Mexico....

[markinmichigan]

I just got back from Riviera Maya (10 day vacation at a resort) and I thought I would share this with other detectorists that are considering taking their machine with them. I walked the beach each morning and never once saw anyone swinging a detector or signs of digging.

I did notice the police roaming the beaches in full military regalia most every day. After a couple of days, I approached one the MP's and asked him about metal detecting. He said "Beach only, 1 step off of the beach and you go to jail "ir a la cárcel""

Mexico has to be loaded with gold and ancient artifacts. Seems that you could get into some serious trouble though. Just my take.

Mark in Michigan

 

[MasonDixonMding]

I would not want to go to jail there!

 

[Xxray]

Glad you lived to tell the tale, I could not be paid to visit this narco state, worse than Chicago !

 

[markinmichigan]

Seriously safe at this resort, I've had a place there for a few years and there has never been an issue regarding safety or anything close to it. I've got friends with condos in town and there is definitely a concern on the streets. You've got to be smart.

A few years back for my 50th, I was in St Kitts at the casino, spun the wheel and hit for 5K. Locals are not allowed inside. Watching the sun come up on the beach the next morning, I had a rusty 38 pointed at my head. It was an inside job. All the guy got was my girlfriends jewelry and my camera. Armed robbery is a life sentence there (so I was told) The President of the island comped us 5 years of trips not to spread the word of the incident. Did not take them up on the offer. It can happen anywhere.

Mark in Michigan

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I detected, for several weeks, back in the 1990s in the Sierra madres. Small little 250 yr. old villages that you can only reach by dirt road. We were so far back in the middle of nowhere, that there was no one around to care. We never had any problem.

When we crossed through the border at El Paso (with our detectors in full view in the back of our vehicles) one of the border security people pointed at it, and said something in Spanish to my host/guide. My host answered something back. When we had passed through, I asked my translator host : "What did he say ?". Turns out the border patrol had said "what's that ?" And my host had answered : "Pasa tiempo" (ie: hobby or pastime). The guard had just shrugged his shoulders and waved us through. No problem.

So I think it's like anywhere else in the world : If you start tromping on obvious historic sensitive monuments (the pyramids, etc....) then sure, someone's going to say something. But if you're just doing the beach, or middle of the forest or desert , then .... no one ever said a thing to us. In fact, people were quite intrigued, followed us around and asked questions, etc... Every last one of them had a "sure-fired treasure lead", since superstition reigns supreme down there

I am certain that there is no law in Mexico, that forbids all land hunting.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Also, land hunting in Mexico is extremely junky. Even out in the middle of nowhere, where you could swear that no humans have set foot in 100+ yrs. Because unlike the USA, where we are accustomed to road side curbside trash pick up, such luxuries only exist in the biggest towns down there. Everyone else it seems has a burn pit in their backyard (and merely bury their trash). Or if you have an old sofa or car you don't want, they just cart it off to the nearest cliff or vacant lot, blah blah . Even ruins , seemingly in the middle of nowhere, were bedeviled with modern trash

 

[Jamflicker]

What did you find on this trip?

 

[markinmichigan]

What did you find on this trip?

Didn't take a detector with me. I seriously thought about it. Going to in October. I did find out that Tequila will make girls take their clothes come off. Also found out that tequila will punish you with a serious headache the next day. I'd give out the name of the resort but as Xxray would say, all you mugs would be there!

Mark in Michigan

 

[hoser]

Glad ya had a good time my friend. I will never be going there so I'll just visit through your experiences. Safer that way.

 

[Beachhunt1]

Glad you lived to tell the tale, I could not be paid to visit this narco state, worse than Chicago !

Really? Take a deep breath.

 

[Beachhunt1]

After a couple of days, I approached one the MP's and asked him about metal detecting. He said "Beach only, 1 step off of the beach and you go to jail "ir a la cárcel""

Mexico has to be loaded with gold and ancient artifacts. Seems that you could get into some serious trouble though. Just my take.

Well, that is a lie. You do need permission and one needs to go with experienced people. The attachment is my first dirt fishing adventure, although I have been detecting Mexican Beaches for over 25 years. While there have been some treasures found in Mexico, there is very little to be found in gold coins. Most gold coins were never in circulation.

https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26147-first-time-dirt-fishing-in-25-years-history-and-pics/

 

[KOB]

Imagine going in on a $150k condo with 2 buddies in Cabo , using it for a year , then it being taken over by a squatter. Then you spend another 20k in Mexican lawyer fees to try and get the guy out. That doesn't work and you finally abandon the whole thing. Yup.

Used to walk across to TJ back in the 80s-90s to hit the sports books. They would often have $5 million dollar reward posters up for cartel members. Ensenada and Rosarito were good for lobster.

Now , it's often not recommended for travel. Cartels and meth have taken over. Just look what happened to the 3 surfers recently. Just horrible. Had an acquaintance years ago who went down for business , never to be heard from again. I haven't crossed the border in years and have no desire or need to. It was once very vibrant , great food and fun. Don't think so anymore.

 

[BeardedRelicHunter]

you couldn't pay me enough to step foot across the border into that corrupt <Deleted by Admin> ...yeah resorts are safe for the most part but not worth the risk getting thrown in prison and have them do terrible things to you till die . I'm not into pain ...if I was id get married again

 

[stetam]

No matter what people tell you, do not cross the border into this corrupt country....... ever......period.

Steve

 

[markinmichigan]

you couldn't pay me enough to step foot across the border into that corrupt <Deleted by Admin> ...yeah resorts are safe for the most part but not worth the risk getting thrown in prison and have them do terrible things to you till die . I'm not into pain ...if I was id get married again

As if our country isn't corrupt? And as far as safety is concerned, I'd say that parts of Detroit are just as risky as the sketchy parts of Mexico.

Well, that is a lie. You do need permission and one needs to go with experienced people. The attachment is my first dirt fishing adventure, although I have been detecting Mexican Beaches for over 25 years.

There are fenced off areas that have historical significance within the resort. And several sites just off the beach as well. I think that those areas was what the MP was referring to.

Mark in Michigan

 

[hoser]

Well I'm glad you had a good time Mark. Our travel days are over. Since there SEEMS to be no place in the world where Americans are welcome, I'll be content to just stay here. There are so many awesome places in the good old USA I have yet to see and detect at.

 

[bottlecap4u]

Been 25 years since I went to Cabo, got solicited for a bribe when pulled over by the federales, $100 buck deposit stolen by the car rental guy, later showed up on my bill as not paid, other than that, great time fishing. My advice, act poor, be poor (don't bring valuables" blend in and knowing some Spanish helps.

 

[SeabeeRon]

We have a member here who's User Name is Zeemang who lives in the Yucatán area and has no issue detecting beaches or old haciendas.

 

[Rudy]

Guys, dial down the xenophobia, or this thread goes.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

We have a member here who's User Name is Zeemang who lives in the Yucatán area and has no issue detecting beaches or old haciendas.

Yes. And there are metal detector dealers down there in Mexico . Eg.: Garrett, Fisher, Minelab, etc...., in the bigger cities. Presumably selling them for lawful purposes. Eh ?

So what are we to make of pat answers like this :

"....1 step off of the beach and you go to jail "ir a la cárcel"" ...."

It's probably just the psychology of having asked the question, in the first place. Because when any of us asks if we can do something, that only implies that something is wrong with your activity. Lest why would you be asking if you can do it, if it were innocuous, harmless & benign ? So the moment we feel the need to ask "Can I ?", simply implies that something is harmful, dangerous, illegal, etc.... Lest why would you think you need to ask if you can do it ? And thus you simply "drive the answer" of the person you're asking.

If you asked at Santa Cruz, CA city hall "Can I stand at Main St. x 1st St. and spread peanut butter on my head, while singing the star spangled banner ?", they would probably tell you either "no", or that you need "a parade permit". But if you had simply gone and done it, would anyone have cared less ? Of course not.