HardworkingGal

Has anyone traveled recently to Puerto San Carlos (Baja Sur) Mexico....I have a trip planned to camp on an island in the Magdalena Bay to observe the grey whales next month as a solo traveler. Will be flying into Cabo, renting a car and driving up to Puerto San Carlos (5 hrs), staying overnight in B & B then taking a panga over to island in morning, 3 days with access to captain & boat for 6 hours each day to whale watch, go fishing and visiting island of migratory birds & sea lion colony; rest of day will be exploring island, visiting a small fishing village on other side of island and kayaking in mangroves. 4th day, panga back to Puerto San Carlos early morning; driving back to Cabo (arriving back around noon)(thinking about either walking about Cabo, observing the culture or taking a snorkeling trip in afternoon and taking a sunset dinner cruise before retiring back at hotel to relax and getting up early to go to beach and capture the sunrise) staying overnight in hotel, flight leaves 1:30pm next day. (Staying 1/2 hour from airport)(Landing on Sun @ noon, departing on Fri @ 1:30pm)
Questions: Am I nuts (family & friends think so!) or is this safe? Can I take 1 dslr plus 2 lenses, a small waterproof point & shoot and a go pro? (Read somewhere can only take 1 camera & 1 video camera) What should I expect at security checkpoints along the drive North? Any recommendations for places/things to see during afternoon in Cabos? Is arriving at airport in Cabo 2 hours before departure time sufficiently early enough?
When I first booked this, thought would be a great adventure, but recently people have been saying that this might not be such a good idea (none of which have ever traveled outside the US); so I am going to ask a group of people that don't know me, I assume have done some travel and may have some advise on international travel (this is my first trip outside the US, though I travel solo frequently on road trips throughout the east coast by car and motorcycle, plus 3 day kayak trips down rivers... camping everywhere I go-family/friends think I'm nuts doing this as well). Any opinions or advice?

twowindsbear

Contact the State Department. They should know about safety for US travelers in any part of the world.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

I’d say brave, as a minimum. I am a guy that has travelled the world for many years and I would not consider such an expidition alone.

It seems to me the drive is the riskiest part. Could you get other transportation to your destination?

You should be OK in Cabo. It gets many US travellers. I don’t know snorkeling there is that great.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico as travel by U.S. government employees to these areas is prohibited or significantly restricted.

Nov 15th SD Warning.....Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to crime. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.....

34,000 murders in Mexico in 2017, use caution and stay safe

Senior Photog

You don't have enough money to pay me to make that trip. Extremely dangerous.
...Joe in NJ

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

No you are not "nuts". I have made the trip north from the airport literally 100's of times, sometimes alone, sometimes with wife and kids. Yes, you need to drive defensively and slow (I assume you are renting a car?) and do NOT drive at night-lots of cattle along the road.
Puerto San Carlos is not a "sight seeing" town-it is a fishing village, but the whales are wonderful. Often people in the pangas are brought to tears with the whale encounters. That time of year, many wintering birds will be seen.
Risk of traveling in Baja Sur Mexico is no different than risk of traveling to any 3rd world country (or Chicago or New Orleans). One major difference is that literally millions of "gringos" go to Mexico every year.
PM me if more questions.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I would not go to Mexico again. Alone ,or with an armed guard. An American with "fancy" camera gear is a very attempting target. Theft in Mexico is not a crime--It's the national sport. Find a safer spot to whale watch

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Anacortes, Monterey, San Diego, Vancouver...all good places to whale watch

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Not even close to the same experience. In Baja you will be able to literally touch the Gray Whales; usually the mothers and offspring will solicit for touching and petting. What value you place on that experience is up to you, but it is "apples and oranges".
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2017/08/gray-whales-baja-mexico/

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Mexico has three of the top five cities in the world in murder rates with Los Cabos number one, Acapulco number three, Tijuana number five.

You can observe oryx in Iran but would you really want to...

Maybe it's why Mexico allows sewage to be dumped into the Pacific Ocean next to San Diego...

oregon don

Maybe it's why Mexico allows sewage to be dumped into the Atlantic Ocean next to San Diego...???

Who move San Diego to the east coast?

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Yeah my mistake sorry Pacific Ocean I'll correct it... thanks.

Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State

The State Department app (Smart Traveller) lists a level two security for Baja California. Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and LaPaz or at least no travel restrictions for government employees. There is some crime and one should be careful and not travel at night. Stay on toll roads.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

Rode down the Baja in 2004 so this is not current info but may help. The road is made somewhat dangerous by all the motor homes driven by elderly Americans. Driving at night is a non starter.... black night, blacktop highway, black cow is a recipe for problems. Beware of speed bumps entering and leaving small towns. I had to buy a new kickstand at th Harley dealer. He said they sell a lot of them. Don’t even consider controlled substances because a Mexican jail can not be fun. Keep you valuable stuff out of sight, camera in bag etc. try to stay among the tourists, there is safety in numbers. Do consult the State Department website for the latest travel info. They are a little alarmist in their warnings, but a valuable resource. Use common sense. We were warned of how dangerous it would be and written of for dead before we started our ride. Cabo is a tourist destination but would not be if the were killing all the tourists. The biggest annoyance was time share sales people. US expats with the tenacity of a pit bull/Jehovah Witness cross on stimulants. They are relentless. One scam is to offer a free bus ride to your hotel which involves a “short” time share pitch. Not as much of a problem for us on bikes but flying in they have you at their mercy. Don’t let people less brave than yourself dissuade you from the adventure unless they have been there themselves. Do get current info and get whatever the chamber of commerce or the equivilant has to offer. Safe travels.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Tourists are generally not killed in the cities. They need to sell you their genuine made in china souvenirs. For those more adventurous, it is not what it used to be. I will never return. Anytime you read warnings on how to survive a trip to a country, I look for a different country. lol