EXPLORANDO CON SERGIO VAZQUEZ

I was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. I grew up like any regular kid. From a young age, I was very interested in television.
In 1989, we moved to La Paz, Baja California Sur. A paradise in Mexico, but surprisingly, I didn’t visit the beaches or tourist spots much. I was more into partying and sports, playing daily on soccer, basketball, etc.
I always wanted a video camera; it was my dream, so much so that in 1996, I had the opportunity to buy a house on credit with a down payment, but I decided to buy my first video camera.
I recorded a lot of content from 1996 to 2000 on VHS, and those videos today would be a treasure trove of what Baja California Sur was like in those years. But one day we moved, and a box of more than 30 VHS cassettes ended up in the trash by mistake.
I always liked the Communications Sciences program, and in 1999, when it opened in La Paz, BCS, I didn’t think twice. I started studying at the International University of La Paz (UNIPAZ).
I participated in some local television programs in La Paz, BCS. My courses were practically that of a current YouTuber, but in the past. I recorded programs about beaches, markets, and places to visit in La Paz, BCS.

01) What inspired you to start your YouTube channel, and what was that first step like?
I got married in Los Cabos, my children—Frida and Diego—were born, and I wanted to enjoy and document how they were growing and experiencing their milestones, since I don’t have any videos of myself and few family photos. I began recording memories for them, documenting them on YouTube so they would last forever.
I started recording all the places we visited, and people who watched the videos on YouTube began subscribing and asking where the places we were visiting were… and so, my friends: EXPLORING WITH SERGIO VAZQUEZ began.

02) Did you imagine that your channel would have such an impact or growth when you started?
Not really, since my intention wasn’t to have a channel per se. But thanks to the people who started looking at it as a guide to the Baja California Sur area, we began to visit many still-unknown places: heavenly places, incredible beaches, and delicious regional foods. Invitations and collaborations started arriving, which led me to explore many more places because this type of content is expensive. But thanks to the support of many people who want to make themselves known, we continue to upload content to this day.

3) Do you have a special corner of Baja California that feels like “yours”? Why?
Not really, but one of my favorite places is La Paz, Baja California Sur. It has it all: beautiful beaches, friendly people, a boardwalk with incredible sunsets, and a family atmosphere like few other places. You go to its boardwalk and see families, children, athletes, and older people living together and enjoying this city. Hotels, restaurants, and quiet places.

4) How do you think your channel has helped show a different side of Baja California that isn’t seen in traditional media?
I think it’s the way I present the places. Also, places we visit that aren’t as commercial. Exploring and discovering hidden corners of Baja California, and the way I present them in a family-friendly, friendly, respectful, and fun way.

05) What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an explorer or YouTuber?
Wow! Good question. I think it’s financial, both for traveling and for filming equipment. I chose to create content that isn’t cheap, but as I mentioned, I do it more for pleasure than for fame.
During the pandemic, the channel helped me survive, as I lost my job and started filming and promoting small businesses in exchange for food or whatever they were willing to contribute. YouTube has truly helped me through many stages, both good and bad. The good thing is that I do what I love.

06) Why do you think Baja California has such a special charm that attracts travelers from all over the world?
Its beautiful places, crystal-clear beaches, white sands, deserts, wildlife, marine life like the birth of the gray whale, or the blue whale in Loreto. The largest aquarium in the world: Cabo Pulmo. Its unspoiled corners and beaches. And most importantly, there’s not as much human presence on the beaches. We have plenty of beautiful beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of ​​Cortez. But things are starting to change; more and more people are coming to live in Baja California Sur, and it’s growing rapidly.

7) What do you think is needed for more people to value and respect Baja’s nature and culture like you do?
The main thing: the culture of the people. It’s a complicated issue because nowadays it’s difficult to raise awareness among people, and it’s hard to make them understand that nature should be cared for and respected. The beaches, for example, are more visited, and more and more people with different cultures are coming, and I’ve seen how they quickly destroy natural places, leaving behind large amounts of trash. After the pandemic, the population in Baja California Sur grew, and the changes are radical. Before the pandemic, you could enjoy natural places and quiet beaches; today, that’s changing.

8) What changes in your dynamic as a creator when you go with your family instead of just going to record?
Good question. The expenses, haha.
I mostly go out with my family, since that’s the reason for my channel: to remember all the places we’ve visited, watch my children grow, and see how I get older every time. With every trip and collaboration, I try to get them to travel with me, to live the experience, to enjoy it to the fullest, since I didn’t have that kind of opportunity. Like any father, I try to give them what I didn’t have. Many ask me why I don’t travel more to the mainland and to other cities. The answer is simple: I have a family. My children go to school, play sports, so I support my wife in her daily life, so it’s difficult for me to travel because of the time we dedicate to family.

9) And how has being a YouTuber changed your family? How do you manage that balance between enjoying the places you visit and having to record content?
1- I’m lucky that YouTube has opened many doors for us, and we’ve also met quite a few people. Thankfully, my family hasn’t changed at all; we’re still the same family since the channel started. Diego and Esther don’t like to appear in the videos. Frida and I tend to interact more in the videos; we like to keep a low profile in our daily lives.
2- I try to record a full day and enjoy the next day, even though it’s impossible; there are always things to document.
If it’s food, I always eat it cold, since I’m recording and taking footage. My family and I almost always eat the food already cold.
If it’s a collaboration, for example, a hotel, I almost always ask for 3 days and 2 nights. I dedicate 2 days to recording content and the last day to enjoying myself. Although recording is the same; we’re just enjoying the moment.

10) Is there anything that worries you about the growth of tourism in Baja California, such as overexploitation or the loss of identity?
The truth is, I’m in favor of tourism growth as long as it respects and protects the natural environment, such as the beaches and the identity of the places, as it provides a source of income for many families who make a living from tourism.
Many people ask me if the beaches are public in Baja California Sur, where I live, and to this day they are. We have very beautiful beaches, BLUE FLAT, with all the services (parking, restrooms, showers, drinking water, lifeguard services, etc.).

I invite you to visit Mexico and Baja California Norte and Sur.
I also invite you to subscribe to my channel, as it is a guide to places to visit, including beaches, hotels, and places to eat.
It was a pleasure to have this brief chat with you!

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