I have been asked many times by guest how many years I have been doing tours and how long have I been surfing and about my guides experience as well. Here is a small Blog on just that and the numbers:

• Between me and my surf guides we have over 68 years in the surf tour business
• Surfing experience 124 years combined
• Over 2700 surf trips combined
• Over 1,250,000 miles driven since 1991 in all countries
• Thousands of guest have walk through our doors
• Hundreds of Panga boat trips to surf breaks

We are very keen on keeping our guest informed about every surf break and what to watch out for and general info on making there trip stress free and enjoying it to the maximum.

Injuries over 21 years have been the following:

• 6 guest needed stitches but not serious ones in my book
• 1 Panga flip over, everyone safe though
• No accidents in vehicles
• 6 surfboards broken from varies trips
• Three breakdown’s only with vehicles over 21years
• Customer comments over this time is 98% exceed expectations for service, guides, and food
• Meet expectations with Lodging. Except the new Surf Hotel in El Salvador which exceeds All expectations 100%

This is the real scoop on my company and I believe everyone in the future who walk through our doors will say the same thing . Best trip ever, best service and our guides are the best in the industry.

All I can say is to try us out and see for yourselves, you’ll be glad you did.

Thanks

Bajabill

Posted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua | No Comments

I have been traveling for a long time now and been in a lot of new places and when I find a new home , I just try to fit in the best I can, in a chilling way and never talk too much but listen to others mostly at first to get a feel of my surroundings.

As a surfer for over 55 yrs I have been and seen a lot through my eyes, and can say at one time or another I was not the best guy to be in the lineup with. Why for example being the first to surf a new spot years ago, I felt like other surfers should “respect me” for being the local of the break or as the founder. That went on for maybe three years before I finally figured out what the hell I was doing. Remember it was mostly in my head, but for sure surfers felt it, the waves are for everyone to experience and to enjoy not just for me, no single person owns a wave, the whole world does. So my thinking process changed and WOW chill / stress free sessions started to work in my life, and it can for everyone who still think like I used to. Change your thinking and enjoy your new friends you meet to the fullest.

I have for decades shown respect to others, especially the top surfers of surf breaks around the World, but they need to be the ambassador of their Break and welcome others and show the ropes, this commands respect in my eyes.
Yes there are those who travel and surf new areas that need to be told to chill and work your way into the lineup, and that’s fair, but locals need to remember fair is fair as well. Respect Locals and they will respect you. Have a great journey surfing all the breaks mother earth as given us and thank her and others by being a good example while you are surfing. This will change your life and others too, it has changed mine.

Bajabill

Posted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua | 1 Comment

Baja has changed a lot over the years, This blog covers what you should do to prepare for your trip and what to do if you get pulled over.

My tips do work and doing everything that is written below and if followed you should never really be pulled over or have any issues. Let me know how your trip goes, remember good karma is the only way to travel, I know.

Before leaving and crossing the border check the following:

• all brake lights work.
• Turn signals work.
• You have all three mirrors, not cracked and the centre one it is possible for you to see cars from the back if possible. This is a big one for not being stopped by a cop.
• You have all your info on your car registration / tags are up to date and insurance papers, best to have a folder for these doc.
• You have had your car / truck checked for this trip, hoses and fuel filter for sure.
• Clean windshield and have extra bug removal in a bottle you’ll need it.
• Toilet paper a must, and always nice to have a small shovel has well. to bury stuff right and other things you might think of to have a happy weekend vacation.
• check tires, have spare checked for air pressure
• Have flash lights and game plan if your car / truck breaks down
• Extra warm clothes never hurts to have
• Have most of your cash in your sock or a designed location

entering the border:

• Make sure you buy Mexican insurance, it is cheap, and if something happens to you, you are in the clear, if you don’t have insurance, then watch out, your day may become a nightmare.
• don’t bring your own fire wood they will hound you about it
• if they stop you and check your food and you have eggs, they may send you back!
• make sure you buy your booze in Mexico.
• If you are bringing anything over the border in large quantities or if it looks like it could be sold make sure you have a receipt for it otherwise they will be hassling and hassling you for a receipt.
• Be nice to the border agents, and they will do the same back! Treat others as to how you want to be treated!

If you get pulled over, but you are following all the rules of the road, pull over and have your papers in hand and ask why you were pulled over? The cop will then tell you why, and if its bullshit, explain why he is wrong ( nicely) if it goes further and he demands money or to give a ticket. Ask to go to the police station to talk with his captain over this matter.. Now he will either go on and on or say follow me and he will disappear. If you actually get to a police station, and talk with the person above this officer, tell them about why the cop was wrong and either you will win or lose, but the price is cheap for a moving violation there.
Now if you feel you just want out of this conversation and want it over with, either take the ticket or pay him off, it could cost you between $20-60 dollars. If you were in the right take down his badge number and his licence number too, and report it when you return home.

On the exit to get to the USA there is a number to call if you have problems or suggestions. It will be above your head on a large sign, call that number and report it. Most will receive their money back, but if you were wrong and deserved the ticket , just take care of it and go on your merry way.

To the Toll road , its quick and easy and SAFE, it takes 8 minutes or so. And the cost is about $2.35 at each one and the last toll booth if you actually go that far is about $2.50 or so now.

That’s it for this blog, follow my rules and have a safe trip to Baja. Till my next blog. Bajabill bajasurfadventures.com

Posted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua | 1 Comment

My arrival in El Salvador came with mixed feelings… who am I getting picked up by? And are they going to be carrying a gun or protection of some sort? Will I be seeing a lot of gnarly stuff here?!

This was drilled into my head from many people who I spoke to when I said I was going to be going to El Salvador for 3 months to stay at the AST, La Libertad, El Salvador Surf Camp. The general consensus was “ohhh dear, you had better look after yourself! It’s pretty dangerous there, why have you chosen this country to go to?!!!”

However as soon as I landed I began to realize it’s no worse than the cockney grime that many people face in London or anywhere else in the world.

After a half an hour journey I had finally arrived at the surf camp. This was by far one of the most luxurious accommodations available in the area, especially at the price it costs to stay there. The biggest bonus of them all though was the view! If you were to have this accommodation in America in front of a world class break it would be costing you an arm in leg. Instead, it was a reasonable price, spectacular views, warm water, and the best surprise was absolutely no-one was in the water considering the wave in front was 4ft and firing on all cylinders.

No more than 10 minutes I had laid my bags down in the AST surf camp, I was frantically unpacking my surfboard and getting the fins in my board so I could go have my first surf in El Salvador on one of the best waves in the world, Punta Roca.

3 hours had past, and I was shattered. I had surfed myself to death, got back to the camp and just passed out until the next day. a well deserved rest.

Posted in El Salvador | 1 Comment