Frequently asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding our rentals. If you have more questions, please reach out to us. We're always happy to help!
Can i take the van off road?
Our 2WD vans are not off road capable. As tempting as it may be, we insist that you do not take your rental off road, including driving onto the beach. Dirt roads are common in Mexico and are OK. If the Van gets stuck you are responsible for any costs associated with getting it out, including towing, and repairs to the vehicle if necessary. Its best to play it safe, for you, and for the vans.
Is Renting a van and traveling around Baja Sur safe?
Absolutely. Please check out the Baja Guide section of our website for a ton more info on this, but Baja Sur is very well traveled and safe. Furthermore our itineraries and campground partners are trusted and vetted by us, ensuring a safe and comfortable stay.
Do you rent syncro 4wd vans?
Syncros are rare and very expensive vehicles. The special and unique 4wd transmissions are both fragile and expensive to repair (up to $10,000). So unfortunately we do not offer any of these for rent. But dont be discouraged, our 2WD vans are plenty capable and you will have plenty of fun things to enjoy on your trip.
How much is the trip package?
Self-Guided: $3295 (taxes and fees included) for six nights in a Vanagon, a complete gear package, linens for sleeping, campsites for each night, and booking assistance for all excursions or extra nights in the van.
Each additional night rental is $425/night.
A $1000 deposit is required to reserve your dates. The remainder is due 60 days before travel.
Each additional night rental is $425/night.
A $1000 deposit is required to reserve your dates. The remainder is due 60 days before travel.
Where will i sleep each night?
You’ll spend your nights in one of Peace Vans restored VW Camper vans. These vans have two fantastic full-size beds. As far as camping each night, we’ve spent considerable time on this as we developed our Baja program. We felt it was vital that you have a dedicated, available and vetted camping spot every night with people we know and trust. We partnered with five different campgrounds, each with unique characteristics, so that you can have a dedicated campsite each night of your trip. Each site meets our Peace Vans Camps standards for adequate amenities, location, and overall experience.
Are flights included in the price of the trip?
The trip package does not include flights.
What do you include with the vans?
The vans come equipped with our standard rental kits. These kits are designed to make your experience top-notch: snorkeling gear, beach umbrellas, fresh drinking water dispensers, solar panels, and other special touches. Cutlery, plates, pots and pans, and the like are included as well.
Where do i go, and what should I do?
Self-guided: You must follow our well-thought-out itinerary, staying at vetted campsites each night. The itinerary is not a minute-by-minute route and allows you to choose from countless suggested activities each day—surf lessons, snorkeling, beach time, food, food, and more food.
What happens if my rental van breaks down?
Purchasing a trip comes with access to our 24/7 helpline. If you have a mechanical issue, we’ll swap vans within one-day maximum. Each van is restored meticulously restored and maintained by LiveTheVanLife Restorations, one of the best Vanagon shops on the planet. You’re in good hands!
How many people fit in the vans?
We recommend traveling with one to four people for maximum comfort.
What kind of mechanical work happens before I pick it up?
Each van has a thorough mechanical inspection by our dedicated VW mechanic before every trip. This includes checking all fluids for leaks, tire pressure, camping systems, and other essential safety and comfort measures.
How do i play music in the van?
Loudly! It is a road trip, after all. All vans have upgraded stereos with Bluetooth connectivity.
Do I pay for gas?
Yes. Your van will be full of gas upon pick up, and we request the same when you drop it off. There are plenty of locations to fill up along the route.
Can I take the van somewhere outside of the itinerary?
We require renters to stay on our designated route and campsites in Baja, as we've vetted each site and have beautiful partnerships. You'll love the grounds and the people you meet!
Can I charge my Laptop on the trip?
Our vans do not have household-style 110 power. If you need to charge a laptop or similar, we can supply a supplemental battery pack—you must let us know before you depart on your flight.
How long does the battery Last?
The second battery (which charges your camping systems) will last at least 48 hours without charging. All vans have solar charging, and the battery charges while you drive, so you won’t lose charge your whole trip.
Will I have service or wifi?
Yes. Much of our route has excellent cell phone coverage, and most campsites have wifi access. Check with your cell phone carrier about charges and data plans. Additionally we offer a Starlink Mini for $50 per night that will provide you with unlimited high speed wifi throughout your trip.
Where do i pick up and drop off the van?
Peace Vans Baja HQ is in La Paz. La Paz is an utterly fantastic place to start and end a trip. There’s amazing stuff to do, great food, and it’s effortless to get around. We highly recommend spending a couple of nights in La Paz before or after your Peace Vans trip.
What is your cancellation policy
Cancellations must be made via written request and received within 45 days of pick-up for a refund of your trip reservation cost less $500.
If you must cancel a reservation within 45 days of travel, we will offer you a credit valid for one year
We require a $1000 security deposit against damage, unreasonable use, or excessive cleaning requirements. Any damages to your van or LiveTheVanLife property will deduct from your security deposit. We will release the security deposit within three days of returning the vehicle.
Peace Vans reserves the right to cancel a reservation at any time (including at pick-up) based on natural disasters, changes in business conditions, unforeseen natural occurrences, or other situations that would make renting a van unsafe. This includes but is not limited to a renter showing up intoxicated or unable to operate the vehicle safely. If LiveTheVanLife initiates the cancellation, we will issue a full refund.
While we will do our best to place you in the van you have reserved, the nature of renting vintage vehicles is such that we have to make a last-minute substitution from time to time. All of our vans are "equal" in quality, and if we cannot provide you with the van of your choice, we cannot offer any discount or refund.
If you must cancel a reservation within 45 days of travel, we will offer you a credit valid for one year
We require a $1000 security deposit against damage, unreasonable use, or excessive cleaning requirements. Any damages to your van or LiveTheVanLife property will deduct from your security deposit. We will release the security deposit within three days of returning the vehicle.
Peace Vans reserves the right to cancel a reservation at any time (including at pick-up) based on natural disasters, changes in business conditions, unforeseen natural occurrences, or other situations that would make renting a van unsafe. This includes but is not limited to a renter showing up intoxicated or unable to operate the vehicle safely. If LiveTheVanLife initiates the cancellation, we will issue a full refund.
While we will do our best to place you in the van you have reserved, the nature of renting vintage vehicles is such that we have to make a last-minute substitution from time to time. All of our vans are "equal" in quality, and if we cannot provide you with the van of your choice, we cannot offer any discount or refund.
Where will I find clean water for my trip?
We provide you with drinking water to start your trip. You can refill a limited amount of fresh drinking water at each of our campsites. We also provide a set of location recommendations that can fill our drinking water tanks.
Do the vans have A/C
One of our rental vans has A/C, but its marginal and doesnt work as well as a modern car. It also only works while driving, not while camping. Having driven the route multiple times, we prefer having the windows down and the music loud. We will provide a small USB fan to use at night if you sleep warm.
How long is the curated trip?
Even with some great side trips, the trip is under 400 miles of total driving. We didn’t want you in the car all day, every day—there’s a lot of exploring to be done at each spot.
How do i get groceries and food
We will provide you with a list of provisioning locations along the route. For a small additional cost, we can have your van stocked when you pick up with enough food to get you going for the first day or two.
What airport should i fly into?
Depending on what you’d like your trip to look like, you can fly into La Paz or Los Cabos airport. Both have their perks! La Paz: easy start/end to the trip from our HQ. Los Cabos: you could spend a night exploring the city of Cabo.
What activities can I expect?
We partner with some top Baja folks to give you access to excellent options. A lot will ultimately be up to you—active vs. chill. A lot of the activities will be dependent on the time of year and weather conditions. Whale watching, snorkeling, diving, surfing, hiking, and more are at your fingertips in Baja Sur.
Can I drive at night?
We do not recommend driving at night. We recommend being at your campsite by 5 pm. This is not because of security concerns but rather because of the lack of lighting on the highways and the fact that cattle and other animals tend to feed next to the dark highways at night to stay warm.
Can I bring my Dog?
While we love dogs, some sites have a no-pet policy, so please leave your pups at home.
Are these self-Guided or group trips?
These are self-guided, but follow our detailed itinerary.
What facilities are available?
Each campsite has a bathroom, drinking water, picnic table, and shade. Some along the route will have showers and additional amenities. During your driving days, you’ll have plenty of options to stop for food and use a bathroom.
What are the flight options?
Flying into La Paz instead of Cabo San Lucas is a much-preferred option for our customers. Our HQ is in La Paz, and all trips begin there. It is a beautiful, laid-back city, and the airport is extremely easy to navigate. However, flights into and out of La Paz from the US are minimal, with only a few connections through Phoenix, LA, and Houston.
We recently explored a new option. The Tijuana airport (TJI) is on the US/Mexico border crossing known as "CBX." You’ll cross a pedestrian bridge, enter the customs/immigration building, and then will be in the TJI airport. Then, just a few minutes walk to your gate for a flight to La Paz. Volaris has two flights a day from Tijuana to La Paz, which are affordable.
The CBX border crossing and Tijuana airport is a 25-minute cab ride from the San Diego airport. This option might make great sense depending on plans and the costs of direct flights into Cabo.
It was a straightforward and enjoyable process when we did it recently. The flight from Seattle to Cabo was expensive ($750 one way), but the combined flight from Seattle to San Diego and the Volaris flight from Tijuana to La Paz was about $350. We also saved $180 on the taxi from Cabo to La Paz (+ 2.5 hours travel time). While we saved a lot of money, the overall travel time was a bit longer, and the two airplane flights definitely added to the complexity. If you have to stop to get to Cabo anyway, consider the option of San Diego -> cab to CBX -> flight from Tijuana to La Paz.
We recently explored a new option. The Tijuana airport (TJI) is on the US/Mexico border crossing known as "CBX." You’ll cross a pedestrian bridge, enter the customs/immigration building, and then will be in the TJI airport. Then, just a few minutes walk to your gate for a flight to La Paz. Volaris has two flights a day from Tijuana to La Paz, which are affordable.
The CBX border crossing and Tijuana airport is a 25-minute cab ride from the San Diego airport. This option might make great sense depending on plans and the costs of direct flights into Cabo.
It was a straightforward and enjoyable process when we did it recently. The flight from Seattle to Cabo was expensive ($750 one way), but the combined flight from Seattle to San Diego and the Volaris flight from Tijuana to La Paz was about $350. We also saved $180 on the taxi from Cabo to La Paz (+ 2.5 hours travel time). While we saved a lot of money, the overall travel time was a bit longer, and the two airplane flights definitely added to the complexity. If you have to stop to get to Cabo anyway, consider the option of San Diego -> cab to CBX -> flight from Tijuana to La Paz.