- 100 Rainbow Drive, Livingston, TX
The valid US or Canadian Passport or US Passport is the ONLY valid travel document to return to the U.S. -Mexico Tourist Card Information: The Mexico Tourist Card, officially called the FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) is a mandatory entry requirement for all foreign nationals traveling to Mexico for tourism, business, or leisure if arriving by land. It was introduced by the Mexican Immigration Authority to keep an official record of all visitors to the country. The FMM can be used for a single entry by land and is valid for a maximum of 180 days, starting from the moment the immigration seal is stamped (upon arrival in Mexico). When crossing one of Mexico’s land borders, the Tourist Card can be obtained by completing a simple online application form before traveling. Multiple Immigration Form (FMM)
For a list of reputable Mexican insurance companies look at Vehicle Insurance Agencies here. Get your Mexican insurance well before you leave. Agents can fax your policy or email a PDF file. Rates are different depending on which Mexican states you will visit since the liability for fatalities now depends on the prevailing wages in each Mexican state, but make sure that you are covered for the time and the states you may visit by yourself after the rally. Since the price difference is minimal, leave enough time to travel back to the US. Also, daily rates beyond 3 weeks are more expensive than buying a 6-month policy!
Mexico uses international traffic signs. Make yourself familiar with the road signs on AAA Mexico map. Traffic lights (semaforos) are often difficult to spot and Mexicans often ignore them. YOU DO NOT!! When green starts flashing = our yellow light: STOP! The lights are very short yellow and then turn red. The local police love to stop gringos from going through yellow lights! This goes for Stop (Alto) signs too, they can be anywhere and may not be an octagonal shape.
TOPES (“TOE-paces”) are “sleeping police” or speed bumps, and they can be 6-12 inches high and can cause RVs severe damage — SLOW DOWN! They are not always painted or marked with signs. Some towns have a large number of topes! Watch the traffic in front of you — GO SLOW! “Vibradores” are several rows of corrugated concrete topes that can vibrate your rig apart. GO SLOW! Turn on emergency flashers. Roads may have long stretches of topes in curves and topes do appear outside the urban areas as well!
You will find roadblocks or military checkpoints anywhere in Mexico. Drive very slowly—these detours can be rough! They may ask what you carry and sometimes they will want to inspect inside your car or rig. They are mainly interested if you carry guns or drugs (“armas” or “drogas”), the answer to which of course is “NO.” They usually ask where you came from and where you are going. Agricultural checkpoints are frequently not open, but if open, they often wave RVers through. At some state border crossings are agricultural checks (mainly they will take citrus, potatoes, avocados, etc.) and sometimes spray under your rig for a small fee (mandatory). DO NOT BRING ANY GUNS OR AMMO INTO MEXICO!!
Do I Have to Know Understand or Speak Spanish?
are good, and emergency clinics (Cruz Roja=Red Cross) and hospitals are good and comparatively inexpensive. Check with your US health insurance if they have EMERGENCIES IN MEXICO (MEDICARE ALONE DOES NOT) AND HOW TO CLAIM. SEE: GUIDE TO MEDICAL EVACUATION FROM MEXICO
For drinking purposes only, bring or buy bottled water. Super chlorinate all water going into your RV tank–add approx. 1 teaspoon unscented Clorox per 10 gal. Reverse osmosis water is always available at Mexican supermercados (supermarkets). Every town has 1 or more reverse osmosis water stores that can fill your bottles. “Microdyn” is for sale in Mexican markets to use in water to wash vegetables; a combination of vinegar and water will work too.
Get bottled water in restaurants and ask for purified ice cubes or drink Mexican cerveza! (beer) Watch out for street vendors (at topes or lights) selling fruit juice in plastic baggies; they may have a cooler somewhere, but the drink has been out for a while in the heat & can make you sick. You can and should eat typical Mexican food! Most restaurants are excellent. Even the roadside stands have great tacos etc. The meat is always thoroughly cooked. Use lots of lime on fresh vegetables and other food too. Eating garlic or garlic pills is known to prevent intestinal distress.
The Mexican supermarkets have most of everything you want, but the prices of certain things (for example peanut butter) can be higher, so bring your favorite foods you can’t live without! Go to the local Panadería (bakery) for bread, rolls, cookies, croissants, and sweet rolls, the Tortillería (Tortilla Shop) for fresh tortillas (cheap by the kilo !), and the local Mercado (market) for fresh vegetables and fruit.
E-mail is the easiest and cheapest way to communicate. There are internet cafes and many campgrounds and restaurants that have Wi-Fi and are free or very inexpensive. For phone calls, if your cell phone carrier offers a Mexico plan, you can use your phone, but cell coverage is not available or spotty in many places. US 1-800 numbers do not work on Mexican phones. It is recommended to get non-800 phone numbers for US companies you might want to call (parts, warranty).
The annual Guía Roji is the best Mexican road map book available. Approx. $31. US @ Amazon. Be sure to get the current year’s edition! In Mexico Office Depot, Walmart or Sanborn’s sell it. It has city maps too for the larger cities. Church’s 2 Mexico camping books have excellent maps and descriptions to find campgrounds. Avoid driving through large cities in your rig. The roads are too narrow, and there is no parking. Take your tow vehicle or toad or even better take the local bus (cheap and fun). You can use GPS although most units do not have detailed maps of the Mexican countryside or towns. Mexican GPS maps can be bought (downloaded).
Places to get a tire fixed are everywhere. Generally an old big tire on the side of the road, with “llantas” or “vulcanizadora” or “desponchado” painted on it, is a place where they fix flats. Mexican mechanics are good and very resourceful. Have some useful spare parts with you, such as belts, filters, special oil, wheel bearings & grease, etc. If you need new tires, buy them at home before Mexico! Leave home with good heavy-duty tires on all your vehicles and your spares. Have your car and rig serviced before you go. For emergency road service, Mexico has the Green Angels, a free service of the Mexican Government. They are terrific and patrol most major roadways with 2 people in their recognizable green/white trucks. No charge for labor but they will charge for parts (they either have with them or get for you) and often one of them will speak at least some English. Within our rally, we will be in groups to help/stay with those in need.
If campgrounds have utilities, many are only 15 Amp. Bring a tester and always check the voltage polarity and ground. Have surge protectors in your rig for sensitive equipment such as computers. Don’t expect to use microwaves and/or air conditioners unless you have a generator or powerful inverter. Bring 12v clip-on fans! Mexican voltage has been known to vary between 90 and 150 Volt AC ! If the voltage is too high, you can buy a voltage regulator ($$$) or use a long extension cord to reduce the voltage.
You will notice in all Mexican bathrooms (even big hotels/restaurants) a waste basket for toilet paper. Do not throw toilet paper into toilets! Gross though it might sound, use the trash can in the stall. Mexican sewer pipes are narrow and old and cannot handle large amounts of paper or anything else not consumed first! It is a good habit in your rig too! Many Mexican public restrooms have an attendant who keeps the facility clean and a small fee of a couple pesos is required for use. It is not a bad idea to carry some tissues and wipes when you are out and about.
You had better have Mexican Liabilty insurance! Your Mexican vehicle liability insurance policy will protect you! It is advisable to have “legal assistance and guaranteed bail” included in your insurance policy. If possible, always go to the police station to pay a ticket or other fees. For minor accidents, if you were at fault, pay the damages directly to the owner of the other vehicle and don’t get the police involved. Keep in mind: while in Mexico, YOU are responsible for your actions. If you trip on an uneven sidewalk, it is your fault for not watching where you walk. No frivolous lawsuits here!
Be aware when hiking the rainforests of tropical Mexico, there are poisonous insects and snakes. Around water and the ocean, there can be stinging flies, mosquitoes, no-see-ums, etc. In Baja’s desert, like our Southwest, be aware of rattlesnakes, scorpions, centipedes, etc. Shake out your clothes and shoes before putting them on. Beaches — wear beach shoes in the water & watch out for stepping on sting rays in shallow water (do “the shuffle” walk!) and encountering jellyfish in deeper water. Bring bug repellant and sunblock! See Exagerated Desert Animals
Fishing is excellent in Mexico. There are many areas where you can rent a boat and go fishing. A Mexican fishing permit is required for each person in the boat. Get a boat permit for your boat; bring a copy of your boat title/registration.
Hiking and swimming possibilities are endless. In Baja, especially the Sea of Cortez, you can go kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. On the Pacific side, there are surfing beaches. 4WD exploring is popular! Bring your kite! The large tourist resorts may offer tennis, golf, horseback riding, etc.
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