Warning about Baja Travel

[Dean Machine]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Nice first post. Someone talks about their experience and you try to flip it on him. Its responses from ignorant people like you that make me lower my head in disgust because I to am Mexican. Do you even own a kayak?

X2 for sure.
He needs to try gaining some credibility on this board before flaming out on the first post.

Hopefully this thread can continue to be a good discussion and it will not get too personal. I have been thinking about the Mexico travel subject for quite some time and value all the opinions posted even though it sometimes seems like we are beating a dead horse.

I found some really good links on the subject.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...w/tw_4755.html

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs...ityUpdate.html

Seems like a good source. People may be able to form their own opinions from these and their own experience.

[greenscales]

The only difference between our government and theirs stealing our money, they do it in plain daylight while in uniform ours does it behind closed doors while wearing suits in some committee room (or faking science to take our fishing rights away.)

I've posted a few times on my solo trips to Northern Baja waters. The only times I have had problems w/the federales at the checkpoints I have been an obvious mark. Once was cash that I thought I hid well enough and the other was a flashlight that I would have given them anyways. Each time I was coming back to the states late on quiet Sunday nights, visibly wiped out after a long day of kayaking, breaking camp, and cleaning fish. Let my guard down and stepped aside as 1 or 2 would distract me as 2 others raided the vehicle looking for something I would not miss for at least a few miles down the road.

However my 4 trips in the last year I was heading back on busier days where they only had one or two guards checking me out and they were really just concerned I wasn't hauling drugs or guns. I can't speak for the San Felipe route or below Colonett, but the federales I have dealt with been very professional the last few years.

For anyone interested in a first trip down, I am contemplating a quick run to either LaBuf or PST Labor Day weekend, leave Friday and return early Monday. I also would like to do my annual Thanksgiving run down there. PM me if interested - you'll need to bring the magazines and I'll get the beer to gift the Federales.

[BOOGIE]

Its really not my first post, probably my third or forth a tecnical thing i gess, but ebery time i have post its on the same matter, i guess i dont like people critizising the place a live and love, do i own a kayak?, all my life, do i like fishing? more or the same as the next guy i just don like it wen some one shares his experience some people just jump right away to say that your crazy to take your fammily there, i so some assholes driving a caravan with white flags on ther antenas like if there where crossing a war zone, things like ïts no wonder it hapened over there, you would never see that here,my respons wasnt to the guy that get robed i am realy sorry that that hapaned, my response was for those that allways complain about Mexico but cant get unogh of it, and as far as choosing my words i stand behind them,all of them, y para ti cabron que dices que eres Mexicano chinga tu madre verguenza te deveria de dar andar defendiendo estas pendejadas, vente a vivir aqui a mexico y paga tus impuestos aqui y chingate como todos y luego vienes adefender tu causa, and as far as earning mi credibility?,i didnt know you have to insult some one to earn it, full of b.s?, pendejo?, trets like choose your words?, nice credibility, nice way to treat a first post, butt i am sorry, i guess i got mixup with another country, and as far as mi spelling it didnt seem like a problem i gess every one understand wat i say

[cowboybill]

I had to respond again after seeing the comment from the guy trying to turn this around to seem like Mexico bashing... The big thing to remember is you do not have the same rights, or access to legal protection, period.

On a positive note; I must say that while travelling near Laguna Hanson (roughly 50-75 miles south of Tecate), My 4x4 broke down. Battery lost 2 cells...I was on flat ground so I could not bump it....
I hiked about 3-5 miles north, and met 2 brothers farming....Long story short, these 2 brothers took about 3-4 hours to get me back and running. They had to get out an old ford bronco, get it started, get gas, etc, etc...
They saved my ass, and asked for nothing. In fact the family offered me dinner and a nights stay! I gave them $50 or so for their troubles (they would not take more) and took off. It has been over 15 years, and I still remember their names...Martin and Mario of Rancho Day....

The locals tend to be just good down home folk... I wish the legal system was as ethical.

Cowboybill

[dorado50]

Thats what makes Baja so special! Just wonderful families there and people like those that helped you with your truck are everywhere there.

[Thresher_Cowboy]

Mexico is a dangerous place for Americans to travel. That's a fact, let's not call it anything that it's not. Are there ways to minimize your risk? Sure, but that doesn't mean it's not dangerous.

Boogie, I hope you can live with yourself when you convince some family to travel through your great country and they're raped and murdered because you convinced them it was so safe and awesome. Wake up.

[dorado50]

I like this threasher cow dude, as some people will (do) follow his words and not come to Baja. Good for me and others for two reasons 1) less traffic 2) more fish !!! See you on the otherside.

[bluesquids]

I started to explore B.C. in my 20's in my VW camper van. It was great until the same scenario went down with me. They took all day and went thru every nook and cranny of my bus and confiscated a bunch of stuff. I remember a really expensive pair of soccer cleats in particular.

[Thresher_Cowboy]

Originally Posted by dorado50

I like this threasher cow dude, as some people will (do) follow his words and not come to Baja. Good for me and others for two reasons 1) less traffic 2) more fish !!! See you on the otherside.

I'm trying to keep it real. Painting a picture like Mexico is soooo safe and wonderful is a dangerous and irresponsible message to send to people reading this public forum. There are very real dangers people should be aware of, despite the downplaying and nonchalant comments from people like yourself.

[dorado50]

Originally Posted by Thresher_Cowboy

I'm trying to keep it real. Painting a picture like Mexico is soooo safe and wonderful is a dangerous and irresponsible message to send to people reading this public forum. There are very real dangers people should be aware of, despite the downplaying and nonchalant comments from people like yourself.

Like I said ,the more people that listen to your rhetoric the better for me and others 1) less traffic 2)more fish

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by cowboybill

I had to respond again after seeing the comment from the guy trying to turn this around to seem like Mexico bashing... The big thing to remember is you do not have the same rights, or access to legal protection, period.

On a positive note; I must say that while travelling near Laguna Hanson (roughly 50-75 miles south of Tecate), My 4x4 broke down. Battery lost 2 cells...I was on flat ground so I could not bump it....
I hiked about 3-5 miles north, and met 2 brothers farming....Long story short, these 2 brothers took about 3-4 hours to get me back and running. They had to get out an old ford bronco, get it started, get gas, etc, etc...
They saved my ass, and asked for nothing. In fact the family offered me dinner and a nights stay! I gave them $50 or so for their troubles (they would not take more) and took off. It has been over 15 years, and I still remember their names...Martin and Mario of Rancho Day....

The locals tend to be just good down home folk... I wish the legal system was as ethical.

Cowboybill

I have been seeing this type of friendliness down there for the last 10 years. Just this last weekend I needed my air conditioning charged. I went to a guy who took me to the place where they have all their work done. 60 minutes later my AC is running like magic and the guy charged me $40 for all the work he did.

I have only had 1 issue going down to Baja, and that is not enough to keep me from going down there. I will do things differently when going through the check point from now on, and I will know a lot more Spanish as well.

Sadly there are too many people up here that Pre-judge the people south of the border and it's not fair. I have no problem with anyone wanting to stay safe, but please don't assume that everyone in Baja is the same as the drug lords we keep hearing about. I have 2 fishing guides that I know down there that I would trust my life with, and I also know many people down there that I would do that same.

It's a fun place to visit just be smart, safe, and check your temper at the border.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by Dean Machine

I found some really good links on the subject.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...w/tw_4755.html

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs...ityUpdate.html

Seems like a good source. People may be able to form their own opinions from these and their own experience.

Both of these links are great and good information to know.

[eddier68]

I actually know Boogie, he a pretty cool dude and damn good fisherman., I definately see both sides of the issue. The way i look at if you go down just use common sense. Drive in the day , watch where you park, dont leave valubales in plain sight, etc. Like Jimmy said, i've met some of the friendliest people in baja. Strangers who actually acknowledge you when you walk by ( "Buenas tardes/ Dia" ) and strangers who pull over to help you out with an overheating radiator or flat then dont take your cash when you offer them some. It 's sad to see the good people of baja suffer because of a corrupt cop or thief has fu*** it all up for them/ us. As for me i'll still be going down to baja, i'll actually be fishng my favorite kelpbed tomorrow morning in the Rosarito area with a buddy of mine. I fished a kayak tournament last weekend in Ensenada with zero problems on the drive down or back. Took second place too!!! Be safe WHEREVER you go!!! Cheers!!!!

EDDIE


Reppin a BWE hat!!!

[vito]

es todo Eddie!!!! Good job on that tourney!!!!
see you tomorrow!!!!
saludos

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by BOOGIE

Its really not my first post, probably my third or forth a tecnical thing i gess, but ebery time i have post its on the same matter, i guess i dont like people critizising the place a live and love, do i own a kayak?, all my life, do i like fishing? more or the same as the next guy i just don like it wen some one shares his experience some people just jump right away to say that your crazy to take your fammily there, i so some assholes driving a caravan with white flags on ther antenas like if there where crossing a war zone, things like ïts no wonder it hapened over there, you would never see that here,my respons wasnt to the guy that get robed i am realy sorry that that hapaned, my response was for those that allways complain about Mexico but cant get unogh of it, and as far as choosing my words i stand behind them,all of them, y para ti cabron que dices que eres Mexicano chinga tu madre verguenza te deveria de dar andar defendiendo estas pendejadas, vente a vivir aqui a mexico y paga tus impuestos aqui y chingate como todos y luego vienes adefender tu causa, and as far as earning mi credibility?,i didnt know you have to insult some one to earn it, full of b.s?, pendejo?, trets like choose your words?, nice credibility, nice way to treat a first post, butt i am sorry, i guess i got mixup with another country, and as far as mi spelling it didnt seem like a problem i gess every one understand wat i say

We're all entitled to our opinion and I honestly respect what you say....well, everything except for the part about my mother. Do I support Mexico, HELL YEAH! In the last four years I've spent well over $6k in travels to Cabo, Mazatlan, La Paz, San Quintin, Ensenada and Tijuana and if all goes well my next $6k will be for a 100' X 100' lot in San Quintin. Except for one time when me, my wife (girlfriend at the time), my sister and her husband (boyfriend at the time) were driven to a remote area somewhere in TJ and robbed of all our money by the police I've never had an issue. This happened several years ago but I remember it like it was yesterday, I've never feared for my life like I did that day.

I've driven to San Quintin and Ensenada alone and in the dark. Was I scared? Of course I was but I made to and back in one piece and without any issues. What you need to understand is that we post these comments about our experiences in Mexico so that others can learn from them, we're not bashing your country. On the contrary, we're telling people to be aware of where you are, what you do and where you go when you visit Mexico. If you were to visit the US I'd give you pointers like, stay away from Compton and South Central Los Angeles at night because it's a dangerous area but make sure your fish La Jolla before you go back home.

Eddie says you're a cool dude, I'm sure you are but you need to tone it down and as a person that lives in a country that we love to visit you should be giving us advise on what to do, where to go and what areas to stay away from. The comments about our soldiers raping and killings women and children were totally uncalled for. This is a fishing forum, not a political forum and we should keep it that way.

[bigbarrels]

heading to Punta Abreojos on Oct 4th for 10 days and thankfully my truck only blue books for around 14,000 I've travelled all over Baja for over 20 years and with some common sense and good luck I've had very few problems down there......During the 20 years that I've travelled down there I can remember how people would say I was crazy for travelling down there.......usually from people who had never been down there and who didn't have too much life experiences.....nowadays there is a bit more of a pucker factor with the drug wars and all.......but in Northern Baja there is such a huge military presence that I felt safe travelling through that area last year. Once I get past Enseneda, I fill that I'm home free and the people in that section of Baja are amazing (but of course it's Baja and anything can happen....such is life). So many people aren't heading down there due to the instability but if you are willing to take some risk the rewards are huge (ie empty lineups, fishing grounds, etc).......I surfed a couple of really good sessions on perfect points in the Seven Sisters Area with only my friends in the water and had wide open Calico bass, sand bass and halibut fishing from the kayak with now one else around.....worth some risk for me

[eddier68]

Good luck Bigbarrels! post a report when you get back. Saludos.

[Tman]

As I have always told friends, the deeper you go into Mex, the nicer the people.
Boogie, dang dude, some of us understand what you said. If the moderators spoke espanol, your post would be deleted.

I too have found the hospitality far more gracious than the states. Just gotta use common sense and not look like a victim, by that I mean no stress. You are there to relax.

I used to go there all the time, never had any probs at checkpoints because of my demeanor and the fact that I had a 65 lb Ridgeback/Pit mix with me. I make it a point if I am traveling with a small group to bring a dog. Safety in numbers or bring a big dog.
Or, as was said, porn mags at the passenger floorboard, or better yet, cheap sunglasses...works every time.

I used to go to Capt Ray's in Puerto Nuevo every year for my bday, only stress we had was who was driving when we crossed the border...

But this I will say...I was at Erendira one time, in a 2 wheel drive, N of the town, got stuck cuz I had forgotten which path led to the cattle gates to the prime ares, and with plenty of 4 wheel drive surfer trucks in the area, no help. A local happened to come by, seeing me digging out my wheels, sweating my arse off, offered to help with his old GM truck. We tied rope, it busted. Used the cable I would leash my dog with, broke.
He said he would get some chain and come back. Came back with the chain, got me pulled out, and offered me some Tecate and it was ice cold.
I offered him some pesos, he would have none of it, I basically had to force him to take the smallest bill I had, in those days the exchange rate came to $80...I am glad he took it, trip turned out to be a blast.

And I still remember his name he told me when I asked him...Hace Tuna...

Can't wait to meet him again, I will go back...

[dsafety]

This is a very interesting and enlightening post. I have not traveled in Northern Mexico since being thrown in jail for the crime of being Anglo and looking like I could pay the bail on Cinco DE Mayo in Encinada years ago. Many have experienced similar indignities, but do not believe that this defines the country or the people of Mexico.

While I will not visit the border regions, I have had wonderful experiences elsewhere in this country. In my travels, the further one gets away from the big cities or tourist destinations, the better the experience. The average Mexican citizen is a very good guy... better, in some ways than the average American citizen. There is a simplicity to the the lifestyle that invites hospitality and kindness.

I cannot offer recommendations as to how to avoid the problems documented earlier in this post. The only thing I would like to pass on is that it is wrong and unfair to tar the entire Mexican population with one brush. In my opinion, the corrupt and dangerous minority which currently seems to be in charge is not representative of the population as a whole.

Bob

[Jimmyz123]

I didn't know my wife was snapping photos while I was talking to the guards. Who looks out numbered here?