| Pages:
1
2 |
aster
Newbie
Posts: 24
Registered: 12-15-2013
Location: Portland, Oregon
Member Is Offline
|
|
Baja safety & crime circa 2013?
Just trying to get a sense of y'alls honest opinions on crime as it currently stands in Baja. Stateside all we hear about Mexico is pretty much a
steady stream of cartel violence, kidnappings, armed robbery, etc - obviously while there are still some very dangerous spots in the country I'm
guessing that stereotype does other areas (like Baja) a disservice. On another travel forum I was warned not to take our Jeep down there next month as
"drug runners are taking 4WD vehicles at gunpoint left & right".
So where does the truth lay currently?
We'll be down there before long and I'm trying to get a handle on best practices for safety. Right now I've just got a few via friends who've spent
time there:
-Don't drive at night due to borrachos and animals on the road
-Stuff left unsecured at a campsite or in-vehicle is liable to walk away (not sure if this applies to hotel rooms too?)
-Stop signs are yield signs in practice
-Occasional shakedowns from traffic cops & such
-We've got a "Club" for our steering wheel, I know this isn't really that effective a deterrent and am even wondering if it'd just draw attention to
our vehicle, worth bringing?
Any other tips for a couple gringos driving south for the first time?
I've lived in cities with rough neighborhoods and get the whole "keep your wits about you" concept, but it's been probably 7 years since I've been to
Mexico (and then the Yucatan) so we're simply not sure what to expect nowadays...
[Edited on 12-28-2013 by aster]
|
|
|
Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
Member Is Offline
|
|
Aster, if you let us know where in Mexico you're planning to visit, we can be of more help. Like if you just said Michigan, we might ask: "Detroit or
somewhere near Muscrat Breath Lake Lodge by Lake Comenseeme". See the diff? That holds true for a lot of places including Baja and Mexico.
|
|
|
aster
Newbie
Posts: 24
Registered: 12-15-2013
Location: Portland, Oregon
Member Is Offline
|
|
Duly noted Osprey!
We plan to head down to San Quintin for a night and then spend the bulk of the trip in Mulege & Bahia Concepcion, maybe a visit to Loreto in there
too.
Were going to just cross in TJ and go south on 1, however I'm quite glad I just clicked on the road collapse thread! Looks like Tecate and 3 is where
it's at for the time being.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64755
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
If Baja was such a dangerous and terrible place to travel in... how do you explain web sites like Baja Nomad? I mean nobody would want to go if it was
truly that way.
I have been going to Baja on my own since I was 16 (1974, Spring Break) and before then with my folks... always to remote destinations, off the beaten
track, and have NEVER had any problems. Every city in the world has crime, so my answer is to not vacation or camp in a city... any country...
|
|
|
BigOly
Senior Nomad
Posts: 522
Registered: 10-1-2010
Location: Los Barriles, Bandon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Birder
|
|
I's like anywhere on earth. Be aware of your surroundings and don't give opportunity to the scum of the world. Most people are gooood people.
|
|
|
monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Be careful camping between San Quintin and El Rosario, there have been many incidents in that area.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
|
|
|
apple
Nomad
Posts: 284
Registered: 11-4-2013
Location: SD
Member Is Offline
|
|
We use the Club in our car religiously. It's not going to keep a thief at bay for hours, but just a few extra minutes will make a thief a lot less
eager to mess with our car and they'll be likely to move on to easier prey.
We've been in La Paz for the past year and have traveled and camped around Baja Sur a bunch in that time and only problem we had was when we left our
car overnight with a window open enough for someone to get an arm in and unlock it and steal a little change and a flashlight. Other than that,
trouble with anyone at all.
|
|
|
Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
|
|
The Cops are the biggest problem.
|
|
|
bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 464
Registered: 1-13-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Cross early in the day, drive as far south as San Quintin and camp at Celito Lindo or El Pabillon campgrounds, or continue to Catavina and camp at
Rancho Santa Inez. Do not beach camp in the San Quintin area, especially along the beaches south of San Quintin.
I have always felt that the odds of having a bad traffic accident are much greater that the odds of suffering at the hand of drug lords. Dive safely!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64755
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajarich
Cross early in the day, drive as far south as San Quintin and camp at Celito Lindo or El Pabillon campgrounds, or continue to Catavina and camp at
Rancho Santa Inez. Do not beach camp in the San Quintin area, especially along the beaches south of San Quintin.
I have always felt that the odds of having a bad traffic accident are much greater that the odds of suffering at the hand of drug lords. Dive safely!
|
I don't understand... you advise to camp at Cielito Lindo or El Pabellon (both just south of San Quintin), then say NOT to beach camp in San Quintin
area especially just south of... ???
|
|
|
bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 464
Registered: 1-13-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
I have always camped at El Pabillon and Celito Lindo and never had a problem but have heard stories about the dangers of beach camping outside of
established camping areas. There is also the Old Mill in San Quintin. Many years ago we used to beach camp north of San Quintin at Punta San
Jacinto. The last time I was there it had grown into a high security fenced enclave, indicating that crime might be a problem. Maybe you have more
knowledge of the area than me, I have only gone on recommendations of other Baja campers i have met in my 20 years of Baja travel.
|
|
|
Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Marc
The Cops are the biggest problem. |
I hate blanket statements like this one. For every cop who takes a little mordida, there are 50 or 100 cops who go out of there way to provide
assistance.
I never cease to be amazed at the number or tourists who come to Mexico (especially younger people) who truly work at looking like the dregs of
American Society with dreadlocks, never wearing a shirt in public, and drinking open containers of beer as they walk down the street, and then
wondering why they get singled out by the cops for "special treatment". Perhaps things are a little more basic down here and they still "profile"
people by how they look. Imagine that.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64755
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajarich
I have always camped at El Pabillon and Celito Lindo and never had a problem but have heard stories about the dangers of beach camping outside of
established camping areas. There is also the Old Mill in San Quintin. Many years ago we used to beach camp north of San Quintin at Punta San
Jacinto. The last time I was there it had grown into a high security fenced enclave, indicating that crime might be a problem. Maybe you have more
knowledge of the area than me, I have only gone on recommendations of other Baja campers i have met in my 20 years of Baja travel.
|
Thank you, so you recommend no 'open camping' in the area, but okay inside campgrounds (like at Pabellon, Cielito Lindo, Los Olivos, Posada Don Diego,
etc.) no problema. 
|
|
|
bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 464
Registered: 1-13-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Yes, although I'm not familiar the the others you mentioned, but I'll take your word that they are safe. Perhaps we'll stay at one of them for a new
experience.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64755
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
They have web sites and their owners are Nomads (but not posting much).
Los Olivos is next door to Baja Jardines Motel & Restaurant, about Km. 1-2 just south of San Quintin where the highway narrows.
Posada Don Diego is on the south side of Colonia V. Guerrero and a mile west of Hwy. 1 near the propane distributor at the top of the rise.
|
|
|
tortuga
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: Bellevue, Idaho or Los Barriles B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Muy Despacio
|
|
El Pabellon
We also like to stay there. We have never had any problems there. There is a 24 hr Pemex right there as well. Gizmo loves the beach !
![DSCF5601 - Copy [640x480].JPG - 44kB](https://forums.bajanomad.com/files.php?pid=872712&aid=30916 "DSCF5601 - Copy [640x480].JPG - 44kB")
|
|
|
nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
|
|
Oh... do stop at the stop signs as it is not counted as a yield to a cop who stops you. Nancy
|
|
|
dtutko1
Nomad
Posts: 341
Registered: 8-26-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by aster
Just trying to get a sense of y'alls honest opinions on crime as it currently stands in Baja. Stateside all we hear about Mexico is pretty much a
steady stream of cartel violence, kidnappings, armed robbery, etc - obviously while there are still some very dangerous spots in the country I'm
guessing that stereotype does other areas (like Baja) a disservice. On another travel forum I was warned not to take our Jeep down there next month as
"drug runners are taking 4WD vehicles at gunpoint left & right".
So where does the truth lay currently?
We'll be down there before long and I'm trying to get a handle on best practices for safety. Right now I've just got a few via friends who've spent
time there:
-Don't drive at night due to borrachos and animals on the road
-Stuff left unsecured at a campsite or in-vehicle is liable to walk away (not sure if this applies to hotel rooms too?)
-Stop signs are yield signs in practice
-Occasional shakedowns from traffic cops & such
-We've got a "Club" for our steering wheel, I know this isn't really that effective a deterrent and am even wondering if it'd just draw attention to
our vehicle, worth bringing?
Any other tips for a couple gringos driving south for the first time?
I've lived in cities with rough neighborhoods and get the whole "keep your wits about you" concept, but it's been probably 7 years since I've been to
Mexico (and then the Yucatan) so we're simply not sure what to expect nowadays...
[Edited on 12-28-2013 by aster] |
Down here in TS, Pescadero we see little to no cartel violence, kidnappings etc. We see lots of theft. Everyday things are stolen in the
neighborhoods. Don't leave anything of value unlocked or unattended. Thievery on many levels from flip flops to ATVs. Do not let your guard down. Get
or bring a dog that barks.
Dorado Don
|
|
|
SlyOnce
Nomad
Posts: 262
Registered: 12-26-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
I live in Playas de Tijuana and travel up and down the coast to Ensenada, and throughout TJ. I've never been a victim of a crime in MX. Playas
itself is very safe and I do not feel at risk from the police here. I do not feel at risk from police in the other cities, although I feel I need to
be super careful in downtown TJ around Centro. There was a drug related murder and also a high profile kidnapping here in Playas this year. TJ,
Playas, Rosarito and Ensenada are not overly dangerous from cartel violence at this time.
Most of the Army checkpoints on the road have been closed (they are open at sporadic, random, times).
There is a very strong social pressure to make northern Baja safe for the return of tourists. There are special tourist police and you may call 078
at any time and (in English) request help, even when stopped by regular police.
My novia and I walk on the beach in Playas at midnight, drink coffee in coffee shops on the malecon, and watch all the kids playing. We launched
"globos de cantoya" hot air balloons chineese lanterns for Christmas along with about 1500 other people. There is nothing to fear, here at least.
Take normal precautions - Lock car with closed windows. Cover valuables. I don't have a club but I do have a hidden kill switch.
|
|
|
Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8942
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Its Pole Line Road time
|
|
Crooked cop in San Quintin who wanted my Jeep
In 2008 at the end of the Baja Grande event I hosted, I came upon a road block just south of San Quintin. The Officer in charge asked me to get out
of my Jeep. When he saw that the 7 vehicles behind me did not drive past me, he asked, "Are those vehicles with you?" When I said, "Yes, they are."
He said, "You can get in your Jeep (and go)."
Hmmmmmm.....
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
