coolhand
Junior Nomad
Posts: 95
Registered: 6-12-2007
Location: san diego
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tourist cards
Where can you get tourist cards at 4am at the TJ crossing? Can you get them in SD? Or is it better just to run down to TJ in advance.... I live here
in San Diego.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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You can get them at the Mexican Consulate on India Street but, you have to have them stamped and paid for below the border.
I don't know if they're available at the border at 4am.
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coolhand
Junior Nomad
Posts: 95
Registered: 6-12-2007
Location: san diego
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tourist cards
Does anyone know the easiest place to get tourist cards these days? We plan on crossing the line at 4am. Is there a place to get them in SD? Should
we get them ahead of time?
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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cross the border and move to the right to secondery. park and go to the migration office, they will direct you from there. easy does it. you may want
to wait till 630 am to cross, it may be good for your health.
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bajaboolie
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 9-24-2007
Location: Aptos, CA/Mulege
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Hmm, tell us about that interesting 'mark' on your car.  Or maybe we don't want
to know....
Bajaboolie
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
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You can get them pre paid at Discover Baja on Clairmont mesa blvd. I've heard they are supposed to be stamped at the border, but when I showed mine to
the border guy in Tecate he just said go on, no stamp needed! Checked in at GN no problem.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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I wouldn't bother
If you cross at 4am there's a good chance you won't make it south of Ensenada. 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Why can't Mexico just print up a little booklet of common questions and answers that is accessible? Answers to questions like this one are only valid
for two blocks from where you hear it. Nobody knows what's going on down here. I suppose there's profit in reinterpretation.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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Because there's not enough ink
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Why can't Mexico just print up a little booklet of common questions and answers that is accessible? |
The answers keep changing.
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jeffg
Nomad
Posts: 175
Registered: 11-25-2004
Location: Vista, CA
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You can get tourist cards and pay the fee 24 hrs at the San Ysidro crossing.
All the cryptic comments about 4:00am travel are in reference to problems that tourists have had recently being acosted while traveling thru Tijuana
in the wee hours. If you search the site a bit you will find more info about this. Best suggestion right now is to not drive thru TJ before
daylight. Or, look for some threads about taking the free road.
[Edited on 11-1-2007 by jeffg]
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
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Just cross at Tecate, F TJ.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Well, Tecate isn't open at 4 am and that drive way east adds a couple of hours to the trip... Anyway, the original question was where at 4 am at
Tijuana... and the answer is TIJUANA, it is a 24/7 open border with INM office and bank teller to pay the fee if you want the tourist card for over 7
days.
Best approach is from I-805, as it is the far right lane you want to be in... at 4 am however, it shouldn't be any problem getting over to the far
right from I-5... The lane is signed 'Something to Declare' and you park in the covered area... The row of offices faces the parking area and the INM
office is the far right door.
IF there is no one there, then walk through the hallway to the INM office facing the pedestrian walk (behind the row of offices). The bank teller for
payment of the fee is a half dozen doors/ windows down from the INM.
*Bring in your passport or birth cert & photo ID and a pen to INM... Fill out, (put 180 days and the furthest south you would ever go in Mexico,
as the card is reusable for up to 180 days), go to the teller window and pay... the card is stamped there as paid... Go back to INM for the validating
second stamp.
IF you get a prepaid card north of the border, you still must have it stamped by INM at the border to validate it! Yes, the officials may waive you
through if you flash it... but that still doesn't make it any good.
You are done!
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3881
Registered: 2-9-2004
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You could, as you say, just take a little trolley trip to the border a few days before, walk through the gates and get it all done beforehand. Could
get some pesos in the same trip.
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coolhand
Junior Nomad
Posts: 95
Registered: 6-12-2007
Location: san diego
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toll road woes
Yeah, waiting for the sun to rise can't hurt. Thinking about taking the free road to Rosarito if we do jet early, but I'm still weighing my options.
There is no way in hell, I would pull over for anyone on the toll road at that time. It would be drive to the nearest police or federal agency or die
trying......
Has anyone recently crossed at 4am and had problems, or is it more of 'I heard from a friend, who heard from a friend' sort of thing? Many of those
come out of Baja. Being realistic there is a chance chit might hit the fan, but isn't that the case anywhere?
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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We crossed the border at 3:30 a.m. back in late August to make it Bahia Asuncion before dark (which we did easily, but towing).
It seems just after that the problems arose with people being robbed in the area between the border and the first toll booth. We didn't even give it a
second thought that there might be danger.
I won't travel at that time of morning again.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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this was my friends car that they tried to highjack last year near la salina, 9 mil through the leg. just be carefull.
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
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Just to expand David's good advice (we cross at 6 AM every year), the INM cubicle next to the "Declaration" parking will probably be unmanned at that
hour. Walk through the hallway to the pedestrian walkway and walk back toward the US to where the turnstile gate is. To your left is the main INM
office (no sign..just go in). It is manned and there will be folks sitting around having coffee at that hour. They will issue you your FMT. Keep a
smile on your face and enjoy the little difficulties that prepare you for further travel down Baja. Your sense of humor will be invaluable.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Coolhand, did you see these replies...? I noticed you again asked about 4 am crossing in a new post...
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coolhand
Junior Nomad
Posts: 95
Registered: 6-12-2007
Location: san diego
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Thank you...
Sorry it took so long for a response. We live in Clairemont near Discover Baja, but we drove down to TJ during our lunch break and got the cards. We
walked across with a bunch of tequilla and goodies for the feds from the Duty Free. Much cheaper there, than in Baja. We had no problems at all.
As for crossing, we'll cross about 5:00-5:30 and after consulting a buddy of mine in TJ, do not pull over for any flashing lights. He said the Feds
and local police chief are urging people, Mexicans alike, to drive slowely to the nearest federal building or police station. The police are not
allowed to pull anyone over on the toll road between TJ and Rosirito (article in the SD Union Tribune). The pressure has come from Donald Trump
himself, for his condo sales have been hurt by this criminal activity. Once at the police station, the police will not cite you for evading.
Anyway, we are leaving tomorrow. We are driving straight to Abre for a little surf and possibly Asuncion to meet some nomads. After a few nights,
its to San Basilio for some kayaking, then to Loreta Playa B & B for some R & R. On the way back, its Tuesday night at the Baja Cactus,
Wednesday Valle Guadulupe to buy some Thanksgiving wine, cross at Tacate and off to eat Turkey, drink our wine, look back on our trip, and take a
vacation from our vacation.
Hope to meet some of you. I drive a light brown Honda Element with extra large BFG AT/KO tires.
I will report when I return. I'm not taking the laptop or any other thing of value, besides my wife.
Adios,
Dave
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