10/02/2026
BAJA PENINSULA ROAD & INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
The overall news along the peninsula after Hurricane Polo is improving, but a drive down the entire peninsula is not normal travel right now.
MEXICO 1 IS GENERALLY PASSABLE — BUT WITH IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS
The latest peninsula-wide road reporting indicates that Mexico Federal Highway 1 is now passable between northern Baja and southern Baja California Sur, with temporary detours and damaged sections.
That is an important improvement from immediately after Hurricane Polo.
However, “open” does NOT mean repaired or normal. There are sections where pavement was washed away, traffic has been routed around damaged roadway, lanes have been reduced, shoulders have been compromised, and rocks or debris remain possible.
The most problematic area continues to be the central peninsula corridor, especially between LORETO, MULEGÉ and SANTA ROSALÍA.
BAHÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES TURN-OFF
The highway into Bahía de los Ángeles is reportedly passable and generally in decent condition, but three bridges are undergoing work and traffic is being routed around them on temporary detours.
These detours are reportedly passable, but drivers should slow considerably and avoid assuming normal highway speeds.
GUERRERO NEGRO AREA
There is also bridge construction around KM 92 north of Guerrero Negro.
Temporary detours exist on both sides of the bridge. Current road reports describe those detours as reasonably easy to negotiate, including for vehicles towing trailers.
There is not any current storm-related closure preventing travel through Guerrero Negro itself.
GUERRERO NEGRO → VIZCAÍNO → SAN IGNACIO
Mexico 1 south of Guerrero Negro has recently been repaired and is generally reported to be in reasonably good condition.
The highway itself is the route to use. However, do not assume the remote side roads are equally accessible.
The northern road from San Ignacio toward Scorpion Bay is currently reported passable only by HIGH-CLEARANCE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE vehicles.
Smaller dirt roads throughout storm-affected central Baja have suffered flooding and washouts.
SAN IGNACIO → SANTA ROSALÍA
This section is open but deserves caution.
There are numerous existing potholes between San Ignacio and Santa Rosalía, and this is approaching the region that received some of Polo’s heaviest rainfall.
Drive it during daylight.
SANTA ROSALÍA → HEROICA MULEGÉ → PALO VERDE
THIS REMAINS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM AREA ON THE PENINSULA.
Hurricane Polo’s runoff caused a complete break in Highway 1 near Palo Verde in Mulegé municipality.
At approximately KM 157, an arroyo crossed the highway with enough force to tear away portions of the pavement and roadbed. The highway was completely closed.
Heavy equipment was brought in and authorities subsequently established a temporary passage.
The Municipality of Mulegé reports that traffic has been partially restored while repair work continues. This is not a normal repaired highway.
Expect temporary/provisional routing, delays, work with heavy equipment, damaged pavement and shoulders, and possible additional arroyo activity if rain returns
Do not attempt to improvise your own route around a closure through an arroyo or dirt road. There is no sensible paved alternate highway around this section of Mexico 1.
LORETO → MULEGÉ
This entire corridor should be treated cautiously.
Inspections following Polo identified landslides, rocks, vegetation and debris along Highway 1.
A landslide was reported around KM 88+500 on the Loreto–Santa Rosalía section.
Because the surrounding hillsides became saturated, additional rockfall remains possible even after the original debris has been removed.
Again, drive this section only during daylight hours.
LORETO → CIUDAD INSURGENTES
This is another section requiring additional caution.
There was a landslide around KM 100+500 and rocks, vegetation and sediment around KM 102.
At approximately KM 92+500, smaller vehicles were temporarily prevented from passing before traffic was restored.
Even before Polo, this highway had numerous potholes. After the storm, drivers should expect rough pavement, repaired areas and the possibility of debris.
SAN JAVIER ROAD
The paved road from Loreto toward San Javier is normally passable, but it crosses numerous arroyos.
After the recent rains, do not head toward San Javier without first asking locally about current arroyo conditions.
CIUDAD INSURGENTES → CIUDAD CONSTITUCIÓN
The main highway is functioning however, Comondú was directly affected by Polo, so continue watching for local cleanup operations, equipment and damaged secondary roads.
PUERTO SAN CARLOS / PUERTO ADOLFO LÓPEZ MATEOS / WESTERN COMONDÚ
These communities were much closer to Polo’s landfall and should not be treated like normal tourist detours off Highway 1.
Puerto San Carlos experienced coastal flooding, while rural roads and access routes in parts of Comondú were damaged.
Federal and state recovery operations are still underway around Puerto Adolfo López Mateos and other affected communities.
Unless you have a reason to be there or have received current local confirmation, do not use these coastal roads as alternate routes around Highway 1 problems.
LA PAZ → TODOS SANTOS → CABO SAN LUCAS
There is currently no indication of a Polo-related closure preventing through travel on the principal paved highways. However, southern Baja is now being affected by Hurricane Rachel.
While the peninsula continues recovering from Polo, Hurricane Rachel is offshore and is producing additional rain, large surf and dangerous ocean conditions around southern Baja California Sur.
This means conditions around Los Cabos can deteriorate even though Polo has already passed.
Fourteen Los Cabos beaches have been closed with black flags because of dangerous surf and currents.
The Cabo San Lucas port has also been closed to nautical activity.
LA RIBERA / EAST CAPE — USE EXTREME CAUTION
This deserves particular attention. Emergency personnel have already had to rescue two people from the roof of a vehicle after it was caught by flowing water in Arroyo Los Palos near La Ribera during the new round of rain.
DO NOT CROSS RUNNING ARROYOS.
Do not assume that a road is safe simply because another vehicle crossed before you.
If water is moving across the roadway, turn around or wait.
GASOLINE AND DIESEL
There is currently no fuel shortage along Mexico 1. However, because the central peninsula remains dependent on one primary highway, we recommend you do not allow your tank to get low. Top off when you can. Carry additional fuel only in an approved fuel container and only if you normally travel prepared for remote Baja driving.
ELECTRICITY
This has improved dramatically. CFE reports that electrical service has now been restored 100% of the approximately 110,817 customers affected in Comondú, Loreto and Mulegé.
Crews repaired major transmission and distribution infrastructure, including a 115-kV line, 67 circuits, five medium-voltage branches and 70 transformers. Localized individual problems may obviously remain, but the major Polo-related electrical outage has been resolved.
REMOTE ROADS ARE A DIFFERENT STORY
This distinction is important. Mexico 1 is passable but that does not mean Baja’s secondary roads are passable.
Numerous dirt roads and rural access roads were flooded or washed out during Polo. Do not use Google Maps to improvise an unverified dirt-road “detour” around a damaged section of Highway 1. In much of central Baja, Mexico 1 is the only practical paved north-south route.
ROADS AND AREAS TO CURRENTLY AVOID OR TREAT WITH EXTRA CAUTION
Avoid unnecessary travel on remote dirt roads in Comondú and Mulegé.
Avoid the northern San Ignacio–Scorpion Bay road unless you have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and current local information.
Avoid using Highway 3 between Ensenada and San Felipe at night.
Use significant caution between San Ignacio and Santa Rosalía.
Use EXTREME caution through Santa Rosalía–Heroica Mulegé–Palo Verde because of the washed-out Highway 1 section and temporary one-lane passage.
Use caution between Mulegé and Loreto because of rockfall and landslide potential.
Use caution between Loreto and Ciudad Insurgentes because of landslides, debris and rough pavement.
Avoid unnecessary coastal side trips around western Comondú while recovery continues.
Avoid ALL flooded arroyos and vados.
Avoid beaches and ocean activities currently closed in Los Cabos because of Hurricane Rachel.
Emergency: 911
Ángeles Verdes highway assistance: 078
CFE electrical emergencies: 071
Safe travels, everyone. 🇲🇽
