So, How bad is it really driving to baja sur right now? How about mexico as a whole?
thx,
K
thx,
K
How bad, really?
- Thread starter BreckenridgeCruiser
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All I can say is I wouldn't go for any reason right now. I use to go at least once a year to visit family and have not been in the past 2 years. I thought it would get better but sad to say that I think it's only going to get worse.
justbecause
perpetually lost.
can you elaborate on this?? i havnt heard any news about the area in what seems like atleast a year...
i am not in a position to travel there now, or tomorrow, but would like to go in the future, id also like to know from someone with personal experience what the situation is...
I've been 14 times in the last 4 years, last time in summer. next time over christmas/new year. 60k miles in Baja in the last 5 years. No bad incidence whatsoever, but lots of great ones.
Don't drive at night.
Don't hang near the border.
Don't be a jerk-gringo.
Don't want to go into detail, as this discussion always deteriorates into one full of assumptions, mostly driven by people that really don't know the area.
I can't wait to go back.
cheers,
J
Don't drive at night.
Don't hang near the border.
Don't be a jerk-gringo.
Don't want to go into detail, as this discussion always deteriorates into one full of assumptions, mostly driven by people that really don't know the area.
I can't wait to go back.
cheers,
J
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This is just me. I have been going to the Monterrey area and surroundings all my life. My grandmother has a big ranch south east of there. In the past my brother and a bunch of his Air force friends and I would go for a week at a time during Memorial day/week. This year and last years trip where cancelled due to the violence related to drugs and gangs. I have not been on the west coast since the early 90's. But I watch the news. The last few times that I have gone have been real nerve racking just crossing the border going in and coming back. When the U.S. military doesn't allow troops to cross unless it's for offical business then I'm not crossing. Then again my parents are planning a trip during Christmas so there you go. You just have to be real careful of your surroundings. I myself will not go anytime soon. You can get mugged and shot here just as easy, but it's a lot worse down there along the border more so now than ever before. And it's not just the border any more. I don't care what anybody says, it has got a lot worse than years past. Again, this is just me and my why of thinking. JAN-78FJ40 has given good advise if you go. Have fun on your trip.
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- #7
I have an aunt that lives near DF (mexico city) in San Miguel de Allende. Airfare is nuts and heading into DF or Leon could be just as risky as driving. So my thought was to grab the surfboard and the girlfriend and drive down baja and take a ferry to the mainland. Plenty of surfing and camping and maybe even lobstering while on the way though! Once on the mainland, I'd drive from PV to SMA.
I speak spanish, look spanish (mother is from spain) and my truck has enough rust they should know I don't have any $. So what do you think about the trip?
I speak spanish, look spanish (mother is from spain) and my truck has enough rust they should know I don't have any $. So what do you think about the trip?
I just got back from my third trip of the year (each trip several weeks long). I camp on the beach on the way down and back....always in remote locations and usually alone. The only problems I've ever had have been within 150 km's of the border and generally with gringo's. That being said, I have become wary of crossing in Mexicali, Nogales, or Tijuana (I'm in Tucson and usually stay on the dirt on the E. side of the peninsula until after Los Arcos). San Luis Rio Colorado and Algodones are both great crossings and much faster and safer in my opinion. I try to hit these in the morning so I can get south of Puertocitos for the first nights camp. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat.
this is probably a difficult -if interesting- question to answer.
Judgement call of course.
Do I think that I will get mugged for sure if I were to go down to Baja? Of course not. Is the likelihood of getting mugged very high? Probably not.
But is the violence worse down there than up in the States? I would think so. There is much less restraint on the part of the bad guys I think cuz they know they can get away with it. I don't think it's very likely that I will be attacked in the desert in the US by pistol-wielding guys that want my truck. Possibly down there. And you won't get any help from the pseudo police.
Plus the main thing for me is that the whole point of going down to Baja etc is to go away from it all. So if you're 10 miles from anybody on a deserted beach you are putting yourself at greater risk by the very nature of the location. OTOH the bad guys may naturally be around crowded places where there are more marks and life is more comfortable?
Altogether I haven't gone down there for a bit and don't plan on doing so in the near future. It's more a gut reaction than a calculated analysis I have to admit, though.
Judgement call of course.
Do I think that I will get mugged for sure if I were to go down to Baja? Of course not. Is the likelihood of getting mugged very high? Probably not.
But is the violence worse down there than up in the States? I would think so. There is much less restraint on the part of the bad guys I think cuz they know they can get away with it. I don't think it's very likely that I will be attacked in the desert in the US by pistol-wielding guys that want my truck. Possibly down there. And you won't get any help from the pseudo police.
Plus the main thing for me is that the whole point of going down to Baja etc is to go away from it all. So if you're 10 miles from anybody on a deserted beach you are putting yourself at greater risk by the very nature of the location. OTOH the bad guys may naturally be around crowded places where there are more marks and life is more comfortable?
Altogether I haven't gone down there for a bit and don't plan on doing so in the near future. It's more a gut reaction than a calculated analysis I have to admit, though.
My gf and I go down there every couple months. We have had nothing but great experiences in Baja. Last year I broke down on the way to Gonzaga bay and some random construction worker spent 2 hours towing me back to his camp to get me a new battery.
I can't wait to go again.
Use your head, cross the border in the morning when the criminals are sleeping and you'll be fine.
I can't wait to go again.
Use your head, cross the border in the morning when the criminals are sleeping and you'll be fine.
RufusTheDufus
SILVER Star
My wife and I plan to drive from Maine to Baja Sur this winter. It's going to be a long trip.
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- #12
Glad to know people are still doing it. I wonder if we can get a mud group to meet up there sometime... or does that just defy the intent of going there!
K
K
I went to Chihuahua and Copper canyons in March and ran into the same wall- people either say "go; it will be the greatest experience of your life," or "you're completely insane and are commiting suicide." There never seems to be an "in-between." I went by bus with my best friend, wife, and brother by bus thru Juarez to Chihuahua city and Creel. Not the recommended route, but it ended up being the only feasible way by bus. I went by bus the first time to scout things out so it would be less stressful to come later with my Cruiser. I still plan on returning, though the fact that my wife got pregnant about a week after we returned will slow my timetable 
. In the end, it's your call. Mexico is a beautiful and interesting country. Violence, especially near the border is high, but rarely involves American tourists. In my experience, most of the "I had my car stolen by the police" stories come from ignorant people who don't do proper research on the insurance and paperwork requirements, not to mention the road rules in Mexico. If you want to go, do your research; Hilltpper (Andrew Moore) is a great help on the subject. If you don't get Overland Journal and haven't read his article about the subject, I have it scanned and can email you a copy to check out. Black Flag Cafe is also a good resource. If you're a smart traveller and keep a low profile (ie -jerk gringo comment earlier) you'll probably have an amazing trip. If you're not into the extra effort of being aware of your surroundings and not hanging out at bars until 3am, I'd say don't go.
But then again, if I didn't go anywhere the State Dept told me not to go, what fun would that be?? Good luck, and if you go please report back!
. In the end, it's your call. Mexico is a beautiful and interesting country. Violence, especially near the border is high, but rarely involves American tourists. In my experience, most of the "I had my car stolen by the police" stories come from ignorant people who don't do proper research on the insurance and paperwork requirements, not to mention the road rules in Mexico. If you want to go, do your research; Hilltpper (Andrew Moore) is a great help on the subject. If you don't get Overland Journal and haven't read his article about the subject, I have it scanned and can email you a copy to check out. Black Flag Cafe is also a good resource. If you're a smart traveller and keep a low profile (ie -jerk gringo comment earlier) you'll probably have an amazing trip. If you're not into the extra effort of being aware of your surroundings and not hanging out at bars until 3am, I'd say don't go. But then again, if I didn't go anywhere the State Dept told me not to go, what fun would that be?? Good luck, and if you go please report back!
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- #14
Thanks for the info... PMed you about that article! So I guess two more questions I should ask are about the vehicle itself.
I know about getting mexico insurance but my questio is more about two things: 1) what is the story with RHD vehicles there? Will these attract more attention or will they even be allowed? 2) What thngs do the 'bad guys' look out for when they spot a truck they want to go after? any ideas of things I may not want to have, or may want to specifically include, to not 'sore thumb' things?
I know about getting mexico insurance but my questio is more about two things: 1) what is the story with RHD vehicles there? Will these attract more attention or will they even be allowed? 2) What thngs do the 'bad guys' look out for when they spot a truck they want to go after? any ideas of things I may not want to have, or may want to specifically include, to not 'sore thumb' things?
If the theft of your truck is a concern install a fuel switch.
Like other have said be selective about your border crossing smaller = safer
I don't think there's an issue with RHDs? I can't say for certain, but I read an article in a Rover mag a few years ago about a Brit driving his Series III wagon across Mexico. And that was RHD.
Advice I was given was to not add any "trail bling" to the truck. You won't need most of the expedition add-ons that you see on trucks crossing the Sahara; a well-maintained Cruiser and a repair kit including some spare parts will take you anywhere you need to go in Baja.
As mentioned, a fuel or ignition cut-off switch would be a good idea.
There are a few guys on 'mud that drive lightly kitted Cruisers to Mexico on a regular basis without problems. I saw a nice HJ60 BC when I was getting lunch in Creel . You're bound to stick out a little- there are very few LCs in Mexico. My parameters for getting my truck ready are to keep it from looking like a gov't vehicles: tan, camo, or black. If it looks anything like the Mexican Army or Federales vehicles, it may make folks in the Cartels take an extra look at you. I also didn't want to raise suspicion FROM the govt by looking like the guys that were clearly involved in trafficking- guys with $50-60k American pickups in areas that are generally poor.
Advice I was given was to not add any "trail bling" to the truck. You won't need most of the expedition add-ons that you see on trucks crossing the Sahara; a well-maintained Cruiser and a repair kit including some spare parts will take you anywhere you need to go in Baja.
As mentioned, a fuel or ignition cut-off switch would be a good idea.
There are a few guys on 'mud that drive lightly kitted Cruisers to Mexico on a regular basis without problems. I saw a nice HJ60 BC when I was getting lunch in Creel
. You're bound to stick out a little- there are very few LCs in Mexico. My parameters for getting my truck ready are to keep it from looking like a gov't vehicles: tan, camo, or black. If it looks anything like the Mexican Army or Federales vehicles, it may make folks in the Cartels take an extra look at you. I also didn't want to raise suspicion FROM the govt by looking like the guys that were clearly involved in trafficking- guys with $50-60k American pickups in areas that are generally poor.
I haven't been to Mexico since 2006 and even then it was only to Rocky Point via Yuma, AZ. The border seems to be the major area of concern as usual. Recently a boater was shot while visiting a historical site on the Mexico side of the Rio Grand.
FOXNews.com - 911 Tape Released in Mexican Pirate Attack on U.S. Couple
I wouldn't go now that I have a wife and kids, but if I was single I'd consider going on a trip to baja. I've heard it's illegal to bring gubs over the border, but my buddies dad does it anyway when he takes his RV don there. Do any of you guys ever bring anything for self defense?
FOXNews.com - 911 Tape Released in Mexican Pirate Attack on U.S. Couple
I wouldn't go now that I have a wife and kids, but if I was single I'd consider going on a trip to baja. I've heard it's illegal to bring gubs over the border, but my buddies dad does it anyway when he takes his RV don there. Do any of you guys ever bring anything for self defense?
I don't think there's an issue with RHDs? I can't say for certain, but I read an article in a Rover mag a few years ago about a Brit driving his Series III wagon across Mexico. And that was RHD.
Advice I was given was to not add any "trail bling" to the truck. You won't need most of the expedition add-ons that you see on trucks crossing the Sahara; a well-maintained Cruiser and a repair kit including some spare parts will take you anywhere you need to go in Baja.
As mentioned, a fuel or ignition cut-off switch would be a good idea.
There are a few guys on 'mud that drive lightly kitted Cruisers to Mexico on a regular basis without problems. I saw a nice HJ60 BC when I was getting lunch in Creel
While I usually have no problem at all with RHD, I advise you STRONGLY against this in Mexico. This comes from experience driving all through Baja with a RHD troopy.
Why? Overtaking the trucks will be a nightmare. The roads are not wide, and you will have to inch out to see whether you can overtake. if you are alone in the truck you have to come way too far into the opposing lane to see whether you can overtake or not. If there are 2 of you you need to fully rely on the passengers judgement, whether you can make it or not.
It is extremely exhausting and dangerous. Simply not worth it down there.
cheers,
Jan
You'd be retarded to bring a gub there, seriously. You will go straight to prison for a long time, if they find it. And the military searches the vehicles frequently and pretty thoroughly. And I doubt the mexican prisons are fun.
They are fine with knives, even big ones.
And I have never been searched in person, not once in the 25 plus trips in the last 7 years.
