"How far of a drive is it to Bahia de los Angeles?"

It is approximately 370 miles to Bahia from the border crossing at San Ysidro/Tijuana.  This translates into roughly a 10 hour drive.

"What are the general road conditions?"

Hwy. 1 is not for high-speed driving and definitely NOT for driving after dark.  It is strongly recommended not to drive at night.  There are sections of narrow road with little or no shoulder and sometimes very steep dropoffs.  This can be a challenge to negotiate during daylight hours; at night, it is in my opinon (and through personal experience) too dangerous and not worth the risk.  Opposing traffic often cheats over into the opposite lane (large semis especially) and at night, this is a major hazard.  

Keep in mind there are stretches South of El Rosario that are extremely remote.  If you would happen to get into an accident at night, and only suffer minor injuries, it still could be hours before help arrives, especially if you run off the road and no one sees you out there. Livestock crossing the highway is also a major concern.  Driving through the border towns at night or in the very early morning hours is also NOT recommended!

The trip down can be just a long, and beautiful drive into a wild & rugged wilderness, or it can be a nightmare.  It's all relies on how you prepare yourself for it.  Make sure your vehicle is in sound condition especially all critical components (belts, hoses, etc.).

See more on driving down...

"Are gasoline and diesel available in Bahia?"

Yes.  There are two Pemex service stations in Bahia, and both have gasoline & diesel.  There are occasions where there may be an interruption in availability.  In these instances, a fuel truck is dispatched and usally arrives the following morning.  The stations must order and pay for a full truckload, so they need to run their tanks down  in order to accommodate fuel deliveries.

Although it is becoming a more rare occurance, fuel is not available at the stations when there is a power outage in town.  So far, these outages have lasted no more than a few hours, and most often less.

"Is there 24 Hour electricity?"

Yes.  This has been in effect since late November of 2007.  At first, interruptions occurred sporadically.  As time passes and they continue to make improvements to the system, these outages have been far, far less in occurance.

"Are there ATM's or banks in Bahia?"

No, there are no ATM's or banks.

"Is there Internet Access in Bahia?"

Yes, there are several locations where you can go online. "Deposito Lizeth", "Mercado Isla", and "Xitlali Market" all have internet.  Keep in mind that the connections are over satellite and not as fast as other locations where DSL or cable would be available.

"Is a tourist visa required for travel to Bahia de los Angeles?

Yes.  Current regulations require a tourist visa/card for travel South of Maneadero.  More info on tourist visa...

"Are whale sharks present at the bay year round?"

No.  The whale sharks are present at the bay when the water temps are very wam.  Usually they are here from late July through mid-late October.

"Do I need a fishing license, and can I get one there at the bay?"

A fishing license is required when fishing from a vessel.  If you are fishing from shore, you do not need a license. See "Fishing Permits Page" for more...

"I am towing my own boat down to use at the bay; do I need a boat permit?"

No, this requirement was lifted and you no longer need to acquire a boat permit.  See Reference link:

"Are tourists allowed to gather clams, scallops or other shellfish?"

No.  Mexcian sportsfishing regulations prohibit this.  Fin fish only are allowed to be caught.  You are allowed however, to purchase these items from a vendor.