About 12 years or so ago, my then 13 year old son and I drove down Baja, to Cabo San Lucas, in a '86 Suburban, camping on beaches in the middle of nowhere. Once we got out of Tijuana, it was a really great trip. Friendly people, no hassles at all with the 4 or so military check-points we went through each way ( no shake-downs, no pilfering, etc ). Really nice country, rugged, much like the American west was probably in the 1920's. It impressed me enough to where I gave some consideration to moving there, at some point.
BUT, no way in the world would I do that trip again....I'd say in the last 5 years or so ( from what I've read ) things have simply gone crazy. The year I went down was just before the elections that removed the old, ruling party that held office for so long ( PRI ??, or was in PAN??). I think that maybe that party had kept the craziness down with strick enforcement. I mean, back then no doubt drugs were still being smuggled, etc., it's just that recently it is simply upside down !! Really too bad, and I feel sorry for the average, family person down there, having to live in constant fear, and of course, it is very tough for an average citizen down there to own a firearm for self defense. Can't say that I have any suggestions on how things will get better down there...corruption is just so very common, at all levels. I wish them well, and good luck.
Mark