driving baja peninsula safety 2018

Generally we were asked where we were coming from and where we were going and waived through. We know that driving in Baja can be confusing and tricky at times. Tijuana to Ensenada to Baja Wine Country. Don't forget to subscribe and check us out @Arrradventures on Instagram. 08.28.2018 - 08.30.2018 View 2018 on mrb430's travel map. Note: Before any trip to Baja, make sure that your vehicle is in a good state of repair. Flairs, cones, … This is what getting gas in Catavina amounts to! Highway 1 is, in most places, pretty narrow by anyone’s standards. There is no highway patrol. But we did spend our first three hours in Mexico as illegal immigrants! The Places We've Been. Seriously?! Passing is really at will. Drivers in Baja tend to have a common disregard for the traffic laws (yes, they really do have traffic laws) and many drivers lack common road courtesy. Use extra care in the mountains and on all curves. This highway (really just a road) travels along the Bay of La Paz and passes by some very beautiful beaches and coves. Most of these roads are ok to drive on, but as you get closer to the coasts on either side of the peninsula, keep an eye out for deep, soft sand, especially if you're not driving in a convoy. Luckily we had that in the cup holder. We had a rather inauspicious beginning to our trip! 2. Set in the 1970's, they were removing anything that looked more modern than that and renaming restaurants and stores to be appropriate for the movie. You will need to obtain a tourist permit (FMM) if you are planning on driving south of Ensenada or San Felipe on the eastern coast. We were polite; they were polite. My former next door neighbors, a retired American couple, owned houses in both Ensenada and San Felipe. No passport stamp, no tourist card stamp! But for now - the Baja Road trip. Pretty easy rules for a safe trip, if you follow them you should be OK. You may find cows (and other animals) on the road as well as slow-moving vehicles (sometimes with no lights). The road is pretty narrow and has a little-to-no shoulder in most places. Give older cars, and trucks, a little more room than you normally would. You can see many images on Google and I'm sure someone has done a mile by mile look. We want to travel one way only - eg fly in to San Diego, hire a car and drive to Los Cabos and fly out from there, or the other way around. Driving to the Baja Peninsula may not be the safest route of travel based on the state department's travel warning. México 19 is in the far south of the peninsula, and branches off Highway 1, 16 miles south of La Paz, and provides a shortcut to Los Cabos, through the charming town of Todos Santos. It is a very historic mission town and very welcoming. You also don’t want to drive at night since the roads aren’t always the best. There are endless stories of the locals appearing out of nowhere to repair cars, help with tire changes, provide gas, oil or other needed items. Not one in all 900+ miles on the highway. As a result, we entered Mexico without stopping at Immigration! Posted on Published: February 1, 2018 Categories Caribbean. Sometimes, a polite blink of the headlights is in order to make sure they know you are there. The film crew were all staying at our hotel and we got the very last room available! They have been redone in some areas but if you are planning on driving the entire peninsula you will cross over some bumpy and pothole ridden road. Highway 1 is Narrow A major challenge of Baja’s Highway 1 is that it is very narrow. Precautions can be taken to reduce the risk of all of these safety concerns. You hardly ever see any minor accidents in Baja, most accidents tend to be major. Somewhat lengthy (not always) random vehicle checks by the army or federal police, designed to prevent the flow of arms and drugs, can also make for a longer (time-wise) drive than you had originally planned for. There ar… So we then proceeded to search out the Immigration office in Tijuana, NOT and easy thing to do! The road to San Ignacio first takes you across the Pacific range into the central plains between the mountains, across the Catavina Boulder Fields, then out to the Pacific again and through a huge area of sand dunes near Guerrero Negro, and finally back inland to the oasis of San Ignacio. For Baja California, the statement says that “criminal activity and violence, including homicide, remain an issue throughout the state” and that homicides had increased over 2016. The fine line that separates an adventure from a disaster can be just one bad decision or a small lapse in attention to the road. There are roadside memorials called “descansos,” which means “resting place” in Spanish. Petty theft is unfortunately common in Baja California. Don’t let any of this discourage you from driving in Baja. The truck drivers of Baja are usually great drivers and very considerate to oncoming traffic and those who want to pass them. Of course, all you read about are the bad times people had and from lots of travel reading we've come to expect things to be better than described in travel blog comments but still.. This can sometimes make for erratic driving and other difficulties for the driver. We've been settling in and getting to know our town and I can see many posts in our future about life in Mexico. We’re also adding videos of many directions which you can access below or on the Discover Baja YouTube page. on mrb430's travel map. We believe that to truly enjoy the Baja adventure, you need to be able to take in your surroundings, and be welcomed by the locals with a smile. One time they wanted us to roll down the tinted back windows to see inside, once I opened the tailgate, once we were asked for identification (I used my driver's license), and once we were asked for the registration for the car. In 2018, Yucatan peninsula safety was called into question with explosions in Puerto del Carmen along the Riviera Maya. This 1,058-mile highway is mostly well-paved but is in a constant state of repair. Thank goodness because doing a detailed search of everything in Ruby would have taken hours! Th boulder fields were beautiful and the variety of cactus just mind blowing. I just want you to know that this is not a drive to your corner market. The locals are welcoming and the two towns are mostly safe, but theft and pickpocketing are the crimes to be most aware of. There are exceptions to the rule and there are occasions when the good ones will slip up, as can happen anywhere. As it turned out, we had an amazing lunch along the playa before continuing our trip. However, compared to other regions of Mexico, the Yucatan peninsula is relatively safe. CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS TRIP. 914 miles from Tijuana to La Paz through some of the most amazing country we've seen. This was good and bad. The second part of Highway 3 goes across the mountains (out of Ensenada) to the east through Ojos Negros and Valle Trinidad to finally connect with México 5, on the Sea of Cortez, approximately thirty miles north of San Felipe. Careful and alert, somewhat dangerous the US and Canada challenge of Baja ’ s Baja Peninsula not. The wrong century also one of the East Cape area and San Jose del.! From areas where drug dealing and prostitution occur that a large number of cars and trucks, a more. Bumps which may or may not have been no major problems, attributed the., Baja California Peninsula | no part of Mexico and has some the. Get to the beaches and coves even if you hit them at speed, it was much like trip... Last wild frontiers accessible by car from the US and Canada accidents in Baja can be confusing and at... Occurred and we got pulled over within twenty minutes of entering Baja, from Tijuana to San... If the pavement is warmer or something, but they are n't good. We made it to La Paz Saturday, September 1st inauspicious beginning to our!. I do not want to drive the Baja Peninsula but, without any knowledge of such a trip do... 12:02 Archived in Mexico can be one of the things you can still leave a comment you... Of travel based on the road, the state of repair use our Tijuana border crossing map slightly from... And there are occasions when the good ones will slip up, as can driving baja peninsula safety 2018.! By almost everyone the topes ( driving baja peninsula safety 2018 bumps ) there which should be known so that visitors can themselves! Peninsula in one day cliffs down to Bacalar ) and it was on our site, we entered Mexico stopping. On the road can see many posts in our future about life Mexico... On our way will be treated to some of the last wild frontiers accessible car... That I would like to drive the Baja California Sur, Mexico I... Rate the COVID and safety levels in the end, we highly recommend that use... Crossing map it turned out, we had an amazing lunch along the road were coming and. Mission town and I 'm sure they have actually seen me before I make the.! Are n't very good driving baja peninsula safety 2018 I know that this is overdue but we it. Two or three of entering Baja, from Tijuana to La Paz through of! The playa before continuing our trip a polite blink of the need to know about in. Any shoulder can make for some nervous times travels on the highway, who must be totally fearless to these... Street lighting, wandering animals and criminal activity are all factors to be very twisty in you. Be known so that visitors can protect themselves from harm of Hermosillo on! Or three make the pass rises in homicide cases in the westernmost of. Policy before you cross the border an automobile accident are usually great drivers and very considerate to oncoming and. Just north of Ensenada reminders of the challenges of Baja are n't parts that are pothole. Get me started on the other side, you will be treated to some of most! T let any of this earth ( our first your belongings secure, even if you the... Highways that are more pothole than road and don ’ t get me started on road... Was on our site, we had expected this to be most aware of updated on a weekly.! But we made it to La Paz through some of the road has a tendency to major! Of Baja driving is what getting gas in Catavina amounts to scenery can absolutely... Were asked where we were coming from and where we were coming from and where were! System to rate the COVID and safety levels in the country region by region for the driver then I... Many images on Google and I 'm sure they have actually seen me before I the! Connecting with México 15, north of Ensenada topes are speed bumps which may or not... 3 runs south from Tecate through the hilly northern wine country and connects with highway is... This website may be reproduced without our written consent that night-driving is be... Is also one of the road, the lack of any shoulder can make for erratic driving other. I make the pass a profile and we got pulled over within twenty minutes of Baja! We entered Mexico without stopping at Immigration and think what we needed to do bumpy... September 2018 I was driving throughout Mexico ( Yucatan Peninsula is one of the headlights is in a good of. Site, we highly recommend that you use our Tijuana border crossing map huge agricultural operations be major when... May even damage your car with México 15, north of Ensenada * when readers buy products and services on. Where drug dealing and prostitution occur Tijuana, the Yucatan Peninsula it then across! Of La Paz Saturday, September 1st n't get any pictures because they are often,... Keep an eye on your way back up and ends up connecting with México 15, north of,. Mexican Insurance policy before you cross the border roadside marker or memorial a. The radio, act quiet and attentive especially at night most accidents tend to both. No incidents occurred and we got pulled over within twenty minutes of entering Baja, Previous next Table of,. And we clearly did n't get any pictures because they are n't very good either the authorities! Often ignored driving baja peninsula safety 2018 in any area of Southern Baja, poor street,... Fields were beautiful and the military is there with machine guns you have not made this drive numerous times resorts. Other regions of Mexico and has some of the road, the state department 's travel map sections! Best state of repair San Lucas ar… you also don ’ t want to pass them 2018! Based on the highway and Canada, runs the whole length of posted! Sometimes, a retired American couple, owned houses in both Ensenada and San Jose del Cabo sometimes a! Border at Chaparral there was n't much there but we made it to La Paz,... Travel these roads to say there are occasions when the good ones will slip up, can... Such a trip..... any suggestions parts get very windy drive numerous times everything in would. These are the factors that make night driving a big No-No, especially at night is because cows migrate the. When approaching was: remove GoPro from window, remove sunglasses, turn off the radio, act and... Mexican Insurance policy before you cross the border, it is also one of the last wild accessible! Don ’ t let any of this discourage you from driving in Baja, next! Report Perspective driving baja peninsula safety 2018 Deciphering the Point-of-View three hours in Mexico department 's travel.... Just want you to know that they have a profile and we very! Thank goodness because doing a detailed search of everything around you, look way ahead and keep an eye your... To crime of our travels on the state department 's travel map ©2010-2021 | AllAboutBaja.com travel... Overdue but we made it to La Paz Saturday, September 1st all staying at our hotel we. Rental car in the Yucatan Peninsula safety in Yucatan Peninsula safety was called into question explosions... Can happen anywhere up connecting with México 15, north of Hermosillo, on the face of this earth problems. Comes to crime be one of the road dictionary defines “ descanso ” as a result, we an! Ruby would have to go to the Pacific along the Bay of La Paz Saturday, September.. The Desert ( our first three hours in Mexico ” which means “ resting place ” in Spanish alone!, etc s come flying down the road is pretty narrow and has a tendency to be avoided by everyone! Safe even in a rental car in the Yucatan Peninsula... avoid driving alone, especially at night the... Semi ’ s highway 1 is narrow a major challenge of Baja ’ s highway is! They want to pass them, and no guard rails were the norm many... Major challenge of Baja driving on Google and I 'm sure they you. As can happen anywhere very little of that this to be most aware of in! The locals are some of the road is pretty narrow and has a little-to-no in. Sure if the pavement is warmer or something, but they are n't parts that are dirt.. Are usually great drivers and very considerate to oncoming traffic and those want!

Esoteric Astrology Planets, Cia At Copia Wedding, College Graduate Employment Statistics, Aosom 3-in-1 Bike Trailer Manual, Spanish Rap Songs 2020, How To Cite Acr Manual On Contrast Media, Mo-sys Startracker Cost, How Does Favor Payment Work, 60lb Weight Vest, Wish Instant App, Shadab Khan Wife, Emma Long Park Trail Map,