Talleyho69 wrote:
Sorry, David, but I need to know more. Until 2 years ago, we wintered in Maz, and this doesn't ring a bell. Can you help, please?
I apologize for not constructing my comments with footnotes, references and adequate documentation. Accreditation tou request and you shall get it. My experience was actually staying at the same park around 11 days after the incident. I was on my way south. I really do strive to post reality and not rumor or contrivances. Below is an excerpt from Mike and Terri Church's Rolling homes blog. If you want authentication, I can furnish you with the telephone number of the PGE office of the state of Sinaloa. March 9, 2012 Update - Again this year we are aware of two RV-related incidents for RVers traveling in Mexico.
The first, which occurred in January, 2012 was the theft of an RVer's pickup by armed gunmen from Playa Amor RV Park near San Blas. This occurred during the afternoon and was watched by several other RVers in the park who could do nothing to stop the theft as the gunmen were armed and threatening. Our understanding is that one of the theives has been arrested, not the other - and the pickup has not been found.
The second incident occurred in recent days. On the main highway north of Rancho Hermanos Graham in the state of Veraruz a pickup and camper were forced to stop by four gunmen in another vehicle who fired a shot into the cab of the pickup, narrowly missing the driver. The husband was held by the theives. The wife was escorted to several banks where attempts were made to withdraw money from their bank accounts using cash machines. The wife was then taken back to the rig. Computers, cameras and other items were stolen. The couple was threatened with death if they reported the incident. They were then turned loose.
It appears to us that neither of these incidents were related to drug cartels although it's hard to tell. There is definitely an increase in lawlessness in Mexico. Guns seem to be available and police forces hard pressed to catch law breakers. The incidents described above cannot be attributed to reckless behavior by the RVers involved. They were exercising reasonable caution by staying in RV parks and driving well traveled roads. Although hundreds of RVers from north of the border continue to travel in Mexico with no problems, the possibility of a serious incident is definitely there.
January 10, 2011 Update - So far this season we have become aware of two RV-related incidents as RVers have traveled south into Mexico. Both incidents carry lessons for other travelers camping in Mexico.
The first incident involved an RVer traveling alone in a medium-size Class C on Mex 15, the west coast highway which begins at the border at Nogales. He stopped for the night at a Pemex about half-way between Los Mochis and Guasave and parked away from others in the lot. After dark a pair of armed men forced him to open the door of his RV and took his wallet. This RVer has law enforcent experience and was careful to remain calm and not to incite violence. After the theft the RVer moved to a location close to other parked vehicles and there were no further problems that night.
This happened in a busy Pemex along a busy route. To us it is clear that overnighting in Pemexes is not a good idea in these uncertain times. On-site security is not very good and relying on others around you to help isn't a sure thing, particularly when the bad guys have guns.
The second incident happened in the state of Tamaulipas near Mexico's east coast. An RVer in an older pickup with a collapsible camper on the back was stopped by four gunmen with automatic weapons who partially blocked the highway with their own pickup. This happened just north of Nuevo Padillo (about 50 km north of Ciudad Victoria) at a point where Mex 101 splits and eastbound and westbound traffic lanes are not within sight of each other. The gunmen forced the RVer to hand over money and his passport and took the time to seach his vehicle for valuables. One vehicle (a truck) passed while this was happening, he didn't stop. The RV (pickup with small camper) was not stolen. The RVer in this case did the right thing by stopping when flagged and not resisting. Once the gunmen realized that he was not going to resist they kept their guns pointed at the ground and were relatively friendly. Note that this incidend happened at almost exactly the same spot where two RVs were hijacked last fall, see below.
All roads in Tamaulipas are considered dangerous. The U.S. Consulate in Matamoros has issued a warning about highjackings and holdups in Tamaulipas, particularly along Mex 101 between Matamoros and Ciudad Victoria. Here is a link to the warning: http://spanish.matamoros.usconsulate.gov/wmes172011.html
Most RVers traveling to central Mexico and even down the east coast are avoiding what seem to be the most dangerous spots by traveling the toll highway south from the Columbia truck crossing (just west of Laredo) to Monterrey, following the toll bypass around Monterrey to the west, and then catching Mex 57D south near Saltillo. Folks bound for the Yucatán can get back to the coast using seveal routes including the new bypass around northwest Mexico City. This routing keeps them on well-traveled highways and quickly gets them away from the troubled border areas.
May 25, 2010 Update - Reader report related to March 2010 hijacking of two rigs north of Ciudad Victoria:
Both our friends flew to Mexico last week and have recovered their units. Almost two months after the incident, they finally have their RV's back. There was no major vandalism and none of the appliances have been touched. The thieves probably did not have enough time to do either. Everything that was easily removed is gone, both from inside the RV's and the outside bays. Our friends tell us that their units need a good clean up and they will have to replace all their gear, of course.
They have not received compensation of any kind from the insurance company, either for the loss of content or the expenses incured (hotels, meals, airplane tickets, etc). When travelling in Mexico, we are covered for total loss only so our friends have to pay everything out of their own pocket. Yuk!
They have mentioned in passing that they do not intend tro travel back to Mexico with their RV's, not in the near future anyway.
April 2, 2010 Update -
This season (2009-2010) there has been a steady increase in violence in Mexico. For the first time that we are aware of, on the mainland at least, even RVers have been affected and the thought in everyone's mind is: Should we come back next year?
Although we're not in a position to detail every problem as it occurs, here are the main recent occurances that we are aware of that directly affected RVers:
In early March, 2010, in Mazatlán, armed men tied up the night watchman at an RV park, and
knocked on the door of a rig in the park. When the door was opened from inside the men tried to force their way into the rig, were pushed out by the owner, and shot him in the leg. The men escaped.
Soon after that, also in Mazatlán, a police patrol near another RV park was attacked by gunmen and the police were killed.
Also in March 2010 RVers leaving parks in the early morning in Celestino Gasca, about 60 miles north of Mazatlán, spotted armed men setting up a roadblock. Soon after there was a gun battle, which could be heard by people in the Celestino Gasca RV parks. Rigs that had departed not long after the gun battle saw bodies along the highway. No RVers were stopped or targeted in this incident.
In late March 2010 two Canadian RVers in 5th wheels, travelling together, were stopped at an armed roadblock north of Ciudad Victoria. The RVers were not hurt, but their rigs were stolen. The army found the rigs the next day, much of their contents had been removed and were gone. Six of the hijackers were arrested.
Additionally, see the recurring problem detailed below (Page 352) between San Cristóbal and Palenque.
It is up to each individual RVer to decide whether the level of violence in Mexico makes an RV visit too dangerous. If you do go, it's important to plan your trip to avoid trouble spots. Here are some websites that may help you make your decisions:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html - U.S. Department of State - Country Specific Information for Mexico
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=184000 - Canadian government Mexico Travel Report
Telephones - Page 59
