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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2405
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
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Cartels
just wondering, its been years since we been to Baja
is San Felipe still having problems?
we are thinking of going
any input
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1746
Registered: 2-2-2010
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I was there last month and nothing seemed unusual. My brother has a place in the south campos and was there last week, he didn't mention any problems.
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7347
Registered: 8-5-2011
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More bad guys and people of all types are roaming around the peninsula. Stay somewhere safe at night. For us, the days of camping alone, anywhere on
the peninsula, are over.
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latitude32
Nomad
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Registered: 3-6-2025
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I would agree with SFandH.
I'm surprised I thought you guys had bought a place? still interested, there's a nugget at Papa's
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6186
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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I did a "drive-about" in April of 24 exploring areas north and south of San Felipe with no "red flag" events. I did another one late December into
mid-January of this year in mid-Baja.
I am aware that there are new risks in boondocking alone with my dog, but I feel that they are acceptable risks. The driving is probably likely to be
the larger risk, but that seems to be getting better over time.
Having said that, there are places I camp that I would not take family or friends to.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3593
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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State dept. advisory:
''The U.S. Department of State advises travelers to "exercise increased caution" in Baja California Sur, where San Felipe is located, due to crime.
This means visitors should be aware of their surroundings and take precautions to stay safe, particularly in non-tourist areas. While San Felipe is
generally considered safe for tourists, there have been incidents of violence related to local fishing disputes and potential cartel involvement. ''
Anyone reporting ''all clear'' in areas of Baja, or ''stayed in San Felipe recently and no problems,'' means in that moment, there were no problems.
Doesn't mean there won't be a problem the next day, or night.
Best advice I think: be AWARE of your surroundings.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6186
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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Quote: Originally posted by lencho  | | Quote: Originally posted by Lee | State dept. advisory:
''The U.S. Department of State advises travelers to "exercise increased caution" in Baja California Sur, where San Felipe is located, due to crime.
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Oh, my. Did the U.S. State Department actually publish that San Felipe is located in BCS?  |
Perhaps they meant to say Mexicali Sur, which would be accurate for the municipality boundary.
Also, I think that Lee stated things very well, no argument from me!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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JDCanuck
Super Nomad
Posts: 2138
Registered: 2-22-2020
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I think it's that renaming thing and they already claimed Baja as part of California North without telling anyone.
[Edited on 6-28-2025 by JDCanuck]
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7347
Registered: 8-5-2011
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You'll have to ask JZ about that.
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lencho
Junior Nomad
Posts: 77
Registered: 1-16-2005
Location: Tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de EU
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Mood: Somnoliento
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The cow toe polka
Cow toeing off to Sacramento!
[Edited on 7-10-2025 by lencho]
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 919
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
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I don't like sensationalizing the travel to Baja, but ... You'll be fine. 
In that pre-Google Earth and social media epoch, The Code was adhered to. It was based on a simple verity: if a locale had been transformational for
you, and you had put the hard yards in to get there and to learn it, to know it, why in god�s name would you broadcast the news, thus ruining the
future experience not only for yourself, but for future adventurers?
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19741
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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When i drove thru san felipe this past spring, shortly after the series of shootings outs and killings, the military was all over the place and it
looked like the city was occupied by an army.
Woke!
Hands off!
“Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres.”
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Pronoun: the royal we
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bajaric
Senior Nomad
Posts: 656
Registered: 2-2-2015
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The areas close to the border, particularly Tijuana, have had issues with violent cartel activity for decades, on and off. What seems to have
changed, maybe, a little, is that incidents are happening in the more remote areas of Baja. And while these incidents still seem to be pretty rare,
just the possibility that a tourist might get ambushed on a remote road is enough to put the nail in the coffin on tourism in remote areas.
Last week I drove the dirt road south of Rumorosa, maybe 15 miles south. Other than a bunch of Sempra Energy contractors, did not see a single other
private vehicle on the road. Creepy. Sempra is putting in a bunch of big wind turbines down there, along with gigantic shiny new high tension power
line towers. Quite impressive to see a section of windmill getting hauled down a dirt road. They are unloaded at the port in Ensenada and truck up
into the mountains. So now the wine route is the turbine route.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 688
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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bajaric,
The cartel turf wars have made La Rumorosa and El Hongo a dangerous place since mid-April. A mass grave or pit was found in Rumorosa a few weeks ago
with 10 bodies. One was that of a woman who was abducted during daylight hours from her job at the gasolinera Pemex. Another news report said that 40
people have "disappeared" in the area.
There have been firefights in town with automatic weapons. Locals have been terrorized with "cuernos de chivo" AK-47s. They are afraid to report to
the police, even when there is a "disappearance". So who knows how many have been abducted and killed? For a formerly tranquil town of 2,000
residents, this is horrific.
The Jalisco New Generation cartel is fighting with the Sinaloa cartel for control of territory. That is compounded by a split of the Sinaloa cartel
into two factions, the Chapitos (sons of El Chapo Guzman) and the Mayos. As I understand it, one faction has teamed up with the Rusos of Mexicali. The
other has joined up with the remnants of the Arellano Felix Tijuana cartel.
It is not surprising that you didn't see private vehicles on the Laguna Hanson road. Advisories were made in May, stating to stay away from the area.
Tourism is almost nonexistent. It seems that Mexicali residents would rather suffer the summer heat than take a chance on cooler temperatures in the
Sierra de Juárez .
The SEMPRA Cimarrón project is installing 64 wind turbine generators in the area that you visited. You are fortunate to have made the trip last week.
A huge wildfire erupted south of El Hongo more than a week ago. As I write this, it has advanced eastward to the Laguna Hanson road. The 6 km wide
front of the fire is south of Cerro La Plasta and Cerro Teta de la India. Livestock from at least one of the ranches are being moved south to El Topo
tonight. El Topo is safe for now, 14 km south of the fire.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3871
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Are firefighters trying to control that wildfire?
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Tioloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4269
Registered: 7-30-2014
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| Quote: Originally posted by Maderita | bajaric,
The cartel turf wars have made La Rumorosa and El Hongo a dangerous place since mid-April. A mass grave or pit was found in Rumorosa a few weeks ago
with 10 bodies. One was that of a woman who was abducted during daylight hours from her job at the gasolinera Pemex. Another news report said that 40
people have "disappeared" in the area.
There have been firefights in town with automatic weapons. Locals have been terrorized with "cuernos de chivo" AK-47s. They are afraid to report to
the police, even when there is a "disappearance". So who knows how many have been abducted and killed? For a formerly tranquil town of 2,000
residents, this is horrific.
The Jalisco New Generation cartel is fighting with the Sinaloa cartel for control of territory. That is compounded by a split of the Sinaloa cartel
into two factions, the Chapitos (sons of El Chapo Guzman) and the Mayos. As I understand it, one faction has teamed up with the Rusos of Mexicali. The
other has joined up with the remnants of the Arellano Felix Tijuana cartel.
It is not surprising that you didn't see private vehicles on the Laguna Hanson road. Advisories were made in May, stating to stay away from the area.
Tourism is almost nonexistent. It seems that Mexicali residents would rather suffer the summer heat than take a chance on cooler temperatures in the
Sierra de Juárez .
The SEMPRA Cimarrón project is installing 64 wind turbine generators in the area that you visited. You are fortunate to have made the trip last week.
A huge wildfire erupted south of El Hongo more than a week ago. As I write this, it has advanced eastward to the Laguna Hanson road. The 6 km wide
front of the fire is south of Cerro La Plasta and Cerro Teta de la India. Livestock from at least one of the ranches are being moved south to El Topo
tonight. El Topo is safe for now, 14 km south of the fire.
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Unfortunately you are correct about the area.
Also been abductions and attempts down near Valle de Trinidad and cant forget about the 8 guys murdered in Bay of LA a few weeks ago. Troubling times.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 688
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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A good question, because in the 1970s there were few efforts to stop wildfires in BCN. Yes, there are hundreds of people fighting this fire.
Professional firefighters, volunteers, and local citizens/ranchers. A helicopter arrived on the scene yesterday to drop water.
The fire started more than a week ago, south of El Hongo. Unconfirmed reports indicate that several fires were started by criminals to escape law
enforcement officers. The fires merged and continue eastward.
Most of this land is undeveloped chaparral and pinyon forest, at or above 4,000' elevation. The most recent report says 12,000 hectares have burned (=
30,000 acres / 47 sq. miles). Last night, the fire advanced across the road between La Rumorosa and the Parque Nacional/Laguna Hanson. This is a
screenshot today, June 29.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 688
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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This post today from a friend who is assisting firefighters in La Rumorosa. Screenshot w/ translation to English:
 
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bajaric
Senior Nomad
Posts: 656
Registered: 2-2-2015
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| Quote: Originally posted by Maderita | bajaric,
It is not surprising that you didn't see private vehicles on the Laguna Hanson road. Advisories were made in May, stating to stay away from the area.
Tourism is almost nonexistent. It seems that Mexicali residents would rather suffer the summer heat than take a chance on cooler temperatures in the
Sierra de Juárez .
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Now you tell me! I was actually there the day that fire started. The road south of El Condor was blocked off so I drove to Rumorosa and went south
to dig for gold. Little did I know that I was driving right into a turf war between rival factions of the Mexican cartels. I made a video of my trip
to post on YouTube, but I'm going to have to edit it and tell people to avoid the area for now, don't want to get anyone into a bad situation. Will
post a link to the video later today if I get it edited.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 688
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajaric |
Now you tell me! I was actually there the day that fire started. The road south of El Condor was blocked off so I drove to Rumorosa and went south
to dig for gold. Little did I know that I was driving right into a turf war between rival factions of the Mexican cartels. I made a video of my trip
to post on YouTube, but I'm going to have to edit it and tell people to avoid the area for now, don't want to get anyone into a bad situation. Will
post a link to the video later today if I get it edited. |
bajaric,
You missed the advance warning. A good thing, as you may have missed a fun day in the sierra. https://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=101788#pid12...
Did you go to the La Milla area?
I've been meaning to ask if you are a collector of antique mining items. If you'd like, I can get you a short length of the original water pipe that
brought water to La Milla from El Topo (circa 1930s?). The pipe is of riveted construction, with a nice red-brown rust patina displaying its age.
 
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