BajaNomad - Whoah!! Prices in Los Barrilles!

Whoah!! Prices in Los Barrilles!

kiterkip - 12-3-2019 at 07:32 AM

Been coming to Mexico for 40 years. It's our first stay in Los Barrilles (I'm a wind-junky).
Whoah! The food prices here in both the grocery store, and at all restaurants are insane. Even if you search the back streets for a mom & pop taco stand it's equal or more than Tacoma Wa USA.
Last night we paid $6USD for a maragarita... (but the salsa band was excellent)
When it was time for the bill I had to twist her arm to take pesos. Huh? She kept repeating over and over the amount in USD while I waved the pesos accurate in her face.
Just strange. Give me "real" Mexico please.

chuckie - 12-3-2019 at 08:12 AM

getting to be the norm...wherever gringos concentrate.....sad but...

Marc - 12-3-2019 at 08:21 AM

Spent New Years eve '79/'80 there. Before wind sports and not much going on.

Paco Facullo - 12-3-2019 at 10:00 AM

Ya, TOO many Gringo's tend to really F-UP a place ..

Thanks for letting us know, I've scratched Los Barrilles off my Baja list..

bajamary1952 - 12-3-2019 at 10:45 AM

It's not only Baja Sur...it's the entire peninsula. I've been living in Baja Norte for several years and prices here steadily have increased as the number of expat baby boomers relocate here. Biggest increase has been in properties both rentals and purchasing.
Many expats come here and through dollars around like candy & then it results in price increases for everyone.

Don Pisto - 12-3-2019 at 10:53 AM

:lol:

four days into a CSL vacation and I already could have bought a pretty nice car for what i've spent! rosarito is gonna feel free

caj13 - 12-3-2019 at 11:43 AM

I hear ya, been going to Lb for several years, prices - certainly no bargain. a fishing or Diving trip - they look at you as if you were the golden goose!
I originally planned to buy a retirement place there, now - not so much. To crowded, significant uptick in crime, and I found out that I don't really like a whole lot of gringos hanging around. I seem to do better in a place where i'm considered to be the weird outlier.
I'll be there (LB) over Christmas, but I've shifted my long range plans to looking in BOLA & or Bahia Asuncion or La Bocana area.

also pretty much convinced i just want to rent long term, so i can walk away anytime I feel like it.

mtgoat666 - 12-3-2019 at 07:56 PM

Gasbag,
Its not a game of ‘get the gringo.’ It’s just a market economy. If all you gringos flock to roost in one spot, you will see prices rise, and bird chit on your shoes. Spread your wings, roost elsewhere, don’t be a lemming that follows the crowd.

BajaBlanca - 12-4-2019 at 04:09 PM

I love everything Los Barriles! I guess we could not afford to live there but the air bnb options are quite reasonable, and the chile rellenos on the lunch menu on Fridays at one of the restaurants are so delicious! I bet one has to talk to the locals to know where to go.

I remember the farmers market had amazing and inexpensive food.

I remember that the locals go to Rexe's bar on the beach - should not be missed.

La Ribera may have less expensive eateries???

bajafreaks - 12-4-2019 at 04:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

I love everything Los Barriles! I guess we could not afford to live there but the air bnb options are quite reasonable, and the chile rellenos on the lunch menu on Fridays at one of the restaurants are so delicious! I bet one has to talk to the locals to know where to go.

I remember the farmers market had amazing and inexpensive food.

I remember that the locals go to Rexe's bar on the beach - should not be missed.

La Ribera may have less expensive eateries???

You nailed it Blanca on every account.
I still Love Los Barriles been going there for almost 20 years, have a small place there as well. Yeah its getting more expensive and ALOT more crowded but if you guys haven't noticed Baja is booming right now and attracting the crazy gringos like mad. I blame most of it on social media. I found Los Barriles one day many years ago on a road trip from San Jose Del Cabo...back then I didn't Google it or ask anyone on Facebook if it was a cool place to go...

charliemanson - 12-4-2019 at 05:21 PM

We created it and we now must live it. We all, gringos, tipped 20%, next year prices up 20%. next year....well. They didn't understand why we were leaving extra money!
Maid here in gringoville is almost 500 pesos for 2-1/2 hours. At the La Paz home it is 200 for a whole day.
My fishing Capitan buddy charges 300 a day for gringos and he is cheap compared to other locations. For Mexicans, and fortunately us, it is 150.

Once again, you sleep in the bed you made. Sad but true.

Culican, Guad, Mex. city. Still super cheap...Why. No pinch gringos. Granted it does cost quite a bit of money to have goods shipped to our Island, but not near as much as we have created it to be.

Want to see the difference in food prices just try La Garita between Todos and La Paz. Full of professional business Mexicans in transit and never a gringo, super good and fast food at normal Mexican prices.
Just sayin you are getting ripped off and you have created it

pacificobob - 12-4-2019 at 05:30 PM

My Mexican friends have little respect for gringos who overpay, or have little/poor spanish.
On occasions where they feel i have overpaid for goods or services they never pass up an opportunity to rub it in.

kiterkip - 12-4-2019 at 05:50 PM

Agreed... but how can we not "overpay" when every grocery store also seems to have inflated prices? I'm sure that I'm simply spoiled with a life in rural mainland Mexico. But $4 for a pound of green beans? I walked away.

In retrospect when I think about this waitress who insisted that I pay in dollars as I responded IN PERFECT SPANISH that I wanted to pay in pesos? I think she was hoping I'd pay with bucks so they could impose their chitty 17 to the 1 exchange rate. This was at La Playa on the beach in LB. If I looked across the crowd I'm pretty sure %90 would just pay with US dollars and be stupid about exchange rates.
When they do this it just works to spoil my generous tipping policy

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob

My Mexican friends have little respect for gringos who overpay, or have little/poor spanish.
On occasions where they feel i have overpaid for goods or services they never pass up an opportunity to rub it in.

mojo_norte - 12-4-2019 at 05:56 PM

Hmm - not sure what restaurants you ate at ? And Chapitos (market) prices are inline with any other market in Baja ?

greasecoyote - 12-4-2019 at 07:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Man_With_Gas

South Baja is pricing itself out of the game and it's actually cheaper to go to Nice and surrounding areas these days. You get FAR more everything for your $.

No infrastructure, corruption, price hikes of 20% overnight and not a true protective trusted police force so why bother these days.

I say this outwardly as the Locals need to understand that if they scare the Gringos off they're not going to last long.

I own/live here but my $ are now going to Europeans during low/summer season and I'll ultimately relocate there because of this.

Visiting Panama, Costa Rica and some other developing countries that don't have the same hangups Mexico does soured me on Baja California.

Sure, "soak the tourist" and "solicit a bribe" are past times in almost every tropical country but the absence of a lot of the mutual tensions and grievances that exist between Mexico and the U.S. makes a difference in the attitudes people have towards you.

There's countries with friendlier locals, better security, lower prices, less games to play just to go about your business, and where they not only let you own property outright, they give you a residency permit, and eventually, a passport, just for dropping the money on a home in their country. That said, I still like visiting Baja and Mexico, in general, but Central America (the good parts) made Baja feel a bit overrated.

Paco Facullo - 12-4-2019 at 07:42 PM

Any place in a foreign country that wants you to pay in US dollars, you can bet is a Gringo rip-off joint....

advrider - 12-4-2019 at 07:58 PM

greasecoyote, what are some of the places that you like best, that you spent time in? I'm always looking...

bajatrailrider - 12-4-2019 at 08:08 PM

Any place to many Gringo's yes rip off. I have not noticed any price increase in North Baja. Non gringo places I can't believe doctor prices . Office visit twice with pills 10 bucks then later my private doctor 20 bucks with pills non gringo price

greasecoyote - 12-4-2019 at 08:26 PM

advrider:

I like the sea of Cortez towns, Mulege, La Paz area, east cape until you get into Los Cabos municipality which I don't like (way too touristy, feels like Honolulu) though it sounds like that's taking over everywhere in Baja. I've never made it to the "remote" pacific side (Puerto Chale/San Juanico/Abreojos) and always wanted to and Malarrimo. If you're asking about central America, the pacific coast of Costa Rica and the parts of Panama on the Costa Rican border (Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro provinces). Costa Rica really is worth a visit, its what other latin American countries could aspire to be like.

What and where do you ride? I'm a fan of supermoto and small dual sports.

Prices in northern Baja definitely went up a lot over the last decade. The 8 peso taco is now a 20 peso taco even though the peso only went from 12 to 18 per dollar.

[Edited on 12-5-2019 by greasecoyote]

Paco Facullo - 12-5-2019 at 09:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by kiterkip

... I responded IN PERFECT SPANISH ...

Jeesh, and I can't even speak perfect English! :wow:

Now THAT was funny !!!

Purdyd - 12-5-2019 at 10:33 AM

I’ve never considered Baja to be really inexpensive. Virtually everything has to come in down that winding stretch of asphalt or by boat. It is an island.

I’ve been to Los Barriles off and on over the last almost 20 years. Back then you didn’t have 2 foot curbs on Calle 20 Noviembre, Trinys was a pink house, and you were more likely to meet a horse at night than a person. If you stayed at playa del sol, meals were included, because frankly, there weren’t a lot of options for food.

Fast forward to 2019 and there are a whole bunch of options for food. Playa del sol is a boutique hotel (fresh paint), and there is a bunch more traffic on the beach.

I stayed in LB last year for a bit in a rather reasonably priced studio air bnb, I shopped at the supermercado and thought the produce was well priced, and would have lunch for two at el Viejo for 90 pesos. The Saturday farmers market, while not especially cheap (like a lot of farmers markets, has some very tasty options.

I never seemed to have any problem with my stilted spanish.

If you go to la playa when there is a band, there is no cover, so you are basically paying with your $6 margarita for the entertainment. I also seem to recall the menu was in dollars. Hot tip, split the burro la playa with a friend.

True Los Barriles has more people and all that brings. And I don’t think it will get less crowded with all the building going on down in La Ribera.

If you want to get away from it all go visit Blanca in La Bocana. The grocery store alone is worth the visit. No kidding. And there is wind.

[Edited on 12-5-2019 by Purdyd]

[Edited on 12-6-2019 by Purdyd]

pauldavidmena - 12-5-2019 at 11:26 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

La Ribera may have less expensive eateries???

It looks like the La Ribera casita that was home to George Bergin (Osprey) and his wife Lynda is still on the market. We only visited once and found it not particularly developed, but this was long before the Four Seasons broke ground. We ate at a little restaurant with a very nice view.

BajaBlanca - 12-5-2019 at 11:44 AM

Hahaha Everyone should come visit us in La Bocana for sure!!!! It would be so wonderful to know all of you personally.

I can't tell you how many times my feelings have been hurt when someone says they went through our village and didn't stop by. And by the same token, I have been honored by many who stop by to introduce themselves. Make my day!

Our neck of the woods is quite different quite remote and quite special to boot. If you come early, you are invited to a cup of coffee. If you come by later in the afternoon, have a Pacifico clara with Les.

gnukid - 12-5-2019 at 07:40 PM

Los Barriles was horrible 30 years ago, now it's worse, stay away unless you enjoy paying 5 x for crappy food and hanging with white trash at Smokeys yelling at the TV.

defrag4 - 12-5-2019 at 09:11 PM

too many milk faces, unfortunately a problem in lots of places in Baja nowadays :-/

there is certainly still plenty of great deals to be had, just go where the locals (brown locals) not expats go

UnoMas - 12-5-2019 at 09:15 PM

Ha, Paul I so much agree, town has gone to hell so I have been telling everyone I know they should check out La Ventana. Great Restaurants, hotels, campgrounds and cheap. Don't come to Los Barriles it sucks big time and there is corruption everywhere.... If you are in to wind sports don't come here, even the wind has stopped blowing. :biggrin:

gnukid - 12-6-2019 at 03:24 AM

It's so bad, not even Jay Valentine is coming back because there is no good coffee! And don't get me started about Lil Martine, he ran for the hills, of course he always ran for the hills cause that's where he lives. Remember when we had huge toga parties en el monumento de la bandera, now they can't even afford a flag. It's so expensive, a Pacifico is $50mn at Smokeys and some lady wants $300mn for flip flops on Main Street! The roads are so bad your tires will fall off. No wifi, and the power is always off! Beach is full of sand and rocks! 200mn just to play pickleball.

[Edited on 12-6-2019 by gnukid]

charliemanson - 12-6-2019 at 11:16 AM

c. Take advantage of Spa Vida’s holidays promos! first you can get a 90 minutes hot stones massage with 10% discount or a Pedicure and a Facial for only 75 usd. You can make your appointment through FB, or spavidalosbarriles@gmail.com, phone: 624 141 0834

From BPE...Whow, WE must be paying this! That is almost what a plumber costs in the states!

charliemanson - 12-6-2019 at 11:39 AM

‘Ha, Paul I so much agree, town has gone to hell so I have been telling everyone I know they should check out La Ventana. Great Restaurants, hotels, campgrounds and cheap. Don't come to Los Barriles it sucks big time and there is corruption everywhere.... If you are in to wind sports don't come here, even the wind has stopped blowing‘. :biggrin:

Please don't!! What is cheap? They are more expensive than most and knowing many locals, they may have started the gringo roast.
And on a another way to look at it is...why are local businessmen and women not allowed to charge what the market bears. Econ 101.

Kitefag Kip, maybe this is just not the place for you. When you are driving home and Mexicans wave at you, it really isn't saying hi.

Maybe sign up for a facial..of a different type :lol:

And if you think KFK is cheap look at this disrespectful dig at the locals form BPE.... Wanted used toilet, needed for construction workers on our build site. gwenbathgate@gmail.com....Wow and people wonder why they try and ‘ rip us off‘‘Cant buy a 400 peso toilet for their workers. Curious how the build will end up? :?:

We truly are a pathetic bunch from the north

Lee - 12-6-2019 at 04:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by charliemanson

Kitefag Kip, maybe this is just not the place for you. When you are driving home and Mexicans wave at you, it really isn't saying hi.

Maybe sign up for a facial..of a different type :lol:

What's with the fag stuff. You trolling?

Do I need to report this?

Purdyd - 12-6-2019 at 08:00 PM

I don’t know why this thread keeps going off the rails. No need to be insulting even if you disagree.

mtgoat666 - 12-7-2019 at 01:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee

Quote: Originally posted by charliemanson

Kitefag Kip, maybe this is just not the place for you. When you are driving home and Mexicans wave at you, it really isn't saying hi.

Maybe sign up for a facial..of a different type :lol:

What's with the fag stuff. You trolling?

Do I need to report this?

Charles Manson is a homophphobe. He spews hate speech. These hateful hateful homophobes have homosexual urges which they do not understand, so they lash out with hate speech — they may be saved with therapy, but usually they are lost causes that should be shunned, banned, stoned, etc.

kiterkip - 12-7-2019 at 06:51 AM

Yeah, Thanks for the fag comment. I smoke Chesterfields.

Been driving to La Ventana for kite & pole surfing sine 1994. In 2017 while there in January it honestly seemed like it was %50 more crowded than one year previous. Now, on facebook LV I'm seeing a new boutique restaurant (milk face) open every day.
I hope my Al Pastor is still there when I arrive in Jan.

Finally got my La Paz-Maz BF ticket. That was an ordeal. Required a drive to CSL, and a 40 minute wait.

Fag

Quote: Originally posted by Lee

Quote: Originally posted by charliemanson

Kitefag Kip, maybe this is just not the place for you. When you are driving home and Mexicans wave at you, it really isn't saying hi.

Maybe sign up for a facial..of a different type :lol:

What's with the fag stuff. You trolling?

Do I need to report this?

chippy - 12-7-2019 at 07:33 AM

Finally got my La Paz-Maz BF ticket. That was an ordeal. Required a drive to CSL, and a 40 minute wait.

You´re lucky you didn´t do it in La Paz! I waited 2.5 hrs a week and a half ago.

kiterkip - 12-7-2019 at 08:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

Finally got my La Paz-Maz BF ticket. That was an ordeal. Required a drive to CSL, and a 40 minute wait.

You´re lucky you didn´t do it in La Paz! I waited 2.5 hrs a week and a half ago.

Strange... and 2 years ago the webpage worked for Baja Ferry and you could check it at any OXXO. Needs work.

chippy - 12-7-2019 at 08:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by kiterkip

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

Finally got my La Paz-Maz BF ticket. That was an ordeal. Required a drive to CSL, and a 40 minute wait.

You´re lucky you didn´t do it in La Paz! I waited 2.5 hrs a week and a half ago.

Strange... and 2 years ago the webpage worked for Baja Ferry and you could check it at any OXXO. Needs work.

Then you could walk in the La Paz office and be out in 5 minutes.

greasecoyote - 12-7-2019 at 10:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

Finally got my La Paz-Maz BF ticket. That was an ordeal. Required a drive to CSL, and a 40 minute wait.

You´re lucky you didn´t do it in La Paz! I waited 2.5 hrs a week and a half ago.

Do they not sell them anymore at the various "agencia de viajes" in downtown La Paz?

wilderone - 12-8-2019 at 11:24 AM

All of Baja is changing, and prices rise everywhere. What irked me about Los B. is the lack of access to the beach. And it's a long walk to water's edge to boot. However, I found that after asking at Sunrise RV Park if I could park there, that just down the beach from there is a cluster of rocks with decent snorkeling. The yurts at Buena Vista Spa neighborhood are cheap compared to others. And a $10 day-use pass at the fancy hotel next door allows your day of luxury, with bar service, meals, TV, etc. Gotta roll with the punches, adjust your attitude. I camp as well - lots of free camping - I wake up to the real Baja that is still a unique spot on the planet, and that doesn't get old for me.

kiterkip - 12-8-2019 at 01:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone

All of Baja is changing, and prices rise everywhere. What irked me about Los B. is the lack of access to the beach. And it's a long walk to water's edge to boot. However, I found that after asking at Sunrise RV Park if I could park there, that just down the beach from there is a cluster of rocks with decent snorkeling. The yurts at Buena Vista Spa neighborhood are cheap compared to others. And a $10 day-use pass at the fancy hotel next door allows your day of luxury, with bar service, meals, TV, etc. Gotta roll with the punches, adjust your attitude. I camp as well - lots of free camping - I wake up to the real Baja that is still a unique spot on the planet, and that doesn't get old for me.

Since retiring 10 years ago we always flee the dark wet SAD Novembers in Seattle WA. I must say that after trying a different place every Nov/Dec each year that BCS has maybe the most agreeable climate over any Mx spot for this month. We tried: Oaxaca City (smoggy crowded), Lagos de Moreno (near freezing night temps), Manzanillo (still to muggy hot 90/90), Havana (a train wreck for exploring comforts), more.

wilderone - 12-8-2019 at 06:15 PM

I've found the Yucatan peninsula has a lot to offer - Jan, Feb, Mar is nice. Cenotes, archaeology, lakes, beaches, caves, small villages, kayaking, snorkeling, museums, fruit stands, many simple, affordable cottages; I camp there as well - free to $10/nt.

BajaBlanca - 12-8-2019 at 07:11 PM

Honestly, October and November are beautiful months on the Pacific side...come to Punta Abreojos, La Bocana and Bahia Asuncion to escape the cold north! We are little pockets of nice weather during these months (no wind).

Fishing is good. Prices are reasonable. Nice folks and not too hot during the summers (except during El Nino years), due to the ocean being so cold.

We would love to meet you. Plenty of places to stay at all 3 villages.

Ducks4jimm - 1-30-2020 at 04:29 PM

No question LB has been changing over the past years as more gringos come to town. All Americanos should avoid this spot at all costs. Muchas gracias, mis hombres.

Don Pisto - 1-30-2020 at 05:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ducks4jimm

No question LB has been changing over the past years as more gringos come to town. All Americanos should avoid this spot at all costs. Muchas gracias, mis hombres.

im doing my part........ :yes:

surabi - 1-30-2020 at 10:59 PM

What all you whiners about the prices seem to be missing is that the cost of everything has gone up for Mexicans, as well. It's not 1980 anymore, folks. It costs Mexicans just as much to gas up their truck as it costs you, and maybe they'd like to eat something besides rice and beans, just like you do. Maybe they enjoy having a smart phone and a laptop, just like you do. Maybe they'd like to be able to take a vacation, just like you do. Maybe they like to live in a decent home instead of a shack, just like you do.
If you want things to be cheap, you're expecting Mexicans to settle for less than you do, and to work for slave wages.

[Edited on 1-31-2020 by surabi]

charliemanson - 1-31-2020 at 12:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi

What all you whiners about the prices seem to be missing is that the cost of everything has gone up for Mexicans, as well. It's not 1980 anymore, folks. It costs Mexicans just as much to gas up their truck as it costs you, and maybe they'd like to eat something besides rice and beans, just like you do. Maybe they enjoy having a smart phone and a laptop, just like you do. Maybe they'd like to be able to take a vacation, just like you do. Maybe they like to live in a decent home instead of a shack, just like you do.
If you want things to be cheap, you're expecting Mexicans to settle for less than you do, and to work for slave wages.

Well said! Most 6 month tourists just don't get it, travel in packs because they are scared, and only like to bash what they try to change.

[Edited on 1-31-2020 by surabi]