Watch out for giant speed bumps in Baja – TOPES!

Everyone has it happen to them – you are cruising along Highway 1 at 80 kilometers per hour enjoying the view of the desert without a worry in the world, then suddenly your vehicle jolts so hard it feels like you ran over a boulder causing you to bite your tongue as you scream an obscenity.  #&$^#& Topes! 

You got hit by another stealth Baja tope – the giant Baja speed bump!  Instead of installing traffic lights or stop signs before each town along Highway 1, Baja has installed giant speed bumps to alert drivers to slow down prior to entering the town.  Usually the topes are marked with a road sign showing a car going over a bump, and the actual tope is often painted bright yellow.  Unfortunately, there are a few stealth topes out there that no longer have a sign (or never did), and the paint on the bump is so worn down that you can hardly see a fleck of yellow paint on it.

We have actually had a few insurance claims from customers who hit these topes at excessive speeds, so topes need to be taken seriously.

So every time you start to see any signs of civilization along Highway 1, go on tope radar.  There most likely will be a tope (actually two topes – one on each end of town) lurking up ahead.  Be warned.

4 comments - Posted by Jeff Nordahl at 3:39 PM - Categories: Baja Road Trips | Mexico Road Trips - Mainland Mexico

Mexican Fishing Licenses Are NOT Needed if Only Fishing From Shore

If you enjoy fishing, but you do not plan to go on a boat while in Mexico – you do NOT need to trouble yourself with getting a Mexican fishing license.  Mexican fishing licenses are only required for people who are on a boat or other floatation device.

If you will only be fishing from the beach, rocks, piers, or shoreline – then you can save yourself some time and money because you do NOT need to get a Mexican fishing license.

If there is a chance you could get on a boat and do some fishing, then you should go ahead and get your Mexican fishing license before entering Mexico.

Call CONAPESCA for details: San Diego office 8am - 2pm Pacific time Monday - Friday (619) 233-4324

0 comments - Posted by Jeff Nordahl at 11:40 AM - Categories: Baja Road Trips | Mexico Road Trips - Mainland Mexico | Mexico Travel

XM Satellite Radio Works in All of Baja

Good news – if you have XM satellite radio, almost all of the channels work throughout all of Baja.

I just got back from a road trip from Tijuana to Cabo and back, and I never lost signal.  I like the Grateful Dead Channel – you can listen to entire live concerts, so it helps make the long drives float by.  The music blends well with the Baja landscape too!

But there are also more than 100 channels to choose from.

It was nice getting solid reception – fresh music – not your old cds – and no mariachi music!  I enjoy mariachi music, but after an hour of driving, I need a break (they also have Spanish satellite radio stations so you can listen to mariachi 24/7 if that is your thing!)

0 comments - Posted by Jeff Nordahl at 11:46 AM - Categories: Baja Road Trips | Mexico Road Trips - Mainland Mexico

Road Trip Tip of the Day - Baby Wipes – Water Free Clean Up

Baby wipes are one of the most useful products I take with me when camping in Baja.

Washing your hands can use up nearly a pint or more of your camping water supply, but a nice fresh baby wipe can get your hands just as clean using no water at all!

If you hate using campsite sinks or the dreaded Baja gas station bathroom sink – don’t stress – use a baby wipe instead.

There are hundreds of things that can quickly and easily be cleaned with a baby wipe (no need to describe everything).  So make sure to bring a pack with you on your next trip to Baja – they will soon become your friend.

NOTE:  Get the fragrance free baby wipes, because some of the perfumed ones smell worse than Mexican gas station bathroom hand soap.

I prefer the Earth’s Best brand of baby wipes that can be found at Whole Foods or other natural grocery stores.  They have no smell, and they do not irritate your skin even when used a lot.

0 comments - Posted by Jeff Nordahl at 1:24 PM - Categories: Baja Road Trips | Mexico Road Trips - Mainland Mexico

Mexico Road Trip - Tip of the Day - Tune Up Your Vehicle

Get a vehicle tune up a few days before you leave for Mexico.

There is always a chance the mechanic performing the tune up could forget to adjust something correctly.  But if you get the tune up done a few days before your Mexico road trip, you will be able to drive your vehicle around for a few days at home to make sure everything is running properly.

Also make sure your spare tire is in good condition and has the correct air pressure.  Check to make sure your jack is functioning as well.

0 comments - Posted by Jeff Nordahl at 2:37 PM - Categories: Baja Road Trips | Mexico Road Trips - Mainland Mexico

Mexico Road Trip Tip of the Day – Buying Gas

Your first gas station experience could be a bit confusing if it is your first time driving in Mexico.  Here are some pointers for having a successful gas station fueling experience.

1: All gas stations in Mexico have the brand name Pemex.  This is the government owned petroleum company.  When you need gas, look for these signs.

2: In Baja and many areas of Mexico, the stations are all full service.  So you are not allowed to pump your gas.  A gas attendant will approach you as you pull into the gas pump.  Do not attempt to tell him you want to pump your own gas, they will not let you.  All gas prices are the same, so you are not being charged a fee for the attendant’s help.

3: Always try to keep your gas tank level above ¾ of a tank.  There are many stretches in Baja and Mexico where gas is not available for well over 100 miles.

4: There are 3 types of gas at most Pemex stations.  Magana (regular unleaded), Premium (higher octane unleaded), and Diesel Sin (Diesel).  Not all stations carry diesel, and many remote gas stations may not carry Premium either.

5: Gas is measured in liters in Mexico, so be familiar with your 1 gallon = 3.785 liters conversion formula

6: Make sure the gas attendant sets the pump back to $0 before filling up.  Most pumps in Baja are now digital and reset to $0 automatically, but in the past you had to keep an eye on the pump because some shady attendants could try to start the pump at a few pesos worth of gas before they even started filling your tank!

7: “Lleno por favor” – means fill it up please.  Lleno is Spanish word for full.

8: If you have a diesel truck – make sure the attendant is filling your truck with diesel.  The diesel pump is colored BLACK in Mexico.  Do not expect the attendant to know you have a diesel truck.  We have actually heard of customers who did not watch the attendant, and then had their diesel truck filled with regular unleaded gas!

9: If you want the attendant to wash your windows, (they often will do this without asking), say “Lava el parabrisas por favor”  Lava is wash or clean, and parabrisas is the word for windshield.

10: Expect to pay in pesos.  Gas stations in Baja may accept dollars, but the conversions could be confusing.  Make sure to bring pesos for buying gas.  Some gas station in Baja, and many in mainland Mexico accept credit cards as well.  In Baja this may take a few minutes for the attendant to run the card, but in mainland Mexico you may find pumps that allow you to run your card directly at the pump.

11: Make sure to tip the attendant if they do any services beyond simply pumping your gas.  I also tip the attendant even if my windshield didn’t need to be washed.  I just enjoy the positive vibes generated by tipping – especially while visiting a foreign country.  $10 - $20 pesos, around 1 -2 US dollars will make most attendants happy.

3 comments - Posted by Jeff Nordahl at 9:28 AM - Categories: Baja Road Trips | Mexico Road Trips - Mainland Mexico

Camping tip of the day - Dust Brush & Pan will keep your vehicle dirt and sand free

Bring a dust brush and dust pan.

In Baja, everything is dusty or sandy, so every time you get in your car, your shoes bring clumps of dust and sand in with them.  If you go for a walk on the beach, you can carry globs of wet sand into your car.

If you set a cooler or a chair outside on the ground, it will also have dirt and sand stuck to it.

After a few days, you could suddenly find the interior of your vehicle and all of your possessions covered in sand and dirt (really not cool if it gets into your bedding).

Solution:  A simple dust brush will work miracles.  Once you get in the habit of brushing off your shoes, feet, and cargo before putting them in your vehicle – you can say adios to the dirt and sand that seemed to breed inside your vehicle.

Most dust brushes come with a handy dust pan – the whole combo pack is about $4-$5 at a hardware store.

A simple fix to an annoying problem.

0 comments - Posted by Jeff Nordahl at 3:34 PM - Categories: Baja Road Trips | Mexico Road Trips - Mainland Mexico | Mexico Travel