We have a house about 25 miles south of San Felipe that we've been going to for almost 15 years now & we've never had any problems. You just have to remember that you are in a foreign country & use a little common sense. When we first started going down, the paved road ended a couple miles north of our place. Now, it's paved almost all the way to HWY 1. I think they have about 15 more miles to go & it's expected to be done this summer. Once you get past Puerticitos (about 50 miles south of San Felipe) the road is in excellent condition the rest of the way. We haven't seen him the last couple trips, but there is a Federal Policeman (dark blue police car) who sits just north of the military check point & uses radar to write speeding tickets. Seems like we see him more on holiday weekends. Also, at around KM 35, the local police sometimes monitor the traffic speed out in front of the poblado, especially when the kids are out & about after school. There is a small grocery store and a couple restaurants in the poblado right off the hwy. if you get hungry.
Larry, there really isn't much to see until you get to Puerticitos unless you want to take the tour of the giant cactus at Valle De Gigante. There is a $10 charge to get in and you can drive the loop through the valley if you have a 4X4. If you've never seen them, they are quite impressive. We were there in January & rode our MTN bikes around the loop, which was a blast. However, we noticed that some of the biggest cactus (maybe 40' tall) were no longer there.
Just before you get to Puerticitos, at about KM 72, on the right side of the road if you are going south is a place called "Cowpatty". They only serve hot dogs & beer, and occasionally they have chili. If they are open, which is hit & miss, it's a fun little stop. The last time we were there a local woman rode into the bar on a horse to get a beer.........
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Unfortunately, there isn't much to see anymore in Puerticitos. Over the years there have been some problems between property owners and I believe it has hurt the town overall. The restaurant is no longer open, the gas station is gone, and you have to pay to get into the hot springs. I would bypass it altogether (stay to the left where the road splits). A few kilometers past Puerticitos you will see a couple of small restaurants on the left. If they are open, the food is excellent & the view of the Sea of Cortez is pretty nice.
As you drive south, you will see lots of places to explore/camp on the beach. It can be a little tricky to find the entrance from the highway, but they are there. It gets real pretty when you get to the islands right off the beach. About 40 minutes south of Puerticitos you will come to Gonzaga Bay. It's definitely worth driving out to the bay and looking around, as you might spot the whale sharks who winter in the bay. On the north side of the bay is Papa Fernandez & on the south side is Alfonsina's. Alfonsina's serves decent food and Ok margaritas and it's right on the bay with outdoor seating. There is another military checkpoint just before you get to Gonzaga. There is a nice big market and a couple of restaurants on the right side of the highway. On the left is a gas station & the entrance to Alfonsina's. If it's open, I would recommend gassing up as it can get a bit spotty from there.
Not too far past Gonzaga Bay the road turns inland and you loose the ocean views. About 20 or so miles from Gonzaga Bay you will come to the famous "Coco's Corner", a popular hang out with the offroad & dirt bike crowd.
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That's about as far as I can take you..............
We are going down to our place this Thursday for 5 days. I'll try to report back if there is anything significant to let you know about. You can also check the Discover Baja web-site for up-to-date info. & road conditions.
