It has been several years since I have made a trip to Baja. Was one of my favorite destinations until the fuel prices, fees and bribes went through the ceiling. I love Mexico and want to return next February to see the whales.

I have heard that Mexico has loosened up on some of their fees, etc and that fuel prices are now lower than in the US.

I would be interested in any information on fees, fuel prices, requirements, safety, etc.

Haven't been there myself but this is what I found on the subject: unfortunately this mateiral could be dated. It appears that the is a Baja BCP group who maybe able to answer your questions.

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/ ... -038x.html

http://www.swaviator.com/html/issueam01 ... Anchor-927

http://www.femppa.org/femppa/FlyingtoMexico.html

mauleace, make darn sure you have theft, vandalism, and life insurance good for Mexico.

I was there last year on my motorcycle. Mexico is a beautiful country except where there are Mexicans. The whole country is one big dump it seems.

I loved the food.

Have fun and take lots of pictures for us.

Cheers...Rob

mauleace wrote:I love Mexico and want to return next February to see the whales.

If you can't do Mexico for the whales we have a lot of em here in Orygun. AKA fat chicks

Baja in early October is the best in my opinion. The heat has come down a bit and the water is still warm in Sea of Cortez. Several years ago I was at Punta Sanfrancisquito and the snorkeling was fine. If you spear a fish, they will cook it for you.

Have been there twice in Feb for whales trip.

I would not consider going unless I joined Baja Bush Pilots. They are huge help.

Tim

Baha Bush Pilots organizes group trips. They are heading down to look at whales in early March. I've read several blogs from guys that flew down to Mexico. No bribes were involved and they had no trouble at all. All the officials were very polite. Mexico seems to be working harder to earn those tourist dollars. I was pleasantly surprised on my Mexico trip last year.

I agree that the Baja Bush Pilots is a good resource, but I would not go with them. I did that once and they tend to lay claim to the fuel and other resources.

I used the Senterfits book as the bible many years before the club was formed.

I quit going after a trip I made to Mulege with the BBP in 2000. Fuel prices, fees and other hassles imposed by the Mexicans took a lot of the fun out the trip.

But I miss it and I am encouraged by what I have learned. Fees are higher, $250 for insurance, another $75 or so in fees to the Mexicans but fuel is about $1.00 a gallon less than here. Not enough to offset the other costs, but a step in the right direction.

RobBurson wrote:The whole country is one big dump it seems.

And that is why they need to keep the costs inline. It is a fun and interesting place to visit, but not if the costs are higher than here, security less and the hassles greater.

mauleace wrote:I agree that the Baja Bush Pilots is a good resource, but I would not go with them. I did that once and they tend to lay claim to the fuel and other resources.

I used the Senterfits book as the bible many years before the club was formed.

I quit going after a trip I made to Mulege with the BBP in 2000. Fuel prices, fees and other hassles imposed by the Mexicans took a lot of the fun out the trip.

But I miss it and I am encouraged by what I have learned. Fees are higher, $250 for insurance, another $75 or so in fees to the Mexicans but fuel is about $1.00 a gallon less than here. Not enough to offset the other costs, but a step in the right direction.

RobBurson wrote:The whole country is one big dump it seems.

And that is why they need to keep the costs inline. It is a fun and interesting place to visit, but not if the costs are higher than here, security less and the hassles greater.

You have to ask yourself with all the beautiful places to go in the USA. Why bother with a place where you have to be on guard and the law is not on your side. When I was young and dumb I went to 3 rd world countries and realized they were not worth the level of security I had to employ personally.It is difficult to relax and enjoy when your focused on self defense.

Check Out bajabushpilots.com

Great site, lots of help............

RobBurson wrote:

mauleace wrote:I love Mexico and want to return next February to see the whales.

If you can't do Mexico for the whales we have a lot of em here in Orygun. AKA fat chicks

Hey, winter is right around the corner !

mauleace wrote:I agree that the Baja Bush Pilots is a good resource, but I would not go with them. I did that once and they tend to lay claim to the fuel and other resources.

I used the Senterfits book as the bible many years before the club was formed.

RobBurson wrote:The whole country is one big dump it seems.

Actually, looking through their site they look a lot like the twin Bonanza crowd at my airport. Not a bunch I would want to go on a trip with.

I went down to the Mayan Riviera last September and it was hardly a dump. Unless you call lots of topless women on the beach a dump. And they didn't look like beached whales either.

Don't think I would want to fly there though. Maybe after they take over the United States.

svanarts wrote:
Don't think I would want to fly there though. Maybe after they take over the United States.

You mean, "After they take over the southwest"?

RobBurson wrote:You have to ask yourself with all the beautiful places to go in the USA. Why bother with a place where you have to be on guard and the law is not on your side. When I was young and dumb I went to 3 rd world countries and realized they were not worth the level of security I had to employ personally.It is difficult to relax and enjoy when your focused on self defense.

During our last trip, we had flew to San Ignacio, landed on a sandy dirt strip and went out in small boats amoung the whales. My wife and son petted a baby whale, and the close encounter was really something.

58Skylane wrote:

svanarts wrote:
Don't think I would want to fly there though. Maybe after they take over the United States.

You mean, "After they take over the southwest"?

I hope it's only that. I was really surprised at all the Spanish language radio stations when I went to visit my dad in Tennesse.

We'll try to hold them down here but no promises.

I was invited to Baja in April but had to pull out at the last minute. We had planned to make four stops on the way to Cabo.

My buddy invited another couple and had a good time but remarked about how everything in Baja had doubled ($$) in the last year, food, lodging and gas. He couldn't believe the prices and said it took alot of the magic away.

SixTwoLeemer wrote:I was invited to Baja in April but had to pull out at the last minute. We had planned to make four stops on the way to Cabo.

My buddy invited another couple and had a good time but remarked about how everything in Baja had doubled ($$) in the last year, food, lodging and gas. He couldn't believe the prices and said it took alot of the magic away.

Thanks for that, that about sums up why I quit going several years ago.

My understanding is that we will need a 406MH ELT after 2/1/2009. Please cdonfirm this for yourself - there are lots of opinions and interpretaions floating around, But my belief is that it must be a plane mounted/secured device. No PLBs.

Is this your all understanding?

If you have replaced your ELT battery since July 23, your need a 406 Mhz. Until July, 2009, you can fly with a 406 Mhz PLB as long as you don't fly over water

This is from Baja Bush Pilot articles July 23, 2008 and Sep 10, 2008