Things changing for the better

[tahoenow]

Way back in 2005 and 2006 my wife and I traveled to just about every place in Mexico that one would want to go and reported on it here in what I am told was the longest thread ever at this board with lots of contributors. 15,000 miles and 30 states later (of the 32) we settled on Paamul in the Yucatan as our winter home.

We've seen the Mexico RV travel scene go from robust to virtually nothing following the emergence of the cartel scare. Paamul continued to fill up with those staying for months at a time but the short term travelers disappeared. I'm happy to report that this has changed and we are now seeing a good number of travelers in their rigs and it is early in the season.

What is interesting to us is that we have never seen any evidence of organized crime and we are now in our tenth season here. We don't know anyone in Paamul - about 400 people at peak - who have seen any of the same and most of them drive back and forth twice every year. The media is powerful and the perceptions were of rampant criminality. I can assure you that is not true and if you have been putting off your dreams it's time to fire up the rig and go for the trip of a lifetime. You won't regret it.

Oh, one last word. On the killings of American "tourists" that have rarely but occasionally occurred, remember that every drug dealing American who comes down here comes down as a "tourist" and the grieving family is unlikely to say how much they miss their drug dealing son. Not to say that an occasional innocent has not been harmed but we see that in California on a daily basis.

Happy travels and an adventurous New Year!

[MikeJinCO]

We're from Colorado and go to the East Coast side of the country. We go to Laredo because the driving is so much easier in the US and finding places to spend the night is hassle free. Diesel costs about the same to slightly more in Mexico. They quickest and most toll expensive way to Chiapas is from Laredo down toward Mexico City(Arco Norte) to Puebla and down the toll road to Oaxaca.

We are currently in Valles and the only gringos in town. No problems around here, but the local bar owner says that Mante is having lots of problems and at Tampico the police are always a problem. Remember it is a bar owner saying this.

[Wanderer96]

And for a quasi-ignorant question... do u think its safer to cross from California or Texas?

Edited: and by that I mean that my maps are giving me two different ways to get to Chiapas... do u think diagonal across the country from CA or across and down from TX would be better?

[Wanderer96]

tahoenow wrote:

tahoenow wrote:

Wanderer96 wrote:

BTW... where is that awesome waterfall in your preview you posted? That thing is incredible!!

That is the amazing Aqua Azul in beautiful Chiapas. It's important to see it in fall/winter. In late spring it is not as robust and the water can be muddy.

Oh, I'm sorry. That is in RVing in Mexico Volume One "West Coast to the Yucatan"

Thank you! That is definitely going on my bucket list!

[tahoenow]

tahoenow wrote:

Wanderer96 wrote:

BTW... where is that awesome waterfall in your preview you posted? That thing is incredible!!

That is the amazing Aqua Azul in beautiful Chiapas. It's important to see it in fall/winter. In late spring it is not as robust and the water can be muddy.

Oh, I'm sorry. That is in RVing in Mexico Volume One "West Coast to the Yucatan"

[tahoenow]

Wanderer96 wrote:

BTW... where is that awesome waterfall in your preview you posted? That thing is incredible!!

That is the amazing Aqua Azul in beautiful Chiapas. It's important to see it in fall/winter. In late spring it is not as robust and the water can be muddy.

[Belgique]

Wanderer96 wrote:
Thanks for the info!

Is this it??

RVing in Mexico

Yes. There is also a Vol 2 on Baja.

[Wanderer96]

Thanks for the info!

Is this it??

RVing in Mexico

BTW... where is that awesome waterfall in your preview you posted? That thing is incredible!!

[maggybeck]

As Mike: that is just plain nasty. Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed? I live in Kino Bay in winter and often visit PP and San Carlos. Information on this site from other places is valuable and much appreciated whether or not it is exclusively RV related.

Maggy

[tahoenow]

Wanderer and Belgique - Thank you for the nice comments - and Wanderer, don't hesitate to travel Mexico by RV. You'll not regret it.

We are no longer actively trying to sell our RVing in Mexico programs at our web site but you will find them on Amazon.com both new and used. Go to Amazon and search "RVing in Mexico". Maybe you would get there quicker by adding DVD.

[Belgique]

Wanderer: re where to get the videos. PM Tahoenow if he doesn't see this and comment. I went to the website he used to have where they could be purchased, but it is down.

At worst case, if they cannot be bought, I will loan you mine. And I won't sleep the whole time they are out of my possession.:E They are that good. Whenever I think back on our trips I watch them again since I cannot go for now.

Kevin: if you are reluctant to comment because some might think you are filthy rich from these DVD's, PM me with the details.

[Wanderer96]

AZ Mike wrote:

mexicoruss wrote:

I have been a very busy tour guide in Puerto Peñasco.....All of last year was solid and I am booked through March so far this year. I work with the whole traveling community not just Rvers but I have a group coming in February of 12 or so rigs and another in March of 27 rigs and add to that the number of people traveling down here for the first time, the numbers don't lie. We leave that to the fear mongers and hyperactive media. I had a group of Canadians here last week that said the more they heard the old folks in Phoenix bashing Mexico and "don't go you'll die" or whatever blather they were spewing, they said the more they heard, the less they wanted to be like them and the negative people actually made it so the Canadians wanted to come here even more! We had a blast together for the few days they were here. They are planning on a return trip in March and a possible purchase of a beach retreat. Sorry naysayers, if you are happy staring at Fox news all day and afraid to leave your "safe" community, that's ok with us. Just don't forget that as we get older we often feel regret for not doing things that we should have done when we were younger.

And your reason that as a tour guide in Mexico you find it necessary to visit an RV forum is for what? to build up your business? Get more customers? Or just to tell the world that your business is doing great and that you want everyone here to call the phone number posted to schedule a tour with you?

What's next, resorts posting the drink specials here?


Russ, can you sell some little red Chile lights to put on our awnings so you will have something here about RV's?

Well, that was rude...

Thank you for this thread. I grew up with a very cautious father who kept me very "grounded," if you will lol. Mexico has always scared me due to the media and my father's worries.

My mother has friends who have a house in Campo Mosqueda, right on the water. I have gone there a few times, much to my father's dismay and have never had any issues thankfully.

My husband has opened my eyes a little more to crossing the border by taking me to lunch in Puerto Nuevo for some amazing lobster and crab legs a restaurant right at the cliffs. It has always been a great experience and the locals have been very hospitable.

I think it's the fear of the unknown for most people (at least it was for me). While I am not naive to the fact that there are definitely cartel and crime, I think some of you are correct that it is similar to when you go anywhere. Know your surroundings, be confident in where you are going, don't act like a victim, and stay out of bad areas.

My husband and I just bought our first TT and we are SUPER excited to start traveling all over the place. I am looking forward to reading more about all of your experiences and travels, and am hoping to be able to participate in the out of country wandering in the very near future!!

BTW, is there a way to get a copy of the videos you were talking about? I am intrigued... it was the satirical "preview" that did it 🙂

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

[mexicoruss]

I'll be at Q next week stop by and say Hi!

[tahoenow]

"And your reason that as a tour guide in Mexico you find it necessary to visit an RV forum is for what? to build up your business? Get more customers? Or just to tell the world that your business is doing great and that you want everyone here to call the phone number posted to schedule a tour with you?

What's next, resorts posting the drink specials here?


Russ, can you sell some little red Chile lights to put on our awnings so you will have something here about RV's?"

Whew. Nasty stuff.

[moisheh]

Russ has helped a lot of people and I really don't think your comments are necessary.

Moisheh

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Go it one better Rocmoc. Just drag up the response history of someone and kaboing right in front of you you get to see their spin on things. It's so lovely experiencing the opinions of people who rarely get to be in Mexico. "Oh I go to Tijuana almost every year. I be an expert."