My in-laws in the 1980s with one of their many VW's
Misconceptions and Safety in Baja
Inevitably this topic always comes up, so I think it best to address it head on. As soon as you start to plan your trip, you’ll mention it with excitement at family dinner. Oftentimes you’ll be met with shock and worry, its usually an uncle who says something like “I wouldn't go down there, my best friends, brothers, nephew went down there and lost his head” or something along those lines. You’ve probably already heard something similar. So whats the real deal? Is Uncle Worry Wart right? Will you be beaten, mugged, car jacked, or worse?
Baja is a 1000 mile long peninsula. Between the border cities in the north and La Paz and Cabo San Lucas in the far south, there just aint very much. A few small towns here and there, but mostly its 1000 miles of deserted beaches, and desert. There aren't really many people at all, never mind hoards of Banditos on the prowl.
I grew up in New York, and then spent 10 years in Los Angeles and San Diego before moving to La Paz. I’ve been all over the world. I can tell you with a straight face that I worry more about my safety in the United States, than I do in Baja. Do bad things happen in Mexico? Absolutely. Do bad things happen in the U.S.? No? Come on. And just like in the U.S. there are really great areas, and some areas you should avoid. Would you take your family through Oakland at night? What about the South Side of Chicago? The Bronx? Compton? Most of us have heard of those places (and many more) and know, ehh I probably should steer clear of there. Same thing applies in Mexico, in Thailand, in Paris, in Boston, and everywhere else. Although I’ve been through Tijuana a gazillion times, and know how to navigate there, I don't recommend folks who are driving to me drive through Tijuana. Why? Well because Tijuana can be a bit seedy. But its easily avoided by following the route and itinerary I’ve posted. Besides Tijuana and to a lesser extent Ensenada right after it, all of Baja is super super safe. Its a fact that without fail when folks pull up at my shop after the drive they say something to the extent of “That was amazing and I felt so safe, I don't know what everyone was talking about”.
Inevitably this topic always comes up, so I think it best to address it head on. As soon as you start to plan your trip, you’ll mention it with excitement at family dinner. Oftentimes you’ll be met with shock and worry, its usually an uncle who says something like “I wouldn't go down there, my best friends, brothers, nephew went down there and lost his head” or something along those lines. You’ve probably already heard something similar. So whats the real deal? Is Uncle Worry Wart right? Will you be beaten, mugged, car jacked, or worse?
Baja is a 1000 mile long peninsula. Between the border cities in the north and La Paz and Cabo San Lucas in the far south, there just aint very much. A few small towns here and there, but mostly its 1000 miles of deserted beaches, and desert. There aren't really many people at all, never mind hoards of Banditos on the prowl.
I grew up in New York, and then spent 10 years in Los Angeles and San Diego before moving to La Paz. I’ve been all over the world. I can tell you with a straight face that I worry more about my safety in the United States, than I do in Baja. Do bad things happen in Mexico? Absolutely. Do bad things happen in the U.S.? No? Come on. And just like in the U.S. there are really great areas, and some areas you should avoid. Would you take your family through Oakland at night? What about the South Side of Chicago? The Bronx? Compton? Most of us have heard of those places (and many more) and know, ehh I probably should steer clear of there. Same thing applies in Mexico, in Thailand, in Paris, in Boston, and everywhere else. Although I’ve been through Tijuana a gazillion times, and know how to navigate there, I don't recommend folks who are driving to me drive through Tijuana. Why? Well because Tijuana can be a bit seedy. But its easily avoided by following the route and itinerary I’ve posted. Besides Tijuana and to a lesser extent Ensenada right after it, all of Baja is super super safe. Its a fact that without fail when folks pull up at my shop after the drive they say something to the extent of “That was amazing and I felt so safe, I don't know what everyone was talking about”.
Roadside camping, Baja Sur 2018
So why then does this reputation exist in the States? Why do we point a finger at violence in Mexico, when we routinely have mass shootings where people are literally firing high powered rifles into schools and from skyscrapers into crowds of innocent people below? Because my friends, this doesn't happen in Mexico. A lot of it, I’m afraid, comes down to politics. If you’ve been alive in the U.S. these past 10-20 years, you’ve seen it become hyper politicized. One of the two political factions in the U.S. has decided that its advantageous to paint Mexico as this dark dangerous place filled with criminal hordes beating down the walls of America and spilling into our cities, corrupting everything in their path. Fear is a powerful political tool. And the legitimate concerns that exist have been twisted and amplified and then fed to you to fit a political agenda.
This is not to say that Mexico is perfect. There is much to be concerned about for those of us who live in Mexico or are Mexican. But these concerns are not your concerns when driving down Baja California in your classic VW van. The truth is, you are more likely to see smiles, waving hands, and peace signs when driving your VW here, than in the States. Mexicans love their classic VW’s. Most people don’t realize that the largest VW factory outside of Germany, is in Puebla (central Mexico next to Mexico City)
This is not to say that Mexico is perfect. There is much to be concerned about for those of us who live in Mexico or are Mexican. But these concerns are not your concerns when driving down Baja California in your classic VW van. The truth is, you are more likely to see smiles, waving hands, and peace signs when driving your VW here, than in the States. Mexicans love their classic VW’s. Most people don’t realize that the largest VW factory outside of Germany, is in Puebla (central Mexico next to Mexico City)
Military Checkpoint 2018, theyre more likely to want to check out
your van because its cool :)
For half a century the Beetle (we call them Vochos in Mexico), the Bus (we call them Combi’s in Mexico) and the Thing (we call them Safari’s in Mexico) were produced in huge numbers and were the predominant economy car that was attainable for many Mexicans. Every single Mexican you meet will have a story about their Dad’s Vocho, or their Grandpas Safari. Usually a weathered old photograph is somewhere within close reach as proof. The Beetle was until quite recently, the standard Taxi in Mexico City. VW’s were cheap to buy, cheap to fix, and dependable over rough Mexican roads. They were the first car many Mexican families ever had. It wasn't just Grandpas first car, it was the first car ever owned by the family in its history. The truth is, many Mexicans will see you and your VW van and smile. They will come up to you and talk to you about it, and share their families VW stories. This is perhaps a far cry from what you were expecting. Maybe Uncle Worry Wart was wrong after all?
Want to read up on more ways to travel safe in Baja? Check out the suggestions by BajaBoundInsurance.
Want to read up on more ways to travel safe in Baja? Check out the suggestions by BajaBoundInsurance.
My brother in law David sitting on the hood of my father in laws Vocho sometime in the 1980s. Every Mexican has a VW story. Pretty sure thats a rock chip on the windshield and not a bullet hole :)