BajaNomad

San Felipe Area Questions

Festus - 3-16-2009 at 06:36 PM

Bringing the family (kids ages 17, 15 and 12) down to SF in April. Have rented a place in Las Ventanas for a week. You folks were awesome with your suggestions when I took my family down to Baja for the first time last year to see the whales in Guerrero Negro. Thanks to all your great insight and suggestions we had a fabulous time. Would like to ask for your help again this year with a few questions:

1. Would like to take the kids (little previous experience) fishing with one of the pangueros I have heard about in SF. Does anyone know what the approximate cost would be for a day in a panga for a family of 5?

2. Are there pangueros in Puertecitos to take people fishing for the day like in SF? Where do you find the pangueros in Puertecitos? If not, are there small boats for rent there? We would driving down from SF for the day.

3. Best to get a fishing license on www.conapescasandiego.org before we go or easy to obtain in SF? I know that all in boat will need one.

4. What are your favorite restaurants in SF and Puertecitos? Our family is not picky and likes to try new things...especially local dishes.

5. I have read on some threads and in the Mexican website that a tourist visa is not required unless you drive south of Ensenada or SF. But if we are only driving down to Puertecitos for a day trip do we really need one? When we went sout of Ensenada last year they didn't check for the visa until just outside of GN.

Thanks everyone!

David K - 3-16-2009 at 06:46 PM

Technically you need the FM-T, but really... in my 40+ years of going south of San Felipe... there never has been a checkpoint for migra, nor has there been a reason to need it (ie. auto accident, etc.).

You know what they say: Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!

Beercan should be able to give you all the details on Puertecitos... I won't say a word:rolleyes:

San Felipe has a ton of eating places... Baja Angel loves George's Restaurant for a nice place... Otherwise we frequent the fish taco stands... YUM!

larry - 3-16-2009 at 06:56 PM

David

I was lectured by you approx 3-4 years ago when I posted to ask about the practical situation of having a FM-T. You said I should respect the laws of the country in which I was a guest, or something to that effect. Apparently you have changed you view a bit.

My understanding is that you do need a tourist card for San Felipe, but if you are staying for less than 3 days (or maybe 7), you do not need to pay the fee.

posted on san felipe web page

desertcpl - 3-17-2009 at 08:28 AM

http://www.sanfelipe.com.mx/getting_here/immigration.html

[Edited on 3-17-2009 by desertcpl]

bajabound2005 - 3-17-2009 at 08:39 AM

I don't think there ARE any restaurants in Puertocitos...that ought to make that easy!

desertcpl - 3-17-2009 at 09:26 AM

yes there is a restaurants in Puertocitos,, we had lunch there last year, it was a very nice place from what I remember, nice views,,

The post below was on Nomad a few days ago,, not my post but they did talk about the Restaurant

Arrived at Puertecitos on Sataurday evening 2/28 with two dirtbikes in the back of the pickup truck. Stayed at the little motel there right on the bay. $45 per night wich was way overpriced for the accomodations in my opinion. The rooms are very rustic and are more like cabins than rooms. Rooms are small with two twin beds, and a tiolet "nook" area (no doors or curtains so you need to ask your friends to leave when you need to do your business. toilets had running water but the shower and sink running water was not operational. Ate at the restaraunt which just opened for the season that same day - we were told that we were the first customer of the season. Food is OK but overpriced as well. Everything is priced in dollars at the Puertecitos complex so we were unable to take advantage of the favorable exchange rates. Spent an hour in the hot springs which was nice, but the flood lights they put out there are very distracting and make it hard to enjoy the stars.

ote below was just posted a few day ago on Nomads

[Edited on 3-17-2009 by desertcpl]

David K - 3-17-2009 at 09:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by larry
David

I was lectured by you approx 3-4 years ago when I posted to ask about the practical situation of having a FM-T. You said I should respect the laws of the country in which I was a guest, or something to that effect. Apparently you have changed you view a bit.

My understanding is that you do need a tourist card for San Felipe, but if you are staying for less than 3 days (or maybe 7), you do not need to pay the fee.


Hi Larry,

I don't see where I changed any views... was just answering Festus based on my experiences... San Felipe and Baja CA (Norte) tourism people are bent on getting tourists down there and if tourists don't have to mess with getting a card, they assume more will come south without the hassle...? So state and city people say 7 DAYS NO FM-T (for San Felipe)... I actually heard a tourism official on Baja Talk Radio say the entire state of Baja CA is in the 'border zone'... and anywhere in the state could be visited for up to 7 days without an FM-T!

The feds, who are the ones with the tourism laws to enforce still say 3 DAYS... and the FM-T is FREE for a maximum 7 DAYS. The border zone ends at Maneadero on the Pacific side and San Felipe on the gulf side... some literture says Mexicali!

In either case, if one goes south of 'San Felipe', it would technically be required... even if just for one hour.... based on federal information.

There is NO CHECKPOINT for tourist cards ANYWHERE in Baja Norte, just FYI... if it matters.

Is that more clear:?:

I thought not!:o

Go and discover things for yourself, and report back here... but be prepared to get jumped for posting what you experience!:lol:

Festus - 3-17-2009 at 10:10 AM

Thanks for the help with the FMT responses and confirmation of no restaurants in Puertecitos. Now we know to pack PBJ in case we don't catch enough fish down there.

Anyone know about the existence of pangueros to take us fishing in Puertecitos? I don't have a boat so it will be pure shore fishing when we go down there unless there are pangueros about who are willing to take us out.

david K

desertcpl - 3-17-2009 at 11:31 AM

dk,,, I was wondering and I would think alot of other folks would like some infor on the Campos south of SF,,

mile markers
camping,
restruants
homes and rentals
any other info would be great

as we are thinking that here in the next year or so,, we might want to rent or buy some thing in this area,

ken

larry - 3-17-2009 at 02:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by larry
David

I was lectured by you approx 3-4 years ago when I posted to ask about the practical situation of having a FM-T. You said I should respect the laws of the country in which I was a guest, or something to that effect. Apparently you have changed you view a bit.

My understanding is that you do need a tourist card for San Felipe, but if you are staying for less than 3 days (or maybe 7), you do not need to pay the fee.




Hi Larry,

I don't see where I changed any views... was just answering Festus based on my experiences... San Felipe and Baja CA (Norte) tourism people are bent on getting tourists down there and if tourists don't have to mess with getting a card, they assume more will come south without the hassle...? So state and city people say 7 DAYS NO FM-T (for San Felipe)... I actually heard a tourism official on Baja Talk Radio say the entire state of Baja CA is in the 'border zone'... and anywhere in the state could be visited for up to 7 days without an FM-T!

The feds, who are the ones with the tourism laws to enforce still say 3 DAYS... and the FM-T is FREE for a maximum 7 DAYS. The border zone ends at Maneadero on the Pacific side and San Felipe on the gulf side... some literture says Mexicali!

In either case, if one goes south of 'San Felipe', it would technically be required... even if just for one hour.... based on federal information.

There is NO CHECKPOINT for tourist cards ANYWHERE in Baja Norte, just FYI... if it matters.

Is that more clear:?:

I thought not!:o

Go and discover things for yourself, and report back here... but be prepared to get jumped for posting what you experience!:lol:


David

I was just razzing a little--I hope you didnt take offense. You have provided me with a lot of good info and I appreciate it.

Give me a few days and I will get that info to you --

beercan - 3-17-2009 at 02:50 PM

I have a bunch of family here visiting and am too busy to go check with the guys --as to costs and schedule. What part of the City or Bay area are you "from" ?


Quote:
By Festus
Anyone know about the existence of pangueros to take us fishing in Puertecitos? I don't have a boat so it will be pure shore fishing when we go down there unless there are pangueros about who are willing to take us out.

David K - 3-17-2009 at 05:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
dk,,, I was wondering and I would think alot of other folks would like some infor on the Campos south of SF,,

mile markers
camping,
restruants
homes and rentals
any other info would be great

as we are thinking that here in the next year or so,, we might want to rent or buy some thing in this area,

ken


Most of the coastal access south of San Felipe is to vacation home campos... not really 'campgrounds' EXCEPT for a couple places...

Rancho Percebu... has food, open camping, bathrooms, large sign at turnoff (near km. 20). Sand beach, low tide rocks. Popular with the noisey crowd (fireworks ATVs). Rental homes available...

Nuevo Mazatlan... has shade tree camping, bathrooms, cold showers, utility water throughout sign at turnoff (km. 32). Sand beach. Quiet and peaceful http://vivabaja.com/nm

Closer to Puertecitos are campgrounds to check out... Playa Destiny and Playa Escondido look nice (I have not camped there).

Festus - 3-17-2009 at 06:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by beercan
I have a bunch of family here visiting and am too busy to go check with the guys --as to costs and schedule. What part of the City or Bay area are you "from" ?


Quote:
By Festus
Anyone know about the existence of pangueros to take us fishing in Puertecitos? I don't have a boat so it will be pure shore fishing when we go down there unless there are pangueros about who are willing to take us out.


Thanks Beercan. This will be most helpful. We live in Livermore.

Take a look at this and I will talk to Naty about the current costs and schedule

beercan - 3-18-2009 at 07:09 AM

My Oldest Son lives in Pleasant Hill and works for the City's Fire Dept. I normally fly into Concord, but have landed at Livermore a few times.


http://forums.bajanomad.com/misc.php?action=search&srchu...

Festus - 3-18-2009 at 02:25 PM

Thanks Beercan. I look forward to hearing more.