About Peter and Hunter Manno Expertise Weve been traveling Baja by car, bus, private and commercial aircraft for the last fifteen years. Intimate knowledge of most hotels, if we havent stayed there we know how to find someone who has. We also know tons about camping.
Question I will be going to Cabo San Lucas on November 16 hopfully by bus and returning on November 20th to Tijuana/San Diego. I would like to know how to make reservations? costs for round trip? where bus stops in Cabo?
Answer This is from an article by Gene Kira:
For the Baja angler on a budget, the peninsula's efficient bus system is a realistic way of getting quickly, comfortably, and quite cheaply to most of the major fishing destinations.
In fact--while Baja busses might not be as fast as flying--they are actually much faster than driving yourself. On a high-flying Mex 1 bus, you can snooze and relax, and still get from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas in about 24 hours.
In today's Baja, getting up and down the Transpeninsular Highway by bus is safe, easy, and convenient, and amazingly enough, U.S. tourists can tap into the entire system right at the main Greyhound bus terminal in downtown San Diego.
Greyhound runs frequent daily busses from this facility at First & Broadway directly to Tijuana's main bus terminal, the Central de Autobuses de Tijuana, for only $5.
From here, you can head down Mex 1 on Baja's main overland bus line, Autotransportes de la Baja California (ABC). Other runs take you across the peninsula to Mexicali and south to San Felipe, or in fact, anywhere in Mexico.
There are four ABC busses per day going south on Mex 1 and four returning. The fares are quite reasonable, and you can pay at the terminal in dollars at a good exchange rate.
Here are some approximate one-way fares for destinations on Mex 1: Ensenada, $8; San Quintin, $19; Mulege, $64; Loreto, $72; and La Paz, $93.
From La Paz, frequent Aguila busses depart for various Baja Sur destinations at the following approximate one-way prices: San Carlos (Magdalena Bay), $14; Puerto Lopez Mateos (Magdalena Bay), $15; Los Barriles (East Cape), $6; San Jose del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas, $11.
As if these fares weren't already low enough, you can get a 10 percent discount for buying a round-trip ticket. However, these do not allow stopovers, so if you'd like to visit, say, Loreto, on your way to Cabo, you'll need to pay full price for a series of one-way tickets.
You are allowed 25 kilograms (about 55 pounds) of checked baggage, plus any amount of reasonable carryon luggage. Ice chests and rod tubes are allowed.
For the approximately 24 road hours needed to get from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas, here are some useful tips:
--If you don't speak at least basic Spanish, give yourself some extra time to make your reservation and buy your tickets, etc. The bus lines are not particularly oriented toward tourists, so you might need to ask for help.
--The busses are air conditioned, with a restroom in the rear, and the seating is very comfortable, something like an airliner, but with a tad more leg room.
--Take a baseball-style cap. The side windows of the bus go very high, and the sun can pour down on you if you leave the curtains open to enjoy the view.
--Take a good set of ear plugs. You will want to sleep during an overnight run, and several “in-flight” movies are played very loudly, one after the other. Be prepared for movies of such interesting subject matter as animated turtles and dancing lemurs, or norteño music featuring songs that rhyme “pollos” with “arroyos.”
--Try to sit between seats 20 and 30, about in the middle of the bus. Too far up front, and you can't see much because of curtains going entirely across the front of the passenger deck. Too far in back, and you're subject to engine noise and sometimes heady fumes emanating from the restroom toilet.
--In addition to your identification, fishing license, etc., make sure you have a valid tourist card. You will need to show it several times during your trip. No exceptions.
--Keep track of your baggage claim check. You will definitely need it.
--Pack your baggage so it can be easily inspected. On northbound runs, at least, you may be asked to open your bags several times at military checkpoints.
--Take some light snacks and drinking water.
--Except for holiday periods, busses typically run with plenty of spare seats, but if you want a window, it's best to make a reservation, which you can do when you buy your ticket at the station.
--After you return to Tijuana, Greyhound again comes to the rescue in getting you across the border. Frequent runs go from the Central de Autobuses directly to the following Southern California locations, with transfers to virtually anywhere: San Ysidro and Downtown San Diego, $5; Oceanside, $9; San Clemente, $17; Santa Ana, Anaheim, Norwalk, Long Beach, East Los Angeles, Los Angeles, $15.
For information: Greyhound, San Ysidro, 619-428-1194; ABC bus company office, Central de Autobuses, corner of Calzada Lázaro Cárdenas and Rió Alamar, Tijuana, 011-52-664-621-2424, Ext. 121; La Paz bus station, corner of Av. Jalisco and Av. Heroes de Indepedencia 011-52- 612-122-4270, Ext. 112/113.
More info:
BUS TERMINAL, AUTOTRANSPORTES A.B.C. Tel. 011-52 (664) 683-5681 *Calzada Lazaro Cardenas at Rio Alamar, La Mesa..BUS TERMINAL, AUTOTRANSPORTES DEL PACIFICO Tel. 011-52 (664) 621-2983 * Calzada Lazaro Cardenas at Rio Alamar, La Mesa.
From the Tijuana Central Terminal, ( You can get there by taxi or Greyhound Bus, see below) ABC (Autotransportes Baja California) buses depart for Ensenada every half hour from 6a.m. until midnight (tel. (664) 621-2982). One-way fare is about $8dlls.
Both ABC and Aragon offer service to other points in Baja California, Baja California Sur and the Mexican mainland.
Greyhound Bus Lines (U.S. toll free: 800-231-2222) connect with major Mexican Bus lines at Tijuana's Central Bus Terminal (Central Camionera) in La Mesa (Tijuana) on the road to the airport. Greyhound Lines will take you to Tijuana's Central Bus Terminal (Central Camionera) from anywere in the US via San Ysidro, also depart from Tijuana for various U.S. destinations, but be sure to check prices since fares are significantly higher when departing from Tijuana rather than San Diego (see www.greyhound.com) (You will find Tijuana, Mx, as a Destination under California but not as a departure, in the Greyhound time schedule. The Bus just turns around a few minutes later to go back to San Ysidro.).
The bus stops near The Los Cabos Airport. Where you can easily take a cab to your final destination.
As for what kind of currency to take; take a credit card, your debit card (which will giveyou Pesos, which will save you money) and start off with some Pesos in your pocket. Everyone will accept Dollars, but you won't get a very good exchange rate.
