Baja
 

Any advice on traveling the Baja Mexcio would be great , places to go, places to avoid, things to keep in mind. Thanks!

Buy a map, read a book, pack your kit, and drive south. Nothing particularly to avoid in Baja. Just drive, explore, meander, camp, smile, and soak up the sunshine...

You could do the trip in a Caddy if you wanted, so no need to go overboard on the 'overland' preparations, IMO.

Baja has some nice off road riding if you want to do that stay out of the towns at spring brake. Smile a lot that always goes a long way. Theres lots of sand and Americans (from the USA) down there. don't drive at night. There are lots of dogs in the streets. Booze is really cheap if you don't go in to tourist areas. People there will steal anything not locked down. I think its a game to them see if you can steal something and get away they will take the oddest things. You will be richer then most the people there and some will hate you being there. Dam rich gringo go home! is the worst I have ever seen there (save for the rocks from kids and a nuts old lady throwing dog poo at me)

The Beaches are nice (some of the best are down small dirt roads and hard to find) Things are much cheaper if you talk a little Spanish people call it a gringo tax but its common business practices all over the world you know charge what the market will bear. Don't cast judgment on how they live some are poor and live that way because they have to some do it because they want to.

Lately there have been some security issues in the border towns, such as TJ and Ensenada. I've never had any problems on numerous trips to baja, both by moto and Land Cruiser. I just try to hit the northern border in the morning 8-10 am...ish and then head South a hundred miles or so....

I really like the road south of San Felipe, on the Sea of Cortez side, down to Puertocitas and the Bay of Gonzaga. Alfonsinas' is a nice hotel/restaurant in Gonzaga...and then head South and visit Coco at Coco's Corner....

-H-

Check out Expedition Portal: Vehicle Dependent Overland Community, US based, lost of Baja info.

theres really cool hostel about 2 hours south of ensenada called coyote cals. alot of guys on dual sports go there. its really clean with lots of rooms. about a 5km dirt road road in. they have a courtyard with a fireplace and its a good place to chill. over looks the ocean. look it up on the net.

i suggest crossing in Tecate, which is east of Tijuana. no line ups or anyhting, tijuana is crazy and dangerous. tecate is a nice town ad puts u on good roads right away. u also avoid the toll highway and all the crazy mexican semi-trucks between Tijuana and Ensenada. great trip though, have fun.

San Ignacio
 

South of Ensenada most folks still stop at Mama Espinosas in El Rosario for breakfast or burritos. Further south a great place to stay is the San Ignacio Springs B & B. Lots of folks use the yurts at the B&B before heading out to see the gray whales at Laguna San Ignacio or before heading further south to do the loop through Mulege and Loreto and back through San Juanico/Scorpion Bay. The Springs has quite a few accommodation options and price includes breakfast and lots of useful info about the area. Plus, San Ignacio is a great little town where you can spend the whole day just settin in the town square...Here's the SI Springs website. Ignacio Springs Bed and Breakfast - Home

Tom Grenon's site, although no longer current, still has some great photos of previous Baja places. Have a look here Motorcycle Explorer.com

Keep lots of water with you. 4 Gal jugs are readily available and well worth having - you will be in a desert!