Proposed trip to Baja California jan / feb 2019

[roger nicholls]

My wife and I will be in Mexico for January and Feb of next year visiting our daughter and her family . In January of this year we rode part of the pacific coast hiway from San Francisco to Los Angles We would like next to explore a little of Baja . we dont have anything in mind but we are considering the south for a few days and then taking the ferry back to the mainland from La Paz. our daughter lives in Guadalajara . We will be two up on a bike so no off roading ! what Im looking for is advice , contacts , bike hire etc. we used moto quest for bike hire when we were in the USA and they were brilliant . I have contacted them again but as yet not had a reply. Thanks for any help. Roger

[Sjoerd Bakker]

It appears from google searching that the bike hire you used and the others also may advertise tours into Baja , but that on the condition that you rent the bike IN the USA and do a ride south and back .
They will NOT ( i think ) rent a bike to somebody who is in Mexico or for only a ride around the Los Cabos and La Paz area.
I have looked for bike rentals around Cabo San Lucas while there , just out of curiosity , and disappointingly have to report that what you seek is not likely to be found

There are businesses which rent dirt playbikes and quads for a day or short spans and there are those which rent out scooters and small bikes able to ride the road , but I dont think there is much offered (if any) in the way of big enough bike for two up road touring .
https://www.bajaride.com/ is a rental in south Baja but ,typically, they they are dirt oriented organized group tours .
If you would be able to use a 200cc bike two up it could work out .
I hope you can find what you need . Perhaps you might rent a road bike in
Guadalajara and ride that to Mazatlan ( two day ride )and take it over on the ferry . ( a 16 hour overnight trip )

[roger nicholls]

Thanks for the help . i have been in touch with Adam at Moto Quest . he has been very helpful but as you say they dont rent bikes out in Mexico only from the states. He has given me advice on places to see etc. What I am considering doing is buying a bike in Mexico . Our daughter and her family live and work in guadalajara and I have contacts with a bike shop there. We go to Mexico most winters and have been thinking of buying and leaving a bike there. Might be more of a long term solution. I was thinking of the journey you suggested . I checked the ferry out and the distance to Guadalajara from the ferry and thats not a problem . i run a biker holiday business in Brittany france taking bikers out on tours around the coast and region. ok hope i get some more info along the way. thanks again.

[fjmartin]

Roger,

I did a road only trip of Baja last year with a guy who's been down there a LOT.

We went in through Tijuana and stayed in Encenada on day 1 since we started in L.A. We hugged the coast all the way down.

On day 2 we went to Guerrero Negro. Depending on when you are there, check with the local whale watching company (Laguna Whale Watching Tours) if the whales are in the bay. They are generally there in Feb/Mar. It's amazing as the whales comes right to the boat and hang out and you can pet mom and baby for a long time. Also in Guerrero Negro is Tony's Tacos which is a taco truck that is fabulous. Also Guerrero Nergro has one of the worlds largest salt fields and manufacturing. Lastly it has a large swamp with a hugely diverse number of water fowl. To get there just follow Mex-1 south. You can get fuel in Catavina out of the back of a pickup truck

On day 3 we watched and played with the whales

On day 4 we went cross from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Cortez on Mex-1. Along the way we did a fairly easy dirt ride to see some ancient cave paintings. About 25 miles of wide dirt to the Cueva Del Ratón (Cave Paintings). As you approach the Sea of Cortez on Mex-1 you will hit the Cuesta det Infierno (Road to Hell). It's a super windy descent to the ocean. It's awesome! We continued on Mex-1 following the coast to Mulege.

On day 5 we continued south to Loreto but along the way is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The beaches of the Bahía Concepción, specifically the Playa Santispac. Loreto is a big tourist city but it's also really cool.

I didn't provide any details of other things to see along the way like missions and good food and places to stay. If you want any of that stuff, let me know. I can also give you my GPX file with tracks and waypoints.

On this trip we turned around at Loreto so I can't help with the next step down to La Paz but its just another 221 miles south on Mex-1.

Additional things to know are:
Mexico requires Mexican vehicle insurance. Sounds like you are renting and that will probably be handled by Motoquest, but just in case. I use BajaBound for mine.
You also need a tourist "visa", called an FMM. If in Mexico for 7 days or less it's free, if more then it's about $24 USD. It's good for up to 180 days if you mark it as such. You can get it online at https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html. But once you get across the border you need to stop in at the immigration office to pay if needed and get it stamped which is required whether you go with the free or payed one.
I'd also suggest travel insurance to cover you for many possible situations. I use World Normads since they cover you while doing adventurous stuff like riding a big motorcycle.

Hope this helps and please let me know if you need anything!

Joe