Warning about Baja Travel

[Jimmyz123]

My family and I went on a 4 day trip to San Felipe Baja California on Sat. the 14th and got home yesterday. The trip was going well until we had to stop at the Puesta De Control about 20 minutes North of San Felipe.

We got out of the SUV as normal to be inspected and what normally is a 5 minute stop usually turned out to be a 1 1/2 hour mess. As we were pulling away my wife checks the bag that had her medications and our Passports and money, or some of our money. $300 was missing from the bag however our passports were still in place and all other items were still there. I turned around before I could even get out of the inspection place and confronted the guards. Me not being able to speak spanish was problem number 1, Finally I found someone who spoke english and spanish and explained what happened. They smiled at me and talked back and forth pulled a couple of guys to the side and had them strip down. 90 minutes had passed from the time I was able to tell them what happened to the time they had the guards strip down to find no money on them. One guard was acting like a jerk for what they had to do. 90 minutes was plenty of time for the guard to pass the money off or go hide it somewhere.

I have been traveling South of the border for 10 years now and have never had anything go wrong, and have never had any problems with the police, military, people or anything until now. I have defended traveling to San Felipe to 100s of people who tell me I'm crazy for going down there. I still like the area, I love the fishing, and my family always has a great time down there. I'll go back but I have learned that one should keep their money either on them, or at least when being inspected keep it on you. Also, learn the language so that you know how to communicate.

Be careful and always travel with insurance South of the Border.

[the dude]

from what I have heard I think you are crazy for driving down there, crazier for taking your family, even crazier for asking for your money back. My opinion, stay north of the border.

[wavster]

Jimmy,

I had heard of similar stories on my trip. A Romanian family
I met in Punta Chivato told me that their medications were
stolen as well as some expensive camping gear. The guards
commented on how nice some of their gear was and when
the inspection was over, they realized that stuff was missing.

Here's what I learned while I was there and it seems to work:
1. Be sure to have all documents and cash on your person. Do
not leave it in the vehicle.

2. Keep all doors locked and only unlock doors that they
request. Otherwise, you can easily be over run by 3 guards
rummaging through your stuff simultaneously.

3. Stand directly adjacent the soldier searching your vechicle.
If he knows you're looking over his shoulder, he may be less
inclined to swipe something. If there are multiple people in the car
each person should stay where they were seated and watch what is
going on. The Romanian family mentioned above did not stand by
their vehicle when it was searched. They stood off to the side in
the shade.

4. Keep everything in a container. Loose stuff is easily pocketed. They
will only search so many of your containers. I personally had everything
in dry bags, and they only opened 1 on average when inspected.

Now, this is just what worked while I was down there, but being vigilant
is what its all about.

Aside from that, I met some of the nicest people on this trip and to
be honest with you, the Mexicans I met were much friendlier than
most of the Americans I met.

[cowboybill]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal....
I used to ride dirtbikes down there years ago, and I have good friends that still do. One of them just got a Kayak, and wants me to go fish with him in Baja...

Some say, if you do no wrong, nothing happens....Bullshit! This is naive...
Nothing ever happened to me, but I know better.

Yes the odds are nothing bad happens, but what if:

True story: One of my friends went dove hunting. One month later, he is going to Baja on a ride. An unknown shotgun shell had fallen into some hidden place in his truck, and they find it at inspection....He and his passenger (who knew nothing about the shotgun shell till later) spent
2 days and nights in La Mesa Prison, and $9K later each they get home...
Yes he broke the rules, but it happened so easily....One single shotgun shell !?!?!? I would bet money I have at least a stray .22 long rifle cartridge hidden in my truck(s)!!

A family aquaintance was kayaking alone and was pirated for all he had except clothes a number of years back....

This is just two instances of many, along with the other published stuff.

Yet I know the allure; Baja is like travelling back in time. The people in the small towns are wonderful, the vast outback wilderness, etc. What sucks is you are travelling to a corrupt third world country, without the ability to protect yourself, legally, or physically. Travel in numbers, have someone who speaks the language, prep for a warzone where you are unarmed, carry cash to payoff police.....CRAZY!

I still am deciding on this one;

cowboybill

[Thresher_Cowboy]

Mexican officials stole money from you? Sad, but not surprised. Whoever said the same things happen in the states that happen in Mex, is dead wrong. When's the last time a park ranger stole money out of your car? Commonplace in Mex, there's two incidents in this thread alone.

[Jimmyz123]

In all the years that I have gone down there, we had a 5th wheel once that would take down there. Still I can't believe that I did not watch this guy more closely. My wife called the tourism board this morning and she was transferred to an organization that takes care of things like this and they took the report and are going to investigate the issue. Will we get our money back? Probably not. Will this really do any good? No. Will we go down there again? Yes. Will I do things differently next time? You better believe it.

My wife said we should have gone to Vegas instead at least she could of had a chance to double her money before losing it.

[jorluivil]

I've gone to San Quintin three twice in the past year, two solo runs and one with family. I've never had an issue but always keep an eye out for anything suspicious....especially when I'm riding solo. I've been pulled out of my truck twice but have ALWAYS remained close enough to my vehicle so that I could see what was going on. I always carry all my cash in my pocket right next to my passport.

I always try to stay one step ahead of the crooks. Unforetunately, you let your guard down for a second and they took advantage of it. Its no different from forgetting to lock your car doors when you go to the store. How many fishing reports have you read about someone in LJ getting something ripped off from their vehicle while they were out fishing? It all goes back to securing your personal effects and staying one step ahead of these dirt bags.

[Dean Machine]

Originally Posted by Thresher_Cowboy

Mexican officials stole money from you? Sad, but not surprised. Whoever said the same things happen in the states that happen in Mex, is dead wrong. When's the last time a park ranger stole money out of your car? Commonplace in Mex, there's two incidents in this thread alone.

I've had stuff stolen from my bags at the airport before. Some people have had stuff stolen from their hotel rooms. That's not to say I've decided whether or not I would travel in Mexico.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

I've gone to San Quintin three twice in the past year, two solo runs and one with family. I've never had an issue but always keep an eye out for anything suspicious....especially when I'm riding solo. I've been pulled out of my truck twice but have ALWAYS remained close enough to my vehicle so that I could see what was going on. I always carry all my cash in my pocket right next to my passport.

I always try to stay one step ahead of the crooks. Unforetunately, you let your guard down for a second and they took advantage of it. Its no different from forgetting to lock your car doors when you go to the store. How many fishing reports have you read about someone in LJ getting something ripped off from their vehicle while they were out fishing? It all goes back to securing your personal effects and staying one step ahead of these dirt bags.

You said it perfectly. Had I stayed right with the guy the entire time this probably would not have happened.

My wife spent the trip taking fault that she put the money in that bag. I told her she is not at fault the guys just knew how to rook us.

Once we talked to the Tourism board today about what happened we were told all of our rights and obligations as far as what they are allowed to search, they really cannot tell everyone to get out of the car, and we were told to always stay with the person who is inspecting the car so that there is someone watching everything they are doing. The puesta De Control is partially funded by the U.S. government to help tourists feel safer, and that's why they are now investigating the issue.

I'm not scared to go back down there, I just know better what I'm going to do while traveling down there from now on.

[Dean Machine]

Originally Posted by Jimmyz123

Will we get our money back? Probably not. Will this really do any good? No.

Might not do as much good as we would all like but at least those inspectors were put through the motions. You may have temporarily deterred them from doing this to someone else.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by Dean Machine

Might not do as much good as we would all like but at least those inspectors were put through the motions. You may have temporarily deterred them from doing this to someone else.

You're right about that, maybe this will open the eyes of those involved, and maybe if the heat is coming down on them someone will sing like a bird and spill the bean. Either way it's nice to know there is a service that is out there to help anyone who is traveling South of the Border.

Here's the link:
http://www.discoverbajacalifornia.com/078.php

I'm glad I know about this now.

[-scallywag-]

what you experienced sounds like SOP, even the "shake down search".

Wavesters tips are on the money, I would also like to add a few:

- Have all the small valubles in one place, I use a backpack and take it out with me during the inspections

- Have "gifts" available, cold sodas, cigs, fruit, snacks...and my personal favorite PORN !! Nothing will get you thru checkpoints faster than a stack of good hardcore porn mags (don't try to pawn off your old harry bush playboy crap on um) on or under your seat where they can easily be found...once they see those the search is over and you're on your way....just make sure you have more stashed somewhere else incase they want the whole stack.

[dorado50]

Good advice. Like some, all my $ and valueables are on me. That way if someone wants it bad enough they will have a hard time taking it from me. Only open one door at a time,great advice right there....can't wait to road trip back down nov.(fall yt off the hook at santa rosalia).

[BOOGIE]

I have a better one, dont come, if your going to be all freaki and scared you ar not going to enjoy your self, i really dont agree with the chek points but sadly we came to this point, the military is not prepared to deal with cibillian matters , i really dont know aboutt anny park ranger stole monney from anny one, butt the hole world has seen your soldiers rape and kill inocent women and children, and laugh on ther faces and film them an them post them on you tube , i guess thats a normal behabior for you and your fammily, and you dont see nothing rong wiht it,this is a more complex problem i might belong to a corrupt third world country as you say but to have a corrupt you have a gay giving the brive, we dont have enuff money to brive cos we are so poor an third world an that shit... so if you dont like it here dont come and is not baja is Baja California.

[THE DARKHORSE]

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

what you experienced sounds like SOP, even the "shake down search".

Wavesters tips are on the money, I would also like to add a few:

- Have all the small valubles in one place, I use a backpack and take it out with me during the inspections

- Have "gifts" available, cold sodas, cigs, fruit, snacks...and my personal favorite PORN !! Nothing will get you thru checkpoints faster than a stack of good hardcore porn mags (don't try to pawn off your old harry bush playboy crap on um) on or under your seat where they can easily be found...once they see those the search is over and you're on your way....just make sure you have more stashed somewhere else incase they want the whole stack.

Fanfreakintastic' advice Scallywag!
With all this sound advice I'll add one more good one: drive a piece of $hit car and you'll blend right in. I won't even ride in my friends $40,000 trucks with toys in the back---no way in hell!

And as much as caravaning with your friends seems like a great idea, with more than one 40,000 truck packed full of goodies---you just attract bigger and badder thieves. Ya' know, organized crime, guys who really do this for a living?
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And while I've had a gun pointed in my face, witnessed horrible accidents that no one reported and payed my share of hard earned cash---to the cops.

Where else are you going to find empty pointbreaks within driving range? I know where I'll be when the next real, South swell hits. Viva Mexico!

[WahooUSMA]

Originally Posted by BOOGIE

the hole world has seen your soldiers rape and kill inocent women and children, and laugh on ther faces and film them an them post them on you tube , i guess thats a normal behabior for you and your fammily,

You should choose your words very carefully!

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by BOOGIE

I have a better one, dont come, if your going to be all freaki and scared you ar not going to enjoy your self, i really dont agree with the chek points but sadly we came to this point, the military is not prepared to deal with cibillian matters , i really dont know aboutt anny park ranger stole monney from anny one, butt the hole world has seen your soldiers rape and kill inocent women and children, and laugh on ther faces and film them an them post them on you tube , i guess thats a normal behabior for you and your fammily, and you dont see nothing rong wiht it,this is a more complex problem i might belong to a corrupt third world country as you say but to have a corrupt you have a gay giving the brive, we dont have enuff money to brive cos we are so poor an third world an that shit... so if you dont like it here dont come and is not baja is Baja California.

My post was not meant as a slam to the entire nation of Mexico it was meant to help open the eyes to some that there is still the corruption of those who are paid to protect. There is no excuse for stealing from someone, according the the bible it is one of the 10 commandments.

Trust me I love Baja California and will return but I'm more relieved to know that not all of Mexico is corrupt.

[IntrntFshrman]

Originally Posted by BOOGIE

I have a better one, dont come, if your going to be all freaki and scared you ar not going to enjoy your self, i really dont agree with the chek points but sadly we came to this point, the military is not prepared to deal with cibillian matters , i really dont know aboutt anny park ranger stole monney from anny one, butt the hole world has seen your soldiers rape and kill inocent women and children, and laugh on ther faces and film them an them post them on you tube , i guess thats a normal behabior for you and your fammily, and you dont see nothing rong wiht it,this is a more complex problem i might belong to a corrupt third world country as you say but to have a corrupt you have a gay giving the brive, we dont have enuff money to brive cos we are so poor an third world an that shit... so if you dont like it here dont come and is not baja is Baja California.

I cry BS. 1st post, huh? Also, aneeteyem yu sea sum1 deeliburutlee misspehl soh muhhc, itt maykes u wunduhr....obvious troll.

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by BOOGIE

I have a better one, dont come, if your going to be all freaki and scared you ar not going to enjoy your self, i really dont agree with the chek points but sadly we came to this point, the military is not prepared to deal with cibillian matters , i really dont know aboutt anny park ranger stole monney from anny one, butt the hole world has seen your soldiers rape and kill inocent women and children, and laugh on ther faces and film them an them post them on you tube , i guess thats a normal behabior for you and your fammily, and you dont see nothing rong wiht it,this is a more complex problem i might belong to a corrupt third world country as you say but to have a corrupt you have a gay giving the brive, we dont have enuff money to brive cos we are so poor an third world an that shit... so if you dont like it here dont come and is not baja is Baja California.

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?

[driftwood]

Good call mikecollins86! that guy is full of BS. He is just trying to get a mob heated response from people just to bash mexico. please do not reply to this PENDEJO!!!