This is a common question that we get from friends and family. Most of the news about Mexico that is published in Canada and the US tends to be about violence and crime. While violence and crime does exist in Mexico, it is the exception rather than the norm and there are places in Mexico that have more crime than others. When travelling to Mexico, it's important to research the area where you will be travelling, as you would for any new location in the world.
Cerritos is a small community that is located about 45 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas. It is a beach community that is inhabited by a combination of locals, expats and tourists. It is very close to the towns of Todos Santos and Pescadero and in the region, there are the very rich and the very poor and everything in-between. It is my experience that it is quite safe here in this area. The crimes committed are primarily break-and enters and theft. Here are a few tips that you can follow to feel more comfortable:
- During your stay:
- Do not leave valuables in your vehicle, or keep them hidden out of sight.
- Lock your doors and windows and put away attractive items at night (i.e. bicycles or surfboards).
- Keep your purse or wallet close at hand while out in the town.
- Be guarded when talking to strangers about your personal details.
- During your travels:
- If driving, stay on main routes. There are many travellers moving up and down the Baja Peninsula daily. There are plenty of campgrounds and motels with like-minded travellers where you can meet new people and share information about the local area.
- Fuel up when you can. There are long stretches between gas stations.
- Do not drive at night. You will hear this all of the time. This is because the highways pass through open ranges and there are cattle and goats on the road which are impossible to see at night.
- Have some form of satellite communications. Cell service is primarily centred in towns and cities with large stretches of no service in between. Garmin InReach or Garmin Messenger are relatively inexpensive devices that allow you to send texts via satellite that notify someone that you need assistance. These texts automatically send your location so that the person receiving them can coordinate the assistance call.
Honestly, we do not have much else to say other than use the same common sense that you would use anywhere. You will find that almost everyone you encounter here is very friendly and will go out of their way to help if you are in need. Having a bit of Spanish and a comfortable grasp of translation apps is critical as English is not spoken very much outside of tourist areas.
Happy travels and have a restful day!
Great advice. Hope you see you soon!