From Sonora, Mexico

[lmatthews]

I am American living in Banamichi, Sonora, Mexico and loving it. Banamichi is a little pueblo in Northern Sonora about five hours from Tucson, AZ and three hours from Bisbee, Arizona.

My husband and I ride Mexico and feel very safe and have never had an unpleasant or dangerous incident. We are frustrated with the news Americans receive from the major news agencies about Mexico. Because of the lazy reporting on the part of the US news agencies, many riders are afraid to come to Mexico.

Our experience is totally opposite of what many Americans believe is happening here. We have lived in Sonora, Mexico since 2007 and feel very safe. Of course, we know where to go and where not to go. It would be the same in the states.

It is a shame that thousands of adventurous BMW riders are missing out on the exciting motorcycle roads and sites here in Sonora because of all the bad press about Mexico.

We would love to see more rides visit our part of Mexico. If you want to ride with us in Mexico, let me know. We have a small hotel here in Banamichi. You can stay here or not the important thing is just ride Mexico.

 

[kantuckid]

I have been to Mexico as recently as the month of March, & agree it is a delightful place & look forward to perhaps riding with you guys. Does your hotel have a website? Is it a "LaLa Land" place or affordable to this teacher retirement pocketbook?
While I basically agree with your assessment of the Mexico safety issue, you might venture over to Advrider in the "trip planning" forum & take a look at the 298 pages of that thread. It has become a "hello how are you "thing for many frequent Mexico riders but there are posts on the last 4-5 pages that are current and from people that live there & know what is happening. The violence has touched the innocent all too frequently and is real. I hope for the sake of Mexico the Federals can get it under wraps but it will not be this year . "stuff" happens elsewhere as I have been considering a switch to riding Ecuador & Peru in particular but incidents have taken peoples lives there too.
My most recent Mexico ride, I found that there are Mexicans, educated & very much aware citizens there, that have adopted an alarmist attitude and it is a fact that , even many of them have stopped traveling for pleasure in their own country. It is a fact that many beaches and hotels are empty & in lots of locations , not just the border areas. I wish you well but I know for a fact, it is a tough time for many vacation properties & other tourism related businesses down there.
Let me know about your place.

 

[beemerdons]

The Hotel Los Arcos de Sonora es Numero Uno with Arizona Beemers MOA Club #89!

Hola Tom and Lynn, Welcome aboard the MOA Forum; from AZ Beemers Club #89.

Here's "El Guapo" Tom standing in front of the Matthew's beautiful / restful hotel.

Their Banamichi Hotel is a preferred lodging on our Quarterly trips to Old Mexico!

In regards to Security in Mexico, it was the same last week in Sonora Estado as it has been for Papa Chuy Viejo on a motorcycle for the last 43 years: No Problemos!

Feel safer in Banamichi, Baja, San Carlos and Puerto Penasco than I do in Phoenix!

http://www.losarcossonora.com We AZBeemers will be riding to Nogales, San Carlos, Alamos, Mazatlan, Hermosillo and Banamichi next Springtime.

All of the Ride Details will be at www.azbeemers.org/forum in January. Tom and Lynn are great chefs, here we are eating Desayuno muy delicioso!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0of4hRmhRA&feature=player_embedded#