Flatfish - 8-30-2025 at 11:12 AM
Newbie here. Have been thru the famed San Ignacio checkpoint now four times in the last two years (twice down, twice back). Never any real problems
ourselves. Twice inspected rather loosely. Nothing taken. We are always polite, feign no Spanish, sunglasses off, all windows rolled down. Grey
haired, mid 60’s, 2005 standard dodge ram 3500 with a truck topper. Set up for sleeping platform in back. Car pretty well packed with obvious
camping stuff.
Now, to the question. A TON of all over on FB Talk Baja group about recent experiences going thru there. Seems to be an increase in aggressive
behavior by the guards. Anyone seen this lately? Thoughts?
David K - 8-30-2025 at 11:32 AM
That Facebook group isn't the only one. Somebody brought it up on the Baja Overlanders group, as well.
My wife and I were harassed at that checkpoint in 2015. Been through it 8 times since (2017-2019) with no issues.
Baja is so worth a rare incident. But, a time out to settle one's nerves is quite understandable.
mtgoat666 - 8-30-2025 at 12:30 PM
San Ignacio checkpoint is legendary among gringo baja travelers, apparently the thievery has been going on for years. Luckily, they have never stolen
from me, but I hear of people getting hassled or robbed… not sure what makes some people easy targets, while others get ignored.
Need to interview the soldiers and ask them how they select their victims.
AKgringo - 8-30-2025 at 12:43 PM
I have not had a problem there, perhaps because of my 90 pound canine co-pilot! She is not aggressive, and would probably play with the soldiers if
they wanted to, but they usually just wave me through.
On one trip a couple of years ago, they actually were headed toward my car with a dog of their own when the officer talking to me waved them off.
I also remove my sunglasses and roll down the windows enough for them to see in my vehicle.
I passed through there in January going south, and north a few weeks later.
[Edited on 8-30-2025 by AKgringo]
ligui - 8-31-2025 at 03:38 PM
We went thru last week. Man I've been going down for over thirty years and they really gave us a working over this time !
Long story maybe I'll write about it sometime
Do not have anything that is not legal ! Your asking for big problems there
We were two permanent residents ,we are in the sixty years range. Normal times not a big deal. Summer is slow for gringo's heading south. So they
really went through everything I mean everything.
They were looking to find anything so they could get some cash.
Be fun to see what happens when we head north on Tuesday. 
.
SFandH - 8-31-2025 at 04:10 PM
Did they go through your pockets, wallets, purses? Pat you down?
ligui - 8-31-2025 at 08:23 PM
Yes wallets empty pockets etc.
Been thru lots of check points this was uncalled for
I still love Mexico ! You just sometimes run into things like this. We didn't do or have anything wrong. Basically they only wasted everyone's
time.
One just has to stay calm and wait it out then off you go. 