BajaNomad

What's taken away at the N/S BAJA border??

BajaGlenn - 1-26-2022 at 08:20 AM

I remember they take citrus and vegies--anything else?? Thanks

[Edited on 1-26-2022 by BajaGlenn]

mjs - 1-26-2022 at 08:29 AM

Deleted as I misread the original post.

[Edited on 1-27-2022 by mjs]

AKgringo - 1-26-2022 at 08:31 AM

Twenty pesos for the drive through sanitizer spray if you are headed south.

It's been a long time since I have had to stop headed north.

edit; I am talking about the Guerrero Negro checkpoint between Baja Norte, and Baja Sur.

[Edited on 1-26-2022 by AKgringo]

David K - 1-26-2022 at 08:43 AM

There is a drive around the locals use to avoid the Ag spray/ inspection. I took it in June 2017 and reported it on my Trip #5 post... which I just made a web page of: https://vivabaja.com/p617/

Here is from the page:

With all the chatter about the ‘other way’ into Guerrero Negro, I had to see it for the first time. The road goes around the west end of the Guerrero Negro airport runway, beginning at Km. 124.5 as the paved airport road. Beyond the airport entrance (all military looking) the road becomes a wide, graded road. When my GPS indicated I was at 28° latitude (the state border), I took a photo. South of here is in the Mountain Time Zone, I lose one hour.

I saw a car with the hood open out on a dirt road just east and a man was walking towards me from it; a young guy whose battery was dead. Why he was there, north of town, with a bad battery is anyone’s guess. I jumped the battery and waited until he was on the wide road and heading south to town. Good karma for my taking the backroad into Guerrero Negro this day! He would be the first of three hombres I would assist on this trip.

The airport backroad comes into town near the bank and almost to the old harbor road.

larryC - 1-26-2022 at 08:51 AM

Also you can just tell the guy you don't want to have the spray and he will wave you on. He still turns on the spray but you save a buck.

Alan - 1-27-2022 at 08:12 AM

If you cross after about 5:00 pm, nothing because the office is closed:biggrin:

fishmaster - 1-27-2022 at 09:30 AM

Just tell them you don't have anything. I haven't had them search my vehicle in 20+ years!

mtgoat666 - 1-27-2022 at 10:01 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaGlenn  
I remember they take citrus and vegies--anything else?? Thanks

[Edited on 1-26-2022 by BajaGlenn]


The lists are online. Google search engine will assist you in finding information you seek!

Cancamo - 1-27-2022 at 10:22 AM

Produce, if you declare it.

advrider - 1-27-2022 at 10:42 AM

We've always taken the bypass and missed that inspection, they don't seem to worried about it as they can see you as you drive around and past.

geoffff - 1-28-2022 at 12:36 AM

I always love doing the airport road bypass. Especially as I'll be stopping in GN for supplies anyway. Kind of wondered if I'd get into some kind of trouble for bypassing.

BajaBlanca - 1-28-2022 at 01:44 AM

If you have clothes in plastic bags, they will confiscate it all, should they find it. That is why I usually suggest putting it in suitcases.

No issues if there is a couple in the car, but i was told that women can only bring female clothes shies etc and vice versa. When Les brout his kitcar down, it fits zero of anything except for driver and passenger. I was coming in a separate car with both our suitcases and the inspector gave me some palaver about it.

Bajaboy - 1-28-2022 at 08:10 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
There is a drive around the locals use to avoid the Ag spray/ inspection. I took it in June 2017 and reported it on my Trip #5 post... which I just made a web page of: https://vivabaja.com/p617/

Here is from the page:

With all the chatter about the ‘other way’ into Guerrero Negro, I had to see it for the first time. The road goes around the west end of the Guerrero Negro airport runway, beginning at Km. 124.5 as the paved airport road. Beyond the airport entrance (all military looking) the road becomes a wide, graded road. When my GPS indicated I was at 28° latitude (the state border), I took a photo. South of here is in the Mountain Time Zone, I lose one hour.

I saw a car with the hood open out on a dirt road just east and a man was walking towards me from it; a young guy whose battery was dead. Why he was there, north of town, with a bad battery is anyone’s guess. I jumped the battery and waited until he was on the wide road and heading south to town. Good karma for my taking the backroad into Guerrero Negro this day! He would be the first of three hombres I would assist on this trip.

The airport backroad comes into town near the bank and almost to the old harbor road.


What did you do with the 20 pesos you saved:light:

Bajaboy - 1-28-2022 at 11:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Having crossed the state border on Hwy. 1 many times, the purpose of that (one-time) using the Airport Road to go into Guerrero Negro was totally a curiosity thing (I explained that in my post), and 20 pesos had noting to do with it.

However, there is a great fish taco truck in Guerrero Negro... 20 pesos is well spent here...




I have no idea why anyone needs to avoid the checkpoint....talk about open borders:light:

David K - 1-28-2022 at 12:29 PM

It is an ag checkpoint and not a national border. You may wish to ask all the locals who use the bypass why they don't want to go through it.
I drove it once to see what all the posters here were experiencing when they did it. I have no reason to do it again. The extra time to drive tha long way around, and cross-city driving to get back to Mex 1, is not worth saving 20 pesos. I hardly believe that is a reason for any tourist to avoid it. Probably more about not losing any groceries?

JZ - 1-28-2022 at 01:53 PM

Can't remember ever being asked what we had or anything ever taken away.

David K - 1-28-2022 at 02:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Can't remember ever being asked what we had or anything ever taken away.



The guy with the respirator on his head asks if you have any fruit or vegetables when you drive south into Baja Sur (none is allowed).
I do think beef was once also confiscated during the Mad Cow scare?
Of course, that is only on Highway 1. There are four other roads that cross the state border with nobody or any signs there.

Don Pisto - 1-28-2022 at 02:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
It is an ag checkpoint and not a national border. You may wish to ask all the locals who use the bypass why they don't want to go through it.
I drove it once to see what all the posters here were experiencing when they did it. I have no reason to do it again. The extra time to drive tha long way around, and cross-city driving to get back to Mex 1, is not worth saving 20 pesos. I hardly believe that is a reason for any tourist to avoid it. Probably more about not losing any groceries?

well it was an IMN checkpoint and going around the La Pinta past the gymnasium and skirting the cemetery into town was a bypass that all the locals use, 20 peso's had nothing to do with it.

Don Pisto - 1-28-2022 at 02:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
It is an ag checkpoint and not a national border. You may wish to ask all the locals who use the bypass why they don't want to go through it.
I drove it once to see what all the posters here were experiencing when they did it. I have no reason to do it again. The extra time to drive tha long way around, and cross-city driving to get back to Mex 1, is not worth saving 20 pesos. I hardly believe that is a reason for any tourist to avoid it. Probably more about not losing any groceries?

well it was an IMN checkpoint and going around the La Pinta past the gymnasium and skirting the cemetery into town was a bypass that all the locals use, 20 peso's had nothing to do with it.


INM hadn't been there since 2015, or earlier. INM was for foreigners, not locals. When I used to show my FMM or FM-T there, the locals all drove on by. I didn't know about this other bypass you mention... interesting! So you don't think 20 pesos or waiting in line to have your car sprayed is why locals took the bypass?

[Edited on 1-28-2022 by David K]


it was simply the direct route north...

Bajaboy - 1-28-2022 at 04:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
It is an ag checkpoint and not a national border. You may wish to ask all the locals who use the bypass why they don't want to go through it.
I drove it once to see what all the posters here were experiencing when they did it. I have no reason to do it again. The extra time to drive tha long way around, and cross-city driving to get back to Mex 1, is not worth saving 20 pesos. I hardly believe that is a reason for any tourist to avoid it. Probably more about not losing any groceries?

well it was an IMN checkpoint and going around the La Pinta past the gymnasium and skirting the cemetery into town was a bypass that all the locals use, 20 peso's had nothing to do with it.


I think you mean gringos. Yes, I know. Plenty of people over the years have bragged about being in the country illegally.