Puerto Penasco

[Grimesy]

Will be leaving for our annual trek to Rocky Point in a few days, have heard however that there is not much activity and coming back across the border the Custom Officers were very fussy. Any comments by recent travelers?

Don, WIT 70041

[azloafer]

Originally Posted by Grimesy

Will be leaving for our annual trek to Rocky Point in a few days, have heard however that there is not much activity and coming back across the border the Custom Officers were very fussy. Any comments by recent travelers?

Don, WIT 70041

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - A Niagara Falls couple’s winter vacation in Mexico has turned into a horrific nightmare.
David and Joyce Miller were driving home in their pickup truck and trailer on March 26 when they came upon a three-vehicle roadblock, on a highway about 3-1/2 hours from the U.S. border.
They were forced out of their truck at gunpoint by about 15 well-armed bandits, who stole the vehicle and left the Millers with nothing but their two dogs and the clothes on their back.
The same thing happened to their friends, a couple from Ottawa, who were traveling behind the Millers.
“It was like a military operation of shock and awe,” said Miller, who was concluding his third annual winter trip to Mexico with his wife, Joyce.
“They smiled and waved as they drove away.”
Fortunately, the vehicles were recovered two days later.
Unfortunately, all documentation, identification and belongings were not.
And the Millers are now entangled in bureaucratic chaos preventing them from getting their truck back.
The couple is staying in a Mexican hotel as they try to convince the Mexican government the vehicle is theirs.
Miller said their Canadian friends, who are in a similar bind, were scheduled to leave by air Wednesday.
“They’re abandoning their vehicle,” David told QMI Agency from his hotel room. “The mental stress got to them. But we’ve got two dogs. It’s hard to travel in this country with dogs, unless you have a vehicle.”
Niagara Falls resident Carrie Noell, Joyce’s daughter and David’s stepdaughter, sent copies of the Canadian-issued ownership for the truck and trailer, the bank draft the Millers used to purchase the vehicle and bills of sale for the vehicle.
“I’ve provided them with every document required,” said Noell. “Whatever is handed over to the authorities, they ask for something else. The latest they wanted were notarized copies of the bills of sale (sent by courier) to them. We were told because of the remote location, it could take 10 days to get there and then it would have to be translated into Spanish.
“Nothing seems to be enough for the Mexican government to release the vehicle to them. It’s a continuous cycle of bureaucracy and misinformation.”
Noell said the Canadian consulate in Mexico was going to issue the Millers a temporary passport, which would have been valid for three days.
“But they can’t get to Canada by driving in three days,” she said. “My stepfather managed to convince them to extend the passport by 10 days and issue it to them only when they have their vehicle back.”
The insurance company is returning them to Canada on Friday and will try to retrieve the vehicle for the Millers, said Noell.
Miller said while the Mexican police have been “the best” and the hotel workers “saints,” he can’t understand the government’s position.
“They think they need more than any sensible person can need,” he said. “The robbery is not the worst part of this. That was two minutes. The police got (the vehicle) back in 29 hours. It’s this whole paper problem.”
Miller said Niagara Falls MP and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson’s office has been helpful.
“(But) we need someone at our federal level talking to someone at their federal level,” he said.
“My feeling last week was I’m not going to let two weeks ruin my love for Mexico, but the longer this goes on, the more I think we’ll need a year or two off from driving to Mexico.”
On Wednesday, Nicholson said the federal government is keeping a close eye on the investigation.
“What a tragedy to have happen. We’ve been in touch with the consulate in Monterrey and they are helping in getting them passports and providing them with other assistance,” said Nicholson.
“My office (staff) and I will continue to do anything we can to make their plight any easier. Our first priority is to get them out of there and back in Canada.”

[read & learn]

The above post is dated from some time in the past. The Hi-jacking took place over
3 1/2 Hours from the BORDER. It has been posted many times.
Now, that being said, We have friends who just went down to 'the Playa Bonito RV Resort in Puerto Penasco 2 weeks ago, which is a nice little Fishing Town 1 hour from the Border, alone. We would also be there with them, but a health issue kept us North this year.
Spoke to them a couple days latter an they said the trip was uneventful as in the past.
Puerto Penasco looks forward to the people above their Border coming down as this is one of their biggest form of income, the tourist DOLLAR.
There are many groups that still go to Puerto Penasco for Rallies including 3 different weeks of the Winnebago Owners Club [not this forums Winnie Club] as they can not all go the same week, a Lions Club group, Elks Club.
Is Mexico safe, that can only be answered by you, the persons who are going. Did you do your homework and check with other people who have been there or do you rely on articles that have been posted over and over again for years.
I will only right now in 2011 cross over into Mexico in 2 spots Yuma area for Meds and Health care and Lukeville, AZ for Puerto Penasco.
One of the tour Companies hires Security to take them across the Border for their Baja trip as the first couple of miles is easy to get lost and get into the wrong area, after that it is safety in numbers.
If you go to the ELKS Club in Gila Bend, AZ you may be able to hook up with a group or some one else who is going to Puerto Penasco. The other place is just before the Border in Lukeville, AZ and ask other RVers where they are going and if you can go with them.
Good Luck with your trip and enjoy.

[Vegasdan]

Going to Mexico today is like coming to Las Vegas and putting your life savings on "0" on the roulette wheel. Yes, you could get lucky.

[dons2346]

Just talked to someone currently in PP. Nothing is going on, still quiet. It has been that way since we left last year in Feb. Will be headed there in a couple of weeks and am looking forward to it.

In the big tent in Q, there was a guy from PP tourist office. They are willing to come to the border and escort you down and when you get ready to leave, they will escort you back to the US border. PP is hard up for business and they are trying to dispell all the rumors that the American press puts out. Sure there are shootings but those that get it usually are where they should not be anyway.

[Chuck 1935]

ATTENTION MEXICAN TOURISTS
I am a professional heir and am willing to inherit your money for a small fee if your Mexican Travels do not work out as planned. For an additional charge I will add a small prayer of your choosing. Send all documents to Chuck 1935 at this address.
GODSPEED & Adios

[Gary - K7GLD]

Originally Posted by Vegasdan

Going to Mexico today is like coming to Las Vegas and putting your life savings on "0" on the roulette wheel. Yes, you could get lucky.

Absolutely!

Sorta like Russian roulette - all is grins on the FIRST 5 pulls of that trigger - but #6 will ruin your day - do ya feel LUCKY? well, DO YA, punk?

Why take unnecessary risks with YOUR life and that of your family? There are PLENTY of nice climate RV destinations on THIS side of the border - why gamble that YOU will be one of the lucky ones in Mexico?

[read & learn]

I ask this of azloafer[do you know what year this was] and Chuck 1935 [Chuck you would have fight my kids]and I see that you both are members of the Winnebago Owners Club, yet Winnebago Owners Club goes to Puerto Penasco with more than 200 members each Feb/March why do they not feel the least bit afraid to go.
Again I will state there are only two places in Mexico I feel safe Puerto Penasco and The Yuma, AZ area for Meds and Doctors.
The OP asked if any one had heard anything about PP or in English, Rocky Point, Mexico. My answer is "All is Quiet on the Southern Front". As per Steve and Phyllis and Dave and Marilyn. Both couple are staying at Playa Bonita Resort.

[Grimesy]

In nearly 20 years of visiting P.P. I have never felt unsafe, my question had to do with activity there and crossing back into US. Never had a problem at the border but had heard rumors that the Custom Officers were a lot more fussy, that's all. Don WIT 70041

[TXiceman]

If you really want to go to Mexico, with the travel warnings being issued by the USA, please be sure your will is in order and make sure you list me as the only heir.

Ken

[Chuck 1935]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

If you really want to go to Mexico, with the travel warnings being issued by the USA, please be sure your will is in order and make sure you list me as the only heir.

Ken

Sorry TXiceman, I already had DIBS

ATTENTION MEXICAN TOURISTS
I am a professional heir and am willing to inherit your money for a small fee if your Mexican Travels do not work out as planned. For an additional charge I will add a small prayer of your choosing. Send all documents to Chuck 1935 at this address.
GODSPEED & Adios

[dieselclacker]

Rocky Point must be a safe place to go, the owners of the resort even provide you with an escort in and out of thier place. I wonder if the provided escort is armed?

To each his own, but for me,I think I will stay this side of the border and travel without an escort.

Dieselclacker

[azloafer]

Originally Posted by read & learn

I ask this of azloafer[do you know what year this was] and Chuck 1935 [Chuck you would have fight my kids]and I see that you both are members of the Winnebago Owners Club, yet Winnebago Owners Club goes to Puerto Penasco with more than 200 members each Feb/March why do they not feel the least bit afraid to go.
Again I will state there are only two places in Mexico I feel safe Puerto Penasco and The Yuma, AZ area for Meds and Doctors.
The OP asked if any one had heard anything about PP or in English, Rocky Point, Mexico. My answer is "All is Quiet on the Southern Front". As per Steve and Phyllis and Dave and Marilyn. Both couple are staying at Playa Bonita Resort.

Sorry that the last post was not where you travel. This one is and dated June of last year. This is a direct copy and paste. The underlining was in the article and not my doing.

Posted Jun 21, 2010, 4:35 pm
Dylan Smith TucsonSentinel.com
The police chief of Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, and his bodyguard were shot Saturday night, according to numerous reports. Erick Landagaray Macias and his bodyguard, Luis Huerta Ibarra, were ambushed around 11 p.m. while patrolling the resort town, also known as Rocky Point. Landagaray was shot six times, reportedly with a AK-47. Ibarra was wounded seven times. Landagaray was flown to a hospital in Hermosillo, were he is in critical but stable condition, according to a press release from the city's mayor, Alejandro Zepeda Munro. Ibarra "is reportedly out of danger and doing as well as can be expected," according to the release. "We are confident that this type of occurrence will not repeat itself in our city, as we wish to offer tranquility and security for all families," said Zepeda's release, as translated by rockypointnewonline.com. The town will step up patrols following the shooting, according to the English-language website: "Visitors should know that increased military and police presence on the streets of the city are to be expected as part of the standard operating procedure when something like this happens", said a high-ranking government official. "The increased patrols are just part of what we do to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors". Spanish-language websites El Sol de Caborca and Numero Uno Online posted a photo of the victims' pickup truck peppered with bullet holes. No arrests have been reported in the shooting, and Mexican authorities have not commented on a motive. In Mexico, attacks on police are usually linked to drug cartels. The Arizona Republic reported that the shooting of Landagaray and Ibarra wasn't the only incident related to Rocky Point this weekend: At least two other shooting incidents on Friday also had links to Rocky Point. According to Mexican news outlets, three Puerto Peñasco residents were murdered Friday in Sonoyta, the Sonoran town just south of Lukeville, while parked at a service station. That same day, two vehicles sped out of Rocky Point in a chase along Highway 8 and wound up in a gunbattle north of town. Police arrived to find a bullet-riddled vehicle, but it was unclear whether anyone was killed or wounded.


Hope this is more to the point. Joe

[Gary - K7GLD]

Originally Posted by azloafer

Sorry that the last post was not where you go. This one is and dated June of last year. The underlined wording is how the original article was written and not my doing. This is a direct copy and paste.

Posted Jun 21, 2010, 4:35 pm
Dylan Smith TucsonSentinel.com
The police chief of Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, and his bodyguard were shot Saturday night, according to numerous reports. Erick Landagaray Macias and his bodyguard, Luis Huerta Ibarra, were ambushed around 11 p.m. while patrolling the resort town, also known as Rocky Point. Landagaray was shot six times, reportedly with a AK-47. Ibarra was wounded seven times. Landagaray was flown to a hospital in Hermosillo, were he is in critical but stable condition, according to a press release from the city's mayor, Alejandro Zepeda Munro. Ibarra "is reportedly out of danger and doing as well as can be expected," according to the release. "We are confident that this type of occurrence will not repeat itself in our city, as we wish to offer tranquility and security for all families," said Zepeda's release, as translated by rockypointnewonline.com. The town will step up patrols following the shooting, according to the English-language website: "Visitors should know that increased military and police presence on the streets of the city are to be expected as part of the standard operating procedure when something like this happens", said a high-ranking government official. "The increased patrols are just part of what we do to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors". Spanish-language websites El Sol de Caborca and Numero Uno Online posted a photo of the victims' pickup truck peppered with bullet holes. No arrests have been reported in the shooting, and Mexican authorities have not commented on a motive. In Mexico, attacks on police are usually linked to drug cartels. The Arizona Republic reported that the shooting of Landagaray and Ibarra wasn't the only incident related to Rocky Point this weekend: At least two other shooting incidents on Friday also had links to Rocky Point. According to Mexican news outlets, three Puerto Peñasco residents were murdered Friday in Sonoyta, the Sonoran town just south of Lukeville, while parked at a service station. That same day, two vehicles sped out of Rocky Point in a chase along Highway 8 and wound up in a gunbattle north of town. Police arrived to find a bullet-riddled vehicle, but it was unclear whether anyone was killed or wounded.

Hope this is more to the point. Joe

WOW - I feel far safer and reassured already - and eager to sign up for the heavily armed escort in and out of that wonderfully SAFE place and country...

NOT!