The small town of Vizcaíno is located about 30 miles south of Guerro Negro, and it really isn't noteworthy for much of anything except for the fact that the road to Bahia Tortugas, which leads to the town of the same name, and the Pacific Ocean, branches off to the west from the town.  Curiously, the road to Bahia Tortugas is marked by a Federal Highway sign reading Mexico Highway 1; I was quite confused and had to clarify the point with the attendant at the nearby Pemex station.

Photo:  I'm parked on the outskirts of town.  Note how the modestly-engineered highway follows the lay of the land.

Most folks traveling the transpenninsular highway stop at the Pemex station for gas, and this station has quite a mixed reputation, both good and bad.  One thing is for certain:  It's a must-stop, especially for the motorhome crowd, as the next gas station is many miles down the highway.  I've read various accounts about how the staff at this station manipulate the pumps into false reading, ultimately charging customers more, attendants switching bills, and suddenly running out of change, and other scams.  From my personal experience, I've never had a problem at the station, as the attendants have been both helpful and honest.  However, the Peso is the currency of Mexico, and when I'm in Mexico, especially 500 miles south of the border, I always pay in pesos.

Photo:  This sign makes the turnoff to Bahia Tortugas.  I assume that the sign is pointing toward the town of Vizcaíno, as the majority of the town lies to the west of the highway.  Note "Mexico 1" appears for both directions, which is confusing.

Vizcaíno has the usual assortment of taquerias, motels and convenience stores, and the livelihood of the town is dependent on the highway.  Actually, there's not a whole lot to write about, as there is not much to the town, and the scenery is flat, uninteresting desert scenery.

Photo:  The often-reported Pemex gas station at Vizcaíno doesn't seem to bother ice cream vendor, who sells his fine wares at the station, despite it's bad reputation.

Photo:  This Kenworth is only one of the hundreds of trucks who pass through Vizcaíno everyday, on Highway 1.

To head west, toward the Pacific Ocean, take the road signed "Viscaino" from Highway 1, and head over 100 miles west to Bahia Tortugas, and the Pacific Ocean.  Shortly after leaving the town of Vizcaíno, you'll pass through the small, agricultural poblado of Ejido Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, which really isn't a town, as its an ejido, which is the Mexican Government's version of a Soviet-era collective farm.  No, it's really not like that, but an ejido is a way that the Mexican Government gives some of the federal land to the people.

Photo:  Looking west on Highway 1, toward Bahia Tortugas, 100 miles distant.  This would be considered the main street in town.

A visit to Vizcaíno is quite forgettable, especially if you're heading south to the sights of Cabo San Lucas, or the sleeping little town of Bahia Tortugas, on the Pacific Coast.  Fill up your stomach, fill up your gas tank, and put Vizcaíno in your rear view mirror...

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