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[2harleys]

Hide some money for the bus ride back to the U.S.

[geezerglide]

A bunch of us rode (BUNGY) was one of us rode down from san Diego to Cabo and back about 5 years ago (2000) mile return trip.

Gas their are Pemex gas stations up and down the highway, saying that be prepared they will close at a moments notice, carry spare gas, also when the stations shut down their will be guys with pick up trucke with 45 gallon drums of gasoline, very suspect, however will do if need be. Carry octane booster with you.

Accommodations; their is a chain of motels that are run, I think by the Mexican Tourist Bureau. La Pinta pretty reasonable and in most major towns.

If you have time and you want to keep away from "the Toilet" Tijuana take Highway 8 over to the Border Crossing Tecate and it is a nice drive which brings you just North of Ensenda.

You will need to buy a Temporary Visitors Permit, I would by pass the Port of Ensenda as you have to go to the Passport Office surrender your passport to the Officer, then go to the Bank in Ensenda and then take your receipt and present to the Officer who in turn gives your passport back to you and you are on your merry way, this could take hours.

The best thing to do is when you get to Guerrero Negro the border that separates Baja California and Baja California South stop in at the checkpoint and buy your permit there. This also a Garrison Town and Military Headquarters for the Federales. There are armed Military checkpoints set up along the highway, we got pulled over once and were requested to open our saddle bags and tour paks, of course looking for drugs and/or weapons.

I prefer the South Baja especially places such as Santa Rosalia, Mulege and Loretto south of there you have La Paz and of course Todos Santos of Hotel California fame not impressed many nicer taverns in Todos Santos. \\In Cabo San Lucas we stayed at the Marde der Cortez, nice hotel for the fishing crowd, has an locked gated area where you can keep your bikes out of harms way, we stayed their for five nights then headed back.

I would definitely do this trip again.

I would pick up the Baja maps from AAA.

geezerglide

[Bungy]

Yeah, that was a good trip wasn't it Leo?! I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
 
'Duke; There may be more paperwork involved since Leo & I went - I know there is for mainland Mex. Make sure all your docs match (passport, insurance, registration etc), any discrepancy in name, address etc & you'll be denied entry. Don't have to worry about the quality of the gas - it's all 93 octane.

[grandpadoc]

The last time we got stopped at a checkpoint it was maned by 19 year olds with loaded AR's. They were very friendly and only requested to hear the stereo, so we put on a little ZZ Top and had a good time. Tecate is a great way to start your journey. The road from Tecate to Encinada is along the Mexican Wine Country and there are some great vinyards and wine not sold in the US.  Nice people down there, but like everywhere there are always one percenters and most of them aren't even Mexican but illegals form South America. Travel only in daylight and watch the truckers and bus drivers, cause they are completely nuts.  I think your biggest problem will be the rain and the Mexicans haven't mastered the art of drainage yet so roads do blow out.   Doc 

[sanjoseduke]

Yeah, that was a good trip wasn't it Leo?! I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
 
'Duke; There may be more paperwork involved since Leo & I went - I know there is for mainland Mex. Make sure all your docs match (passport, insurance, registration etc), any discrepancy in name, address etc & you'll be denied entry. Don't have to worry about the quality of the gas - it's all 93 octane.

Wow thanks for the heads up everyone. Keep your suggestions and comments coming. God I love this CVO site and all the great people who share valuable information.
I never thought about addresses matching.   I'll have to get down to the DMV and have them synchronize all my addresses as I have 3 different addresses on my Bike, Trailer, and Drivers license as I have moved and maintain a couple houses. I'm really looking forward to the trip and will post pictures on the road if possible or when I get back.  

[faceracer]

Just watched a 20-20 show and a family of 4 was kidnapped by the cops and put face down in a ditch. They were terrified they would be killed. They took there truck and ransacked the trailer. Left them in the desert face down in a ditch. I think things may have changed allot in the  last 5 years. I personally know 2 people who were robbed by the cops in the mid 90's and another who was stabbed in front of his hotel in Mexico city. One fellow was a local colledge student who was my translator for a training class I gave. He was pulled over in his car then taken out of town robbed hit over the head and left stranded. The other was an American coworker who was picked up by the police near his hotel walking back from dinner. He was taken out of town robbed and hit over the head then left in a ditch! I would be very careful and hide some money for a bus ride back! Not trying to scare you just relaying the facts. I would definitely not travel after dark! Good luck and God Speeed Brothers!

[grandpadoc]

...you know after thinking about it again, go through TJ to the toll road which isn't far and well marked. That part of the coast from TJ to Encenada is too good to miss. Stop a Puerto Nuevo for lobster on the way and enjoy yourself.  On the way back go through Tecate cause its never crowded at that border crossing and the ride through that part of San Diego County is really worth it.  Doc

[sadunbar]

Just watched a 20-20 show and a family of 4 was kidnapped by the cops and put face down in a ditch. They were terrified they would be killed. They took there truck and ransacked the trailer. Left them in the desert face down in a ditch. I think things may have changed allot in the  last 5 years. I personally know 2 people who were robbed by the cops in the mid 90's and another who was stabbed in front of his hotel in Mexico city. One fellow was a local colledge student who was my translator for a training class I gave. He was pulled over in his car then taken out of town robbed hit over the head and left stranded. The other was an American coworker who was picked up by the police near his hotel walking back from dinner. He was taken out of town robbed and hit over the head then left in a ditch! I would be very careful and hide some money for a bus ride back! Not trying to scare you just relaying the facts. I would definitely not travel after dark! Good luck and God Speeed Brothers!

I saw the same show..scary chit...  

I used to travel to Mexico often for business and for pleasure.  I don't need to for business anymore and won't anymore for pleasure.  I don't see the need to take the chance.  However, I do have a couple of friends who recently traveled from the Texas/Mexico border to the tip of South America and back on bikes.  They had a great time with minimal incidents.  So it's just your tolerance and limits towards the potential of the unknown...  In my younger days...no problem.  Today....I like to limit the opportunities for excessive unplanned adventure.  (they've shrunk, I believe....)

[mrmagloo]

Although many have certainly made this trek before successfully, imho, now is just not a good time with the drug wars to be taking the risk right now.  When I was in Cabo and Riveria Maya, we just rented bikes down there for a day or two. This way you avoid much of the bad areas, you can get pretty good current intelligence from the rental places on the safe areas and where to avoid.

Mexico has always been a tough country to travel, but it's real bad now and things are quite fluid. Areas that were safe a couple of years or months ago, can be a disaster now. Isn't just not worth it. Bring a helmet, and rent when you get down to the nicer areas and stay in safe areas until they get things under control down there.

[DDavidson]

NO GUNS IN MEXICO

A kickstand FOOT for hot pavement or "no shoulder" sand.  "Free Range" grazing cattle love to play Cal-Trans by laying on the roads at night in Baja but with no reflective vests. Lots of memorials in the middle of nowhere means be alert. Extra bright headlights still can't make up for the missing road stripes. (California is blessed with reflectors and Brail Bumps).

Maybe an English/Spanish travelors dictionary.

Iodine tablets for your emergency kit for emergency water even in the states. 

Make out an itenerary with update/checkin times and update your people especially if you veer away from the original plan. Check your mileage when leaving a point. (I have a flat 162 miles south of T.J. on Hwy 1.) Do any of the GPS systems work in Mexico to give coordinates??)

Traffic cash....I negotiated a fine down to ten dollars once only to find out the Cabo Police Officer didn't have change for a twenty. Also I thought I'd have to call in to the Resort and take time off from vacation to go to court (4 hours in Fremont once just to plead) but it was all handled quickly and quietly right on the spot. (Hundreds cheaper than the 60 in a 55 ticket I got just B4 Hwy 84 in Livermore on my Road King.) I love how cheap and convenient the tickets are in Mexico! Beware a lot of the Mexican road signs aren't on the same side of the road as ours or the same as ours. At least the One-Way Wrong Way wasn't. I was in the wrong right in front of the Police station and I was happy to pay the ticket.

Check out bajainsider.com with the dubs in front. It's going to be a blast for you guys.

Senor Blanco don't forget your sunscreen and remember eets mucho safero to sit in your rocker on the front porch in the San Jose sun. I worry that some of us gringos might have a hard time leaving the fun in the Cabo sun someday.

Loperamide is the generic Immodium and can be purchased at Costco cheaply.

The sun in Fremont was only 15 degrees cooler than Cabo today so I had to ride up the canyon to Pleasanton to get some high priced $3.31 gal 91 oct fuel and to test HD-DUDES mods for a future story.

[sgchick]

Duke...looks like you got plenty of info...this is a great site!! Don't forget your camera and take lots of pics to share with us!! Have a great time!

[Chains]

Be careful of the border towns, very careful, I traveled Mexico a lot for business and have personally been taken down in a ditch and had a cop hold a gun to my head, still have no clue to why, must have been mistaken for someone else.  Still would like to make the trip in a bike, will do once I retire in a few years.  I know you cannot take a gun into the country not sure what to take for PP.  I know some of Ex President Foxes cabinet and I always thought I would get them to provide me with a pistol once in Mexico.  Maybe not a good idea, I will find out when I go.  Federalise can be pretty rough at times take a book on Spanish and English conversions, you may need it on the road.

Would not advise night time travel in desolate areas.

Have fun take plenty of pictures.

[southtxcruiser]

mexico has changed alot its not the same mexico of 5 yrs ago.... the drug cartels run rampade and dont care about anything but making the news... just one week before christmas 25 rough necks who work for one of the drilling contractors here were assualted and robbed of all their belongings and money i can say u are brave to take this trip especially in these troubled times.... i wish u the best of luck.... im sure u will need it

[Fired00d]

Duke now that you have made the trip is there anything you would add/delete from your list of things you had to have for a trip like this?

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[sanjoseduke]

As usual I over prepared and over packed for the trip. For everyones peace of mind the "Spot" personal tracking device worked out great. Everyone at home (as well as on this board) always knew where I was, and have been. My travel buddy spoke fairly good Spanish which is always helpful. The only extra things that I took and needed was extra gas and a spare kickstand spring. The only HD Dealer in Baja is in Cabo and does not do HD warranty work. He does have a fairly good parts inventory and a good mechanic, the local HD riders I met swear that he takes good care of their bikes. Yes I know their is a little unrest and nasty drug lords down there however from what I read the problems are mostly in mainland Mexico. I met many tourists who have been visiting Baja for many years who feel that with a couple precautions you are safer than in any big American city. The statistics say that their are more Americans that cross the border in 1 month than visit England in a year. That is a lot of Americans, so an isolated incident or 2 can probably be expected.

Their advice:
Don't even think of driving at night.
Stop early and get settled in your hotel, preferably one with a restaurant and bar.
Don't be wandering around at night. Cabo and La Paz are ok in the tourist areas.
Don't argue with the police or officials. If stopped for a minor traffic infraction $20 US usually gets you on your way.
Don't keep all your money in one place. Keep $20 or 40 in your wallet and no more.
Try not to travel alone, their is safety in numbers.
Make sure your bike is in top condition with good tires.
Their are several on-line American tourist sites and blogs you can check out to get up to the minute road conditions and criminal activity if any.
I would make the trip again without hesitation.

Check out my blogs and photo's in ride reports.
Duke

Duke now that you have made the trip is there anything you would add/delete from your list of things you had to have for a trip like this?

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d