Baja is dangerous, right? I mean EVERYONE says so. The cartels, the kidnappings for ransom, the corrupt military and police. It’s a place that only a crazy person would tempt.
Only … none of that is really true.
ULTIMATE BAJA CALIFORNIA GOOGLE MAPS GUIDE!
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Night 0: Crossed the Border at Mexicali
Night 1: San Felipe, Club De Pesca RV Park
Night 2: San Luis Gonzaga, Rancho Grande
Night 3: San Ignacio, El Padrino RV Park
Nights 4-5: Mulegé, Playa Santispac
Night 6: Loreto, Rivera del Mar RV Park
Night 7: Las Pocitas, Side Of The Road
Night 8: La Paz, Playa de Tecolote
We’re traveling the length of Baja to an event called Escapar and I gotta tell ya, I might not want to come back. Baja is beautiful. The people warm and giving. Yea, the naysayers couldn’t be more wrong.
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Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken
There are no rulebooks. We each get to choose our own hero's journey. But there is commonality in our quests for personal happiness, and it's in those beliefs that we come together here.
Me personally? I live in a bus (for now). My thing is exploring life like a nomad. Travel, adventure, and wonder. (Yea, I'm a little bit ADHD and I kinda need constant stimulation).
Welcome to The Pirate Wanderer! I'm Rick, your host and life-guide. It's so nice to meet you ... and I can't wait to see what great things we can do together.
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Great information on Baja. It feels like a place I could happily get lost in. Well for at least 180 days. 😊
Come with next time!
I drive San Diego to Loreto 2 times a month for over 4 years. Only incident was a flat tire on a trailer. Very peaceful fun drive. Don't drink and drive.
Wow! Amazing. I'm planning on riding my motorcycle down there from here in San Diego. Any suggestions? Where to stay or camp? Points of interest? Things to do? Ok on the bike? Can I leave it to go inside someplace to eat?or it's prob gotta be locked up etc etc I"m assuming. I go to Baja south of Ensenada a lot over the last 10 yrs..but havn'et. been that far down yet and not on the bike yet either.
Baja is our home for half the year. Our first trip was in the 1950s with multiple families, we returned during the 1960s for kayaking and SCUBA.
What area of Baja do you like most?
It could very well become part of ours as well!
@@nursynikki On a kayak in the Sea Of Cortez. More stars than I could count in a hundred lifetimes.
@largemarge1603 I have yet to get on a kayak out here. Can you recommend a good calm area?
You couldn't have gone very far in the 50's because there wasn't much of any road past Ensenada. Erle Stanley Gardner was just starting his expeditions in the 50's and he wrote a few books about his time down there. Viva Baja is a great site for the history of Baja.
Entertaining video! We always fly to all destinations in Mexico. We have been to Loreto twice and stayed at Villa del Palmar Islands of Loreto. We also have visited La Paz a couple of times. then the famous Cabo San Lucas. The first time I stayed in Cabo was back in the 80s. Since then I have made over 20 trips to Cabo. If you like to spend time on beaches stay in Central Baja. The waters are calm and crystal clear. The waters along Cabo San Lucas get to be a little rough most of the time.
Thank you for sharing ! great video ! I lived in Cabo and drove all Baja main Hwy, When the road comes close to the east coast by Mulegé I was amazed by how many cozy beautiful coves where to stay for the night, dream places
I just came back from Baja. I went down with guys who knew just about every dirt road and cheap hotel along the route. What I noticed was how kind and the innocence the people had. No hard looks or attitudes like in California. It was like going back into the 80's with no smart phones and people actually wanted to talk with you.
I"m headed down on the bike soon. Where you go ? Any suggestions? I"m an on ADV bike and can tent camp too. I'll be solo.
Great Video !.....Keep Up the good work.......Good delivery you kept me interested....
Really like your video and your attitude. Thank you for the video.
I know north Baja California Since Tijuana to Ensenada i love all over the road the scenic road is the Best road while are you driving you look the sea all the time, greetings from Mario i'm watching your videos for first time buddy.
Thank you for this Rick! Planning a trip with a truck camper and trailer.
Enjoy your trip! And enjoy the roads. LOL! They honestly aren't all that bad (did I just say that with a straight face?) but with a larger vehicle, they can be a lot to handle. You get used to it, kinda. But the roads are not always wide enough to leave a comfortable safety margin, so don't drive tired.
Thanks for the vid!
I love Baja and I love your personality, so I subscribed.. I am looking forward to seeing more of Baja…
My first Baja drive from Dallas in 2008, I got from Tecate to Los Barriles in a day and a half. That was some hard driving.
Los barriles? In Baja? Where's is that. Never heard of it.😎
I loved your video thank you
I've been up and down Baja 10x on motorcycles. The narrow roads are not as scary but the potholes can do damage. Once you're in Baja Sur, you really feel like you're in Mehico. And you need to space your fillups.
Going on the Triumph Tiger soon..San Diego down to La Paz I think..moto camp...solo.... Any suggestions?
The crime and the cartel is way exaggerated, used by the U.S. for political reasons the biggest fear is your vehicle braking down in the meddle of nowhere, but a passerby would probably help you
Agreed. And passersby here always stop. At least the locals and the nomads. Plus ... the mechanics down here are used to keeping things going. They may not fix it right, but it will be fixed. LOL!
Totally agree
I wish you would have showed more of the little towns. I got snippets of a few. SO BEAUTIFUL i have a bus im thinkn about the trip soon. ❤
Oh, I agree. When we go back I want to explore more of the smaller places, the people there are always so wonderful and the culture so rich. Hope to cross paths with you down there!
Hi Rick and Nikki, I’m JJs younger sister, Jackie! I’ll apologize for my bro, he’s quite the guy! I’ve subscribed and looking forward to your travels. Stay safe and happy travels😊😎
Oh, he's not so bad when he's got a few six packs in him. LOL! (Seriously, I kinda like the guy). Thanks for coming along on the journey!
It's Not Baja .. The Right Thing Is Complete.. Baja California, Mexico
Yes! I hate it when they change the name of our cities.
@@Fillemexicaine36 ... 👍🏻Greetings
Good video. Been on my bucket list long time. Do you need a passport?
Yup
You'll need passport details to get your FMM. And of course, you'll need it to get back in the US. Assuming you want to leave Baja. :-)
Wow! Gracias por viajar a baja California! Algún dia iré ahí porque yo vivo en CDMX
Alm q dieta slowed
Answer to title is a big YES!!!!!!
Sorry to disagree, but I found it to be a great big no. Baja feels (and is) safer that most US cities. And the tacos are so much better. LOL!
Great information! I recognized most of the places you visited in San Felipe. I've lived there for 2 years. Landed in Feb. 2022 in an RV, fell in love with the place, and bought a house. Still plan to RV the peninsula, but have hesitated due to road conditions. I think I need a smaller rig to feel confident.
I would feel MUCH more confident myself in something smaller. But a 30' bus is what I got. So I'm trying to get used to it. LOL!
it's no more dangerous than any other country to drive in Baja as a matter-of-fact people are more friendly.
Number of homicides is high, compared with Mexican standards
Is Baja safe?! Safer than USA for sure.😀
I’ve driven my Promaster to Panama with less drama than you’ve had in Baja. I fully expect South America to be just as relaxed. Keep having fun but perhaps include a few less headshots and show a little more of the beauty of which you speak. I loved the lagoons of San Ignacio.
Lagoons? Do tell ... we didn't hear about them and will be running back through town in a few weeks.
Good video. I like your style of making the video and the information you give. To me, you are like the Mel Gibson (Actor) of the road, you remind me of him....
Ummm, the younger and good looking Mel? Or the current, scruffy .... actually, nevernmind. LOL!
@@rickhiggins Ok
the complete name is Baja California..not only baja?.. part of the California stolen from usa..still named baja California
I think they know that.
The wall is there telling you to use the front door.
Visit us in El Cardonal BCS
I love Baja❤
Baja California!
Baja California is the name. No. Baja and is safe to Drive Onli drive slow Have a safe trip.
Here after the surf murders. Can safely say Baja is NOT on my list.
Watch your cash machine for a reader this was in Cabo San Lucas got me for it thirty five hundred dollars. I've both sailed from top to bottom sea Cortez back to top of sea Cortez. In. 1980 Went for six months a year for five years traveling to Guatemala . Been up both sides of mexico.its not what most people think . I've been in every town on the Pacific side of the Baja and to the top on Baja . I've drove from USA to Cabo . We drove from Pourta Vallarta to guadamala. Been in most the towns going south . Been back forth from north to south . And east to west. I was twelve first time down . Roads were gravel for hundreds of miles . We went to villages that had never seen blonde hair . I was twelve .. 67 now . The tourists spots are all about your money believe . Lot of wonderful people . Own house their and have rented many . When in the city's don't go out at night by yourself believe me. Always go with friends and watch where your going .theirs a lot of dog shit on the side walks.. if you see something you don't like keep your mouth shut unless against you . Keep your wallet in your front pocket. And don't keep large amounts cash on you . This is the fact and only the facts . It's a very large country and many dialects are spoken. If your in tourists town plenty of English speakers. if your out in mountains or away from the cities lot less English spoken or none . Mexico has every climate was cold in the mountain towns . And mostly smile.
Lots of B.S. about Mexico
thats a no from I'll never go to Baja or anywhere inmexico not after the 2 surfers from Perth were murdered with their American friend, shot in the head dumped in a well with another dead body that was there b4 them,alover some tyres?? yet the guys truck burnt out with tyres?? nope I'll stay in AUS
I understand your fears ... but I would also caution against them. Baja culture and people are wonderful. This was a random act of senseless violence ... but it is NOT the norm. Cities in the US are far more prone to violence.
Mexico is 15% cheaper and 100x more dangerous.
Its not as dangerous as going to Walmart, or going to school in the USA.
Truth
Yup! all of the populATION OF MEXICO IS IN MEXICO CITY.
Baja really isn't Mexico but rather an extension of California. You have to travel the Mainland to see what Mexico is all about.
That's what makes Mexico so wonderful! There are just so damn many unique Mexicos. The Yucatán isn't Baja which isn't ... the list just goes on.
Absolutely agree and then there's Belize and Guatemala and so on and so forth.@@rickhiggins
IT IS Mexico!
@@Fillemexicaine36 If you say so.
The right form Is Baja California and Baja California Sur, please don't use Baja. Also Cabo Is wrong, the complete name is Cabo San Lucas. Regards.
They don't care. That is how disrespectful they are.
It is not BAJA. It is Baja CALIFORNIA.
Very true. But sometimes you have to package things for the 'Murican audience. LOL!
That's right... Correct ... Baja California.. México ... Although some Anglo-Saxons in the United States may like it
why ppl from usa take some effort to call the real name of Baja California. Look like they dont want call it Baja California ..it was part of California usa..land stolen from Mexico.. is Baja California no baja..
We didn’t steal the land, we conquered it! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
ok that's why we take it back ....
@@gerardoenriquez1664 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@Gamna778 go to la Texas Arizona and you'll see
@@gerardoenriquez1664 See what? Mexicans working in fields and as maids for pennies? You’re mad because the Europeans are superior to your people in every way. 🤣🤣🤣
Rick H, do not come here, you are not welcome
The fear is real