First time in Baja?
The questions every first-timer asks
Plenty of riders on this trip are going for their very first time or some have never left the country before. Read this, then send it to the people at home who'll worry about you.
Is it safe?
Where we ride is a long way from the headlines
News about cartel violence usually comes from states hundreds of miles away. The US rates each Mexican state separately. Baja California is rated Level 3, "reconsider travel," and most of that comes from crime in big border cities like Tijuana. Here's what our week actually looks like.
Read the current advisory →Checked [Jan 2027] · Luis re-checks before the ride
Less than an hour in Mexicali
We cross at Mexicali East on Saturday morning and are rolling south on Highway 5 within the hour, in daylight, without stopping. Mexicali is far calmer than Tijuana, and we never go near Tijuana.
Then it's ranches, fishing towns and open desert
Past the border, Baja Norte is San Felipe, Meling Ranch, Cataviña and Bahía de los Ángeles: small places that live on visitors and have welcomed this ride for 40 years. Out here the real risks are the ordinary kind. Crashes, breakdowns, heat and getting lost. That's what the rest of this site prepares you for.
How we keep the risk low
You ride with a group and a leader who knows the route. We ride in daylight, sleep in hotels booked months ahead, and carry nothing that gets anyone in trouble at a checkpoint. It isn't a guided tour, and you're responsible for yourself, but you ride with your group, not alone.
Insurance for you, not just your machine
Your health plan probably stops at the border
Original Medicare doesn't pay for care in Mexico, and neither Medicare nor most supplements cover a flight home. Check your own plan, then fill the gaps.
Medical evacuation
Gets you from a Mexican clinic to a hospital at home. A crash near Cataviña is hours from a hospital. Ripcord, Medjet and Global Rescue all sell this.
Travel medical
Pays doctors and hospitals in Mexico. Make sure it doesn't exclude off-road motorcycling or UTVs.
Mexican vehicle liability
For every bike, UTV, tow vehicle and trailer. Your US auto policy doesn't count in Mexico.
Trip cancellation
Your deposit and many hotel bookings are non-refundable. A "cancel for any reason" add-on covers changing your mind.
Life & disability
Read the exclusions for motorcycling and travel abroad before you go.
Where our riders buy coverage
- Medical evacuation: Ripcord through Redpoint (Paul recommends the Comprehensive plan), Medjet or Global Rescue.
- Mexican liability for bikes, UTVs, trucks and trailers: Baja Bound, or Cathie Smith LoCicero, the agent many riders use. She lists UTVs under Motorcycle/ATV on a separate policy from your truck and trailer.
- Not sure what you already have? Call your health insurer and ask two questions: "Do you cover me in Mexico?" and "Do you pay to fly me home?"
We don't get paid for any of these. They're simply what riders on this trip have used. Full links are on the Prepare page.
For your family
What your spouse will ask, and what to tell them
"What if you get hurt out there?"
Riders stay with their group, and groups carry first aid and at least one satellite messenger with an SOS button. Mexico's emergency number is 911. With evacuation coverage, one call starts getting you flown home. Your group leader has your emergency contact.
"How will I reach you?"
Most nights the hotel has Wi-Fi, and many UTVs now carry Starlink, so evenings usually mean a text or a video call. During the day cell signal comes and goes. Some GPS units and newer phones can text by satellite, and a tracking link lets family follow you on a map. Leave them the list of hotels for each night too.
"What if the bike breaks in the middle of nowhere?"
The group works it out together: fix it on the trail, tow it to the next town, or hire a local truck to haul it. Every group carries spares and tools, and groups stick together when someone breaks down.
"I saw news about cartel violence."
Check where it happened. Most of it is in other states, far from Baja. We spend less than an hour in Mexicali, ride in daylight, and spend the week in small towns that have hosted us for decades.
"Could you get in trouble at the border?"
Only by ignoring the rules: no firearms or ammunition, original registrations, declare new parts. The Prepare page lists every document.
"What's this going to cost?"
We only collect $150. The rest depends on how many share your hotel room, what you eat, how much fuel you burn, and luck with repairs. El Cortez was about $135 a night in 2025. Budget around $2,000 to be safe, and carry at least $500 in cash you'll likely bring home. If you cancel, you settle up with each hotel we booked for you, so cancel early.
Other things first-timers ask
I've never had a passport. How long does it take?
Apply now. Routine processing takes weeks. A passport card works for driving across, and costs less.
Am I fast enough?
This isn't a race. You need to ride rocky, sandy trail all day at a steady pace and hold 55–60 mph on the highway. If you're unsure, ask Luis to put you with a mellower group.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No. Hotels and many restaurants speak some English, and group leaders have done this many times. "Gracias" goes a long way.
Will my phone work?
In towns, if your plan covers Mexico. Check before you go. Expect long stretches with no signal. Download the offline maps.
Can I drink the water?
Drink bottled or purified water. Hotels provide it; carry your own on the bike.
What if I have to leave early?
Tell your group leader. They'll help you get to the highway and back toward the border with someone.