Violence in Baja

So with a new wave of people mentioning violence in Baja, Mexico, I thought I'd voice a single sentence or two about what I think of going to Baja right now:

GO TO BAJA, but stay away from the cities! The violence is happening in towns and cities (many border towns like tijuana and rosarito), but if you head south for a few hours and find a desolate beach after hitting up a grocery and liquor store (cheaper food/liquor prices) then you'll be just fine. Camp with a few people and preferably more than 1 vehicle or within site of other campers. I went down right before New Years and couldn't have had a better time camping. We jammed out of TJ and Rosa real quick avoiding main streets and such, but after that we didn't see anyone and when we stopped at little taco stands, they were VERY nice and even appreciative of our business...

I'd love to hear your thoughts on going to Mexico amid all the news of violence. Also - if you live down there, please let us know what you think!

Nothing personal, just a lifelong observance and comments.

I have been in "harm's way" many times in my life, and every single time I had put myself there--enlisting in Marines, working as a bodyguard and later as a bouncer, drifting into areas where the wiser would fear to tread in some of the nastier nations around the globe. Each and every time I knew exactly what I was in for, and I prepared as best I could for the situation.

However, dumb azz tourists, particularly the American ones, are another story. I find it extraordinarily hilarious when otherwise normal people find themselves DEAD, KIDNAPPED, RAPED, or simply BEATEN AND ROBBED, after consciously entering into danger. I find the comments of the media and the effected peoples' families equally hilarious.

Iraq, Pakistan, North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, MEXICO, none of these places are currently on my vacation list.

So, if you are 18, go and good luck. I can always use a good laugh.

I have been wanting to do a trip down the Baja coastline since i started reading all the reports at EXPO. Time it to include a stop at the Cabo Cantina for Sammy's B-Day Bash.. that would be a party!

Honestly i dont think any of my local friends and travelmates would opt for this trip during these times... to easy to opt for something else less dangerous. We might feel different if it wasnt a weeks drive..

I do have a craving to experience a beach camp complete with a bonfire, clambake and fish taco's.

I have done a lot of traveling in Mexico, but I'm not sure I'd do much driving down there right now.
Flying down to Cabo would be fine, but driving down to Puerta Los Angeles would not be on my list of things to do.
I hope they can get it together down there soon, I miss it.

Jump This said:

I have done a lot of traveling in Mexico, but I'm not sure I'd do much driving down there right now.
Flying down to Cabo would be fine, but driving down to Puerta Los Angeles would not be on my list of things to do.
I hope they can get it together down there soon, I miss it.

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Bahia de Los Angeles is one of the spots i really wanted to visit.

Guess i could drive through mainland Mex and ferry across.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/09/mexican-drug-cartels-warn-shut-up-or-heads-will-ro/print/


Meeh, I've always wanted to wheel Baja......but have lost interest recently.

In '08 there was a group of 3 motorcycle riders pre-running for the Baja 1000. They got too close to somebody's "farm" and was shot.

He survived. It was oficially labeled "a hunting accident"...

I spent 15 years in a row going to San Felipe for the Baja 250.

I haven't been there at all in the last 4 years....

Seems like a lot of negative responses here. For a fun read, I also posted the same question on Expo and got mostly positive responses...

Now the million dollar question: why the difference in attitudes on two similar forums?

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=606097#post606097

Ex-Po and Naxja are not similar at all. I find myself really having to bite my inner cheek a lot over there. I find a lot of valuable info there and I also find a lot of real weiners too. Seems like a lot of the guys there are just wannabe evironmentalists who just can't quite get rid of their vechicles for whatever reason. I'm sure most people there aren't that way but there is a lot who are.

I equate environmentalists to very stupid people with no common sense. Might be one reason they are willing to go into harms way without thinking about it.

On the other side of things... That site is all about long distance expedition travel. A lot of people there have a lot of experience with third world countries and could very well know exactly what they are talking about. Where a lot of people here are scared because they see it on the news but don't have any first hand personal experience.

Nothing negative about making an educated decision to opt for spending time where one feels safe and has more rights/options in self protection.

In the event i was driving through a neighborhood in Philadelphia and was suddenly rushed by armed assailants i'd simply "attempt" to run em down.. and feel secure that i wouldnt be incarcerated in a foreign country. I'm comparing the recent video thread over there.

Also, i havent read a single report of armed assailants actually being law enforcement here in the states.

Again, had i grown up in your area i may feel differently.

OverlandXJ said:

Also, i havent read a single report of armed assailants actually being law enforcement here in the states.

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That's a good point. I have heard/read story after story of tourists being robbed or carjacked by either police or people posing as police in Baja...

Kind of hard for me to have a good time in a place where you don't even know if the uniformed are good guys or bad.....

The bottom line is right now no matter where you go you could end up dead. There has been so many kidnappings that never hit the news, hell there is a company in LA that does nothing but negotiations for people held hostage in Mex. I would love to Race the 500 or 1k but not right now. They are even robbing and raping the Surf crowd in the middle of no-where. Suck's becouse Mex is way cool. I just figure there is so much to see and do here why chance it.

FordGuy said:

Suck's becouse Mex is way cool.

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So cool that they are just rushing to leave their home country by the thousands every day? I will never set foot in Mexico if I don't have to.

FlexdXJ said:

So cool that they are just rushing to leave their home country by the thousands every day? I will never set foot in Mexico if I don't have to.

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I can understand why some people say that, but there is a lot to be said for spending time in other countries. I have been to a bunch of other countries and don't regret any of them.

Oh there are plenty of countries I would love to go to but Mexico is not on that list. Japan, Australia and Italy would be very cool to visit.

YA! I hope I can do a two week exchange program with my grad school to go to China

OverlandXJ said:

Also, i havent read a single report of armed assailants actually being law enforcement here in the states.

.

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Nothing I could share. Two years ago went to a meeting with the Mexican Navy in Ensenada, MX. Had to drive down from San Diego, was told by a security officer, do NOT stop even for law enforcement until after Rosarito.

HeepSpeed said:

Seems like a lot of negative responses here. For a fun read, I also posted the same question on Expo and got mostly positive responses...

Now the million dollar question: why the difference in attitudes on two similar forums?

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=606097#post606097

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You didnt give it enough time Your still newish over there.. you'll see that it's not comprised of level headed mature members like in the old days. Guess thats true with growth of any Bulletin Board though. The old days it was nice there. Kinda like the way it is here now.. :wave1: We just need more content.

Boatwrench said:

Nothing I could share. Two years ago went to a meeting with the Mexican Navy in Ensenada, MX. Had to drive down from San Diego, was told by a security officer, do NOT stop even for law enforcement until after Rosarito.

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You had the Feds behind ya if you did attempt it. I dont think thats a wise option for a civilian. Wonder if the Duke boys are busy... that would be entertaining.

FlexdXJ said:

So cool that they are just rushing to leave their home country by the thousands every day? I will never set foot in Mexico if I don't have to.

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x2 billion.

I just don't understand why people want to go spend money down there when the money can be cycled back into our economy by just vacationing in the states. Most people I know say they go down there cuz everything is so cheap. All they really are doing is taking advantage of really poor people.

billy baker said:

I just don't understand why people want to go spend money down there.....

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Then you haven't experienced Baja....

Baja is VERY remote once you get past the tourist zone. It's ruggedly beautiful, and in a lot of places very desolate.

Try camping on the beach in Ca., good luck!

Everyplace is either paved over, or overrun.... Ever been to Pismo on a big weekend? It's a ZOO!!

But how is visiting another country taking advantage of poor people? I don't see the connection.

Not trying to argue with you. I do agree that with the economy the way it is, we might all be better served spending our vacation dollars here.

It's just sad. Baja is a very unique place. And the people who live there, the honest people, are some of the most kind and gentle people you will ever meet.

This is a case of a bunch of bad apples XXXXing it up for everybody else.

I have been all the way to La Paz and back. Spent 15 years exploring Baja......

I am also a member of the Patriot Point Posse (Minutemen).

I have spent too many nights watching the garbage spill over the border into the U.S. I have spent too many days repairing the damage and cleaning up the trash the narco and human smugglers have left behind.

It's very bad on the border and I will not cross again until someone gets a handle on the situation down there.