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AspenMeadowRanch
Newbie
Posts: 20
Registered: 11-11-2008
Location: Montana
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy- Going to Baja
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Is it safe?
As many of you no we plan to go down to Baja at the end of this month.I found a 24 foot boat in San Diego to buy and bring down with me .
The gentleman who has this boat said it is to dangerous to go there at this time.To many people getting getting robed and killed. He said you could
not pay me to go there at this time.He said he been there before ,but now is not the time to go.Said there last trip there they were hit buy a local
and it was his fault , but they were the ones to go to jail. He said it cost 1500 dollars when it was done.
Is this true about the crime. Here in Montana they do not talk much about the crime in Mexico. After I heard this I am all very apprehensive and
nervous.
We have been looking forward to this trip for a long time. We are almost packed for this trip of a lifetime. I met many nice people on this site.
What's the truth here?
John
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
Member Is Offline
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There are many opinions on this issue.
If you are well informed and follow some basic safety principles it is very unlikely you will have any problems.
1) Don't drive at night.
2) Make sure you have mexico insurance for both you car and boat.
There are more but that will get you started.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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burnrope
Nomad
Posts: 214
Registered: 10-24-2006
Member Is Offline
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It's not safe. You'll be kidnapped by a kindly gentleman and he'll perform painful dental work on you.
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
Member Is Offline
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I live in Tijuana, the most violent place in all of the peninsula. The violence is between the drug dealers and the cops. Occasionally other people
are involved, but truthfully, the last time I heard of a tourist getting in trouble was over a year ago. The violence involves Mexicans fighting each
other over drug money.
I also just drove to Cabo and back in December. I had no problems at all. Know where you're going to spend each night while on the road and get there
before dark. Don't plan on just finding someplace.
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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They are using lots of small boats to move drugs up to san diego. A nice 20' boat with trailer that the narcos could drive up to their ranchito to
modify for drug hauling- would go unnoticed by no one.
Sail it down- it's not Somalia YET.
[Edited on 1-14-2009 by Woooosh]
[Edited on 1-14-2009 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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AspenMeadowRanch
Newbie
Posts: 20
Registered: 11-11-2008
Location: Montana
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy- Going to Baja
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Thank You K-Rico
Just use common sense.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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Other than the indignity of getting robed(nudity be damned) There is not any more risk, or perhaps less, than in the states.
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2405
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
Member Is Offline
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my take
I have been going to Baja since early 1950,, and I am still going,, yes we all have heard about whats going on in TJ,but for the most part they are
gang related, not directed to tourists,
always make sure you have MX insurance on your truck and boat and trailer,
never drive at night\
you will find the People of Baja to be very friendly , just use your common since when staying some place , just as you would in the states
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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Be prepared as others have said, take it slow, and you should have your trip of a lifetime.
I too have been going to Baja for decades and really the only thing that has changed for me based on the current events, is that we wait until sunrise
to cross the border at San Ysidro.
Make sure you have spare wheel bearings for the boat trailer, and the means to change them if needed!
Ken
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Be affraid.... Be VERY affraid!
Just kidding! 
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
Member Is Offline
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I found this on the sanfelipe.com web page and I thought it was informative:
Safety
The overwhelming number of enquiries that we now get concern the safety of travelling to San Felipe because of the publicity on the drug wars that are
raging in Tijuana (and also in Ciudad Juarez).
What is important to understand is that this activity is limited to a very small area of Tijuana that is not a region where tourists would normally
go. Virtually all the roads and towns of Baja California are very safe and have essentially zero small crime rates compared to anywhere in the USA.
The local Mexican population is just as upset as you would be to hear of the very negative publicity in their towns and villages and its devastating
effects on the tourism industry.
Here, however, are our specific recommendations for travel to San Felipe:
Cross the border at Calexico/Mexicali, at Tecate or at Los Algadones. Avoid the crossings between Tijuana and Otay Mesa and San Ysidro because these
will route you east through areas that are seeing gang, military and police activity. The road south to Ensenada is safe and from there the route to
San Felipe is in good condition. However, it is a very lonely road and we recommend the route only if you are travelling with two or more other
vehicles.
Travel only during daylight hours and plan to be in San Felipe before nightfall. This is because there is a lot of construction traffic on the roads
and the heavily overloaded Mexican trucks sometimes lose bricks, blocks or scrap as they go over bumps. You absolutely do not want to run over any
such object on a deserted road at night and have a burst tire or bent axle. In addition, there are extensive roadworks underway in Mexicali and you
need to watch carefully for the detour signs. For the most relaxed driving experience, travel Tuesdays-Thursdays when the traffic flow is very light -
often less than 30 vehicles/hour. This is also the time when you are likely to encounter the fewest number of inebriated motorists.
Activate your cellphone for roaming in Mexico!!! You will have best luck with ATT and T-mobile, which have coverage throughout Mexico on the GSM
networks. Verizon and Sprint will work along the border but you will find big gaps in coverage. Be sure that you instruct your carrier to allow both
international dialing and international roaming. If you have any concerns while on the road, call the tourist department hotline 078. This will
connect you with friendly, bilingual operators from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the calls are free. They will help you with directions or send help if you
need it. For any emergency dial 066 and you will get the police who can send federal or state units to help you. Remember that if you want to call
back to the USA, dial 001+ (Area Code) +7 digit number.
Once you leave Mexicali city limits, do not stop unless you have an emergency. The soft shoulders of the roads out in the country may be too unstable
to safely park on and we have seen vehicles slide down the slopes into the desert sand. If you see stranded vehicles by the side of the road, use your
cellphone to call 078 or 066 and get help sent to the unfortunate vehicle - note the kilometer marker by the road for better location of the
breakdown.
Roadworks to upgrade the carriageway to four lanes are in progress south of the Ensenada Road junction. Be very careful driving on this stretch of
highway as the road width is very restricted and there are no shoulders for emergency use.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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Gee. Whoever wrote that the road between Ensenada and San Felipe is very lonely must never have traveled very far South.
[Edited on 1-14-2009 by Bajahowodd]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Well, I didn't say it, but once past Ojos Negros, you don't pass many other cars... so compared to other highways, I would rate it lonely... Except
during a Baja race!
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Phil S
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 10-28-2003
Member Is Offline
Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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I just met yesterday with a friend that lives in Nopolo/Loreto who has a 20.4 cabin boat with a rebuilt outboard. I've been in this boat, and it is
ideal for cruising in, but might not appeal to the avid fisherman. He is asking $16,000 including trailer & trolling motor. They were honda
motors the last time I had seen it. You can email him at HarSchum.com (he's given permission) Save you much frustration in bringing one down. and
the engine was recently rebuilt. I believe it was a 115HP. Small one might have been 8.0 Has built in fuel tanks.
Enjoy
[Edited on 1-14-2009 by Phil S]
[Edited on 1-15-2009 by Phil S]
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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Isn't "lonely" sort of the reason we go?
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20034
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by AspenMeadowRanch
"Is it safe?" |
"Is it safe?" Have you seen Marathon Man? Do you need a tooth extraction?
Free teeth extraction!
Live fast, die young!
Yes we can!
Peace out!
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3881
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Online
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Try to get your visas the day before so you don't have to find a parking spot for that thing. Make sure the trailer and tires are in good shape, with
a spare trailer tire. Be aware you'll make slow progress the first 200 miles since you go through small towns and over several mountain passes and
you won't be able to pass 18-wheelers. Be aware there is no shoulder and it will be a white-knuckle drive. Be sure you have plenty of insurance for
everything - car, trailer, boat - and permits as well - fishing. The first day will be the worst, then you'll settle in and enjoy it.
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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Are you safe? Probably, the only problem is if you look like you have a lot of money, remember the cops, the military and the gov officials can all be
bought. Make sure you have all the proper insurance, and the one thing I know is true, If you have a problem, don't call the police, bolt for the
border.
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msawin
Nomad
Posts: 373
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: Grass Valley,Ca / Tripui
Member Is Offline
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Safe?
Aspen M. Ranch,
Hello welcomb to the best web site of Baja....
I have pulled my 28' Cabo down twice. I have pulled a travel trailor 29' once. Twice this year I pulled a single axel 6' x 10' enclosed trailor
stuffed.... Safe? the road, you need to be very allert. It is narrow , but alot better than what we had 20 years ago. You do not say where your
heading. but that doesn't really matter. It is a heavly driven Hyw. #1. Someone will drive past at least every 15-20 minutes.
I have only driven, to Loreto, 12-15 times. I have seen very bad accidents. Tractor trucks drive fast and long hours...
The max speed is 80 KM. Thats 48 miles an hour. You can not drive the speed limit. You will be run off the road. Tractors go about 60-65 mph
average... Busses 70-75'ish.
You can use a 50 MPH as an average speed. Some spots you can move a little bit faster. Pulling a trailor I go About 60-65 MPH. Slow in the
curves.. some 15-25 MPH
OK . If you are talking about "safe" as in killing. drugs. robbery...
You have been reading the stuff we hope all Norte's read. We do not want you down here. raising the costs of our living. Raising the price for land
and house, cost of labor per hour. the cost for a cold beer...... Stay home... its all bad..
The safest place on the planet earth is Baja Sur...
Just get south of the boarder.....
martin-o
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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Huh?
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