BajaNomad - First Time to Baja - San Luis Border Crossing

First Time to Baja - San Luis Border Crossing

Franco - 6-12-2017 at 08:55 AM

Hello

Registered with forum today.

Driving down from Yuma.

Seeking info on San Luis crossing.

Is acquiring an FMM card at this location with the required approvals possible?

Continuing on to Hwy 5 eventually, to Bahia de los Angeles.

Thanks

Franco the Gringo. LOL

JZ - 6-12-2017 at 09:34 AM

Yes, I've done it there many times. They also have the office to get a vehicle TIP if driving deep into the mainland. Never that busy.

Watch the stop sign after you go pass the red light/green light, I missed it once and got stopped.

Franco - 6-12-2017 at 09:39 AM

Hi JZ

Please explain "TIP".

Planning on driving to Todos Santos and staying for a month.

Thanks

SFandH - 6-12-2017 at 09:51 AM

Temporary Import Permit for your car. You don't need one for the Baja California peninsula.

Franco - 6-12-2017 at 11:33 AM

Thanks for the assistance!

dizzyspots - 6-12-2017 at 11:56 AM

Immediate right turn at the end of the street (after you STOP at the stop sign puts you on the toll road...toll booth then military check point...when you transition from Mex 2 onto Mex 5..you have to make a weird right turn...go north about 1/4 mile...flip a u-turn back south ..then a quick right back onto the toll road...watch the signs to get onto the Mex 5....

woody with a view - 6-12-2017 at 12:30 PM

They made us park in secondary, leave the truck and walk back across the street to get our visas. No problems.

Franco - 6-12-2017 at 12:44 PM

Gentlemen:

Thanks for the knowledge.

After crossing headed to a Telcel to purchase a sim and data plan for the cell phone.

JZ - 6-12-2017 at 01:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Franco

Gentlemen:

Thanks for the knowledge.

After crossing headed to a Telcel to purchase a sim and data plan for the cell phone.

If you have at&t (and some others) you can roam anywhere in NA without extra phone or data charges. AT&T is the best US carrier in MX.

[Edited on 6-13-2017 by JZ]

Franco - 6-12-2017 at 01:52 PM

Living in the foothills of Alberta although anywhere in Canada when it comes to cell phones it is BOHICA. :lol:

I have an unlocked Android. Chatted with a Telcel rep and all they require is photo ID and a corresponding address for a SIM. Then purchasing an unlimited data plan and cell service.

David K - 6-12-2017 at 02:01 PM

Cell service is limited in Baja. Not much between El Rosario and Villa Jesus María or away from highways in the rest of Baja.

TIP is also not needed in the Sonora Free Zone which is the border to Guaymas... so you can catch the ferry to Santa Rosalia without one.

Baja California is almost an island and Mexico City treats it a bit differently than the mainland.

TelCel

tkchris - 10-20-2017 at 09:06 AM

Franco,
I live in rural BC so get the Canadian cell issues. Planning to travel to Baja this winter for a few months. What did you end up doing for cell service in the end? Did it work out easily?
TIA

Franco - 10-21-2017 at 09:33 AM

Hello

Contacted Telcel via email, in Spanish, requesting an advanced purchase. No replies.

So I will visit a Telcel office when I cross the border and purchase the SIM. No personal experience that would be informative to relate at the moment.

tkchris - 10-21-2017 at 12:06 PM

I found a supplier online in Canada and USA that you can purchase from before you leave. They sell on Amazon as well with lots of great reviews. The price they gave was great and service has been awesome. Here's the CAD link. The US link is just .com on the end as well.

https://mexicosimcard.ca

Sweetwater - 10-21-2017 at 12:10 PM

Just be aware that San Luis is the only spot where I've been pulled into secondary for a "check" after crossing south. They were very intrusive and they won't let you pull back to the office which requires a rather long trip around several blocks to get back to that office. It's only happened once and fortunately I knew how to get back so take a look at the overhead map just in case they make you pull left into the secondary check.
YMMV

[Edited on 10-21-2017 by Sweetwater]

Franco - 10-24-2017 at 06:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by tkchris

I found a supplier online in Canada and USA that you can purchase from before you leave. They sell on Amazon as well with lots of great reviews. The price they gave was great and service has been awesome. Here's the CAD link. The US link is just .com on the end as well.

https://mexicosimcard.ca

Hello,

First off thanks for the information.
Secondly, the convenience of purchase mirrors the price.

Will purchase a SIM after crossing the USA/Mexico border. Looking into a USA provider that extends their services into Mexico at a reasonable cost. In Canada cell service cost has never been reasonable.

woody with a view - 10-24-2017 at 07:18 AM

Att has best network coverage. Mex/US/Can all calls text and a gig or two of data included in the plan.

Franco - 10-24-2017 at 07:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

Att has best network coverage. Mex/US/Can all calls text and a gig or two of data included in the plan.

Thanks!!

Franco - 10-24-2017 at 08:24 AM

For any Canucks: CehNehDeh!!

ATT has a no contract plan. Unlimited calls, text and 6 Gig of data for $45/month.

Chatted with knowledgeable agent, unlike Canuck cell providers. Additionally checked the IME for compatibility.

Thanks again Woody with a View!

LOL

PaulW - 10-24-2017 at 07:19 PM

Crossed at SL Saturday 10/21 - long lines going south. Pickup loaded and covered with a tarp towing a trailer with my Jeep on board. Followed the signs and used the right lane. At the gate I was directed to secondary where I had to produce the registration for the Jeep and trailer. Had to start the Jeep to prove it was operable. No inspection and no migration anywhere in sight. I did not have to produce any personal ID etc.
I have temporary tag on the new pickup and the guy verified that the temp sticker had not expired.

David K - 10-25-2017 at 09:04 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Crossed at SL Saturday 10/21 - long lines going south. Pickup loaded and covered with a tarp towing a trailer with my Jeep on board. Followed the signs and used the right lane. At the gate I was directed to secondary where I had to produce the registration for the Jeep and trailer. Had to start the Jeep to prove it was operable. No inspection and no migration anywhere in sight. I did not have to produce any personal ID etc.
I have temporary tag on the new pickup and the guy verified that the temp sticker had not expired.

Welcome to Super Nomad status with your post #1000!
Did you get your FMM while parked there or do you already have a visa/tourist card? Is the INM building or desk just somewhere out-of-sight at San Luis?

PaulW - 10-25-2017 at 03:34 PM

1000 Huh ?

I have residente Perminente.
No Migration person anywhere nearby. I guess anybody can just drive thru without one for that entry.
Probably because of the heavy traffic when I went thru.

So I was the only one in secondary and if an FMM would have been needed there would be no reason to just leave the rig there and walk. Who knows??

hotdogbob - 11-3-2017 at 07:46 PM

Leave your CND phone @ home!!!!!!Thats why we come down here FOOL!!!!

mtnpop - 11-4-2017 at 08:05 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Identical situation on the 28th, pulling trailer loaded jeep had to cross all 4 lanes to secondary, young lady wanted to see if the jeep would run, then wanted to know what was in all the boxes in the bed of the truck, finally showed her our permanent resident card and then we were good to go. ya just never know what trips their trigger.
All in a days work.