Helo new members here want to go to Mazatlan In Jan 09

[barbaragayle]

Hello:  We are people in our 60's and have a small Rialta Winnie and want to join a group who travel to Mazatlan on Mex 15 from Nogales this January and stay there for 1 month in an RV Park.  Are there people in this group who do that?  Go in caravans?  We are not wealthy and do not wish to pay a tour guide for this type of thing....but are interested in making /joining an RV travel  friendly caravan.  Are there people interested in this?  ...thank you for any guidance on this as we do not want to just go to the border and hope to meet up with others as I am told many people do...we are new to RVing...only made a few trips. Thanks.... Barbaragayle

 

[Ron]

Welcome to the RV Forum and thanks for joining us.  Please look around, ask questions, check out the library, and join in on any of the on going discussions.

Given the current reports of violence in Mexico, as discussed in this discussion HERE

 

[Marsha/CA]

Ron has pointed out the violence that is happening in Mexico.  I'd be very hesitant to go into Mexico at the this time.

Regarding your caravan questions.  Some members here have done caravans; but they were the professional ones where you have a guide, preplanned itinery, and help if you need it.  If I were going into Mexico, that is the only way I would go. 

Some on here have made close friends with each other and they have traveled together without a professional guide.  I'm not aware of a large group of members traveling as a caravan from point A to point B.

We do have Rallys or "get to gethers" from time to time.  The next one is planned for New Year's Eve, then there is Quartzite.  In May we are doing a "hop-skip-jump in Utah.  I'll be glad to get those dates for you if you are interested.  We always welcome new friends.

Marsha~

 

[barbaragayle]

Dear Marsha and Ron:  Thank you for your replys.  I have not heard of any violence against people on Mex 15 going to Mazatlan.  The  Mazatlan American embassy there has said that their problems seem to be against drug people and those who have been in the wrong place at the border, eg. nitetime in towns along the  border or at bars...we would not be in either of those places or out an about after dark.  I realize there has been violence in the Yucatan and on the Baja pennisula, but have you heard of other incidents along Mex 15 or in Mazatlan?  We would want to take the toll roads, though expensive are safe as the green angels patrol them and are (I am told) not the people perpetrating the acts of "fining" travelers for their own benefit.  If you have specific incidents I/we would appreciate knowing of them.

Two of my closest friends ( a very attractive female & her husband who are now living in VA. and are not traveling this winter) have traveled in this last 1.5 years about 10k miles around Mexico and never had one incident. I am not saying violence cannot happpen-it does and can, but for the most part it can happen in any city in the USA also. I also realize that the Mexcan authorities are not quick to establish these acts as criminal, but are recently doing more. 

?????Are there people in this RV group wo are going to Mazatlan this winter?  As I said we want to stay there a month so doing a tour would not let that happen as they travel about...we want to stay in an RV park for the whole time and not travel anywhere else....just to/from on Mex 15.  If there are not people in this group, how do I find them?????  Thank again,  Barbaragayle

 

[Ron]

The reports on violence are there and there is no reason to doubt them.  No way would I risk our well being by traveling to Mexico.  It could result in death or serious injury.  Would it really be worth it?? ???

 

[RLSharp]

barbaragayle,

If want to do some reading on the violence across Mexico, take a look at the following URL's:

M3 Report

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FORMER BORDER PATROL OFFICERS

RVForum Thread

In addition, although I haven't able to find a reference for the data, it is reported that there have been more Americans killed in Mexico so far this year than American Armed Forces killed in Iraq.

Richard

 

[Jim Johnson]

Barbaragayle

My daughter lives in Mazatlan 6-9 months of the year and travels in the US during the summer.  She travels Mexz15 several times a year.  She has never had any problems nor has she told me of any problems either in Mazatlan or on the road.  She also travels throughout Mexico while there.  I am not saying that there is no violence there, just that she has not seen any.  She is out and about in Mazatlan  on her own all the time.  She is a real "scardy-cat" and she would be back in the states at the slightest notion of problems.

 

[deank1]

We have been traveling to Mexico for the past 9 winters without any trouble.  We drive down 15 to a small village North of Puerto Vallarta.  There are so many rigs doing the same thing.  We feel very safe there, but would not spend time around any large border towns at night.  And, we would not spend alot of time in some large cities in the USA at night either.  Things happen anywhere.  You just have to use common sense.  We have found the Mexican people to be nothing but kind, generous and very accepting of their winter visitors.  They are so helpful, we have been lost a few times and they are right there to help us out.  They are lovely people.  I am not sure a Wal-Mart parking lot is much safer than anywhere we have traveled in Mexico.  We have also traveled in the interior of the country without problems.

Diane