HA! I used to feel this way, but got talked into a trip down south. I saw lots of JKs on my trip to El Golfo de Santa Clara a couple weeks ago. Never had a sense of uneasiness at all, and I am a TOTAL gringo.

It's Mexico, not Iraq!

The trip was a blast. It was great bombing around in the deep sandy beach in the JK.

 

RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!

 

I go all the time. I have a place in San Felipe. The only thing that I have noticed is there are more check points along the way which make things all that more secure. Baja wheelin is the BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!! The pic to the left here was taken on the dunes about 1 hour so of Mexicali on the 5. Virgin Sand.

 

I have done Baja many time with my Land Rover Discovery ( San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez and San Quintin on the Pacific) and not a problem ever, I buy Mexican auto insurance from AAA before leaving, it's a great insurance that cover everything including theft, so I have complete peace of mind.

Baja is extremely safe and the people there are super nice. I think there are quite a few myth about safety there. It's really a beautiful place and the Baja government have done a lot the past 10-15 years to make it very safe for tourist. There is very little corruption and very few crimes committed against tourists... and definitely heaven for 4x4's.

Actually one of the main reason I want to buy a JK is to go back to Baja which I have stopped going since I sold the Discovery a few years ago...

 

Definitely get the Mexican insurance. Total coverage for me cost about $20 a day. I got mine through drivemex.com, but you can never go wrong with AAA.

Also, in terms of the violence. There has been some violence lately, but it has been only in certain sections of the city of Tijuana. And has been between drug cartels and the military/police. Outside of TJ there have been almost no incidents. I felt safer in Mexico than I would ever feel in Compton or Watts even in the daytime.

[Sarcasm]Even if you do get caught in a gun battle I wouldn't worry. A couple of months ago there was a 5 hour gun battle in TJ between the police and the drug cartel. After all the fighting was over the news reported only one cartel person, and one police officer was killed. So, in five hours of fighting only two shots hit the target. [/Sarcasm]

 

That may be true, but I don't think they really have complete freedom of the press down there.

I don't really see a need to go to mexico. Theres plenty of desert and beachs here in california.

 

The only beach in Ca I know you can drive on is Pismo. You cant go very far maybe 5 min.

I have driven on the beach So of San Felipe to Portocitos. Spectacular. Another time pulled the Jet Skis out there and had the Sea of Cortez to ourselfs.

Baja is not just a destination its an attitude of exploring unchartered areas.

I agree Here in So Ca we have it all. I think Baja is just an extention of that..........

 

Well said.....