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cftlet
Nomad
Posts: 119
Registered: 11-13-2008
Location: Grants Pass,OR.
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Mood: Modelo Negro on my mind
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When should we get our visas
Hola all
There is a group of us (five vehicles) crossing at Tecate on tuesday the 26th. We are headed for Los Barrilles for the winter. We will have two rigs
pulling travel trailers, two pulling cargo trailers and one pulling a vehicle. I have two questions.
1. For the last two years I have always crossed at Tecate and have driven to GN to get my visa (the next day). One of the people going said he heard
that people were being stoped and sent back to the boarder to get their visas. I thought we had three days to get our visas.
2. Has there been improvement of hi way 3? Should we plan on taking road 2000 ( none of us have ever gone that way but thanks to the great coverage of
that route on this site Im sure we will have no problems).
Gracias for any help
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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cflet..best read the last posts on the Tecate-Ensenada road. With all the recent rains, that route will not be fun!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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Take the San Ysidro crossing, get your visas there and save yourself a lot of grief.
Also by far the fastest way. Take the toll road and don't drive after dark.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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not to mention your insurance "MAY" be void if in an accident and you are illegally in the country (past san flippy or maneadero) without a tourist
visa.....
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
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If you want to save the hassle of finding parking, running to the bank to pay, etc. you might consider getting your visa at the offices of Discover
Baja in San Diego. They have a special arragement with Mexican immigration that allows them to issue tourist visas. They have relocated to 3264
Governor Drive, which is suppose to be easily accessible to a freeway (I haven't been to the new offices, so I can't verify that). You could also get
your Mexican insurance while you are there.
You might consider visiting their website at www.discoverbaja.com to see what they're about, if you don't already know.
Have a safe trip
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oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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With what you all are towing, I would avoid HWY 3.
Why not park on the US side at Tecate, walk across, and get your visas there? I recommend NOT getting your visas at GN, the office there is often
unmanned.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajatripper
If you want to save the hassle of finding parking, running to the bank to pay, etc. you might consider getting your visa at the offices of Discover
Baja in San Diego. They have a special arragement with Mexican immigration that allows them to issue tourist visas. They have relocated to 3264
Governor Drive, which is suppose to be easily accessible to a freeway (I haven't been to the new offices, so I can't verify that). You could also get
your Mexican insurance while you are there.
You might consider visiting their website at www.discoverbaja.com to see what they're about, if you don't already know.
Have a safe trip |
i did just this last trip and at 5am the guys at migracion were confused either by the new forms or the fact that they were already paid for. they
didn't give us any problems, but my wife (Peruvian, who uses her language skills to our advantage at precise moments) said after we left that the guys
were confused and didn't know what to make of the paperwork we presented them. they gave us the stamp and we went on our way wondering if Mexico will
ever get it's act together......
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: | | and we went on our way wondering if Mexico will ever get it's act together...... |
Let's hope not! It would take most of the fun and adventure out of our travels down here.
[Edited on 10-22-2010 by Bajatripper]
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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I'll never understand the prepaid fmm's,
cost what $8 more?
You still have to stop at Mex Immigration
at the entry point to have them stamp
it with an entry date, you still have to
find parking at Mex IMM. Make sure the
Mex IMM Officer signs your form,
that is if there is a place for his signature
on the fmm as there was on the fmt
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13242
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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we went to Discover Baja ... easy to get to ... they need a bigger sign in front but other than that - easy as pie !!
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
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Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sancho
I'll never understand the prepaid fmm's,
cost what $8 more?
You still have to stop at Mex Immigration
at the entry point to have them stamp
it with an entry date, |
Don't forget you have to join Discover Baja Club first, at $39, so that's 71 bucks total for a $24 FMM.
Last I heard, the Migracion office at Guerrero Negro won't issue Tourist Cards anymore.
Last winter, one of our caravans got fined $40 each person for not getting Tourist cards at the border. Lot of money out of my pocket for a
"new" regulation change.
Good ol' Mexico!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sancho
I'll never understand the prepaid fmm's,
cost what $8 more?
You still have to stop at Mex Immigration
at the entry point to have them stamp
it with an entry date, you still have to
find parking at Mex IMM. Make sure the
Mex IMM Officer signs your form,
that is if there is a place for his signature
on the fmm as there was on the fmt |
BECAUSE at 3-5am (when we usually cross) it is poorly lit, a fairly stupid process where EVERYONE has to go to the office (they twice have made me go
back to get my wife to WATCH her sign the form), walk back to the bank, wake the guy (i've been told by the guy he doesn't open til 8am-he was
adamant, wouldn't let me pay-waved me away), walk back to the IMM guy sign the forms, get the stamp (don't let there be 20 people crossing the
turnstiles when you get back-been there!), walk back to deal with the marooon inspector who wants me to empty 1/2 my truck and open my trailer even
though i show him the FMT's and tell him i'm not declaring ANYTHING!!!!
i'd rather just walk back there once and get on the road. $16 is worth 15 minutes of my time.
understand?
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Not sure what politics are involved here, but the whole tourist visa thing seems to be a joke. I posted here a couple of weeks ago about how the bank
guy wouldn't accept my money at San Ysidro. In fact, my party managed to spend two weeks in Baja, traveling to Cabo and back, without ever having been
asked for those visas. I am not advocating anyone flaunting Mexican law. But, I just get a gut feeling that the present system is under some form of
political controversy. It wasn't too many years ago that there was no cost. Given the major tourism problem, one has to wonder if there are certain
factions that would like to go back to the days of old. After all, why would anyone support a program that limits visitors in Mexico?
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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There was a recent post, hypothetical I'm sure,
that questioned needing Mex Ins or an
fmm at all. I find driving in Mex risky enough,
to knowingly ignore their Laws or Regs
is beyond me. We go to enjoy, what I consider
a unique place, so I for one, will go out of my
way to abide by their Laws. I wasn't always
like this, driving with open container,
no Insurance, fishing license,etc. I find it, if nothing
else, just courteous. Sometimes it's a hassle,
sometimes makes little sense trying to decipher
their Regs or get a clear answer. As mentioned,
you have to be in the country of Mexico
legally for your Ins to be valid. Why would
ANYONE risk that?
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irenemm
Senior Nomad
Posts: 623
Registered: 7-16-2009
Location: vicente guerrero, baja
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Mood: relaxed
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Lots of road work south of Ensenada From La Canada swimming pools to a little north of the check point. Lots of mud from this rains.
Expect to take at least 3 hours to Vicente Guerrero,
Drive careful and don't be in a hurry.
Take it really slow with the construction area.
Enjoy your adventure.
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: | I wasn't always
like this, driving with open container,
no Insurance, fishing license,etc. I find it, if nothing
else, just courteous. Sometimes it's a hassle,
sometimes makes little sense trying to decipher
their Regs or get a clear answer. As mentioned,
you have to be in the country of Mexico
legally for your Ins to be valid. Why would
ANYONE risk that? |
Ahh, yes, a sure sign that one is getting older and, presumably, wiser.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3894
Registered: 2-9-2004
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the problem in Tecate is finding parking so you can go to the migra office. Would be much worse with the trailers and such. The last time I crossed
in Tecate will intention to get a visa there, I went around the block, up and down a couple streets, and ended up taking a chance that it would work
out at GN if need be. I practiced my espanol for an explanation - "no estacionarse in Tecate, si yo quiero venir a Guerrero Negro . . ." (my Spanish
is so mal). But I was not asked to show my visa at the Baja Sur border - they only wanted a dollar for the insect spraying. If I were you with that
big crowd, I'd park at a trolley station the day before, take the trolley and do visas on foot in TJ - might as well get pesos too.
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unbob
Nomad
Posts: 407
Registered: 8-7-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
I'd park at a trolley station the day before, take the trolley and do visas on foot in TJ - might as well get pesos too. |
The only problem with that plan is worrying about my rig being stolen or vandalized. Is there any sort of security at the trolley station parking lot?
Any "live" patrolling guards and/or surveillance cameras?
I always hate to park and leave my rig unattended. Had my rig and everything I owned stolen back in '95 (in Oregon) and so yes I am paranoid!
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Brian L
Nomad
Posts: 250
Registered: 6-21-2010
Location: Alpine, CA
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Mood: No Bad Days
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Most stations now have guards posted as well as live cameras monitored by staff. Call 619-595-4960 for updated information on guard duties.
My car was broken into a year ago at a station that didn't have a guard for a two-week period. The thieves know where to go and when! I feel safe
now that it is manned during the day.
Feel free to ask questions about the trolley, I work for a local public agency that works with the Trolley.
| Quote: | Originally posted by unbob
| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
I'd park at a trolley station the day before, take the trolley and do visas on foot in TJ - might as well get pesos too. |
The only problem with that plan is worrying about my rig being stolen or vandalized. Is there any sort of security at the trolley station parking lot?
Any "live" patrolling guards and/or surveillance cameras?
I always hate to park and leave my rig unattended. Had my rig and everything I owned stolen back in '95 (in Oregon) and so yes I am paranoid!
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Brian
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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I'm not sure, but you may still be able to
get an fmm at the Eneenada Immigration,
I believe you pay a $5 $10 dollar penalty
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