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larry
Nomad
Posts: 233
Registered: 8-22-2005
Location: Orinda, CA
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tourist card
I am planning a trip to Bahia de los Angeles. I have been there and various other spots to the north in the past and have always had a tourist card.
No one has ever asked to see it.
I would be interest in recent experiences related to the necessity of having a tourist card. Are there checkpoints anywhere on Highway 1 where cards
are ever checked?
I am new to this board, so forgive what may be a redundant question.
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wornout
Senior Nomad
Posts: 595
Registered: 10-24-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja California
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Mood: No Bad Days
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| Quote: | Originally posted by larry
I am planning a trip to Bahia de los Angeles. I have been there and various other spots to the north in the past and have always had a tourist card.
No one has ever asked to see it.
I would be interest in recent experiences related to the necessity of having a tourist card. Are there checkpoints anywhere on Highway 1 where cards
are ever checked?
I am new to this board, so forgive what may be a redundant question. |
You should have the card anytime you head south of Ensenada on Hwy 1 or South of San Felipe on Hwy 5 or you just may get an escort back to the border
in a vehicle other than your own. What they do with your vehicle until you return WITH A TOURIST CARD is up to them. There are checkpoints on both
routes before BOLA.
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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Tourist cards
are not checked until you enter Baja Sur just north of Guerrero Negro at the immigration checkpoint.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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If they are present.
Some days they are not there. Sundays?
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Tucker
Senior Nomad
Posts: 664
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: El Centenario, BCS
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Wornout is correct, south of Ensenada without an FMT you are an illegal immigrant, you have zero rights. Any auto accident or other legal problems
leave you with absolutely no recourse except to get in the back of their car and be taken to where-ever.
\"I think it would be a good idea.\"
-- Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Always conflicting reports, even from officials!
Better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it... right?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is some of the various statements made, the first two are the most frequently stated:
1) Needed anywhere in Mexico if you stay over 72 hours...
2) Needed anytime you travel south of Punta Banda/Maneadero (10 mi. so. of Ensenada) or south of San Felipe on the gulf side.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
3) Needed for any travel south of Mexicali (on the gulf side).
4) Not needed in the entire state of Baja Ca. (Norte) for up to 7 days (from state tourism official on Baja Talk Radio show).
Also) The Tourist Card (FM-T) is free if your stay is limited to 7 days... otherwise can be requested for up to a 180 day (6mo.) period for about a
$20 fee. Only the land travel FM-T can be used for multiple visits during that 6 mos. Air travel tourist must obtain a new card at each trip.
______________________________________________________________
Now, on personal observation: My tourist card has only been checked at the Baja California Sur state border near Guerrero Negro (Eagle Monument) and
nowhere in the State of Baja California (Norte) over the past 5 years of dozens (hundreds?) of trips to various Baja places.
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Joelt
Nomad
Posts: 131
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Tahoe Nv.
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I was told at the Guerro Negro inspection/border that my FMT was only good for one trip and had to get another. It was no problem since they issued
the new one right there. Just had to go to a bank and pay another $20.
Joelt
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Tucker
Senior Nomad
Posts: 664
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: El Centenario, BCS
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David, were you, in that time, ever involved in a incident that caused damage to Mexican property or caused injury or death to a Mexican National? I
haven't either, but I wouldn't want to test the system.
\"I think it would be a good idea.\"
-- Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization
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rpleger
Super Nomad
Posts: 1087
Registered: 3-12-2005
Location: H. Mulegé, BCS
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Mood: Was good.
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Just get one and not worry.
Easy.
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
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The only things I know for sure about tourist cards is that [1] except at Guerrero Negro you hardly ever get asked for one, and [2] checkpoints can
appear in unexpected places. So having one could probably be considered a practical idea.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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It's nice to be legal. That's the only reason I get a driver's license, not cause anyone has been checking them.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Tucker
David, were you, in that time, ever involved in a incident that caused damage to Mexican property or caused injury or death to a Mexican National? I
haven't either, but I wouldn't want to test the system. |
No, I have never had any problem in Baja in my 40 years going there (31 driving myself since I was 16).
As I said, I have never been asked for a tourist card in Baja Norte, and only once on my last trip to Sur. That wasn't meant to say I didn't have one,
or you don't need one.
The checkpoints are set up by the military looking for drugs and guns, ammo OR Federales looking for same or criminals... Never are they set up
randomly by INM (Immigration) in the middle of nowhere... to my experience.
Just get the thing and don't worry...
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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JR, Antonio said the baseball equipment donated by Santiago is at Baja Cactus with your name on the box... and the bug repellant you asked for and I
donated (last year) with your name on it is still there, too...
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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If the law says to do it then do it.
don't take a chance on being illegal in a foreign country
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Mike Supino
Nomad
Posts: 351
Registered: 10-16-2002
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Hey Bruce,
Can you translate that to Spanish so that we can put up signs in California Norte???
Therianthropic
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Good one Mike!
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roundtuit
Senior Nomad
Posts: 607
Registered: 12-21-2004
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Mood: Wife's Job
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I got an fmt in Jan.(180 days) used again in April had no problem at state line
going in or out
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Joelt
I was told at the Guerro Negro inspection/border that my FMT was only good for one trip and had to get another. It was no problem since they issued
the new one right there. Just had to go to a bank and pay another $20. |
Unless the expiration date was expired, you got screwed. I used to always request a "entrada multiple" stamp, but the last year or so, they have
insisted that they're all multiple entry within the dates of issuance/expiration. The exception is the airline ripoff where they keep it when you
board your return flight.
Also, if you know where you're going, the "big tuning fork" isn't the only way to get to BCS from BC. But, I'm not saying anything further about
that.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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I like the other way too, Oso.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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