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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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Well David, like I said, it was all very strange. I coincidentally did not hear about the new Port of Entry or did not pay much attention to it...as
I have been out of Mexico for over a month. So where you normally would expect to cross there was a deviation to the right, then it was a snake like
road, all brand new, for a 100 feet or so. I was looking for the signs for Aduanas and the building, but immediately in front of me were people
waving me on to cross the borders in the new lanes, quite a number of them. When I approached the gate, I asked the guy where the Aduanas office was
for the visa and he said go around the gate and back up to do it. So I had to back up, and then go to my right around a bend. Truthfully I think I
was in Mexico at that point because they were telling me to back up, but I don't know. It was a very dangerous maneuver, and if there were cars in
back of me, I would have been SOL. There was no gate for a turn around to the US. At the time you make a right from where the old crossing was, it
appeared to be all under Mexican control. I will pay more attention today and ask them if I am in Mexican territory at the point I am crossing the
new border. | Quote: | Originally posted by David K
So you had to re-enter the U.S., or were you always inside of Mexico. Is this a a two-way street or did you go against traffic? Thank you.
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fourbi4rox
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 10-31-2012
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I'm coming in this Friday night and towing a trailer. I don't think I'll be backing up.... Perhaps I will be crossing at Otay
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fourbi4rox
I'm coming in this Friday night and towing a trailer. I don't think I'll be backing up.... Perhaps I will be crossing at Otay
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Why would you need to back up? Did I miss something?
Welcome to BajaNomad by the way.
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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Don't worry be happy!!
Like I said, I made a mistake in entering the lane to cross the border thinking that the immigration office would be AFTER the crossing. When you see
the lanes in front of you and attendants waving you forward, go to the immediate far right, do not enter the lanes and go around the bend to aduanas
or the declaracion area where there is a huge building and a parking lot. I will be leaving shortly and will report after I get to Ensenada the exact
directions.... | Quote: | Originally posted by fourbi4rox
I'm coming in this Friday night and towing a trailer. I don't think I'll be backing up.... Perhaps I will be crossing at Otay
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zoesterone
Nomad
Posts: 127
Registered: 5-8-2011
Location: Mazatlan, soon to be Baja
Member Is Offline
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First time I went, just fine and easy. HUGE Ensenada/Playas de Tijuana sign on that far right upramp. Yesterday, there was no sign and it startled me,
as I knew it had been there. It ought to be back soon, I hope, as I told holiday relatives to look for it.
Dogs are not our whole life, but make our lives whole.
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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It's easy if you aren't looking to get a visa. I crossed this morning, and there is NO sign that says aduanas/visa. So what you have to do is stay
in the right hand lanes, and follow the signs for declaraciones, and bear a sharp right around the pole gate which is a bunch of poles lined up for
about 50 feet that together, make up some kind of division between the crossing lanes and the building where you get your visa. Park then in front
of the large building, go in and the first left there is an office to get the visa. Remember though the bank is not open before 9 am it appears. So
make sure you are crossing after 9 am, but I don't know what time they close, to be safe, around 2 pm. Another very interesting point is that when
you turn right where the old crossing used to be, that appears to start Mexican territory, because the whole road up to the new lanes you cross, has
the border fence on your right, apparently you are in Mexico even before you cross the new lanes.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Okay... a little better... Please see if I got this correct:
For the FMM, stay in the RIGHT LANE, specially after the second sharp bend before the entry gates... then there is a special lane on the right,
separated by poles from the normal entry lanes leading to the entry gate. The building you want is on the right, and there is parking by it, on the
right.
Did I get it right?
Just fyi, you are physically inside Mexico when you make that first sharp turn (to the right), but you aren't 'officially' in Mexico until you pass
the 'gates' where you may get pointed to go into secondary... The USA has not had the ability to match Mexico with making the freeway change to meet
the new border into Mexico... thus the sharp turn detour lanes.
[Edited on 11-9-2012 by David K]
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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Yes David, you are correct, but a question, so why was the border gate on my RIGHT the whole time until I passed the gates? I am in Mexico... | Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Okay... a little better... Please see if I got this correct:
For the FMM, stay in the RIGHT LANE, specially after the second sharp bend before the entry gates... then there is a special lane on the right,
separated by poles from the normal entry lanes leading to the entry gate. The building you want is on the right, and there is parking by it, on the
right.
Did I get it right?
Just fyi, you are physically inside Mexico when you make that first sharp turn (to the right), but you aren't 'officially' in Mexico until you pass
the 'gates' where you may get pointed to go into secondary... The USA has not had the ability to match Mexico with making the freeway change to meet
the new border into Mexico... thus the sharp turn detour lanes.
[Edited on 11-9-2012 by David K] |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Do you mean the border fence? Because you crossed over the line on I-5, then turned west with the border on your right (north)... then turned left
(south) to go deeper into Mexico where the 'gates' are located.
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kiterkip
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-17-2010
Member Is Offline
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El Chapperal Banercito for FMM not open until after 9AM! Sucks, I like to get a sunrise early start to my 8 hour drive.
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kiterkip
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-17-2010
Member Is Offline
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OK, Sorry to muddy the FMM office question. I'm watching this video very carefully and looking for your "special lane on the right".
Is this it? Or maybe give us a time count on what frame I see this lane. Sorry, but I only cross here once or twice in a lifetime.
Is this where the FMM Lane is?:
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by kiterkip
OK, Sorry to muddy the FMM office question. I'm watching this video very carefully and looking for your "special lane on the right".
Is this it? |
Not it. That picture is the entrance to the customs complex. The "lane to the right" is at the other end.....the exit.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Clear as mud once again... ??
If getting into the far right lane was best... but then not in the photo above, why not... Is there more than one right lane... and Ensenada Dr. said
you go in a special lane to the right of steel poles, separating the normal traffic into Mexico from those needing to get an FMM.
I wish I could go south and document this, it really shouldn't be that hard to describe the process and take some photos, should it?
Personally, I am not at all concerned (go with the flow, part of the adventure), but for the others who are nervous about driving into Mexico, a clear
description of the process would greatly reduce the anxiety.
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acadist
Super Nomad
Posts: 1125
Registered: 3-31-2007
Location: Spanaway,WA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting for the Sun
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I am a creature of habit, and until this new habit is learned there will be some anxiety  I enjoy to go with the flow but am on a time budget, I am working for the day that time is not the issue. Heck, took me two years to
change the bank I stop at to get my Pemex pesos
Dave
I moved to CO and they made me buy a little rod to make it feel like a real fish
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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tourest card
what the gig there if you need a tourest card?
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acadist
Super Nomad
Posts: 1125
Registered: 3-31-2007
Location: Spanaway,WA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting for the Sun
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The Silver Lining
If the bank opens at 9 I can shop for tackle at the Black Friday early openings! Hard to find what I want here in CO
[Edited on 11-17-2012 by acadist]
Dave
I moved to CO and they made me buy a little rod to make it feel like a real fish
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Clear as mud once again... ??
If getting into the far right lane was best... but then not in the photo above, why not... Is there more than one right lane...
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Being in the far right lane is important at the exit.....not the entrance. All lanes inside lead to the exit where you want to stay to the right side
and read the huge signs above. At that point the exit road splits into two or three options..... "downtown" etc. The option on the right side, as
the huge sign will say, takes you to the fence road and on to the toll road. Once you do it, the confusion will lift and life will again be good.
It's important to keep in mind that the complex is enclosed except at the entrance and exit, so you can't get too lost. Just consider it a new and
exciting Baja adventure and once you've done it, you'll laugh at yourself for creating all this confusion in your head. It's really very simple.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Wonderful Dennis, thank you! I love adventure... and Baja is FULL OF IT! 
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
It's really very simple. |
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acadist
Super Nomad
Posts: 1125
Registered: 3-31-2007
Location: Spanaway,WA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting for the Sun
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less than a week till I get to try
Dave
I moved to CO and they made me buy a little rod to make it feel like a real fish
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