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PreParty in Baja
Keep from getting
soaked by attending our Baja Pre Party.
Baja has
a reputation for being a cheap place to drink. That has changed somewhat
over the years, particularly in the tourist towns like Cabo and Ensenada.
Many of the cheap drinks now available are just that – cheap drinks.
The quality of the alcohol in many of the specially-priced drinks
is hardly top shelf. This is particularly true of the shots served by
the friendly men in the huge sombreros that patrol the bars. The stuff
won't kill you, but too much of it will definitely make for a sleepless
night.
There's plenty of good partying in Baja, but singles seeking
other singles will want to stick to Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada and
especially Cabo San Lucas. Much of the rest of Baja is comprised of
surfers, fishermen, RVers and wandering beach bums. While they can enjoy
a good time as well as anybody – and are happy to share a drink
and a song with any friendly traveler – the opportunities for meeting
that special someone are probably as remote as the terrain.
One might find it odd that a web site devoted to all-out partying and
singles satisfaction like PubClub would invest so much effort in exploring
a place as sexually dry as central and southern Baja. The fact that
we do should say enough about the area. Baja is a cool place to hang
out, the kind of spot where Jimmy Buffett music inspires blenders to
crank out margaritas on a small patch of sand at sunset with a dozen
or so other travelers.
Baja is largely an untamed wilderness. It has a dusty desert where
the only companions for miles are huge cacti that stand tall by the
side of the road. It's a series of endless coves and beaches, many located
down bumpy unpaved roads with nothing more than a few palm trees and
a tranquil blue bay waiting at the end.
Every now and then, there is a small oasis of a town or a friendly
little fishing village to greet and treat visitors. The rewards of this
type of travel are spectacular: immense natural beauty and encounters
with birds, whales, sharks, fighting fish and awesome waves.
Because much of PubClub's Baja report deals with the remote areas of
the country, which we accessed through an RV, we are providing the type
of information in this section one needs to know for traveling with
a vehicle. But any traveler to Baja can find this information helpful.
Much of our Baja
research was conducted at places reached with this RV.
For the most part, driving here presents few problems. The toll
road between Tijuana and Ensenada is four lanes and is in excellent
condition. The rest of the drive is on the paved two-lane Highway 1,
which goes all the way to Cabo San Lucas. The quality of the gasoline
is as good as anywhere in the States. Gas is available at state-owned
Pemex stations and vehicles run fine on 87 octane. The words "sin
magna" means unleaded.
This leads us to our biggest driving tip: never let the tank get
below half-full. Petrol stations are famous for frequently running
out of gas. Do not allow attendants pump gas unless you can observe
them; sometimes they start the pump at 100 or 200 pesos rather than
zero. It's far better to use pesos for payment. Those heading to the
remote regions of Baja should fill up in Ensenada, regardless of how
much fuel is in the tank.
Because much of Baja is backcounty, be on the alert for slow traffic.
Pedestrians and animals can also pose a problem when not on the toll
road or in major cities. For these reasons, it's best to avoid driving
at night. Livestock roams freely on the roads and can cause frequent
and horrifying accidents.
It's pricey for short trips at around $10-15 USD per day (or $58 a
year), but purchase Mexican car insurance. It's sold either for
the vehicle or on one's drivers license, the latter which works for
the different vehicles taken to Baja piloted by the same driver. Insurance,
as well as pesos, are sold in San Yisidero, California, the last American
outpost before the border. Find a peso place that don't charge a commission.
While many places in tourist areas actually prefer USD, it's best to
pay for things in the local currency south of Ensenada. ATM machines
are available in the tourist towns, although the machines only accept
PINs of less than five characters. Mexico does not require a passport
or visa but for entry.
Yes, it's true. Don't drink the water. Anything out of a sealed
bottle is safe and purified ice – which usually has holes in it
– for drinks is fine. Crushed ice, as found in margaritas, can
be dicey in the smaller bars not frequented by tourists. Montzuma's
Revenge is diarrhea, caused by germs and bacteria most commonly
found in ice, water and improperly-prepared food. Bottled water is available
everywhere in Baja.
For extended visits, say stays of more than a week, Hepatitis shots
are recommended. Frankly, this is a good tip for traveling anywhere
in the world.
A more important "don't" than drinking the water is bringing
in or taking drugs out of the country. Just don't do it. The
same rule applies for guns or ammunition.
Finally, travel with a light wallet. Take one credit card and
keep money in at least two places. It's a good practice to keep less
than 1,000 pesos on you at any one time. This is less for crime than
"propina" or bribe money. It's not unusual to be stopped by
a "federale" for any number of reasons, and often the amount
of the "fine" is often valued at how many pesos one has in
his or her possession.
 Next
stop on the Party Bus: Baja Border Towns
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