I am planning a trip to Bahia de los Angeles. I have been there and various other spots to the north in the past and have always had a tourist card.
No one has ever asked to see it.
I would be interest in recent experiences related to the necessity of having a tourist card. Are there checkpoints anywhere on Highway 1 where cards
are ever checked?
I am new to this board, so forgive what may be a redundant question.wornout - 8-22-2005 at 11:55 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by larry
I am planning a trip to Bahia de los Angeles. I have been there and various other spots to the north in the past and have always had a tourist card.
No one has ever asked to see it.
I would be interest in recent experiences related to the necessity of having a tourist card. Are there checkpoints anywhere on Highway 1 where cards
are ever checked?
I am new to this board, so forgive what may be a redundant question.
You should have the card anytime you head south of Ensenada on Hwy 1 or South of San Felipe on Hwy 5 or you just may get an escort back to the border
in a vehicle other than your own. What they do with your vehicle until you return WITH A TOURIST CARD is up to them. There are checkpoints on both
routes before BOLA.
Tourist cards
jrbaja - 8-22-2005 at 12:03 PM
are not checked until you enter Baja Sur just north of Guerrero Negro at the immigration checkpoint.
If they are present.
Sharksbaja - 8-22-2005 at 12:05 PM
Some days they are not there. Sundays?Tucker - 8-22-2005 at 12:12 PM
Wornout is correct, south of Ensenada without an FMT you are an illegal immigrant, you have zero rights. Any auto accident or other legal problems
leave you with absolutely no recourse except to get in the back of their car and be taken to where-ever.David K - 8-22-2005 at 12:31 PM
Always conflicting reports, even from officials!
Better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it... right?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is some of the various statements made, the first two are the most frequently stated:
1) Needed anywhere in Mexico if you stay over 72 hours...
2) Needed anytime you travel south of Punta Banda/Maneadero (10 mi. so. of Ensenada) or south of San Felipe on the gulf side.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
3) Needed for any travel south of Mexicali (on the gulf side).
4) Not needed in the entire state of Baja Ca. (Norte) for up to 7 days (from state tourism official on Baja Talk Radio show).
Also) The Tourist Card (FM-T) is free if your stay is limited to 7 days... otherwise can be requested for up to a 180 day (6mo.) period for about a
$20 fee. Only the land travel FM-T can be used for multiple visits during that 6 mos. Air travel tourist must obtain a new card at each trip.
Now, on personal observation: My tourist card has only been checked at the Baja California Sur state border near Guerrero Negro (Eagle Monument) and
nowhere in the State of Baja California (Norte) over the past 5 years of dozens (hundreds?) of trips to various Baja places.Joelt - 8-22-2005 at 12:57 PM
I was told at the Guerro Negro inspection/border that my FMT was only good for one trip and had to get another. It was no problem since they issued
the new one right there. Just had to go to a bank and pay another $20.Tucker - 8-22-2005 at 01:04 PM
David, were you, in that time, ever involved in a incident that caused damage to Mexican property or caused injury or death to a Mexican National? I
haven't either, but I wouldn't want to test the system.rpleger - 8-22-2005 at 01:22 PM
Just get one and not worry.
Easy.bajalera - 8-22-2005 at 02:25 PM
The only things I know for sure about tourist cards is that [1] except at Guerrero Negro you hardly ever get asked for one, and [2] checkpoints can
appear in unexpected places. So having one could probably be considered a practical idea.bajalou - 8-22-2005 at 02:52 PM
It's nice to be legal. That's the only reason I get a driver's license, not cause anyone has been checking them.
David K - 8-22-2005 at 02:55 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Tucker
David, were you, in that time, ever involved in a incident that caused damage to Mexican property or caused injury or death to a Mexican National? I
haven't either, but I wouldn't want to test the system.
No, I have never had any problem in Baja in my 40 years going there (31 driving myself since I was 16).
As I said, I have never been asked for a tourist card in Baja Norte, and only once on my last trip to Sur. That wasn't meant to say I didn't have one,
or you don't need one.
The checkpoints are set up by the military looking for drugs and guns, ammo OR Federales looking for same or criminals... Never are they set up
randomly by INM (Immigration) in the middle of nowhere... to my experience.
Just get the thing and don't worry...jrbaja - 8-22-2005 at 03:17 PM
David K - 8-22-2005 at 03:38 PM
JR, Antonio said the baseball equipment donated by Santiago is at Baja Cactus with your name on the box... and the bug repellant you asked for and I
donated (last year) with your name on it is still there, too...Bruce R Leech - 8-22-2005 at 03:53 PM
If the law says to do it then do it.
don't take a chance on being illegal in a foreign countryMike Supino - 8-22-2005 at 04:38 PM
Hey Bruce,
Can you translate that to Spanish so that we can put up signs in California Norte???David K - 8-22-2005 at 04:43 PM
Good one Mike!roundtuit - 8-22-2005 at 05:07 PM
I got an fmt in Jan.(180 days) used again in April had no problem at state line
going in or outOso - 8-22-2005 at 05:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Joelt
I was told at the Guerro Negro inspection/border that my FMT was only good for one trip and had to get another. It was no problem since they issued
the new one right there. Just had to go to a bank and pay another $20.
Unless the expiration date was expired, you got screwed. I used to always request a "entrada multiple" stamp, but the last year or so, they have
insisted that they're all multiple entry within the dates of issuance/expiration. The exception is the airline ripoff where they keep it when you
board your return flight.
Also, if you know where you're going, the "big tuning fork" isn't the only way to get to BCS from BC. But, I'm not saying anything further about
that.bajalou - 8-22-2005 at 05:39 PM
I like the other way too, Oso.
Thanks David
jrbaja - 8-22-2005 at 05:58 PM
I already took a bag of repellants down south from there that I thought was from you. Is there more?
I'll be stopping there when we go south.David K - 8-22-2005 at 09:35 PM
I guess, because Antonio said the ones he brought to the motel that I purchased were still there. De nada... let's stop dengue!
