Today we drive from home to San Quintin, about 340 miles (160 to the border, another 180 south of the border). If we get a good early head start (on the freeway at about 5:30am) we should cross the border before 9am and get to San Quintin in the early afternoon. We need to get our tourist cards at Mexican Immigration at the border in Tijuana and buy lots of pesos there also. We will stay tonight at the La Pinta Hotel in San Quintin, on the beach. Should be able to do a little exploring of San Quintin in the afternoon.
Early morning start, we drive 350 miles to San Ignacio. This should take us all day, possibly as much as 8 hours. It would be nice to make it all the way, but if not we can stop and overnight in Catavina which is about half way, and has a La Pinta Hotel. The stretch between El Rosario and Villa Jesus Maria is about 200 miles and is the longest stretch on the paved road without fuel. We will fill up in El Rosario and will have no problem (the range on the Hummer is about 420 miles with no reserve). If all goes well, we overnight at the La Pinta Hotel in San Ignacio.
Sleep in, leave mid morning for Laguna San Ignacio. This is the first time off the main road, a good dirt road between San Ignacio and the camp at the Lagoon. It’s only 41 miles of dirt road, but it should take about 2 hours. We set up our little camp and make arrangements with Kuyima for pangas the next day. Overnight at the Laguna San Ignacio camp.
Playing with the whales in Laguna San Ignacio. Overnight in camp.
Playing with the whales in Laguna San Ignacio. Overnight in camp.
Leave Laguna San Ignacio and drive back to San Ignacio. Check into the La Pinta Hotel again; make arrangements for cave painting trip. Overnight at the La Pinta Hotel in San Ignacio.
Cave paintings. Overnight at the La Pinta Hotel in San Ignacio (I think).
Cave paintings. Overnight at the La Pinta Hotel in San Ignacio. Note that I have budgeted four full days for stuff in San Ignacio, we can balance that between whales and cave paintings as required. Might want three days with the whales.
Early morning departure, drive to Punta San Francisquito. The total drive is only 145 miles, however half is on paved road and half is good graded dirt. The 74 miles on dirt should take us 3.5 hours, or so says the Auto Club. The total trip from San Ignacio should be about 6 hours, so with an early start we should be there mid afternoon. Wander around PFQ for the afternoon and overnight in the cabanas. We will fuel at Vizcaino (about 45 miles north of San Ignacio and about 30 miles south of the turnoff to PFQ). Fueling at Vizcaino is crucial. That’s the last chance to fuel before the turnoff to PFQ. From that point, if we stick to the game plan, we will have to go 365 miles northbound without fueling (Vizcaino to PFQ to LA Bay to El Rosario). That is pushing the Hummer’s range of 420 miles. We will be carrying 13 gallons of extra diesel fuel, and we may have to use some of it on this leg. If there is no fuel at Vizcaino, we will have to change our plans (probably eliminate LA Bay, visit PFQ, and return via the same route (through El Arco). All depends on whether there’s fuel at Vizcaino.
Today we drive from San Francisquito to LA Bay. The total drive (on dirt) is 81 miles, and the Auto Club says it should take 3 hours and 45 minutes. We should shoot for getting to LA Bay in the early afternoon so we can do a little exploring in the town. Overnight at a hotel (Villa Vitta?) in LA Bay.
Mid morning departure, drive from LA Bay to San Quintin. This is all paved road and is 219 miles. That should take us about 5 hours. Arrive in San Quintin mid to late afternoon, overnight at the La Pinta Hotel again.
Drive from San Quintin to Meling Ranch. Total trip is 70 miles, 31 on dirt. Auto Club says the dirt leg will take 1 hour 45 minutes, so the total trip should be about 3 hours or less. Overnight at Meling Ranch.
Full day at Meling Ranch. Overnight at Meling Ranch.
Drive from Meling Ranch to Ensenada (116 miles, 31 on dirt, 85 paved, approximately 4 hours). Overnight at palatial hotel in Ensenada (Las Rosas?)
Drive home from Ensenada. 225 miles, about 5 hours if the border is not too bad.