Another detailed Baja Ferries report

Baja Ferries
February 10th, 2013

Posted by Brianna in Mexico
 

To get from Baja Sur to mainland Mexico without driving nearly all the way to the states and then through the northern part of the country, one must take a ferry. Though we read that other freight companies will accept passengers, the main option, and the one that we chose, is operated by Baja Ferries. Our experience was pleasant and got the job done.

Routes and Schedules

Two separate routes are available through Baja Ferries, both traveling between Baja California Sur and the state of Sinaloa. One travels between La Paz and Topolobampo and the other between La Paz and Mazatlán. Topolobampo is about 425km further north than Mazatlán by land, making it a shorter voyage by ferry, with the La Paz-Topolobampo trip taking 6-7 hours (some daytime and some overnight) and the La Paz-Mazatlán trip 17-18 hours (only overnight). Ferries leave from each location every couple of days, and schedules are available on the website. We left La Paz on Sunday at 5:00PM and arrived in Mazatlán just before 11:00AM on Monday.

Vangabonds Blog - Full article

Schedules and prices as of December 2011

As usual the ever changing Baja Ferries web site is tricky to figure out so here are the prices and schedules as of December 23rd, 2011. I only covered cars and pickups/vans so if you have a large camper or mobile home you are on your own.   The only thing I see that might need translating are the days of the week and Camarote means cabin.   Prices of course are in pesos.

Schedule for La Paz - Topolobampo

Topolobampo	La Paz	23:00 hrs	06:00 hrs	De Domingo a Viernes
La Paz	Topolobampo	14:30 hrs	21:00 hrs	De Lunes a Viernes
La Paz	Topolobampo	23:00 hrs	06:00 hrs	Sábados

Schedule for La Paz - Mazatlan

Mazatlán	La paz	16:00 hrs	08:00 hrs	Lunes, Miércoles y Viernes
La Paz	Mazatlán	18:00 hrs	10:00 hrs	Martes y Jueves
La Paz	Mazatlán	17:00 hrs	09:00 hrs	Domingo

Fare for La Paz - Topolobampo

Adulto (passenger only)	$790.00
Niños de 3 a 11 Años	$395.00
Clase Cabina	Clase cabina, camarote para 1 y/o 4 pasajeros con baño integrado.(Costo adicional al derecho de embarque)	$770.00
Car	Automóviles y pickup (hasta 5.40 mts.)	$1,050.00
Pickup or Van	Pickup, Van y Suburban (con metro extra uso familiar)	$1,810.00

Fare for La Paz - Mazatlan

Adulto (passenger only)	$890.00
Niños de 3 a 11 Años	$445.00
Clase Cabina	Camarote para 1 y/o 2 pasajeros con baño integrado.(Costo adicional al derecho de embarque)	$770.00
Clase Turista	Camarote para 1 y/o 3 pasajeros, con lavabo integrado. (Costo adicional al derecho de embarque)	$500.00
Car	Automóviles y pickup (hasta 5.40 mts.)	$2,000.00
Pickup or Van	Pickup, Van y Suburban (con metro extra uso familiar)	$2,860.00

Fares and schedules - November 2009

Passenger fares, Vehicle fares and schedules as of November 2009
(of course prices are in pesos)

Schedules
Topolobampo Schedules
La paz 15:00 Topolobampo 21:00 6 hours Monday to Friday
La paz 23:00 Topolobampo 06:00 6 hours Saturday
Topolobampo 23:00 La paz 06:00 6 hours Sunday to Friday

Mazatlan Schedule
La paz 17:00 Mazatlán 07:00 12 hours Sunday
La paz 20:00 Mazatlán 08:00 12 hours Tuesday and Thursday
Mazatlán 17:00 La paz 06:00 12 hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday


Passenger Fares
LA PAZ - TOPOLOBAMBO - LA PAZ
Adult one-way (direct boarding) $1,065.00
Child (age 3 to 11) $530.00
(Under 3 years of age: free)

LA PAZ - MAZATLAN - LA PAZ
Adult one-way (direct boarding) $1,190.00
Child (age 3 to 11) $595.00
(Under 3 years of age: free)

STATEROOMS OF THE CHIHUAHUA STAR
Cabin class: stateroom for up to 4 passengers and a private bathroom
(Additional cost for direct boarding) $760.00
Junior Suite $900.00
Master Suite $1,200.00

STATEROOMS OF THE CALIFORNIA STAR
Cabin class: stateroom for up to four passengers and a private bathroom (Additional cost for direct boarding)


Vehicle Fares
Passenger vehicles & pickups (up to 5.40m)
Topolobampo: $1,040.00
Mazatlán: $2,440.00

Pickup, Van and Suburban (with extra meter for family use)
Topolobampo: $1,790.00
Mazatlán: $3,290.00

Vehicle & trailer (up to 9m)
Topolobampo: $4,880.00
Mazatlán: $7,000.00

Vehicle & trailer (9 to 17m)
Topolobampo: $8,255.00
Mazatlán: $12,000.00

La Paz-Topolobampo temporary schedule change

From Baja Nomads forum

La Paz-Topolobampo temporary schedule change

FYI: Just got back from the mainland on the Topolobampo (Los Mochis) - La Paz ferry. The ticketing office for Baja Ferries has a flyer at the counter informing of the following schedule change: Until the end of the month, there is no ferry service from Topolobampo to La Paz on Saturdays, and no ferry from La Paz to Topolobampo on Sundays. Daily service is scheduled to resume in March.

Baja Ferries Schedule Change

The new ferry schedule for the La Paz to Topolobampo run

Topolobampo - La Paz - Lunes a Domingo - leaves at 17:00hrs (5pm)
La Paz - Topolobampo - Lunes a Domingo - Leaves at 8:00hrs (8am)

This will throw off much of the info on following pages - but they'll still be of some value

Baja Ferries Web Site

Tip on where to stay on the Mainland

From Baja Nomads message board. The ferry arrives about 10:30pm and you may not be unloaded 'till well after 11pm. Toplombampo, just off the ferry dock, does not offer much and is not that attractive. Driving all the way to Los Moches and looking for a motel in the middle of the night is not the most fun thing to do - Here's an option

We always go to Zihuatanejo from December to March cuz it's so friggin' cold here in Mulege. We use this ferry just for the reasons posted...always a great experience with five years history now for us. Here's a hot tip if you are going to do this to the mainland ... USE THE MOTOR MOTELS (NoTell Motel). They are always just outside of the citys. Case in point- when getting off the ferry at Topo, and about half way into Los Mochis, on the right side is a motel called POPEYE. The sign out front reads- 3 HOURS=150 PESOS. Trust me, on the mainland these motor motels are your best deal going. The Popeye will give you 8 hours for double the price- $300. They ALWAYS have a garage for your car in front of your room. The Popeye has an electric garage door and you get the remote. They have 56 rooms that turn over 2-3 times/night so the guys with radios and the gulf carts that run around are reallyy busy, but it's quiet anyway. For an extra 100 pesos ($400 total) you can have a room with your own swimming pool IN YOUR ROOM. They have four of these rooms with a pool at your bedside.

Baja Ferries crossing

Some pictures from my 2005 crossing. We left around 3 PM and arrived in Topolambampo around 11 PM. The building in the first picture is the ticket office as well as Immigration. Better to buy tickets the day before and then come early to wait in line and get your vehicle importation papers and sticker

Loading at Pichilinque (La Paz) with Ferry office behind

Out of the harbor

SKY Satellite TV that doesn't work

The bar and TV area

Somebody relaxing topside

Baja Ferries Prices - 2008

One Way Trip

La Paz-Topolobampo- La Paz

• Adult one way trip - $750.00


• Children 3 to 11 years old - $375.00


• Class cabin, room for 1 and/or 4 passengers with integrated bath - $760.00
  *include 1 meal

La Paz- Mazatlan- La Paz

• Adult one way trip - $835.00


• Children of 3 to 11 years - $420.00


• Class cabin (2 beds with bath) - $400.00


• Tourist class (4 beds without bath) - $250.00
  *include 2 meals.
  

Prices in Mexican Pesos
Pets are NOT allowed on board - Only in your Car
Minors are NOT allowed traveling alone

Rates includes:
• Taxes (I.V.A.).
• Access to harbor terminals (A.T.P.) Doesn´t includes another harbor rights.
• Dispositions can change.
• Rates can change without previos warning.
• If you ravel with a kid under 3 years old, ask for his/her free ticket

Baja Ferries Web Site

Baja Ferries Information

Baja Ferries Information



Baja Ferry in La Paz Harbor

Baja Ferries has finally updated their Web Site to include the run to Mazatlan from La Paz and including two trips a month from La Paz to Manzanillo.
Baja Ferries Web Site

Below is the information as of my trip April 2005

Baja Ferries has taken over the Mazatlan to La Paz route from Grupo Sematur ... at least for the time being. This happended as of the end of April 2005. The following is the current information on schedules and prices.

Topolombampo - LaPaz .... Leaves Monday-Friday at 3pm from LaPaz. Saturday leaves late in the evening (10-11pm). From Los Moches to LaPaz it leaves late in the evening 11pm-1am week days only.

Topolombampo - LaPaz .... Auto fare 970mx. Passenger fare 650mx - Tourista, 760mx - CabinaMazatlan to La PazIt leaves from each end at 5pm (1700). Leaves La Paz Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Leaves Mazatlan Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Auto fare (normal size) 1700mx. 3 options on passenger fare (required above/beyond auto fare) 250mx - Turista, 400 - Cabina, 700 - Salon.

Auto importation into Mexico
If you don't have the importation papers for your car you can get them at the ferry terminal for about 330mx. Remember - copies of your Passport, Drivers License, Vehicle Registration and Tourist Visa. You can throw in a copy of your Title but it's not necessary. Have your Credit Card ready.

Here are some fotos of the trip down
Baja Ferry - 2005

My Mexico Page
Sparks Mexico Web