03-17-2010, 04:01 AM
Frankie,
Ramblings based upon two trips, ...
Get the correct insurance and do all the paper work at the border for taking a vehicle into Baja Sur (a series of inefficient steps between various banks and government office at the border). Take cash, twice as much water as you think you will need, a couple of water filter bottles, plenty of gas, winch, spare tire, tools, duct tape and first aid kit. Do not travel with glass (beer) bottles (the roads will destroy them). Do not take any weapons, take a machette and when quized claim it is a tool. Take antiboitics and petobismo. Buy bottled water every chance you can. Take small sealed bags of candy for the kids you see on the trip (you are the most exciting thing they will have seen since the Baja race went through town and they will likely feel you are prepping for it or prerunning it - wear gloves and slow down around them and hold your hands way out so they can slap them - it is a rush). I prefer off road, so I'm also watching the terrain. Don't get fooled into thinking the tarmac is good - it likely is not, especially of the main highways. Stay close to your vehicle and don't leave anything in plain site that might walk off (the bigger city have issues).
In Mexico, Americans are guilty until proven innocent. Do not get in an accident. If some one gets hurt, buy them off and high tale it north to the border or risk, ... Do not cross over at Tiajuana, and the nastiest person you will meet on the entire trip will be the border guard when coming back into the US.
The army, police and federally are every where. Most don't speak english. Try not to get in a situation where you need to bribe them. Keep your paperwork close by and your group tight. Also, remember Mexican road rule number one - the biggest vehicle has the right of way (I ride a 650 and I'm way down the food chain).
Camping on the beaches is great, but the sand fleas can be nasty, use a screened tent or risk being ate alive. Learn some basic Spanish words - water, beer, bottle, meat, fish, toilet. There are a lot of ex-pats, but the locals speak little if any English.
Take a cheap camera and take a lot of pictures. Definitely, take a picture of the ceiling at Coco's Corner. Ask if you can camp somewhere close to a beach business for a dollar a night. Ask if you can use the washers at the commercial businesses and hotels (take half the clothes you think you might need). It is amazing how far a couple of bucks will go with the locals.
Quiz every English speaking person you come across for conditions in the area.
To double the fun cross over to the main land on the ferry and try to make your way north (not easy, but fun).
Sam
Ramblings based upon two trips, ...
Get the correct insurance and do all the paper work at the border for taking a vehicle into Baja Sur (a series of inefficient steps between various banks and government office at the border). Take cash, twice as much water as you think you will need, a couple of water filter bottles, plenty of gas, winch, spare tire, tools, duct tape and first aid kit. Do not travel with glass (beer) bottles (the roads will destroy them). Do not take any weapons, take a machette and when quized claim it is a tool. Take antiboitics and petobismo. Buy bottled water every chance you can. Take small sealed bags of candy for the kids you see on the trip (you are the most exciting thing they will have seen since the Baja race went through town and they will likely feel you are prepping for it or prerunning it - wear gloves and slow down around them and hold your hands way out so they can slap them - it is a rush). I prefer off road, so I'm also watching the terrain. Don't get fooled into thinking the tarmac is good - it likely is not, especially of the main highways. Stay close to your vehicle and don't leave anything in plain site that might walk off (the bigger city have issues).
In Mexico, Americans are guilty until proven innocent. Do not get in an accident. If some one gets hurt, buy them off and high tale it north to the border or risk, ... Do not cross over at Tiajuana, and the nastiest person you will meet on the entire trip will be the border guard when coming back into the US.
The army, police and federally are every where. Most don't speak english. Try not to get in a situation where you need to bribe them. Keep your paperwork close by and your group tight. Also, remember Mexican road rule number one - the biggest vehicle has the right of way (I ride a 650 and I'm way down the food chain).
Camping on the beaches is great, but the sand fleas can be nasty, use a screened tent or risk being ate alive. Learn some basic Spanish words - water, beer, bottle, meat, fish, toilet. There are a lot of ex-pats, but the locals speak little if any English.
Take a cheap camera and take a lot of pictures. Definitely, take a picture of the ceiling at Coco's Corner. Ask if you can camp somewhere close to a beach business for a dollar a night. Ask if you can use the washers at the commercial businesses and hotels (take half the clothes you think you might need). It is amazing how far a couple of bucks will go with the locals.
Quiz every English speaking person you come across for conditions in the area.
To double the fun cross over to the main land on the ferry and try to make your way north (not easy, but fun).
Sam