Baja

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rgsiii

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Aug 21, 2004
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I am toying with the idea of going down the Baja Peninsula in a few months. How safe or unsafe is it now?
 
Haven't been in awhile. It hasn't been too safe in the past several years but I heard that the violence is down a bit. By how much, I don't know.

Maybe some others who have been recently can chime in on this thread.
 
The best time to go in the next few months would be in Mid November around the Baja 1000. This year is a penninsula run and there will be lots of gringos down there. I would time my trip to be done right before the race- there is usually quite a bit of people down there pre-running and getting set up. Traffice during the race can be rough on the highways- but you could find a couple of nice spots to watch on your way back and then beat the big rush home after.
 
I wish

I have been itching to get back down, but with a new born anyday it may have to wait until next year. Never been much further south than Puertecidos and its been about 10 years since I was in San Felipe. Man I had some good times over the years since high school sailing, surfung, and kayacking down south.
 
Once you get South of Encenada you are safe, just don't travel North of Ensenada at night. But I generally prefer the San Felipe side and would recommend going down that way.

On a side note:
I already have my days off for the 1,000 this year, PM me if you are going down for the 1,000 or would like to tag along. I am rolling solo but will be meeting a buddy who pits for the MasterCraft Trophy Truck and Buggy.
 
I go down all the time. Drove the entire peninsula a couple months ago. It's totally safe as long as you are cautious and never, never drive at night. Don't camp out around TJ/Rosarito/Ensenada. Try to fit everything in your car if possible and try to be low key ie don't pull a bunch of jetskis or expensive trailers etc. If you have surfboards try to get them inside the rig if possible. Really all the violence that was going on involved people directly connected to the drug trade in the bigger cities. There are a lot of military patrolling around now so that is a good thing as they won't mess with you or ask for a bribe etc. There is the odd chance you could get pulled over by a local cop for a traffic violation looking for a bribe but I haven't had that happen in a long long time and usually you can get off for less than $80.

AAA has a pretty good map of Baja. There is also a book called The Surfers Guide To Baja that you can pick up at any of the bigger surf shops around SD that has detailed smaller coastal maps and campsites. When I go down we usually do San Quintin the first night and stay at the Old Mill at the end of coastal road. Then B line it for Central Baja/ 7 Sisters the next day but I am usually heading down for surfing. Definitely plan on staying a night in San Ignacio if you make it all the way South. There is a cool B&B there run by a couple Canadians named "Terry & Gerry". They have some super nice Canadian yurts set up right on a lake.

You should definitely go you will be amazed by how diverse Baja is!

Buen Viaje!
 
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Once you get South of Encenada you are safe, just don't travel North of Ensenada at night. But I generally prefer the San Felipe side and would recommend going down that way.

On a side note:
I already have my days off for the 1,000 this year, PM me if you are going down for the 1,000 or would like to tag along. I am rolling solo but will be meeting a buddy who pits for the MasterCraft Trophy Truck and Buggy.

Funny, I was talking to a guy that works for them last night. Older guy named Dusty.
 
Yeah, I am now going with my buddy Darien and we will be running a pit near Bay of LA. I am faxing my info over to Dusty today so they will have my info incase of an accident.

Ask him what happens when you try and go thru the passport line without a passport at the border
 

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