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vagabundo84
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 5-18-2009
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Straight answer on Baja safety right now
Nomads,
My buddies and I have been going annual trips to Baja for 6 years now, usually driving all the way to the tip and back. We've encountered the usual
Baja problems, eg. la mordida, broken down in the desert, getting drugged at bars, petty theft, and it's always been fine. This year we are planning
on crossing at Tecate, and heading to BOLA and Abreojos. With all the media attention though, we obviously are a little apprehensive. We always travel
in groups, during the day, and dont even stop until we're south of Ensenada. What I am wondering is just a straight answer from people who are down
there as to how safe/unsafe it really is. It seems like people are still crossing the border fine and taking trips down there, I just want some
reassurance. Thanks for the help and I appreciate honest answers.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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two weekends ago we survived around colonet/ san q area. during the swine flu epidemic we were in the central desert and survived.
i'd go to yosemite if i was thinking clearly!!!
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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Please list the bars where you were drugged, I'd like to go there... ....dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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Straight answer: The same thing is going on as before, the difference is that there are many many more people and the means of comunication are very
high speed.
In my younger days I would do all the things you say you did and quite probably a lot more. Now I am also aprehensive, age, kids, responsibility makes
me not go out as before (not even if fishbuck is in town).
You want reassurance? Caca can happen any time but if you are alert, cautious and vigilant you have MY assurance that you will have a great time. You
have to know in your mind that you will have a great time and that if something goes wrong you can always call me and I will take full responsibility,
regardless.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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I just U2U'd you all my contact info.
Enjoy your trip.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
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Mood: Skeptical
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We are not targets!
You will pass through Tecate and all points south with no hint of violence. I do so twice annually and just returned last week from Mulege.
Of course, there is always a chance that you could be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but you are playing the odds, and the odds are in your
favor against any problems regarding cartel violence.
Getting your information through the media is kind of like looking at bad weather from inside your warm house. It always looks worse from inside the
window than it really is. Once you get outside, you say, "Aw, it ain't all that bad".
Just take sensible precautions like you say you always do. Enjoy your trip like you always do. Don't buy into the Culture of Fear. 
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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I've been doing the border to Cabo, and intermediate trips for years. Some trips were totally uneventful. There were a couple where the mordita became
part of it. Some trips found awful traffic accidents; a few with adrenaline inducing close calls with oncoming traffic around tight curves. I'm headed
down to Cabo soon. I anticipate a more or less uneventful journey. That being said, I will exercise an elevated level of caution and vigilance, only
because this year, the economy is so bad. When times are tough, crime does rise. From every thing I've read, there's a higher presence of police and
troops. That has to be reassuring.
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bajasammy
Nomad
Posts: 119
Registered: 11-21-2006
Location: OC/Estero Beach
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Just got back from Estero on a quick weekend trip with the family. Hearing all the alerts/warnings up north can make you apprehensive.
But once we arrive, everything seems the same as it's always been - with the same friendly, helpful people we've come to expect.
Enjoy your trip!
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fdt
Now I am also aprehensive, age, kids, responsibility makes me not go out as before (not even if fishbuck is in town).
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fdt....did you mean "not even"....or did you really mean "especially if"?
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
You will pass through Tecate and all points south with no hint of violence. I do so twice annually and just returned last week from Mulege.
Of course, there is always a chance that you could be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but you are playing the odds, and the odds are in your
favor against any problems regarding cartel violence.
Getting your information through the media is kind of like looking at bad weather from inside your warm house. It always looks worse from inside the
window than it really is. Once you get outside, you say, "Aw, it ain't all that bad".
Just take sensible precautions like you say you always do. Enjoy your trip like you always do. Don't buy into the Culture of Fear. |
FDT is right. Limit the risks and enjoy your trip. I do take exception with the "We are not targets" headline. We have and will ALWAYS be targets
to some extent down here when we are most vulnerable- the cast of bad guys and the police just take their turns so we keep coming back for more.
\"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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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
Member Is Offline
Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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I drove down last week and the week before, crossing at Tijuana and had no problems. Use common sense, drive during the day like you said and have a
great trip.
As a matter of perspective, my sister lives in Baja and crosses the border every day for work. She has been doing this for 6 years now and has never
had a problem.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3894
Registered: 2-9-2004
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"We've encountered the usual Baja problems, eg. la mordida, broken down in the desert, getting drugged at bars, petty theft, and it's always been
fine."
This is the USUAL for you? Jeez - you're doing something wrong. And you think this is "fine"? Heed the advice about being a target - sounds like
you've been targeted in the past, and times are getting a little more desperate.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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----been traveling in Baja since 1952, tho not so much lately. I have NEVER, repeat NEVER had any of the problems you spoke of, or are reported
lately, either north or south of the Border.
Stay vigilant, don't do dumb things, don't forget to lock up things, hide valuable items or leave them at home, and have a great time.
"Target", or not, thugs watch out for folks acting dumb, and throwing caution to the wind, and showing off.
Having said all this, yes, it IS riskier now than before, but that is just my opinion.
Barry
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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i think "risk" is all relative. when i was younger i did all kinds of risky stuff. now that i know better (and lived to talk about it) all this
regular life stuff isn't that risky at all.
P-E-R-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E
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vagabundo84
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 5-18-2009
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Thanks for all of the quick replies! For the record we got members of our group drugged at Iggy's in Rosarito and Squid Roe in Cabo...but that was
back in our heavy drinking days at the bar scene at night...now we're older and content to simply have some cold beers with close friends while in
camp...Baja is such a special place to us as I know it is to everyone else on this board, and I would hate to skip out on it do the aforementioned
"culture of fear". Thanks for all of the info, and feel free to keep it coming.
On another note, does anyone have any experience/info with taking a bus while in Baja...specifically from G.N. to Loreto? I know there are a few
companies, just trying to find timetable and if anyone ever encountered any issues. Thanks again.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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no.
but when you return have some horrific story agreed upon to tell all of your other pals who stayed home, cowering in fear!
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oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vagabundo84
For the record we got members of our group drugged at Iggy's in Rosarito and Squid Roe in Cabo |
Thats like saying, "we went to Las Vegas and the casinos stole our money!"
I have been driving to Baja for over 40 years now and have never had any of the experiences you relate. We're just 2 dull and boring people.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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The Diva of Soul
... and no, this is not a hijack, thread car or otherwise
Pop some vintage R&B in your CD player and remember the sage advice from one of the most powerful women in the US, Miss Aretha Franklin: " R E S P
E C T "
You know the rest, Mr. 
Regards, and Happy Travels, Ms. 
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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If you stay out of bad places, bad things won't happen.
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rpleger
Super Nomad
Posts: 1087
Registered: 3-12-2005
Location: H. Mulegé, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Was good.
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Taking the bus in Baja is generally uneventful..Their good modern buses with all the stuff on them...GN to Loreto would be a good ride, not to many
stops..
Don´t worry and have a great time....wonderful people here.
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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