Health & Safety

General Availability of Health Care

In most of Mexico's resort destinations, health care meeting U.S. standards is now available and, where it is not, air-evacuation ambulances are available. Check your insurance to see if medical evacuation is covered.

Most of the health concerns travelers to Baja face are related to the digestive system. Complications ranging from basic diarrhea to typhoid fever are more common than most travelers realize, but they can be avoided. As a general rule, pay close attention to the food you eat while traveling, try to steer clear of the delectable taco stands that line the street, and, if you buy produce in a grocery store, soak it in a solution of water and a few drops of microdyne (available at most grocers) before eating it.

If you should encounter an ailment, prescription medicine is broadly available at Mexico pharmacies. However, be aware that you may need a copy of your prescription, or need to obtain a prescription from a local doctor. This is especially true in the border towns, such as in Tijuana, where many Americans have been crossing into Mexico specifically for the purpose of purchasing lower-priced prescription medicines, but it's rare for a pharmacy to require prescriptions further down the peninsula.

Contact the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT; tel. 716/754-4883 or, in Canada, 416/652-0137; www.iamat.org) for tips on travel and health concerns in the countries you're visiting, and for lists of local, English-speaking doctors. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (tel. 800/311-3435; www.cdc.gov) provides up-to-date information on health hazards by region or country and offers tips on food safety. Travel Health Online (www.tripprep.com), sponsored by a consortium of travel medicine practitioners, may also offer helpful advice on traveling abroad. You can find listings of reliable medical clinics overseas at the International Society of Travel Medicine (www.istm.org).

Common Ailments

Tropical Illnesses -- You shouldn't be overly concerned about tropical diseases if you stay on the normal tourist routes and don't eat street food. However, dengue fever, typhoid, parasites, and cholera do exist in Baja. Talk to your doctor or to a medical specialist in tropical diseases about precautions you should take. You can also get medical bulletins from the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can protect yourself by taking some simple precautions: Wash your hands before eating; don't touch your eyes unless your hands are clean; watch what you eat and drink; stay out of the ocean near arroyos (riverbeds) after a storm; don't swim in stagnant water (ponds, slow-moving rivers, or wells); and avoid mosquito bites by covering up, using repellent, and sleeping under netting.

Dietary Red Flags -- In general, Baja is not the best place for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone who observes any kind of strict dietary regimen. Although it's possible to find stellar vegetarian options on the menu, it's not always guaranteed.

Because of its distance from mainland Mexico and the U.S., organic produce is harder to find the farther South you travel, save for in the most expensive restaurants. While Los Cabos, Todos Santos, La Paz, Ensenada, and Tijuana have their fair share of fine-dining restaurants serving organic produce, it's especially difficult to find the same in mid-Baja. Nevertheless, you'll find the produce in most restaurants is good and fresh. While traveling in Baja, as long as it's clean (and if you're eating at a clean restaurant, it probably is), the rest is a nonissue.

In terms of foods to avoid, as delicious as street food (commonly tacos, burritos, hot dogs, hamburgers, licuados/smoothies/raspados, etc.) can be, if you want your digestive system to stay intact during your trip and beyond, it's simply best to avoid them. Also, of note, salsas generally pack more heat in Mexico than in the U.S., so if you're sensitive to chiles, take it slow on your first taste.

Bugs, Bites & Other Wildlife Concerns -- Mosquitoes and gnats are prevalent along the coast. Insect repellent (repelente contra insectos) is a must, and it's not always available in Mexico. If you'll be in these areas and are prone to bites, bring along a repellent that contains the active ingredient DEET. Avon's Skin So Soft also works extremely well. Another good remedy to keep the mosquitoes away is to mix citronella essential oil with basil, clove, and lavender essential oils. If you're sensitive to bites, pick up some antihistamine cream from a drugstore at home.

Most readers won't ever see a scorpion (alacrán) and very few in Baja are deadly. Nonetheless, if one stings you, go immediately to a doctor. In Mexico you can buy scorpion toxin antidote at any drugstore. It is an injection and it costs around $25. This is a good idea if you plan to camp in a remote area where medical assistance can be several hours away.

The same goes for jellyfish stings. The ocean is its own wilderness full of creatures large and microscopic that can sting your skin. The most common name for the tiny stings you may feel while swimming is agua mala (bad water). After a dip into agua mala, your body may be covered in irritating red splotches or, worse, painful foot-long scars from Portuguese man-of-war tentacles, so it's highly recommended you wear a Lycra skin to protect your body from these poisons. If you do get stung, don't rub the wound. Most boat captains have vinegar on hand to pour over the affected area and ease the pain, so if you're not allergic and on your way to see a doctor, try to leave it alone and let the irritation subside on its own.

High-Altitude Hazards -- Unless you're scaling mountains (Picacho del Diablo reaches 3,094m/10,154 ft.), you're not likely to encounter altitude sickness in Baja, but travelers to certain regions of Mexico occasionally experience elevation sickness, which results from the relative lack of oxygen and the decrease in barometric pressure that characterizes high elevations (more than 1,500m/5,000 ft.). Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, insomnia, and even nausea. Mexico City is at 2,121m (6,957 ft.) above sea level, and mountainous points within central Baja are also at high elevations. At high elevations, it takes about 10 days to acquire the extra red blood corpuscles you need to adjust to the scarcity of oxygen. To help your body acclimate, drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcoholic beverages, and don't overexert yourself during the first few days. If you have heart or lung problems, talk to your doctor before going above 2,400m (8,000 ft.).

Sun/Elements/Extreme Weather Exposure -- The sun in Baja is powerful, so while it's important to protect yourself when traveling throughout the peninsula, it's most pertinent south of the Tropic of Cancer in the Los Cabos and East Cape regions. Sunscreen, hats, and lightweight shirts and pants can make a major difference in the long-term health of your skin, so make sun protection a priority. You should wear an SPF of 30 on your face at the very least, and remember to reapply every hour or two.

Despite boasting 350 days of sun a year, Southern Baja visitors do contend with some weather in the summer and fall. June 1 is the official start of hurricane season, and it's also when the temperatures start rising, tourism drops off, and many expats head north. Historically, hurricanes and tropical storms blow into Los Cabos, the East Cape, La Paz, and Todos Santos from August into mid-October, with September being the peak of the season. Although no deaths have occurred in recent years, among other hurricanes, Juliet wreaked havoc in Los Cabos in 2001 and Hurricane John brought severe damage to Loreto, the East Cape, and La Paz in 2006.

Treating & Avoiding Digestive Trouble -- It's called "travelers' diarrhea" or turista, the Spanish word for "tourist": persistent diarrhea, often accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting, that used to attack many travelers to Mexico. (Some in the U.S. call this "Montezuma's revenge," but you won't hear it called that in Mexico.) Widespread improvements in infrastructure, sanitation, and education have practically eliminated this ailment, especially in well-developed resort areas such as Los Cabos. Most travelers make a habit of drinking only bottled water, which also helps to protect against unfamiliar bacteria. In resort areas, and generally throughout Mexico, only purified ice is used. If you do come down with this ailment, nothing beats Pepto Bismol, readily available in Mexico. Imodium is also available in Mexico and is used by many travelers for a quick fix. A good high-potency (or "therapeutic") vitamin supplement and even extra vitamin C can help; active-culture yogurt is good for healthy digestion.

Since dehydration can quickly become life threatening, the Public Health Service advises that you be careful to replace fluids and electrolytes (potassium, sodium, and the like) during a bout of diarrhea. Drink Pedialyte, a rehydration solution available at most Mexican pharmacies, or natural fruit juice, such as guava or apple (stay away from orange juice, which has laxative properties), with a pinch of salt added.

How to Prevent It: The U.S. Public Health Service recommends the following measures for preventing travelers' diarrhea: Drink only purified water (boiled water, canned or bottled beverages, beer, or wine). Choose food carefully. In general, avoid salads (except in first-class restaurants), uncooked vegetables, undercooked protein, and unpasteurized milk or milk products, including cheese. Choose food that is freshly cooked and still hot. In addition, something as simple as clean hands can go a long way toward preventing turista.

What to do if you get Sick away from Home

For travel abroad, and certainly in Baja, you may have to pay all medical costs up front and be reimbursed later. This can be costly -- especially in facilities that only accept cash -- so be prepared. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide coverage for medical costs outside the U.S. Before leaving home, find out what medical services your health insurance covers. To protect yourself, consider buying medical travel insurance.

Most resorts have a doctor on staff, and, in Los Cabos, the best hospital is Amerimed (tel. 624/143-9671) a 24-hour, American-standards clinic with bilingual physicians and emergency air-evacuation services; it also accepts major credit cards.

Very few health insurance plans pay for medical evacuation back to the U.S. (which can cost $10,000 and up). A number of companies offer medical evacuation services anywhere in the world. If you're ever hospitalized more than 150 miles from home, MedjetAssist (tel. 800/527-7478; www.medjetassistance.com) will pick you up and fly you to the hospital of your choice virtually anywhere in the world in a medically equipped and staffed aircraft 24 hours day, 7 days a week. Annual memberships are $225 individual, $350 family; you can also purchase short-term memberships.

If you suffer from a chronic illness, consult your doctor before your departure. Pack prescription medications in your carry-on luggage, and carry them in their original containers, with pharmacy labels -- otherwise they won't make it through airport security. Carry the generic name of prescription medicines, in case a local pharmacist is unfamiliar with the brand name.

Safety

Staying Safe -- I have lived and traveled in Mexico for years, have never had any serious trouble, and rarely feel suspicious of anyone or any situation. You will probably feel physically safer in most Mexican cities and villages than in any comparable place at home -- especially in Southern Baja, where tourism dollars mean plenty of work for locals and therefore less petty crime. However, crime in Mexico has received attention in the North American press and entertainment industry over the past several years. Many feel this unfairly exaggerates the real dangers, but it should be noted that crime rates, including taxi robberies, kidnappings, and highway carjackings, have risen in recent years -- mostly on the mainland. The most severe problems have been concentrated in Mexico City, where even longtime residents will attest to the overall lack of security. Isolated incidents have also occurred in Ixtapa, Baja, and Cancún. Check the U.S. Department of State advisory before you travel for any notable hot spots.

Precautions are necessary, but travelers should be realistic. Common sense is essential. You can generally trust someone that you approach for help or directions, but be wary of anyone who approaches you offering the same. The more insistent the person is, the more cautious you should be. The crime rate, on the whole, is much lower in Mexico than in most parts of the United States, possibly owing to the fact that firearms are illegal, and the nature of crimes, in general, is less violent. Random, violent, or serial crime is essentially unheard of in Mexico. You are much more likely to meet kind and helpful Mexicans than you are to encounter those set on thievery and deceit.

Bribes & Scams -- As is the case around the world, there are the occasional bribes and scams in Mexico, targeted at people believed to be naive -- such as the telltale tourist. For years, Mexico was known as a place where bribes -- called mordidas (bites) -- were expected; however, the country is rapidly changing. Frequently, offering a bribe today, especially to a police officer, is considered an insult, and it can land you in deeper trouble.

If you believe a bribe is being requested, here are a few tips on dealing with the situation. Even if you speak Spanish, don't utter a word of it to Mexican officials. That way you'll appear innocent, all the while understanding every word.

When you are crossing the border, should the person who inspects your car ask for a tip, you can ignore this request -- but understand that the official may suddenly decide that a complete search of your belongings is in order. If faced with a situation where you feel you're being asked for a propina (literally, "tip"; colloquially, "bribe"), how much should you offer? Usually $3 to $5 or the equivalent in pesos will do the trick. Many tourists have the impression that everything works better in Mexico if you "tip"; however, in reality, this only perpetuates corruption and the mordida attitude.

Whatever you do, avoid impoliteness; under no circumstances should you insult a Latin American official. Extreme politeness, even in the face of adversity, rules Mexico. In Mexico, gringos have a reputation for being loud and demanding. By adopting the local custom of excessive courtesy, you'll have greater success in negotiations of any kind. Stand your ground, but do it politely.

As you travel in Mexico, you may encounter several types of scams, which are typical throughout the world. One involves some kind of a distraction or feigned commotion. While your attention is diverted, a pickpocket makes a grab for your wallet. In another common scam, an unaccompanied child pretends to be lost and frightened and takes your hand for safety. Meanwhile the child or an accomplice plunders your pockets. A third involves confusing currency. A shoeshine boy, street musician, guide, or other individual might offer you a service for a price that seems reasonable -- in pesos. When it comes time to pay, he or she tells you the price is in dollars, not pesos. Be very clear on the price and currency when services are involved.

Dealing with Discrimination -- Mexico, as a whole, does not embrace political correctness, but discrimination is rarely an issue for travelers. For example, if a man is blond, he's called "guero," which, loosely translated, means "white boy." If a woman is fat, her nickname is "gorda" (fat girl). Mexicans call it like they see it, so if you are African American, you may be called "negro" (neh-gro); if you're southeast Asian, you may be called "hindú"; and if you have almond-shaped eyes, you are definitely "chino." No matter how erroneous or offensive it may be, the local people who say these things mean no harm. Mexicans are some of the warmest people in the world and, particularly in Baja, they welcome all colors, creeds, and sexual preferences and generally don't discriminate against anyone.