sherwood
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-27-2007
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How far south of TJ is "safe" for surfing and camping these days?
Myself and some friends are planning a camping surf trip starting in a couple days (leaving early on the 31st from san diego (anyone else heading out
then?)) and I was hoping to get any info/advice on security/safety at some the spots just south of ensenada (punta san jose etc).
We are thinking to just blast on through further south just to get well away from what someone called in another post "the black triangle" of the
boarder area.
Any thoughts on where a worry free zone may begin? Is it silly to skip these sweet spots just because of some sketchy press or should we take them as
a warning and not set ourselves up for problems?
I guess the bandito fever has gotten me as some other friends have bailed on this trip for a "safer" holiday in california.
Any thoughts would be helpful.
thanks from a first time poster
PS When our friends leave after two weeks we will be continuing on south crossing at la paz and making our way down through the rest of mexico,
guatemala, el salvador, honduras and into nicaragua so if anyone out there is on the same schedule let me know and maybe we can connect along the way.
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sherwood
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-27-2007
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sorry it was the "devils triangle"
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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The board consensus seems to be that "real" Baja begins at El Rosario - north of there is increasingly dicey for tourists, ESPECIALLY in big,
expensive trucks with surfboards . . .
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
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Mood: wait and see
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Costa Rica
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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While I am not a board surfer, I traveled along some of the areas north and south of Punta San Jose (ie. Seven Sisters) last July... Except for local
fishermen, you will be all alone in most of the places.
I have photos, map, and road log if you think it could be usefull: July, 2007 Baja Trip (Remote Pacific Coast & more)
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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I would start to breathe easier past SANTO TOMAS ......with the exception of CUATRO CASAS it seems like the beach areas have been safe....the problem
has been going through town to get there.....
best call....sisters area....
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backninedan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 865
Registered: 3-8-2003
Location: Loreto
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Nicaragua has some great surf this time of year....
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Gadget
Senior Nomad
Posts: 851
Registered: 9-10-2006
Location: Point Loma CA
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Mood: Blessed with another day
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Quote: | Originally posted by sherwood
Myself and some friends are planning a camping surf trip starting in a couple days (leaving early on the 31st from san diego (anyone else heading out
then?)) and I was hoping to get any info/advice on security/safety at some the spots just south of ensenada (punta san jose etc).
We are thinking to just blast on through further south just to get well away from what someone called in another post "the black triangle" of the
boarder area.
Any thoughts on where a worry free zone may begin? Is it silly to skip these sweet spots just because of some sketchy press or should we take them as
a warning and not set ourselves up for problems?
I guess the bandito fever has gotten me as some other friends have bailed on this trip for a "safer" holiday in california.
Any thoughts would be helpful.
thanks from a first time poster
PS When our friends leave after two weeks we will be continuing on south crossing at la paz and making our way down through the rest of mexico,
guatemala, el salvador, honduras and into nicaragua so if anyone out there is on the same schedule let me know and maybe we can connect along the way.
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Sounds like a great trip. You have alot of country to travel through where things could go down. Some of the northern countries in Central America
still have some issues. Butting heads with a few dirt bag crack heads in BCN could be good training for a tangle with some seasoned mercenary jungle
fighters. But heh, that's what it's all about, the unknown and the adventure.
My travels through those areas in the 70s was met by all our friends and family calling us nuts. It wasn't always easy but it sure was fun.
I personally think Punta San Jose and Punta Cabras are still pretty safe and you may find some surf, real nice freezing cold water and some pretty
friendly locals. Again, good training for the tropics. Keep a low profile if you leave to the south through Erendira. Cops can be b-tchy there.
Avoid anywhere else until south of El Rosario IMHO.
Good skill to ya and keep your heads up.
We'll be looking for a trip report from you newby when you get back.
"Mankind will not be judged by their faults, but by the direction of their lives." Leo Giovinetti
See you in Baja
http://www.LocosMocos.com
Gadget
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Cardon Man
Super Nomad
Posts: 1319
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Thetis Bank
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Mood: !Al Chingaso!
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Baja to Nicaragua
Sherwood...I made the road trip from Baja to Nicaragua a couple of years ago. Quite an adventure that's for sure. The border crossings were the worst
of it in my opinion. They can be long, tedious and sometimes a little crazy. It's along drive and it takes you through some possibly "sketchy"
stiuations. But you wil see some great country along the way. Be safe and enjoy.
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mgray
Junior Nomad
Posts: 31
Registered: 12-13-2007
Location: Vancouver
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Mood: Baja Dreamin
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We won't be leaving until the first week of February so you maybe be too far ahead of us. We're planning no further south than Acapulco, but with the
right friends we can be coherst into going anywhere.
I backpacked around Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama for 4 months last year. Boy did I wish I had a vehicle. We ended up renting one in Costa Rica
for a week. Nicaragua had better roads than Costa Rica, and Panama was the best. We met some guys from Victoria BC who drove their Land Cruiser all
the way down to Costa Rica. I was so jelous.
Anyways, Nicaragua surf was awesome. Especially around San Juan Del Sur, the most crowded area and its not even that crowded. Offshores all day,
nice nice waves. CHEAP! Also check out Las Penitas on the coast, close to Leon
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sherwood
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-27-2007
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Gracias
gracias a todos!
all's well and we're already in san jose del cabo having dropped some freinds off at the airport. great camping on the pacific and the of cortez.
ready to get back to camping after all the city driving and expensive restaurants.
mgray keep in touch about where you are. you never know where we'll get "stuck"...
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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I've heard a few comments here about Costa Rica being safer than Baja.............
I was there last year and I had a great time, but.....
I also was warned about places to stay away from (just like in Baja) also met some people that had the same thing happen to them that has been
happening on the toll road in Baja..........
I heard many more stories about bad stuff happening in Costa than in Baja and I spend much more time and know many more people in Baja than I will
ever meet or speak to in Costa Rica.
On the up side, Land is cheaper, cost of living cheaper they have a 98% litercy (way more than the USA as you can tell from my spelling) most
everyone speaks English also. It's CLEAN, CLEAN.....(at least where I was) Bottom line..........we all need to do our home work, I started going to
mainland Mexico about 30 yrs. ago. Got burned out on all the crap going on there...........sooooooooooo, on to Baja. I think what is most scary to
us is that most of us have been going to Baja for years and knew that we were safe........now, We, (at least me) are having to take a second thought
because its hard to avoid problem areas with the limited routes to get to where we want to go. It sucks!
I'm so glad that all of you are speaking out about what is happening and where. as I said in another thread, I want to know, I need to know so I can
use the information to keep a heads up...........Will I stop going? No, not yet.........but, I will keep reading, watching and listening. When I
start to really get worried, no more!
Thanks to all of you that keep the info. coming!
AND A HUGE! Thanks to Doug for keeping this place for us to come to get the information!
Mean people suck!
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