Roadtrip down Baja California

[Somnambulation]

I am planning on driving down Baja to Cabo and back for couple weeks once the semester ends, and I was wondering if anyone has done this trip before. Im not too worried about the swine flu, but I have heard conflicting reports about how safe it is for Americans down there right now with teh general lawlessness that accompanies the drug war. Some things I have read say that there is no real danger so long as you remain aware of your surroundings and other sources make it sound like I would have a 50/50 chance of coming back unscathed. Also, I will travelling with my girlfriend, which adds another dimension of saftey concerns. I really want to take this trip, and part of me says danger be damned though if it truely is dangerous with a high chance of carjacking or kidnapping it wouldnt be worth the risk. Anyone have any recent experience in Baja or general advice?

[worldwidemike]

I think the media do a horrible job of giving us a true picture of places both outside and inside the U.S. I would say that 99% of all "drug violence" is between drug traffickers fighting themselves or the police. I highly doubt that as a random bystander or tourist that you're ever going to be affected.

However, I am NOT speaking from any recent experience driving down there myself, by the way. Just that it is interesting, that with swine flu to be the bone for the media dog to gnaw on, the drug violence has all but ceased to exist -- according to our media's perspective...

I say plan your trip and have an awesome time!

worldwidemike

[TheJake]

both will and I have done the baja road trip bit. It's so much fun!
My recommendations on places to stay are Coyote Cal's Youth Hostel in Irindira
and
EcoMundo which is 11km south of Muluge.

I love baja!!!

[The Monsignor]

The reality is that the border towns suck - but you're not planning to hang around there. There's a real turf war going on with the drug dealers, and I wouldn't put it past them to do kidnapping for profit like they have done in other parts of the country. Don't hang around at the border, you'll be fine.

In the end, though, you should have no problem on your trip - the area isn't heavily populated once you get south of Ensenada (where Coyote Cals is, btw) Hwy 1a, though a toll road, is also fairly heavily patrolled with frequent Army checkpoints (the army is far less corrupt than the Municipales, and the Federales are somewhere in between) Baja California is quite friendly and laid back in general and you'll like the trip...

(I think I have a thread left over here from my motorcycle trip south a couple years back)

one warning - Catavena is the last gasoline stop for over 150 miles - you'll wind up buying gas from a guy with a pickup truck full of gas cans there.

(the restaurant isn't half bad, either)

[jounderw]

Baja is a super fun place! I would just ask around once your there is you are trying to just go somewhere on a whim. If you want to get tickets to a sporting event, concert, show etc. I would just look online as there is SO much going on in California.