I go to Mexico (specifically Sonora) all the time. For diving, sightseeing or hiking. I camp in the backcountry by myself. No issues whatsoever. I have been on two road trips to Baja California, driving all the way down from Arizona. Most recently last winter. Again, no incidents. Sure, the crime is there. I later read in the newspaper that during the time I spent in La Paz, a major drug kingpin was arrested there after a major shootout with police. It's just that I'm not really worried about it. I look pretty white and have a German accent, so I am not particularly worried about becoming a victim of mistaken identity. I'm also dating a Mexican right now who tells me that yes, one should be careful and avoid the border towns, but by and large, she sees no problem with me going to Mexico often. Since she is from Hermosillo, I figure, she'd know if there was imminent danger. Of course, I would NOT go near Ciudad Juarez, or go shopping in downtown Nogales. I think that would be asking for it. But Baja is such a major tourist destination that I feel fairly safe there. I probably will avoid driving at night, though, something that I've always been warned about, but always did. I really do believe it is no interest of the drug cartels to drag tourists into this. After all, the whole eruption of violence happened because Calderon cracked down on the cartels, unlike his predecessor, Vicente Fox. If the druggies started targeting tourists, the government and police would crack down even harder on them. That is the rationale I follow. This Christmas/New Years, I'll be driving down Baja again. Actually, I'm planning on taking the ferry from Topolobampo, which requires me to drive through Sinaloa, one of the major hubs of violence. Friends warned me that I should DEFINITELY not drive there at night to avoid roadblocks by bandits, and I will heed that advice. But during the day it should be fine, I was told. Are you driving or flying? If you are flying I wouldn't worry about anything in the least.
seem to get 5 or ten of us a year.
