Anyone taken the bus to Mexico? (Sorry, coach. To Baja.)

[matzeinusa]

Happy New Year!
Doing some summer travel planning...
We were thinking of going from Cali to Baja (to Ensenada or further down to Cabo San Lucas).
Can you help with some guidance on
- how/where to get Mexican Car (ha!) Bus/Coach insurance?
- any motorhome/bus related certificates or permissions required to enter or operate the coach in Mexico?
- any equipment that one should leave home or bring?
- any interesting or easy to get to RV parks on the Mexican Pacific coast (preferably with power hook up)?

- any repair places in case something goes South (literally)?

I have been around the world a bit. So I am not afraid to go there. Just asking for some people's experience who have been down there/done that.
Thanks!
Matt

[muldoonman]

Cartels have taken over down that way. Has gotten very dangerous. If you go, watch out for your head. A lot of folks loose them down that way. If info needed, Google "Borderland Beat" Stay safe.

[luvrbus]

Lot of folks here in AZ are always taking their bus to Rocky Point and Cabo San Lucas I did for years and just purchased my insurance at the border,leave your guns home and no bullets or empty spent shells and you are fine
 

[bobofthenorth]

We've never been down the Baja but we took our bus down the Pacific coast as far as Manzanillo and up to Guadalajara several times.  I always bought insurance ahead of time - Lewis & Lewis or Vagabundos as I recall.  I bought at the border from Sanborns the first trip but I paid dearly for the convenience.  Make sure you understand what insurance you are really buying - as far as I'm concerned all insurance is a huge scam.  For us Canucks our home insurance specifically excludes travel in Mexico but I was told that some US policies would provide coverage in Mexico.  You'd still need some level of actual Mexican insurance but if your existing carrier provides property or liability coverage there's no point buying that twice.  The bastards sure as hell won't pay out twice.

I always figured the big advantage of taking a 2 stroke Detroit into Mexico was that, if something went wrong, the local bus mechanics would be intimately familiar with the engine.  They're in every second bus you see down there.

[luvrbus]

We've never been down the Baja but we took our bus down the Pacific coast as far as Manzanillo and up to Guadalajara several times.  I always bought insurance ahead of time - Lewis & Lewis or Vagabundos as I recall.  I bought at the border from Sanborns the first trip but I paid dearly for the convenience.  Make sure you understand what insurance you are really buying - as far as I'm concerned all insurance is a huge scam.  For us Canucks our home insurance specifically excludes travel in Mexico but I was told that some US policies would provide coverage in Mexico.  You'd still need some level of actual Mexican insurance but if your existing carrier provides property or liability coverage there's no point buying that twice.  The bastards sure as hell won't pay out twice.

I always figured the big advantage of taking a 2 stroke Detroit into Mexico was that, if something went wrong, the local bus mechanics would be intimately familiar with the engine.  They're in every second bus you see down there.

You need to make another trip to Mexico Bob I still think about the shrimp you brought back and cooked

[Geoff]

I've been to Mexico many times.  You never know what is going to happen. 

[Iceni John]

I always figured the big advantage of taking a 2 stroke Detroit into Mexico was that, if something went wrong, the local bus mechanics would be intimately familiar with the engine.  They're in every second bus you see down there.

These days all the long-distance buses are Scania, Volvo, MAN and Mercedes, and any remaining Detroits are in the few Dina and Oisa buses still in second-class service, usually in more rural areas.   I saw (and heard) several 2-strokes in service from Mexico City's south bus terminal a few years ago, but every time I go to MX I see fewer 2-stroke buses in service.   The older first-class buses, all 4-strokes, are being demoted to second-class service, and the 2-strokes are being slowly scrapped away.   Some older Dina trucks have Detroits, but again they're becoming less common.   So saying, there's plenty of 2-strokes still in boats, so a trip down the coast may not be too far from a Detroit mechanic and parts.

John    

[luvrbus]

You will enjoy the drive to Cabo San Lucas just plan your stops to avoid driving after dark and have some 20 dollar bills handy 

[windtrader]

I'm planning a trip to La Ventana fairly soon. Bob of the North mentioned Vagabundos. https://www.vagabundos.com/ This organization has been serving travellers to Mexico for decades. They can get all your paperwork done before you, minimizing the transit at the border. They also have a forum, posted to daily by travellers about road conditions and other news for travelers.  There are likely many Facebook groups but this one is active and keeps you informed about La Ventana https://www.facebook.com/groups/62086204895/.

There are some basic common sense guidelines to follow and you should be fine. Travel only during the day, mainly just so you can see the road conditions and animal and human traffic. Travel with a few others, again just easier to resolve unexpected mechanical issue with others to help. Stay up on the internet boards for changing conditions. Tag along with other seasoned travellers. Many ppl make the trip to Baja without incident. Make sure your paperwork and insurances are current. have fun

[bobofthenorth]

These days all the long-distance buses are Scania, Volvo, MAN and Mercedes, and any remaining Detroits are in the few Dina and Oisa buses still in second-class service, usually in more rural areas.   I saw (and heard) several 2-strokes in service from Mexico City's south bus terminal a few years ago, but every time I go to MX I see fewer 2-stroke buses in service.   The older first-class buses, all 4-strokes, are being demoted to second-class service, and the 2-strokes are being slowly scrapped away.   Some older Dina trucks have Detroits, but again they're becoming less common.   So saying, there's plenty of 2-strokes still in boats, so a trip down the coast may not be too far from a Detroit mechanic and parts.

John    

You're right John, the new stuff is more common than it used to be but I flew down to Mazatlan about a year ago now and drove back up to Alamos. You don't even have to get off 15 to see lots of old Dinas - trucks and buses - still on the road.  Even around Mazatlan there was plenty of the old stuff left.  As soon as you get off 15 most of the buses are still "vintage".  I don't know what the breakdown would be by numbers but I'd bet money its more than 50% 2 strokes. So I think the odds of finding a mechanic are still pretty good. 

[windtrader]

Just wondering, with the cost of rebuilds and service so expensive here, it would be interesting to learn how much one could save servicing the bus in Mexico? If you're heading south anyway, it might make the trip much more enjoyable if you save a bunch getting it serviced there.

[Iceni John]

You're right John, the new stuff is more common than it used to be but I flew down to Mazatlan about a year ago now and drove back up to Alamos. You don't even have to get off 15 to see lots of old Dinas - trucks and buses - still on the road.  Even around Mazatlan there was plenty of the old stuff left.  As soon as you get off 15 most of the buses are still "vintage".  I don't know what the breakdown would be by numbers but I'd bet money its more than 50% 2 strokes. So I think the odds of finding a mechanic are still pretty good. 

Wow!   I guess that Sinaloa and Nayarit get less of the new stuff than other states.   I spend most of my time in Aguascalientes, the DF and Cordoba, and the 2-strokes are fast becoming uncommon there.   I did however see a GM 4104 still in service in Aguascalientes just before the annual Feria de San Marcos there, and it looked quite tiny next to the fancy Primera Plus and ETN luxury buses;  in rural Veracruz state I even saw a Sultana (but not one of the four-axle ones) in service, and it had a fine sounding 8V71.   I also saw an Eagle in revenue service in Tijuana's Central Camionera one night, so yes there are still Detroits singing their happy song south of the border.

And back to the OP's original question, one reason I'm converting a school bus, albeit a Crown that is very atypical of most other school buses, is so I could take it to MX without worrying about over-complicated systems failing far from help, or having an obviously-expensive gringo RV that would attract too much attention.   Now that I've got the bus into a decent mechanical state I would have no hesitation driving it in MX.

John

[matzeinusa]

Thanks to all you comments!
Matt