texascarwasher
Junior Nomad
Posts: 32
Registered: 5-11-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS y San Antonio, TX
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Crossing at Nogales
We are headed to La Paz and will be crossing at Nogales. We are staying overnight south of Tucson. Do you have any tips about how best /what time to
make the border crossing?
We would like to catch the ferry and cross at Los Mochis the same day. Does anyone have coordinates for the port where Baja Ferries is located?
We have a truck load of stuff (used) but we have a couple of new light fixtures. Should we declare them or do we need to repackage them. i.e. what
is the amount we can declare without having to pay duty?
Thanks you folks are great!
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Bajahowodd
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Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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http://www.gotosonora.com/sonora-maps/nogales-map.pdf
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/
[Edited on 1-26-2010 by Bajahowodd]
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Kimpatsu_Hekigan
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Posts: 57
Registered: 5-11-2005
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You don't say when you plan to drive south and take the ferry, but I would try to stay flexible. Friends in Sonora report that priority on the ferries
is being given to freight haulers because of the road conditions in northern Baja. You may have a several-day wait in Topolobampo, the port for Los
Mochis. The turn-off from southbound Hwy 15 for the ferry terminal at Topolobampo is well-signed just north of Los Mochis.
Also, Los Mochis is just under 500 miles south of Nogales. That's a very long day's drive. The cuota (toll road) portions of Hwy 15D are
generally in good condition, but there are several urban stretches that are slow-going. I would consider breaking up the trip with a stop in Ciudad
Obregon.
Finally, don't forget that you will need to get an "All-of-Mexico" vehicle Temporary Importation Permit for your vehicle. These can be obtained at the
Km 21 facility ("checkpoint") south of Nogales, or at the Km 98 facility south of Empalme (a few minutes beyond Guaymas). Tourist cards (FM-T) must be
obtained from Mexican Immigration right at the border or at the Km 21 facility.
Here's a Driving Guide to Alamos Sonora. It has detailed instructions for crossing at Nogales. Of course, you'll only need the directions as far as
Navojoa on Hwy 15.
http://www.rimjournal.com/arizyson/alamos/highway.htm
HTH,
-- K.H.
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ursidae69
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Registered: 2-22-2004
Location: Youngsville, NM
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This is all right on and I did the same trip in one day from Tucson in 2007 and boy that sucked. I wish I would have broken it up into 2 days. I
recommend a cabin on the ferry too, if you want any good sleep.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Kimpatsu_Hekigan
You don't say when you plan to drive south and take the ferry, but I would try to stay flexible. Friends in Sonora report that priority on the ferries
is being given to freight haulers because of the road conditions in northern Baja. You may have a several-day wait in Topolobampo, the port for Los
Mochis. The turn-off from southbound Hwy 15 for the ferry terminal at Topolobampo is well-signed just north of Los Mochis.
Also, Los Mochis is just under 500 miles south of Nogales. That's a very long day's drive. The cuota (toll road) portions of Hwy 15D are
generally in good condition, but there are several urban stretches that are slow-going. I would consider breaking up the trip with a stop in Ciudad
Obregon.
Finally, don't forget that you will need to get an "All-of-Mexico" vehicle Temporary Importation Permit for your vehicle. These can be obtained at the
Km 21 facility ("checkpoint") south of Nogales, or at the Km 98 facility south of Empalme (a few minutes beyond Guaymas). Tourist cards (FM-T) must be
obtained from Mexican Immigration right at the border or at the Km 21 facility.
Here's a Driving Guide to Alamos Sonora. It has detailed instructions for crossing at Nogales. Of course, you'll only need the directions as far as
Navojoa on Hwy 15.
http://www.rimjournal.com/arizyson/alamos/highway.htm
HTH,
-- K.H. |
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rts551
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And current reports have the border crossing at Nogales being slow.
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David K
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Is going to Guaymas and crossing to Santa Rosalia a better option for him? No 'All Mexico Car Permit' required if in Sonora only to Guyamas, right?
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Pescador
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Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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Probably not, the ferry at Guaymas seems to be really backed up due to the problems with the road up north. Last I heard, there was a long wait to
get on the boat.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65409
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Maybe he should just drive to Mazatlan then? Perhaps all three ferry lines are backed up?
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texascarwasher
Junior Nomad
Posts: 32
Registered: 5-11-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS y San Antonio, TX
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Hey folks,
Thanks for all the good tips. We bought our all Mexico car import from www.banjercito.com.mx which should speed up that part of the process. No paperwork to do just register. We have our FM-3's. I made our
reservations for the Bajaferries crossing/cabin and got confirmation numbers. (that was a chore because of my limited Spanish and Fatima's limited
English)
One last question- I have 2 new light fixtures for our casa. Should I declare them? Am i allowed a certain value of declared goods without paying
duty?
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Kimpatsu_Hekigan
Junior Nomad
Posts: 57
Registered: 5-11-2005
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| Quote: | | I have 2 new light fixtures for our casa. Should I declare them? |
If you have a lot of stuff in your truck,
it's not worth it to chance the "Nothing to Declare" lane. The Customs people at Nogales have always been pretty lenient, especially for people with
FM-3s. I would probably stop and declare. They're mainly interested in commercial quantities of anything (especially used clothing), and expensive new
consumer electronics and home appliances, basically, anything with an electrical cord.
| Quote: | | Am i allowed a certain value of declared goods without paying duty? |
Non-Mexican citizens are currently allowed a US$75 per person exemption. If the Customs people decide to charge you duty, they will deduct this amount
from the value they place on the items.
If you just got your FM-3s from a Mexican Consulate in the States, don't forget to stop at Mexican Immigration at the border or at the Km 21
checkpoint to get them stamped. You then have 30 days to register your FM-3 at the INM office in La Paz. Make sure to bring all the original documents
you used to get the FM-3s.
Suerte,
-- K.H.
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karenintx
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
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I agree with "K.H.". April 2008 we drove our Honda Pilot that was packed with all sorts of things across the Nogles border. We crossed at 7:30 am
then stopped at Km 21 to have our Fm-3's stamped...since we had flown out the trip before we still had our copy that needed to be turned in. It was
fast and painless. While there we bought the windshield sticker that allowed us to drive down to Los Mochis where we took the ferry over to La Paz.
The entire process only took about 20 minutes and we were back on the tollway.
Best I remember there was about three checkpoints. Each time they opened the back end of the Pilot looked around then closed the hatch. I alway made
sure I had our FM-3's in my hand in plain sight. Only one time did the inspector ask any questions. Once we told him where we lived he waved us on
our way.
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