Is it safe to drive from South California to Cabo roundtrip?

authentic

authentic

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I am planning a road trip from San Francisco to Cabo (google maps says it takes about 1 day ..1,500 miles from SF to Cabo) but I have researched about drug cartels?, bad fuel?, bad roads?, etc... and most people who have traveled there say driving from So Cal to Cabo takes about 3 days due to bad roads, and they are safe. Any experience? advices? :D

San Francisco, CA to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico - Google Maps
 
authentic said:
I am planning a road trip from San Francisco to Cabo (google maps says it takes about 1 day ..1,500 miles from SF to Cabo) but I have researched about drug cartels?, bad fuel?, bad roads?, etc... and most people who have traveled there say driving from So Cal to Cabo takes about 3 days due to bad roads, and they are safe. Any experience? advices? :D

San Francisco, CA to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico - Google Maps
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you'll be fine. the drug cartel stuff you hear all the time in news is further away - from Ciudad Juarez to Chihuahua area. just watch out for local cops cuz they do like to pull over Americans for various of frivolous traffic violation and.... well they'd gladly *money gesture* to look other way.

plus - refer to Mexico for more information.
 
my advice to not go to baja. the stories have been told in houston, tx.
 
Moondancer said:
my advice to not go to baja. the stories have been told in houston, tx.
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like what?

cartelsinmexico03.jpg


Maybe I should stop by at toy store in Tijuana, Mexico to buy a fake toy gun that looks like real and use it for our protection? Of course I will throw that toy gun before I return to USA. :D
 
You must get Mexican insurance. Your American insurance is not recognized in Mexico. There are bunches of places near the border to get it. Also, get plenty of Mexican money. Also, look out for trucks and buses. They're bad drivers and think they own roads. Yeah, there are some bad fuels out there, so get some fuel injector treatments with you.

Yes, there are drug cartels living and have been shootings in Baja California. The most well known incident last Oct or Nov occurred in Cabo. Thugs liked to spray with AK-47s. Some Mexican marine was killed. That's why unexpected road blocks are set up there, so be prepared. You must not go there alone. Stay close to the town. Don't wear any jewelry, or take any valuable item with you.

You will love Cabo. It is gorgeous. It's been a while since I went to Cabo. I frequently go to TJ (Tijuana).

<---- San Diego Native, Half Mexican, and got relatives in Baja CA.
 
authentic said:
Maybe I should stop by at toy store in Tijuana, Mexico to buy a fake toy gun that looks like real and use it for our protection? Of course I will throw that toy gun before I return to USA. :D
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if you're in Mexico, surely you can buy used AK-47 for $50 :D
 
Barbaro said:
You must get Mexican insurance. Your American insurance is not recognized in Mexico. There are bunches of places near the border to get it. Also, get plenty of Mexican money. Also, look out for trucks and buses. They're bad drivers and think they own roads. Yeah, there are some bad fuels out there, so get some fuel injector treatments with you.

Yes, there are drug cartels living and have been shootings in Baja California. The most well known incident last Oct or Nov occurred in Cabo. Thugs liked to spray with AK-47s. Some Mexican marine was killed. That's why unexpected road blocks are set up there, so be prepared. You must not go there alone. Stay close to the town. Don't wear any jewelry, or take any valuable item with you.

You will love Cabo. It is gorgeous. It's been a while since I went to Cabo. I frequently go to TJ (Tijuana).

<---- San Diego Native, Half Mexican, and got relatives in Baja CA.
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yea most of people who get killed were involved in narcotic trafficking but it's not like lot of innocents especially tourists get killed too.

but I'm glad to know that we have an ADer (you) as a valuable source of information if I ever make a biker trip there :thumb:
 
Tourists die down there. They're just local news. You guys don't hear that often if you guys live far away from California. If you live in San Diego too long, you often hear the local news such as a tourist killed by a mugger, a tourist arrested by a Mexican cop for not carrying a Mexican insurance, and can't get a fair trial. If a tourist was in car accident, and injured and do not carry a Mexican insurance, Mexican cops would take a injured tourist to the jail, not to the hospital. Tourists died in the jail for not getting a medical treatment. Oh, don't get involved with a prostitute with drug connections. No need to tell the details. The prostitution is very popular down there. The list goes on and on.

Authentic, be safe, and have a good time in Cabo.

Anyway, I gotta go over at a family member's house for a Mexican dinner.

Saludos!
 
Barbaro said:
Tourists die down there. They're just local news. You guys don't hear that often if you guys live far away from California. If you live in San Diego too long, you often hear the local news such as a tourist killed by a mugger, a tourist arrested by a Mexican cop for not carrying a Mexican insurance, and can't get a fair trial. If a tourist was in car accident, and injured and do not carry a Mexican insurance, Mexican cops would take a injured tourist to the jail, not to the hospital. Tourists died in the jail for not getting a medical treatment. Oh, don't get involved with a prostitute with drug connections. No need to tell the details. The prostitution is very popular down there. The list goes on and on.

Authentic, be safe, and have a good time in Cabo.

Anyway, I gotta go over at a family member's house for a Mexican dinner.

Saludos!
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yea that's pretty much what I hear often from biker forum but not the tourist killing part (I meant killed by drug cartel war)
 
I had bad experiences twice in venezulea without being in a tourist area but i was lucky. so i can image that it is the same thing as mexico over there that i heard some from my friends.so i would not go there without the tourist area.
 
Frisky Feline said:
I had bad experiences twice in venezulea without being in a tourist area but i was lucky. so i can image that it is the same thing as mexico over there that i heard some from my friends.so i would not go there without the tourist area.
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I have heard plenty of horrific stories about South America. Did you nearly got robbed?
 
Get your friends in the russian mafia to come ride shotgun. Or is that ak47? Russians will clear out the mexican gunners for you
 
plane ticket dude

I have a timeshare down there. We went by plane. Took a taxi to the resort. Stayed there. Taxi into town to shop/eat. Drink only bottled water. Mexican officials actually make an effort to keep their popular tourist locations, like Cabo, cartel-free.

But I wouldn't drive...There's just too much possibility of bad encounters along the way.

Whatever you decide, when you do get to Cabo, never buy something immediately.... there's so much competition for just about everything they try to sell... so there's always a good chance of a better deal. Just look around a bit.
 
It's good to be aware of events like these but no matter what country you are from, use common sense. Even tourists die in America too. If you are not fluent in Spanish (or don't talk for that matter), you may want to get some laminated cards to explain that you are deaf or soy sordo so that you can show them instantly before any communication issues comes up.

It sounds like you are doing your research so it may not be necessary to say it here but you can use TripAdvisor to determine if the places you want to stay at are safe or not. If you are driving, try to plan your stops in reputable areas to gas up or check into a hotel before dark.
 
Hello

You can driving to cabo, like mention in other comments, the cartels is in other states.

Also you can take precautions like don drive at night and not travel alone.

Don't forget to take a mexico car insurance, the company Amigo offers good services.
mexico car insurance

Greetings.
 
I assume he's already went and back. The OP first posted in April of 2012. :lol:
 
authentic said:
I have heard plenty of horrific stories about South America. Did you nearly got robbed?
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Sorry for not replying to you two years later. :giggle:

My answer was NO. I dont know why those a huge of gangs "look like terrorists" did not go after us but stopped us and looked through our stuffs. Most of our stuffs were clothes. My friend hid his camera and videos. They did realize that we are deaf people. The leader said, " you guys can leave in 5 minutes or we will go after you" of course we were freaked out and leave so quickly.. Funny thing but it wasnt funny, but funny my friend started the jeep but it wasn't. It took him to start the jeep about 3 minutes. then it started. WHEW :shock: I kept my head down in the jeep and refused to have my eyes contact with them. I ACTUALLY REFUSED because of toooooo many guys out there. THey stood around us with two jeeps. I would say they were about 25 people! They all looked so filthy. They wore clothes very poor and stinky. THANK GOD my friend who drove the jeep, and he kept signing/gesturing to him and let us go. :thud: I don't think i want to come back to venezuela AGAIN. I am too scared.
 
AlleyCat said:
I assume he's already went and back. The OP first posted in April of 2012. :lol:
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Nope. It was not happening. My friends are TOO CHICKEN to join me for a round, road trip to Cabo. There is no way for me to go there alone unless I fly.
 
Frisky Feline said:
Sorry for not replying to you two years later. :giggle:

My answer was NO. I dont know why those a huge of gangs "look like terrorists" did not go after us but stopped us and looked through our stuffs. Most of our stuffs were clothes. My friend hid his camera and videos. They did realize that we are deaf people. The leader said, " you guys can leave in 5 minutes or we will go after you" of course we were freaked out and leave so quickly.. Funny thing but it wasnt funny, but funny my friend started the jeep but it wasn't. It took him to start the jeep about 3 minutes. then it started. WHEW :shock: I kept my head down in the jeep and refused to have my eyes contact with them. I ACTUALLY REFUSED because of toooooo many guys out there. THey stood around us with two jeeps. I would say they were about 25 people! They all looked so filthy. They wore clothes very poor and stinky. THANK GOD my friend who drove the jeep, and he kept signing/gesturing to him and let us go. :thud: I don't think i want to come back to venezuela AGAIN. I am too scared.
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Yikes, after reading your story, I already visualize like a movie, the moment you were in that situation, it was f*****g SCARY, then later you're in America...you and your friend can LAUGH about this. I believe you are more likely to be safe in tourist area, and if you are curious about visiting the other villages, you are more likely get in trouble. My friend backpacking all the way from California to South America (Argentina) and both of them (guy/gal) are doing fine. They share so much positive stories about people in villages. :dunno:
 
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