up to Ensenada, are long, desolate and person small to nary compartment reception. The scenery is stunning — immense desert, cacti forests and wide-open entity — but aft respective hours of it, you’ll beryllium grateful for a coagulated playlist. Download your music, due to the fact that vigor stations are nonexistent successful these distant areas. Download the map, excessively — conscionable successful lawsuit you did rent that 4×4 and privation to task down a ungraded road.

Always capable up with state erstwhile you can

Never walk a state presumption unless your vessel is full. (Shutterstock)

I ne'er really ran retired of gas, but I had a fewer panic-inducing moments wherever I wondered if I would marque it to the adjacent station. Gas stations are fewer and acold betwixt successful Baja, truthful whenever you spot one, conscionable capable up. Even if you’re astatine fractional a tank. Better harmless than sorry.

Real-time roadworthy conditions are hard to get

Facebook is your person erstwhile it comes to uncovering retired astir unexpected surprises connected the highway.(Cuartoscuro)

One of the biggest challenges I encountered was getting real-time accusation astir roadworthy conditions. Baja is prone to hurricanes, flash floods and unexpected roadworthy closures, and uncovering up-to-date info isn’t easy. About halfway done my trip, I discovered the Baja Overlanding Facebook group, and it was a game-changer. The assemblage shares posts astir roadworthy conditions, state availability and immoderate hiccups on the way.

A cleanable example: Hurricane Kay had sliced done the peninsula during my trip, destroying parts of the main highway. I ended up stuck successful Ensenada for 5 days, waiting for updates connected erstwhile the roads would beryllium passable again. If I had known astir the Facebook radical earlier, I could person planned amended and avoided immoderate of that stress.

Take your time

The presumption is incredible, truthful instrumentality your clip to bask it! (La Paz)

If you’re reasoning of doing Baja successful a week, you’ll beryllium missing retired connected truthful much. This is simply a roadworthy travel wherever the travel is conscionable arsenic important arsenic the destination. Rushing done means skipping hidden beaches, section restaurants and spontaneous detours. I spent a period exploring Baja, and adjacent that didn’t consciousness similar capable time. If you can, program for astatine slightest a mates of weeks.

Be prepared for subject checkpoints

National Guard checkpoints connected highways adjacent the borderline are 1 instrumentality the national authorities uses to cheque incoming vehicles. (National Guard/X)

Throughout Baja, you’ll brushwood subject checkpoints, particularly arsenic you determination betwixt states. These are wholly regular and thing to interest about. Sometimes, they’ll question you through. Other times, they mightiness inquire you to measurement retired portion they cheque your vehicle. Just enactment calm, beryllium polite and person your paperwork — license, car rental statement and passport — readily available. It tin consciousness a small unnerving the archetypal time, but aft a few, you’ll get utilized to it.

Bonus tip: Rent a car successful San José del Cabo

Rent your car successful San Jose del Cabo, it’s a precise straightforward process. (Jason Leung/Unsplash)

I rented my car successful San Jose del Cabo from Cactus Car, and I’d highly urge them. They see each the indispensable security you request to thrust successful Mexico successful the price, which means nary hidden fees oregon surprises erstwhile you prime up your car. Rental car security successful Mexico tin beryllium tricky, truthful it was bully to person everything covered upfront.

Driving the Baja peninsula was 1 of the astir freeing and rewarding adventures I’ve ever taken. Sure, I went successful unsighted and learned a fewer lessons the hard way, but that was portion of the fun. If you’re reasoning astir making the trip, I can’t urge it enough— conscionable spell successful prepared. Fill up your tank, download your playlists, articulation a Baja roadworthy conditions group, and astir importantly, instrumentality your time. The magic of Baja is successful the journey, and spot me, it’s 1 you won’t forget.