DUers in Baja, Mexico...anyone?

[Mari333]

In the spring Im thinking of moving to Baja Mexico...I dont know anyone there but I hear there are some DUers who live down there..if you do, PM me and tell me some things I need to know and do before I check out Baja...and give me some names of towns there there are some expats ...thanks, DU.

[mike_c]

1. La Paz has a large ex-pat community, as does Loreto....

Many Baja towns have expat communities, but you should definitely check out Mulege, Loreto, La Paz, and perhaps the east and west cape regions. I don't live in Baja but I've spent a fair amount of time there and once intended to retire there. I still might, but the number of other folks with the same idea is slowly changing the place, so I might look for something a bit more remote from the U.S.

I definitely recommend Baja California Sur, rather than Norte, but then my preference is to get away from the U.S. influence-- there are nonetheless some very lovely places in BCN. Valle Santo Thomas comes to mind. But at the very least go south of El Rosario-- that's where the real Baja begins.

Mulege is absolutely lovely. La Paz is a wonderful small city, with much of its Baja character still intact. But in my fantasy escapes, I go to San Jose de Comundu-- a lovely little oasis community tucked into the central Sierra de la Gigante. I doubt there's any way a gringo could gracefully insert themselves there, but what a wonderful dream....

[Mari333]

2. thanks....I am driving down there with my son in the spring

to look for a place to settle. Mulege looks very interesting...very

[mike_c]

4. Mulege is high on my list of places to spend time....

Be sure to stop by Las Casitas (restaurant and very small hotel) and have one of Javier's excellent meals. The ONLY drawback to Mulege I can think of is that as of the last time I was there-- about a year ago-- there was still no bank in town (or maybe that's just no bank with an ATM machine-- the traveler's friend). Banking had to be done in Loreto, about 45 minutes down the road. The Pemex station about 5 minutes south of town is often more convenient to use than the one in town.

Loreto is much too gringofied for my tastes, but it was developed by the Mexican gov't specifically for foreign tourism in BCS, so it has both good services and a substantial expat (mostly retiree, I think) community. But Mulege is far nicer, IMO.

Enjoy your stay. I truly love Baja California.

[4dsc]

3. What's the best way to get there?

I will be in Phoenix for the next 3 months and I am interested in taking a few flights to Mexico is the price is right.. Baja was on my points of interest..

[mike_c]

5. if you're planning to fly...

...there is an international airport just south of La Paz, and smaller, domestic airports all over (and even smaller private plane sized runways that date back to the days when that was the only practical way to travel between Baja and the U.S.).

But if you have the time, driving down the peninsula is a wonderful experience.

[mr.jack]

11. Fly into Loreto,

rent a car and drive north or south, you won't be dissapointed.

[lpbk2713]

6. I hear Costa Rica is nice. Anyone know anything about that?

Sorry Mari333, don't want to hijack the thread but this looks like a good point to ask about it. I hear there are a lot of US expats there and the natives are friendly. I'm ready for a change. BTW, I've been to the Med coast of Spain and I like that a lot.

[mr.jack]

7. mr.jack & BajaMargie

We have been living here ten years now and have been located for the last 4 years just north of Rosarito. Prior to this we were south of Ensenada at Punta Banda but we like being closer to the border. I'm sure there are scattered DUers around but there seems to be alot of repugs. We can offer assistance in answering your questions if you'd like just PM myself or BajaMargie.
Are you retired, still working like us or taking time off for awhile. I'd strongly recommend renting a place first before you commit yourself to something permanent.
Looking forward to hearing from you!

[Baja Margie]

8. Hola

Get down here & see it before it vanishes, things are changing rapidly. La Paz or Mulege in the Spring, for sure. when Mike retires we're thinking of Costa Rica or Nicaragua, because the changes are so dramatic here.

Give us a PM, you will find the American communities are full of Freepers, at least that's what we've found in Baja Norte. Have to be careful, many rednecks and ultra right wingers and dirt bikers and alcoholics. YUCK, that, believe me, you don't want. Stay away from American Communities. We are in a Mexican neighborhood which used to be 25 years ago an American neighborhood.

Anyway, give us a buzz, either mr.jack or myself. Be happy to help.

Mulege, my fav:

[mike_c]

9. hey, I've been thinking more and more about Nicaragua too....

During the last ten years the La Paz area has changed so much. I still love Baja, especially BCS, but it's becoming less and less the escape from the U.S. that I'm hoping for. And I've still got about 15 years to go 'til I retire-- by then it'll likely be a suburb of TJ. :-)

on edit: do ya'll commute to San Diego or something? Or work out of your home? Or do you have jobs in Mexico?

oops-- just realized the pain that daily crossings into the U.S. would be. Surely you don't do that...?

[Baja Margie]

10. I'm just hearing

that more people are moving there. don't know a thing about it, and would like to go and check it out real good. I'd prefer Costa, the government is stable, but it's getting really pricey. Jeez, what if we end up around this:







Heh, where's swamprat, he know Mexico, probably has some very good insights and information.



On edit: Mike works on the Border, DHS. And, Mexico (IT) starts as soon as you cross the Border, believe me.

[Adelante]

12. Not Baja

But if you want any information about Jalisco State in the Guadalajara area, PM me. I'm managing to live pretty well on my extremely moderate income here, although it's not as cheap as people seem to think. Even so, I moved here from the States in July and have been happy ever since. Good luck.