Central America and Mexico - Summer 06

[cell4soul]

Photo labeled "I don't know what that is..."

It's a Coatimundi, relative of the Raccoon. They're common throughout tropical South America and Central America, and found as far north as southern Arizona and the Texas/Mexico border area. Coatis usually travel in large family groups.

Coatis become easily acclimatized to humans, and they often hang around points of interest to travellers, looking for handouts or garbage. They've got a nasty bite, and they can be aggressive. Coatis can carry rabies, and there is no readily available vaccine. So best to keep your distance, and don't try to feed them.

Chip Haven

Thanks for the info and I'll be keeping my distance in the future.

 

[woodwizard]

If I remeber right, the Ferry was about $200, but it's been a while so I forget. You catch the Ferry in La Paz. You can either take a 17 hour boat ride to Mazatlan or a 8 hour ride to Topolobompo. I took the 8 hour ride because my dog was with me and had to stay in the car. The 8 hour boat ride plus the drive south is about the same amount of time as the 17 hour boat ride. There isn't much to see between Topolobompo and Mazatlan, but the road is a multiliane highway. The Ferry arrives in Topolobompo about 11:30 pm, and there isn't many places to stay there and the town is pretty ghetto. From what I understand, you can park in the Ferry station and sleep in your car (secured), but we chose to drive about 4 hours south that night. The Ferry is really nice, and for an extra $50 you can get private sleeping quarters. If you travel without a dog, I would take the Ferry to Mazatlan and get the sleeping quarters.....I think the Ferry arrives in Mazatlan around 8:00 am, but don't quote me on that. If you took it to Mazatlan and had the sleeping quarters, you would wake up in Mazatlan refreshed and ready to continue your adventure. We were sticking to the coast of Mainland for the first leg of the trip, and I didn't wast time North of Sayulita ( a little surf town just north of Puerto Vallarta ), one of my favorite spots on the trip. From there, everything south is beautiful tropical beaches. Good luck and feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

Is the capacity of the ferry such as being able to drive up and get on or do you have to make reservations? Is there a web site that may direct a person to procedures and rates or is it total helter skelter?

 

[ShearPin]

La Paz to Mazatlan

I took the La Paz to Mazatlan ferry a few years back. I arrived in La Paz around 1:00 in the afternoon and though the office was chaos I left with deck and vehicle passage departing the following day.... Could have been lucky.

I found La Paz to be a fun town....

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/mexicoferryw.html

http://bajaferries.blogspot.com/


Henry
www.4x4freedom.com

 

[cell4soul]

Is the capacity of the ferry such as being able to drive up and get on or do you have to make reservations? Is there a web site that may direct a person to procedures and rates or is it total helter skelter?

Pretty much just drive up and go, but obviously don't show up 3 minutes before it leaves. I would suggest just showing up 1 hour before and you will make it. You can prepurchase tickets in downtown La Paz, but it isn't necessary.

 

[cell4soul]

I took the La Paz to Mazatlan ferry a few years back. I arrived in La Paz around 1:00 in the afternoon and though the office was chaos I left with deck and vehicle passage departing the following day.... Could have been lucky.

I found La Paz to be a fun town....

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/mexicoferryw.html

http://bajaferries.blogspot.com/


Henry
www.4x4freedom.com

Yeah, not sure if they have changed since then or not, but I beleive we were on Baja Ferries. Left in the afternoon and Topolobompo was an 11:00PM arrival and Mazatlan would have been about 7:00 am or so, but don't quote me cause it's been a while.

 

[Super Doody]

If I remeber right, the Ferry was about $200, but it's been a while so I forget. You catch the Ferry in La Paz. You can either take a 17 hour boat ride to Mazatlan or a 8 hour ride to Topolobompo. I took the 8 hour ride because my dog was with me and had to stay in the car. The 8 hour boat ride plus the drive south is about the same amount of time as the 17 hour boat ride. There isn't much to see between Topolobompo and Mazatlan, but the road is a multiliane highway. The Ferry arrives in Topolobompo about 11:30 pm, and there isn't many places to stay there and the town is pretty ghetto. From what I understand, you can park in the Ferry station and sleep in your car (secured), but we chose to drive about 4 hours south that night. The Ferry is really nice, and for an extra $50 you can get private sleeping quarters. If you travel without a dog, I would take the Ferry to Mazatlan and get the sleeping quarters.....I think the Ferry arrives in Mazatlan around 8:00 am, but don't quote me on that. If you took it to Mazatlan and had the sleeping quarters, you would wake up in Mazatlan refreshed and ready to continue your adventure. We were sticking to the coast of Mainland for the first leg of the trip, and I didn't wast time North of Sayulita ( a little surf town just north of Puerto Vallarta ), one of my favorite spots on the trip. From there, everything south is beautiful tropical beaches. Good luck and feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

Gerrit, I think I told you before, you gotta read In Search of Captain Zero. Your trip and plus the ferry ride with your dog reminds me of book. Good read.

I remember you telling me that you shipped your dog back to the states after Mexico as you continued south. What was the reason...if you don't mind me ask?

 

[cell4soul]

Gerrit, I think I told you before, you gotta read In Search of Captain Zero. Your trip and plus the ferry ride with your dog reminds me of book. Good read.

I remember you telling me that you shipped your dog back to the states after Mexico as you continued south. What was the reason...if you don't mind me ask?

I will have to write that down next time I'm in the mood for a good book. We flew him home for a couple of reasons. For one he was getting eaten up pretty good from mosquitos and sand fleas, his body was pretty covered in bumps. Also we were coming in to some areas that were getting difficult to have him. We wanted to spend a week in Cancun so we could get certified to dive before the rest of our trip, and Cancun we knew we wouldn't find any hotels that would take him. San Cristobal De Las Casas was kind of the same deal. We didn't think it wise to leave him unattended in campsights for long periods of time while we checked out Mayan Ruins and other such sights where he couldn't go. And, even though we had all of his papers and vet records, we were a little concerned with crossing some of the borders in Central America. I wish we would have had him the whole time, my girlfriend was in tears when we flew him home. I won't do another trip without him though.

 

[Roverholic]

What an awesome trip. So stoked for you guys and can’t wait to explore mainland and south. I’ve had so many good trips down in Baja I can only imagine how good it is beyond..you know, except for the giant man ass.
Cheer brother.

 

[cell4soul]

What an awesome trip. So stoked for you guys and can’t wait to explore mainland and south. I’ve had so many good trips down in Baja I can only imagine how good it is beyond..you know, except for the giant man ass.
Cheer brother.

Thanks man, definitely do the trip if you get the chance. Oh, I think it's time to get rid of the man ass....keep forgetting.

 

[viatierra]

Nice Dude...
I want this trip!

 

[Tress]

Kick A@##@ Main, great picks and such a cool journey, my girl and i are gearing up for a similar adventure, but we will be departing from DC area and hitting Alaska first then carrying on into south America and ending in the Tierra del Fuego region. Its always great to see pics though, it really gets my blood pressure going, just past the 2 month marker today, scerd for sure but posts like this make it exciting! In any event thanks for sharing and any tips pointers or lessons learnred are appreciated, enjoy the time!
:suning: