boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Here is a thought. Place black tape over the camera logo, just might make the camera less attractive to theives.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Cameras can be replaced. Pictures cannot. If you feel at risk, take multiple cards and store them in a safe place away from your equipment. It’s a bummer not to have your nice equipment that you are used to when you need it.

HardworkingGal

I have just returned today from my trip that landed me in Los Cabos, then drove 5 1/2 hours to Puerto San Carlos, took a small panga to the Isle of Magdalena and spent 4 days using my dslr equipment, drove back to Los Cabos, walked the streets within a neighborhood and the marina area (took a water taxi to The Arch for sunset) then walked around the tourist area stopping in some shops etc, walked back into the "neighborhood area" stopped for dinner at a locals restaurant then walked back to the inn I was staying at...felt safe and secure throughout entire trip. I did while walking around in Cabos kept gear within a shoulder strapped type tote bag (looks more like a shopping bag) and kept a close eye on surroundings and who was around me. Also in the very crowded touristy area of bars and shops mostly used point and shot but with a policeman on every corner in this area I did pull out my Canon t6, throughout the rest of my travels I never once hesitated to pull over on the side of the road and take shots, even when traveling through the many small crop up "villages". Found all but 2 Mexicans very friendly and trustworthy (the rental car agent and the water taxi driver both gave me the "used car salesman" shyster feel). I found this country to be very beautiful and the people very family oriented, hardworking and though less fortunate by American terms very proud, hospitable, and helpful. I was not as impressed with the high tourist areas of Cabos San Lucas or Cabos San Jose much preferred the areas where the "regular" people live; but then again even when traveling within the US I tend to stay away from the tourist traps and try to experience real life within an area for lodging and food then venture to see the landscape and nature of the area. I intend on visiting the Baja Sur region again in the future without hesitation. I say take your equipment, be smart on concealment and your surrounding and enjoy! The weather was beautiful!

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

So glad you had a safe and great trip, but what would have happened if the US military needed to do an operation in, or affecting, Ethopia? Sometimes American citizens are held responsible and we are soft targets.

LouV Loc: Juno Beach, FL

I’ve been to Mexico half a dozen times and never had a problem. Use the same care you would anywhere else and enjoy yourself.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

You just stay in your little safe place and don't comment on Mexico as a country. You have your opinion, I beg to differ. (And my gear was stolen in good ole Florida in broad daylight right outside of Marineland.)

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have no personal input on whether Mexico is safer than the United States, nor whether it is safe to go there, nor what camera equipment you should take and use.

But I will tell you that I had a professional colleague and friend at a manufacturing plant where I worked for a number of years. I will tell you that when I first knew him, he would drive with his family to visit his family in Monterrey, where he grew up, and where his parents and siblings still lived. Later, he would drive to the border where he would safely park his car and be met by his brother, who would drive all of them to Monterrey, then drive them back after their visit. Later again, they were deferring their annual trip.

The last I heard from him, he was working to find a legal way to get his parents to the US to insure their safety.

In the end, you must decide what your tolerance for risk is. But my take is that it may not be a good idea to make your decision based on 10 or even on 5 year old information or experience.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

Because of what he had to say in this post. I'm here for photography, not anyone's politics. But I don't care for other people assumptions about a whole country as a whole. Our own country has alot of crime and criminals that are purely American too. I don't want to argue politics or religion. Thank you.

fantom Loc: Colorado

de nada

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Although some areas are much safer than others, I would not take expensive equipment anywhere in the country.

Hip Coyote

There are over 25000 murders annually in Mexico. Their murder rate increased over 10 percent last year. The police force, at every level, is corrupt. Yes, some people gone there safely every year. Some people don’t wear seatbelts and don’t get killed. But the sad fact is the country has more murders than almost any country in the world.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Not to mention potential diarrhea. In that regard, comedian Jackie Mason once said, "Who wants to vacation in Mexico? Mexico is the sh*thouse of the world."

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

All these negative post have been from folks who have NEVER been to MX - there are literately 10's of thousands of tourist arriving and departing from the Cancun airport every day - not one murder of a tourist in the tourist zones of Cancun, Playa Del Carman, Cozelel , Talume or Isla Mueris other than one gringo killing another - his wife usually.
Thefts are no more of a problem than in Florida, CA or NV - Watch your stuff and stay out of the bad parts of town just like in S.F. - N.Y. or Denver.
Harvey

from the beach to the house


from the pool to Caozeme 30 klm

(Download)

sv3noKin51E

Far be if from me to sway anyone from having a dream vacation, but from grim personal experience, unless you're on a death-wish quest, and able to hire a couple of vetted real-life equivalents of Denzel Washinton (yes, as in Man on Fire), take your nice gear and visit each of the Hawaiian islands, then go to Florida for great hospitality and plenty of south of the border folks that will be happy to show you a safer and much more enjoyable stay. Went to Mexico once, was held up in a 'nice' tourist area at gunpoint on the first day, by nicely dressed local toughs with cut-down AKs. They made it quick and for some reason didn't shoot. We left for the airport immediately. An old college friend and her hubby went there every year for over 20 years, visiting all of the lovely, colorful, cheap places. The final year they went, was their final year. Despite having armed guards outside the place (who were likely in on the incident, as it was later they disappeared before the shooting began), all the folk's possessions were taken, then some foolish woman was dumb enough to scream. except for the cook who ran out the back, everyone died. Murder doesn't carry the death penalty down there, but the very few Federales not paid by the cartels will shoot and spray in all directions first, without any questions arising later. A dream vacation which once might been taken for granted, isn't worth it, much less the price range of gear tp take. Be brave, visit Hawaii and have a much better time drinking safe fluids without firearms being pointed at you. Good luck.

Hip Coyote

Live in So Cal and travel a lot, with recent trip to Peru. Not afraid of foreign countries or problems associated. But I’ve had run ins with police demanding bribes in Mexico, had a friend who was forcibly taken to his hotel room by local police so they could take items....and have been briefed on policing matters down there due to my previous work. Tourists caught in crossfire in Tijuana...list goes on.