Driving to Baja. How safe is it right now?

It is safe. No reason not to go, especially if you need discounted over the counter drugs. Don't be afraid. You are American.

Yes We can.

 

well ive been to mexico several time...
Laredo, Raynosa, etc...
I have never let the sun set on my head in mexico.
And I don't suggest you go get fucked up down their without a real mexican escort... so... and don't take alotta cash... i wouldn't take a nice nice car...

 

If the U.S. or your street wasn't getting it from Mexico, it would come from some other country. Still plenty coming from Afghanistan and Burma, not to mention the "home grown" stuff filling the demand.

 

That is kind of funny coming from someone so far away from the border...

 

Well if you need to hear it from me that lives 10 min from san luis rio colorado sonora or 30 min from mexicali BC( both huge cities in mex) it is safe! I go there about 2 to 3 times a week. I party in mex, hang out in mex, drive around my 2008 taco in mex with no worries. Granted that you should always be on your toes(ANYWHERE YOU GO) you shouldnt be scared of the drug situation over there if you have absolutly nothing to do with it.
But some wise words i learned in this very own site, to each their own.....

 

X2..............IMO it boils down to USA being land of opportunity & instead of coming here, becoming a citizen & participating & perpetuating that, people just want to exploit the opportunities in whatever form that is & just take take take from what we have going on & never contribute or put anything back in. I'm not singling out Mexico on this, it applies to anywhere in the world that has oppressive corrupt governments that do the same thing driving their citizens in search of something better. When people can't live in peace & feed themselves & have a safe warm place to shit then they're gonna seek it out wherever it may be. Depending on what happens here, there may be gringos overrunning Mexico or Canada or wherever, so all the ill wishers for America around the world beware, if our shit tanks we'll be headed your way to fuck up your program. We've had lots of examples of how to pull it off & don't think we aren't paying attention. OK, there, pick that shit apart if you can..................As far as the OP question, not worth the risk, also good time for Americans to reel in the money & keep it at home when possible, plenty of more deserving places for it to be spent here & more safe fun to be had here. Now is a time when we as Americans need to help our country out. If we aren't in good shape then neither will the rest of the world - see any current news channel. Look what happens to the rest of the world when our shit is sucking.

 

Big difference getting off a cruise ship for a day in a tourist town compared to driving down to Mexico for a trip. I'd have no problems doing a day trip off a cruise ship but I wouldn't drive down there..

 

My brother went fishing down there last year with a friend that lives there part time. They got pulled over by the police for doing nothing and had to slip the guy some money. Guess they pull over any car full of people that look like they aren't from around there to try and shake em down for money.

 

Well I guess if your afraid to walk your own streets unarmed, you would be much to scared to walk another countries...

Its mostly cocaine that is the problem which comes almost exclusively from Columbia. Its estimated the cartels there make $25-30 Billion dollars a year. Talk about keeping your American dollars in the country.

 

Don't be afraid man, but if you wanna feel a little bit safer just don't party/stop in tijuana, everything else is fine, and if you want to avoid any kind of hard time with the police or the military don't give them an excuse to be jerks and by that what i mean is keep a low profile, don't drink and drive and most important don't have any drug with you, just follow these rules and you are good to go!!!

Remember that the place that you are going lives of the tourism, they know that and the goverment know that too, so they keep those places safer.

 

06tacomaprerunner is right, everything is all good if you follow the rules. They try to "shake you down" for sum bucks when you break the laws/rules so in realility your getting yourself pulled over. Am actually goin to Tijuana this weekend so you guys will be able to find out if you can make it out alive in mex . And just for the record Tijuana is where a lot of this stuff is goin down.

 

Im headed down to San Quintin tomorrow morning. Hope nothing bad happens.

 

There are three kinds of people in this world:

Sheep- most people are sheep; go about their business and are usually the victims

Wolves- they prey on sheep

Sheepdogs- they refuse to be victims

You keep on being a sheep and I'll keep on being a sheepdog.

 

So by being one of the maybe 3 or so people in this thread who wouldn't be afraid to walk the streets of Mexico or pretty much any other country for that matter makes me a sheep? Maybe a black sheep, I've never been one to conform to anything. Perhaps your the sheep who would rather stay in the comfort and protection of the barn instead of exploring and wandering around the countryside. We're all born dying, if you live your life in fear you've not truly lived life.

 

I was just watching the news right now (here in LA) and spring break is coming up for our area. Mexico is a huge destination point and they are warning kids that if they go, they are going at their own risk. It is not safe down their. What they have been doing lately is scoping out kids coming down and if they look like they come from money,the kidnapp them expecting allot of money in return....

 

Sonjay, great response and i agree with you 100%! If something is goin to happen to you, there is nothing ur gonna do about it to prevent it. So instead of being afraid , man up!

 

i'll tell you how i feel.

Ive lived in San Diego all my life, have family in Tijuana & have visited ever since i was a baby. Mexico has always been dangerous but in the recent years it has been all over the news. The danger is MOSTLY between the Drug Cartels & Police. If you hear about civilians being killed, they are more than likely taking part in some sort of illegal or drug related activities. When people sell drugs and don't pay the big cartels money for the "right" to do so, they get killed. I am not saying it's not dangerous, it is. But i go down to mexico about 2-3 times a month without any issues. Just be safe!

Drive during the day if possible.
Don't speed, run red lights or any of that. (Police will scare you into giving them a hefty bribe)
Just don't make yourself stand out.

 

So I guess you're saying none of that shit goes to Canada & no one up there does cocaine, eh? Not feelin ya on that.

 

I've never considered worst case scenarios in any of my endeavors. People would some up my life as a risk taker or sheepdog. I consider my options. I've traveled in third world countries and parts of this country (US) I would consider third world as well. I manage risk factors. And fuckin' around with paramilitary, narcos and third world cowboys are factors I choose not to deal with on vacation. We have options. I understand the medias job is to sell papers and reporting on drugs and violence are great ways in doing so. Cruisin' down to baja in one truck with a good buddy is one thing. Being responsible for women and other acquaintances actions is another.