A very good friend's son, 22 years old, cinema major, is planning a road trip from Chicago to Mexico, thru Mexico, and hitting Costa Rica/Belize and then coming home. He's going with 4 other non-hispanic guys (although one speaks a litte Spanish) to film a documentary. He's an inspired young film maker. Everyone is saying outright "no" to this trip but is there a way that you can be relatively safe in doing this? I totally understand the allure of this trip.

Tell them to keep their heads up, the trip is not without hazard.

Thanks papa, but is "heads up" enough? I'd like them to have their heads "on" when they get home.

I am going to direct these guys to this Board to read the responses, positive or negative. They're not listening to anyone and part of me thinks that maybe the trip could be done more safely if they had more knowledge. It's the Mexico leg of the journey that worries me the most. Bad things happen everywhere though, but the crimes are so brutal up in Mexico. If they stick to the well-traveled/touristy roads in Mexico, is that safer?

I would not worry about the Mex leg as much as the Guat, SanSal,Nicaragua leg, way more bad sh#t has happened there.
JMHO.

I would also not take this trip unless I had at least one person totally fluent in Spanish.

I would not drive any farther south than Texas today. Maybe 30 years ago but not now.
Those 4 white boys would be targets from hell. JMHO, even with a couple hispanics, fluent in Spanish would would be iffy.

The twenty somethings that the armed forces love, have always believed they are bullet proof as well as the passion for peace and good will are usurped by the reality of life. Especially out of this country. No F'''ing way DUDES!

I know that some of my "trips abroad" have turned into bloody odysseys, but I am glad that I made them.

What about hiring a guide? Someone obviously fluent in Spanish and hopefully Mexican/Hispanic, who knows the ins and outs, who won't set you up, etc. I don't think these kids will take no for an answer. I get what Papa's talking about it and they're comment to the beheading issue was, "Well, as long as someone gets it in slo-mo, that will be cool!"

Youthful, foolish enthusiasm...you gotta love it. But I still want them home with their heads on and working the way alive heads should. There have to be some guides out there. My second trip down to AC, I met a younger mercenary type who would probably do this kind of thing but he's off the island now.

Just saying no to 20 somethings isn't working so far.

What kind of vehicle are they planning on using? The last thing they will want is to be stuck or broke down on the road. I would recommend a 4x4 such as a Land Rover or Toyota.
At least two spare tires, a jack-all jack, a spares package wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Well, the latest today is that the passport has been locked up and funds have been cut off. The guys have $200.00 in canned foods to live on for 5 weeks and a little cash.

This should be interesting....

Thanks for all the input. The problem is, the more dangerous the trip, the more they'll sell their movie for if they get back home with it.

One of the guys that I work with is from Guatemala who has occasionally driven from CT to his home in southern Guatemala. I asked him about driving through Mexico and he said that he always waits for someone else driving the same direction as he preferrably going in a caravan with several vehicles. He figures that he was safer that way. He was just home about a month ago and said that his country is getting more dangerous and he didn't feel very safe. He's looking to retire in Florida not Guatemala. Of course he's almost 50. I also remember when I was living in Botswana and was 25 and decided to drive up through Africa. That was in the early 70's and the African continent was in great disarray. You couldn't tell me that it was a bad idea. Never did make the trip and still regret that I didn't do it.

Sally,
I live 100 miles north of Laredo, Texas and I USED to go to Nuevo Laredo all the time (even alone a time or two) years ago. HOWEVER, with the violence that has been happening not only along the border towns but within the country as well, there is NO WAY that I would advise anyone to drive through Mexico. The main problem is the drug cartels are not only fighting amongst themselves but they are also fighting the police/federales. They use any kind of leverage that they can whether it is kidnapping locals or tourists in order to help them get attention that they are "bad arsses" and that they control that part of Mexico. And they cower down to no one. Most kidnapped wind up dead. While this problem used to be along most of the border towns (the worst one being Juarez) it has now spread down to the inner cities and towns. Just the other day I heard where some people (not cartel members) were killed in the Vera Cruz state (which runs along the Gulf of Mexico) I was considering doing the same thing and drive down there at one time a couple of years ago, when most of the problem was centered around Juarez and Mexico City, but when people are leaving their towns because of the drug cartels being in control, I thought better of it. And considering what happened to that young couple just a few months ago on Falcon Lake, the USA and the Mexico government can’t even lean on the cartel to give the body up (IF they still have it).. So IMHO……………. NO! Don’t DRIVE in MEXICO!

Friends of mine (5 guys), one a retired police officer, were going to make the trip on motorcycle in August and were turned back form the border by homeland security. They were told that if you get into trouble in Mexico now that you will get no support from the U.S. government, you are on your own. Its a free for all.

BS.

KC, it's not really about the money. It's about the adventure, and the notoriety they want to achieve as "film makers" if you can call it that. Their school, Columbia in Chicago, has already given them some press in the school paper. Just think about it, which documentary do you want to see?- the one that looks like a Rick Steve's trek through the countryside or a reality based, adventure packed, dangerous as heck, live through it to talk about it(hopefully) kind of documentary that keeps you kinda on the edge of your seat.

It's that kind of movie that gets the filmaker attention and as I type this, I realize those kids can never see this thread, because I so see why they want to do this while I totally get the dangers too. I would suggest that they pitch the idea to a network as a reality based show because that would mean that they would at least have a camera crew and some back up with them but don't want to get their parents upset.

well, if they do it, I want to see the movie!

Any updates Sally?

The problem is that the son and parents are not talking at all now because of the situation. So the parents don't know if the son has replaced the passport yet or if he knows that he doesn't have his passport.

We're spying on him via facebook, and I guess the guys set up a website for the trip. I'm going to post the website here as soon as I find out what it is. So far the trip is still on for next week. Thanks for all the posts amd pm's. I'll keep you updated. I think there's a lesson here for parents- never forbid anything. It makes kids want to do it even more.

WEll, if they are in college, they're grown and can do what they want.

Back to the serious question - it is a TERRIBLE idea to do this - and it's not even that interesting as a film idea.
Just dumb.

These people are green as grass when it comes to knowing squat about what's going on in Mexico right now. Much less how to navigate a road trip down and back.

Me thinks Russian Roulette is a safer bet!!!

Lots of inexperienced experts on here...as usual

Jesse, I'll bet you aren't 20 years old driving a newer van or such with US plates either. It's like driving a fast red Lamborghini in say smallville USA and hope the cops DON'T notice?

As far as I am concerned, just a simple warning. We were in Michoacan less than a month ago and according to expat residents there, all roads into Morelia (capital of the state and hometown of the MX President who is "bothering" the narcos) are currently blocked. Bloqueados, they are called. I wouldn't recommend that any rookie try driving from NOB. Even the resident nationals are staying off the roads for any travel except emergencies. Blocked roads, torched cars, people with guns and grenades. Belize it.

Lots of people that live here make or have made the trip many times.
Jesse, I bet Casey holds the record--25 times or more
Then there is Cayo Cargo, Sterling freight that do the trip both ways every week.

Why would a traveler to Belize be in that area?

I don't know.

Well, here is the website--www.insearchofdirtroads.com

Gotta admit this but I'm living vicariously thru these kids. I just hope things go well for them. What's neat is that I assume every day we'll be updated on that website, if they're able to do so..... They are very naive/foolish, but who wasn't at that age?

Practical issue - every country has a bunch of regulations related to customs, bonds & insurance on a car when you cross a boarder. Time consuming and expensive.

These guys seem to think the admonition about not driving at night is about bandits. Please share with them that THE ROADS are the danger - unmarked culverts with no rails, only one lane wide --- you absolutely cannot tell they are in the dark. Belize is full of them - would imagine other countries are as well. Pitching off one, even at a moderate speed usually kills the driver.

If they want to be "changed" they could go someplace and do some good for somebody.

Here's a film effort with some merit:

"Birth of a New Consciousness" (Alumbramiento de una Nueva Consciencia), a documentary film about the health care rights of indigenous and mestiza women living in the Patzcuaro area, will have its Michoacan premier this Wednesday, December 15th at 4pm at Yolihuani Posada, Calle Dr. Cos No. 40, Patzcuaro (where the Friday organic market is located). The film is 48 minutes long, in Spanish with English subtitles, and was recently shown at a conference in Puebla and a Chicago-area film festival. The film will be followed by a wine reception and discussion with the directors, Richard Ferguson and Ondine Rosenthal.

Trip is done every day by many different types of people, different modes of transport. The roads are good, travel during the day, mind their own business, show respect, don't act like 22-yr-old college kids, don't speed!. Most of the trip will probably actually be rather boring. I don't think that it would make much of an "Adventure Documentary". They will have fun though and they will have a life time of good memories.

This is the most ridiculous thread I've seen on this forum in years.

Mexico is one of the world's great democracies, with a population of more than 100 million people. It's the 15th largest country in the world, with nearly 8 million square miles of land area. It's a diverse country with tens of thousands of small villages, thousands of towns, hundreds of cities and at least one city larger than any in the USA.

Sure, there are crime and drug problems in some areas of the country, especially near the U.S. border, but the vast, vast, vast majority of places in Mexico are just as they have been for decades or even centuries -- safe, friendly and without untoward events.

At least a million U.S. citizens live or are retired in Mexico right now, safely and with no problems. As noted, millions of Mexicans and thousands of visitors move about Mexico freely every day with no problems.

Get a grip, people!

--Lan Sluder

Thanks Lan - I was thinking the same thing but don't have near the travel experience to speak definitively. Last I drove any significant amount in Mexico was a decade ago.

What about Guat these days?

Thanks Lan. I was getting that impression from a lot of the pm's sent. I think the boys are off and running.

Any update on the voyagers?

Well, our friends' son, flew home from Phoenix on the 23rd. Mom played the "It will be Grandpa's last Christmas" card, which sadly is true due to stage 4 cancer. Also, the son didn't have his passport since his parents snitched it from him some time ago and he didn't know that until late in the game.

I am finding it hard to follow the trip online. They must be well into Mexico by now. Interesting how the movie is now about "family" too. Bottom line, mama bears do whatever it takes to keep the youngins' safe from real or perceived danger.

So let me get this right, sally. You, the mom, stole your adult son's passport so he wouldn't go on a trip that you think is unsafe? If that is indeed what you've done, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't speak to you for awhile. I am a "momma bear" too. But when my child has reached adulthood, it is my opinion that I have guided them throughout their childhood, and hopefully, I have guided them into a responsible state of mind. I find what you did sneaky and dishonest. Next time, he won't communicate with you what his plans are.

Where do you read that Sally is the mom? Tsk tsk

I am totally not the mom. It's funny but I am the adventurous one in our family and my kids are SO conservative.

This does raise an interesting question though- what would YOU do if you were in that position? My gut reaction was to let my child go.... but then you picture a worst case situation and you might change your mind. As long as your child is safe and in one piece, I guess you can live with him not talking to you for awhile. That's what his parents thought at the time, and I see where they're coming from.

I still don't have a trip update either. I'll have to check that out. It's such a sore topic with the parents, I can't even show an ounce of interest in the trip.

When I was 19, I took off for Colombia with $700, one of the world's shakiest places. I wound up owning 80 acres adjacent to a national park beneath 14,000 ft. mountains.
There are no guarantees in life, except that probably this interference will be resented perhaps forever.
You can get killed crossing the street, grow up and let your kids do the same.

Well said!

Well hello everyone! My name is Braulio Fonseca and I am the creator of In Search of Dirt Roads. I would like to start by saying that my crew has successfully returned to Chicago with a feature length narrative film, our heads, and our pride! The trip went off without a hitch - no dangerous bandits, no bad roads, no "evil mexicans", Mexico was one of the most beautiful countries I have had the pleasure of driving through, and I averaged 90 miles an hour, on the Cuota at least, the Libre was a little slower but still all went smoothly. I am astonished how scared and unaware all of are. There was a time in our history where people feared the unknown Atlantic ocean with ideas that the world was flat, you all are still stuck there. You cannot truly live if you live with fear and you will never embrace the greatest things in life by criticizing the unknown. 3 crew members of mine returned home in Phoenix because of the fear you "society" instilled in them - now they get to regret that decision for the rest of their lives as the film was completed and the trip was fantastic. Thank you all for your words of wisdom, hahahahaha, it was great motivation! Until my next film....Adios Muchachos.

Well, that wasn't very pleasant. Glad you had a great time, and congratulations are in order -- even if you're being quite snotty right now.

Troll

If you find somebody around here "searching for dirt roads" it will be somebody who lives where they don't have any roads at all yet!