South of the San Diego Border - Tips and tricks?

Growing up in SoCal, I used to party in TJ at least once-twice a month. We used to park on the US side then walk across and back, but this was all pre 9/11.

My advice is unless you absolutely HAVE to go to TJ, don't go to TJ. It is legitimately dangerous these days and with the current ongoing cartel issues, now is probably the worst time to go. Mexico has some amazing areas within driving distance of the border, why go to a shit hole like TJ that is absolutely crawling with hustlers?

Work your way down the 1 and check out Ensenada and some amazing small beach communities with friendly people, great food and good beer.

 

Went to TJ in 2006 when I was on law school Spring Break and visiting a friend in an internship in Orange County. Caught a Reds/Padres game (we're from Cincinnati) and took a train to the border. We had one hell of a time. Kind of like walking into a casino - don't take anything with you that you can't lose (get stolen).

 

7 murders per day in TJ lately, & more American are murdered in Mexico that all the other foreign counties combined. Can't be anything there worth that risk. Ironically, 70% of the guns there are from here.

 

I just got caught up on what’s been going on in the past year or two there… Yeah, I don’t think I would go there now, either. Too many other nice places nearby to visit

 

If you have the ability to actually take a week off and really make a trip of it, I would recommend renting a car in TJ and drive down to Cabo San Lucas. Some really incredible places to visit on the way, but there are definitely some long boring stretches through the desert. Enjoy the trip, drop the car off in Cabo San Lucas and catch a cheap flight back up to TJ and then come back across the border.

 

Or cross the Baja and end up in San Felipe and fly out. We did TJ to Ensenada to (something something on the coast), turned left over the mountains to Mike's Sky Ranch then San Felipe. Turned and burned from San Felipe to Ensenada to TJ and back into SD. 600-ish miles over five days (last day was ~200). LOTS of great memories and no issues except for silly flat tires and crappy fuel for my WR426.

 

Haven't been in years but even back in the day everybody said TJ was dangerous. I think only for drunk frat boys. I never had a problem there.

L8RSK8R - Please explain your avatar pic. Is that you in it?

 

That's Harley from Deadbolt.

 

check out Valle de Guadalupe. great restaurants and good wine. if u want to go on a tour for it, hit up Baja Test Kitchen. ive gone on 2 day trips with them and had a great time.

 

Used to go down with a group of friends when the bars closed at 1am in SD. Stay together and don't let the cab drivers pick the place. A lot of guys from work would go to Adalitas and they had a really good time. Dragged my ex girlfriend across the boarder at 3am with her screaming she hated mexicans that was a ton of fun. Taxi ride from boarder to SD was about $75 back then.

Saw some american guys that got beat up and robbed, bleeding begging us for enough money to get across the border to go to an ATM for cash to come back and get their friend back who was locked up by some cops or something.

Surfed a lot in rosarito it seemed a lot more chill.

 

I’m booked for an off-road tour of Baja in feb with offroadexpeditions .... looking forward to exploring Mexico some more . Like anything , don’t be dumb or draw attention to yourselves and your should be fine . I rode down to Ensenada last year on the bike at had a great time . Use your head , it’s not rocket science . You know where you need to be and where you shouldn’t ....worst case scenario , you die and are found hanging off a local bridge

 

Get insurance through Baja bound. Don’t waste time in TJ. It’s not the death trap that people make it out to be, but there’s nothing much to do there anyway unless you’re into getting VD at Hong Kong.

If you’re willing to drive a little deeper into Baja, Ensenada is cool. Lots of good food and bars around there. Spend a night at Coyote Cals just north of Ejido Erendira. Cool hostel with home cooked meals and a fantastic tequila bar.

 

Call ahead to Cal's for the lobster dinner. Call ahead anyway to make sure that they are either open or that beds are available. Explore every dirt road that points to the ocean and ride on the little beach just north of Cal's. Really good times out there, and as long as you respect the private property signs you shouldn't have any trouble.

 

Thanks for the feedback fellas

 

Cool, I knew who it was, just wondering what the deal was.
Known them guys since the early 90's. I brought them to TacoLand in SA for the 1st time.