RVing into Bahia LA

Kidoo wrote:
This post is confusing, I plan on traveling to Mexico. Is it hard to find food in Baja Mexico? Is it more expensive than in USA? Can you buy food in one area of Mexico and bring it accross an agricuture inspection within Mexico?

I know it is better not to cross the border with food, Canada to USA, and I am ok with this. As long as I can travel within Mexico with food it is very ok with me. I do not plan to save money, I plan to travel.

No. Absolutely not hard to find food on the Baja Peninsula or any other part of Mexico. Grocery stores big and small abound, depending on the size of the town you are in. I think what some are saying is that the language barrier can make the process "interesting" and in my opinion fun. Its why people like to travel. New experiences and semi stressfull but fun and memorable experiences.

As a Francophone I think you will have a lot easier time with the language than the anglophones. I spoke french before I spoke Spanish and the transition (in my opinion) was easier for me than others. Works the same for English speakers learning German. Coming from a related language makes the phrase forming process easier...although the order of words in German tends to be a little different.

Anyway, get a copy of rosetta stone or find an online source and spend a few months working on your spanish first. I think it will be easy as heck for you.

JMHO

Here is what I read from rollinhomes website. So I guess you have to know where south begin and north end!

It might be helpful to mention that most fruits and vegetables can not be transported between North and South Baja, altho we weren't asked on the return.

whistlebritches wrote:
Did you ever see the Dateline NBC show about the family who went into the Baha to ride their four wheelers? On their way back with their toyhauler, they were stopped by the Policea and ordered out of their truck and taken up to a ditch and made to lie down (they thought they were going to get shot). After waiting about two hours, they finally walked to a house in thed distance and they helped them get back to the border. They were only about 3 miles from the border when this happened. They never did get their truck, toyhauler or four wheelers back. Scared the bejesus out of them. You couldn't pay me to go over there.

This is off topic and of no interest to those of us who have traveled the world and Mexico and understand the realities.

It's precisely this kind of post that is killing this forum and making it impossible for folks to get good information.

If you dont want to go to Mexico...then dont go. But keep your Urban Myths and scare tactics out of this forum and let those of us who do appreciate other countries get on with helping each other in meaningful ways.

This post is confusing, I plan on traveling to Mexico. Is it hard to find food in Baja Mexico? Is it more expensive than in USA? Can you buy food in one area of Mexico and bring it accross an agricuture inspection within Mexico?

I know it is better not to cross the border with food, Canada to USA, and I am ok with this. As long as I can travel within Mexico with food it is very ok with me. I do not plan to save money, I plan to travel.

Hooo Boy...

A smile and authentic "Buenas....." will buy more respect and help than an indifferent attitude and 100,000 word vocabulary.

Want peanut butter, crema de cacahuates? Simply ask Jif? Skippy? with a smile. Want salad dressing? Say "salad" with your hand making a bottle shaking over a bowl motion. Soup? Campbells. Steak? T-Bone,

The book. The People's Guide to Mexico by Carl Franz has more info in it and is a great read. Not a guidebook, it's HOW to travel Mexico not where to go. Lots of shopping and traveling expressions.

The enthusiastic help, coaching and prompting Mexicans offer a non Spanish Speaker is one of the endearing memories a person will take home.

Stuff self-consciousness in a drawer and leave it at home.

For years I lived in Indian communities in guerrero and oaxaca where few spoke even basic spanish never mind english.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
This time they were giving my parking neighbor, the Camper with slideout, hell on wheels for fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and a battery powered chainsaw.

They probably wanted his battery operated chainsaw :)

Seriously though - all Rvs are stopped for customs inspection, and pickups too, if there is anything in the truck bed.

I never bring fresh produce to Baja. Eggs are cheaper in Mexico, meat is about the same as in the US - which means cheaper than here in Canada, and local fruits and vegetables are also cheaper. Even in expensive BOLA the prices for basic supplies and local fruits are same as in Canada, or lower. Those that are not local, cost more than in the US, sometimes a lot more. What really sucks, is that some items are just not available. Especially in small towns like BOLA. You won't find mineral water, or brown rice, or spinach for your salad, or hot chocolate - or will find it at ridiculously high prices. They don't even know in BOLA what mineral water is, and think that it's just a carbonated water. It's a remote village, shipping is expensive. But tourists surely won't starve there.

Gringos are not "stupid". But inability to speak Espanol makes you look and feel stupid. You can point to some item behind the counter or in the locked display, but when you need to know what kind of "queso" it is, and they are trying their best to explain in many words and long phrases - you got the picture...

This time they were giving my parking neighbor, the Camper with slideout, hell on wheels for fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and a battery powered chainsaw. I had stopped to presta el bano. I was not red lighted but I noted every last pickup, van and RV was being waved over to Aduana secundaria. The driver was mad as hell. Looked to be about 150 dollars worth of groceries sitting on the ground. He was headed to Bahia Concepcion. Other rigs had groceries sitting on the ground.

I just got through touring Soriana, Commercial Mexicana Sams Walmart, et al. Parking with a small car is wsy. An RV is about as parkable as an aircraft carrier Ensenada transpeninsular.

La Bodega in Sn Quintin is wide open with 99.99999999999% less traffic than the nightmare of Ensenada - El Cipres.

When I first started coming to Mexico I knew not a word of Spanish. Those were the days when going shopping meant a tienda where the stock you wish was behind the counter and a person had to ask the cajero to fetch it. I was not discourged or defeated in asking. Are RV'ers today stupid? You sure make it sound like they are.

Grab a cart and tour the store. Put things you like into the basket and leave things you don't like on the shelf. It takes no longer to shop Mexico than it does the USA. I did both the last four days. I asked zero questions in Ingles ni Espanol.

Remember the OP is going to concentrate solely on things he cannot bring into Mexico, not for condiments, box and canned food.

How hard can it be?

Hola, senor Mex.

When in a "tourist mode", I'm not a big fan of grocery shopping in Baja while on the road. And even less enthusiastic about shopping in small towns like Bay of LA. Waste of precious vacation time, shops are dark, labels are in Spanish, prices are often missing. I "hablo" enough to ask the sales clerk if I don't see something, or need to know the price, but not everybody can. And you can be 100% sure that some items you won't find in BOLA.

I understand the need to support local economy, but keep in mind that grocery shopping there can be more an adventure than an easy routine. If you absolutely have to do shopping while on the road, stop by at some big supermarket on Hwy 1 in South Ensenada. Hwy 1 here continues as a main drag, and parking is not a problem. I like Macroplaza square, food and beverage prices in their Walmart are fair and you will likely find most of what you need. There is even in-house bakery there - make sure you pay at the bakery counter before going to main cashier's line, bakery is a separate entity.

Didn't shop at Bodega Aurrera - is it before San Qunitin? - didn't notice the place. As I wrote earlier, basic stuff like milk, rice, eggs, sugar etc you will get in BOLA.

Yes, there are no agricultural inspection points between the border and BOLA. Though, there is a chance that they will give you a hard time at the border, with fresh produce, firewood etc.

Happy holidays.

US agents for Mexican underwriters are called SURPLUS LINE BROKERS. Lewis & Lewis has the tightest relationship with a parent underwriter in the Surplus Line Broker industry (Qualitas in Tijuana). Enough of that, I want to move on and help the OP...

For serious grocery shopping, I would skip trying to do anything in Tijuana or Ensenada. Parking sucks, and is impossible with an RV rig. Since you are prohibited from entering Mexico with eat, eggs, fresh milk, fruit and vegetables, you need to gear up down here and here's a suggestion.

105 miles south of Ensenada is the San Quintin Valley, the towns of Colonia Vicente Guerrero, San Quintin, and Lazaro Cardenas.

You will travel endless curves and grades south of Ensenada and pass through 4 medium size villages. Then the road doglegs to the right, then left again paralleling the coast. About TEN MILES down the straight but rolling highway your co-pilot will have to keep a sharp eye out on the right hand side.

There you will encounter a large Shamrock Green with yellow trim building about 150' off the highway.

BODEGA AURRERA

Bodega Aurrera stores are part of the Sam's Club, Wal-Mart chain. This one requires no membership.

Inside you will find excellent shopping for familiar items. Fresh milk in plastic jugs tastes indistinguishable from US milk. San Quintin is a major exporter of fruits and vegetables and it is doubtful anything you bring from home would hold a candle to this stuff. I just shopped at this store four hours ago. You need to bring your condiments (catchup and apple sauce), and spices from home. Like anywhere else in Mexico you will have to park outside the parking lot which I swear they are all perfect for 10 foot long cars. There are no inspection stations between the border and BdeLA. Get charcoal briquets there if you need them. Eggs too. The produce is as safe as anything in the states. Wait till just get a load of the produce prices! Especially avacados

Same exact products, Bodega Aurrera is SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EXPENSIVE than Sam's Club or Wal-Mart Mexico. I just shopped all three.

You can one-stop gear-up for BdeLA here.

I'm in El Rosario and will be working on the Halcones del Desierto fire engine and ambulance electrical tomorrow. Converting everything to LED strobe emergency lights. The Pemex gasolinera here is the last one and it's a long way from there to the bay. Antonio's pumps are dead on correct, a rarity in Mexico.

Halcones del Desierto has ambulance service as far south as Catavina. Servicio Telefonica Rural is located along Mex 1 at various ranchos.

And EVERYONE! PLEASE! If you drive through El Rosario, stop at the Pemex gasolinera. Halcones del Desierto is being operated out of Antonio's pocket. It is a registered non profit organization. The man is dead-honest and every donated centavo and cent goes into the 2 machines. I donate time, labor, and LED lights to the service. Help Save Your Own Life. You know how utterly desolate that 77 mile stretch of highway is between El Rosario and Catavina. Many ambulance services and donation collections are flaky in Mexico. This isn't one of them. Go to the CASHIER WINDOW and say the magic word DONATION. Then take a moment and admire the machines parked next door. Volunteers are EMT trained. The lighting, all of it on both machines, is my contribution. Antonio has been a friend for many long years. He speaks English. Thank You.

"US companies" like Lewis, Bajabound etc, selling "Mexican" insurance, are brokers for 3 or 4 Mexican companies. Normally, those Mex companies cover legal fees.

When in accident, you call Mex toll-free number provided by the policy. Some gringos are calling office number of the US broker - you won't find it on the policy, they are just a broker, so it's better to write it down when buying. I don't know why I would need the US broker number in Mexico, but I would imagine it being useful when dealing with claim repairs North of the border. It has to go first through Mex adjuster anyway.