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travelinman
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 9-26-2014
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Going back after 12 years-Best ways to avoid crime.
I realize that this is either a boring topic or will cause some negative response. Who wants to talk about crime in Baja or Mexico in Mexico.
I have loved our trips to few trips Baja, but my wife is naturally concerned about the violence in Mexico.
We have always traveled by Motorhome. Adding a Samurai 4x4 with car top 13' gregor 15hp.
We liked San Lucas, Bahia de Los Angeles, El Coyote (Camp Renee).
I would like help in planning a smart safe trip in a positive way:
Is anyone using special preparation, convoys, routes that can relief some of the fears of current travel in Mexico?
Are there any areas of concern?
What has changed in the last ten years in crime to visitors?
Thanks for the help! I would like to go again....
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5847
Registered: 7-18-2011
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1. People do caravan. Most do not. Don't worry about it. I bring my kids there all the time.
2. No areas of concern that I know of, unless you're talking about certain towns where the cops may pull you over to get a "tip". Was that
Constitucion guys?
3. Crime to visitors? Lock your valuables. Don't leave your passport in the car. Be smart.
This is not Sinaloa or Michoacan. People traverse the peninsula every day with no problems. Racing crews from around the world fly their people in 3
times a year and no one gets beheaded. The fear level needs reduction. Baja is a chill place from what I experience. Compton, at night, is very
more scary.
Go and have a great time. No different then driving around the good ol' USA! Watch out for cops!!
[Edited on 9-27-2014 by Ateo]
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travelinman
Newbie
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Some very good general suggestions. Thank you for taking the time.
I do not visit or camp in Compton, so my level of comparisons are Sierra, CA coast, state parks.
I have had great and some tougher crime experiences on Baja in the far past, so I expect mordido and small things. I am careful with stories of
bizarre crime and stories of no crime.
So you are saying that all the crime stories are BS and things are fine in recent years? No problems with visitors, campers, etc. That is good to
hear...
Any areas you would recommend to get back in to the spirit of Baja?
Thanks for your help!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Just conduct yourself, and your life as you would anywhere else. Don't allow yourself to be vulnerable to predators. Be vigilant and don't drive at
night.
That, and a half dozen Claymores around the camp spot will guarantee an uneventful vacation.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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Welcome home . . . no worries. Don't drive at night unless you have good driving
lights . . . watch those uphill left hand turns & be aware of your stuff through the
checkpoints. Then, return often.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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I'm 70 mi. no. of TJ, started going down in the '70's surfing,
the reports of violence, mostly border related were true. Friends of mine stopped going so. 5 yrs or so ago, they recently
have began going back. To me the underlying fact was the Cartel
violence, while impossible to ignore, was never aimed at Joe Gringo Tourist, they were just never a target. Baja risks remained
the same for me, a small risk of petty theft, and the necessity
of driving . If there was a large risk, this board would be covered
with incidents, I can't remember more than a very few, some being totally
avoidable.. I've seen no rise in violence against common Tourists. I think it is fairly accepted here that camping alone, especially in a spot where
one can be seen, MAY not
be prudent
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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baja safe
Hola,I get asked a lot about how unsafe it is down in mex.. my dog is a famous Baja dog and folks talk to me by the 100's all day long !!.......I look
them in the Eye and state..."Ya, Its dangerous down there,,I have to drive thru Hell.A. (LA) And San dieago to get There!! get your kids and family
and go about a month from now !! and bring stuff down with ya !! for the local folks !! Just had a kickass storm,,don't ya know!!~
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travelinman
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 9-26-2014
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I appreciate all the good ideas and sound advice: Driving, camping alone, petty theft. .All good stuff.
Used up my claymores last time, but I have brought things I should not in the past...I am smarter now, I hope.
What is the going suggested "tip" at the check point if they start to go through your stuff, I have never done that, but they do try to take things.
Thanks, again
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travelinman
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 9-26-2014
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Thanks for mentioning the storm. I am not aware of the entire damages. If needed we can bring things from the states. If you have any distribution
ideas, areas, agencies or items, let me know.
We are going down Christmas or winter.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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Travlin man
once your down past the "CURVE",,,Its rather safe.. be VERY careful north of that and san Quintin is a bad area,, due to im's from the
mainland...over all its a very safe,,fun place !!
[Edited on 9-27-2014 by captkw]
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5807
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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Where to start? First, this isn't cartel country, and you will be as safe as traveling in the US if you just be aware of your surroundings and use
normal precautions.
I have never 'tipped' at an inspection point, or ever lost anything (except some fruit at an agricultural checkpoint)
If stopped by local police show your license if asked, but don't turn it over to them so they can extort a bribe (mordida). With the Federal police,
do what they say. I paid a fine to get my license back once in La Paz because I was driving a car with no top on it, my dog in the car, and no idea
where to get it back.
The next season, same thing, same area, but I held on to my license, said "no mordida" and told them to give me a ticket or let me go. Which they
did, because I don't think they wanted me going down to talk to their supervisors. I now carry a license I 'lost' and the replacement is safe with my
passport just in case it happens again.
I got more, but not now, G.L.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Crime happens every day in the USA... A Baja vacation is far safer!
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
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If it isn't locked up, you don't care about it. Be polite but not self-effacing to the police if pulled over. Don't drive at night south of Ensenada
(from Ensenada to the border is perfectly fine, even to Tecate, at night). And above all, don't be a p*nd*jo.
You'll find it's changed significantly in 12 years, crime-wise.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2716
Registered: 5-10-2011
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Chances to get asked for mordida at the border are almost non-existent. Federal officers are better paid and not as corrupted as local cops. Happens
maybe once in a few years and then Nomads are talking about it for another year 
When they "go through your stuff" at the border, this is what customs officers are supposed to do. And there is a perfectly legal tax 15%, but they
don't - usually - tax the items that are obviously for camping and not in commercial quantity.
Chances to get stopped by local cops are low too, especially if you go through San Ysidro and toll highway. You won't get stopped on the highway
unless for some serious reason. On the streets of Ensenada - it's only few miles, you'll pass it in a matter of minutes, unless during rush hour. If
you "habla", or if they speak English, ask for a ticket. Should be a few times cheaper than mordida. Cops are getting more active during Christmas
season, to the point that they come to the camp asking for "donations", even have some list where they write it down.
On 2 camps of San Lucas Cove near Sta Rosalia security is non-existent, things do get stolen. The 3rd camp, Playa Dos Amigos South of military base,
looks quite secure, but you probably won't enjoy it. Permanent residents took all the spaces and some built casitas, there isn't much room for big
motorhome, definitely no good spaces. Besides, it gets loud at times, with people running big old generators out in the open - landlord doesn't care.
Bahia de Los Angeles was destroyed by hurricane on September 17. Some camps are almost intact, some badly damaged. You probably will find a space
there with a nice view, but consider that 40 or 60 families have lost their homes, I mean - only ruins left. Everybody else got some damage too, and
now are busy with repairs. It will take more than a year for this place to recover.
[Edited on 9-27-2014 by Alm]
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8802
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
.. my dog is a famous Baja dog and folks talk to me by the 100's all day long !!...~ |
I've NEVER heard of your dog...how is it "famous"
and 100's a day? I thought you repaired boat motors
I disagree about bringing stuff from the usa to mexico...buy it here...
Costco...walmart....home depot in tj and Ensenada...buy it here in mexico
support this economy
don't smuggle it in at the border to "help" the "poor" here
that's just WRONG
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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Not mentioned yet; buy pesos at the border or asap on the way south. One of the 'banditos' of Baja are the gas station attendants; if you fumble with
US dollars, they can pinch you with the exchange rate or giving change. Get pesos, pay in pesos, no brainer on what things cost. And, don't be
surprised if the rig takes more gas than the tank holds. Not a constant, but does happen here and there.
Also, some military checkpoints. They won't check you going south, but coming back home, some of the soldados can be tempted by easy pickings in
your rig; binoculars, small cameras, watches, etc... stay with them and be polite when they 'inspect' your rig (most just want to see how fancy you
live), but don't think the Army is honest. It is, but a few bad apples get in the box.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Alm
Chances to get asked for mordida at the border are almost non-existent. |
If only that were true. I have a buddy who transports a lot of small, pick with trailer size loads, north to south, mostly through Tecate. He
regularly pays the inspectors in the cab of the truck.
I realize the new crossing, El Chaparral, is making efforts to refine the procedure, but they have a long way to go.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabuddha
Not mentioned yet; buy pesos at the border or asap on the way south. |
Good point. you can eliminate that stop by going to Costco[and, who doesn't go to Costco?] on Broadway in Chula Vista where they have a cambio inside
the store, with an exchange rate competitive with any others. Don't waste time and effort looking for the very best tipo de cambio....just buy the
gawwwdammm things and get on with your trip.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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norte
Super Nomad
Posts: 1163
Registered: 10-8-2008
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surprised that some of you would consider camping/vacationing in Compton. Lots of excellent campgrounds/wilderness areas in the USA.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Compton is up 'n coming on the Conde Nast list of destinations. 
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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