Baja in January 2015 headed south
 

Hey guys,

I'm planning to ride from Toronto to Brazil in stages and am looking for people to ride with starting in Mexico. I'll be leaving from Rosarito, Baja, Mexico in January, my dates are flexible. I plan to cross Baja and catch the ferry to Mazatlan and go from there.

About me: I'm male, from the states, and in my late 20s with a lot of travel experience but I haven't done a ton of motorcycle travel. I crossed vietnam on a 125 with a friend, and did a solo trip of ~4000km around the US and Canada including a stop off at an incredible HU meeting. I'm friendly, optimistic, and love adventure. My Spanish is mediocre(I plan to get better), my Portuguese is good.

Anyone considering a similar timeframe or interested in doing a leg of it together? Message me.

Cheers,
Rob

Rob,
You are very likely to meet up with various riders on your way South. Lots of riders on the road in January. You will find riders at popular destinations all along the Gringo trail.

As an alternative to Ferrying to Mazatlan, you might consider taking the Ferry to Topolobambo instead. It's only 5 hours vs. 12 + to Mazatlan. If you wanted to see Copper Canyon, then that is the way to go. Also, MUCH cheaper to
Topo than Mazatlan.

I hope you take time to explore the Mexican Central Highlands. Bit cool in January but delightful. Beaches are good too if want to go that way. Both areas worth while. Good guide book or ask here for "special" places.

Your Portuguese will serve you well when learning Espanol. You can take Spanish classes at many places along your route. I know some in S. Mexico (San Cristobal de las Casas) and in Antigua, Guatemala. Both destinations will be loaded with Motoqueros from all over.

!Que le via muy bien!
bier

I am doing Baja Norte Dec 26. Not sure if that's too early for you

Thanks for the info mollydog, it's really appreciated. I have quite a bit of Spanish experience from travel and staying with a family in Guatemala for a while, but time and Portuguese (so many cognates between the languages that when I try to speak Spanish, Portuguese slips in all the time. When I was learning Portuguese, I slipped Spanish in always haha. It seems impossible to be good at both as an English native speaker but I'm sure it just takes some work.

My knowledge at the moment is limited to reading trip reports and hearing stories at a HU event, are there any resources you'd recommend to get a better idea of what to do and where to avoid? Just pick up a rough guide or lonely planet? More trip reports? I'm not really the planning type but I'm worried if I dont on this one I'll miss a lot of great stuff if I'm mostly just pushing South.

Cheers,
Rob

How long are you down there? I won't be in Mexico until at least Dec 30th and I'll likely spend some time with friends in Rosarito before I hit the road.

+1 on Copper Canyon. Also the Spanish schools in Antigua, Guatemala are an excellent value. While enrolled in a school there you can billet with a local family for as low as $80 USD for an entire week -- including meals!


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Rob

Some few advises for your security:

- don't travel at night, after 7 pm
- don't travel through Michoacan and Guerrero. If possible turn to the center states after Sonora

I these season, we have some hurricanes or tropical storms that can turn the weather rally bad, so check the weather forecast dally.
- If possible travel with some partner or contact bikers groups to join in some areas. The tip will increase your safety through Mexico a lot

Regards

Thanks man, I spent a week with a family in Guatemala off Lake Atitlan maybe 5 years back, I'd love to repeat it and my Spanish could certainly use it. I couldn't believe the price. Any word on safety in Copper Canyon?

Thanks jlip, all tips related to security are super appreciated. I'll take your advice and also plan to pair up with some other riders as soon as I can. Also no plans to do big mileage whereever I can avoid it so being in before dark won't be a problem.

I'll definitely do more research as the time gets closer and my basic route becomes more clear. Cheers.

Good advice regards night time travel. It's risky, but many have crossed Mexico at night in years past .... But today it's a different world. The tweakers come out at night. Stuff happens.

Not sure I'd swear off two entire Mexican States. YES .. the Cartels have been active there ... but hard to avoid an area just 40 miles from D.F. How out of control should we believe things are? It's always dangerous in the back country there during harvest season. (NOW!) But millions travel up and down those coastal roads without issue, yes? (Mex. 200)

This latest massacre of young students (last week) in this area has lots of people freaked out ... lets hope the military can make it safe enough to drive public roads. (although could be a civil war brewing ... as it was THE MILITARY (or Police?) who killed the students.)

I don't believe it's like their shooting Motoqueros off their bikes. I would stay off remote dirt back roads in Michoacan now ... (harvest season). But mostly they're harvesting Speed and Heroin these days ... and the big problem is they are using their own product. Nothing more dangerous in the world than a Tweaker.

Like the remote areas around Atitlan, riders have been robbed in remote area of Copper Canyon. But RARE! I've been there 4 times ... first time in 1973, last time 2007. The Military have a strong presence there ... yet a few years ago there was a full on gun battle right in the main town of Creel's zocalo. Something like 6 to 10 killed on both sides?
Military, Police, Cartel guys all shooting it out.

There are major Meth labs in these remote areas ... product is funneled down to Culiacan and distributed world wide from there. It's a huge, remote and rugged area and the military can't control all of it ... and really don't even try. Years ago it was just Marijuana ... seemed the growers had a "arrangement" with Military, now, with Speed, Heroin and BIG MONEY ... that arrangement has gone to Hell and the result is all out warfare.

It's better now than it was a few years ago ... But suffice to say tourism is probably down in Creel and Batopilas yet you can read CURRENT ride reports of riders passing through without issue ... I just read one today:
http://www.smboilerworks.com/pride-b...0f02-231969085

I would go ... but don't believe everything you hear from locals. They're all afraid of the guys in the next village. I did extensive exploration in this area ... at every village locals would warn against the "indios malos" in the next town ahead. Went on all day, through 3 or 4 villages. No "indios malos" encountered ... and we were lost in the most remote area in all of Mexico. Talk to other travelers ... always a bunch in Creel. Talk to riders who've done it recently. Always consider your source.

Hey, was on the road and just read this. Thanks again for the advice. I haven't scanned too closely on the various mexico/C.A. subforums here on the HUBB but there are some pretty good regularly updated ones on advrider with lots of current security info.

As of now I plan to avoid Michoacan and Guerrero but am disappointed to do so. Ive heard great things about both, especially Michoacan. But the bottom line is I'm traveling solo, for the first time on moto in Latin America, I'm not fluent in Spanish...etc and I'm fairly young so hopefully this won't be my only pass through Mexico.

I am going to read some more Mexico threads and TRs before starting to plan a route, and even then my route will be general (basically a list of states and maybe some must-see places to stop) and I'll adjust it as I go based on my mood and what I hear from locals and travelers there. Great point about the "malos indios" it is the same everywhere. In Brasil, dont get them started on those damn argentinians. In Argentina, it's Chileans. And in America they think EVERY country is dangerous haha. Cheers.

Bump, dates getting closer, trip plans are getting more solid. I'll be heading south starting Jan 2nd but could potentially be convinced to leave earlier. So far I'm planning as if I'm going solo because I'm going either way, but I'd prefer to have travel buddies for a few weeks, especially early on and in north/central mexico. Cheers.

Do visit Copper Canyon, and ride in to the canyon. Right now harvest time has caused some problems, but my guess is you'll be in the CC area in Feb or so. I've been in the Canyon three times, and it's amazing every time. It does snow in Creel, but is much nicer in the Canyon.

Just returned from the wider Xilitla area with friends and had a wonderful trip riding the tarmac. Experienced several incidents of over the top hospitality extended to me and us over our trip. There is a different vibe in Mexico with the protests and political issues, but just be aware of it. I experienced nothing of it directly, but heard short comments a couple times. You're a gringo and a tourist, like I was, so not a threat.

I am in envy. Have a great trip!

Thanks for the info man. I'm torn on Copper Canyon at the moment. On one hand it sounds amazing and like something that would be a huge mistake to miss. On the other I'm solo without much offroad experience during harvest season in a rapidly changing Mexico :frown:

For now I'm going to give it a pass and hopefully will ride my bike back home and take that route when I have more experience and my Spanish is better. It's a shame as it looks like I'll skip Guerrero/Michoacan as well. Hopefully things get better for the people of Mexico but I imagine they'll get worse first.