The US-Mexico Border

The Border:

 You require a passport, a credit card, drivers license & all your vehicle registration. If the vehicle is leased, you require the lease agreement plus a legally notarized permission to take the vehicle into Mexico, even if you own the company. It is best to have this in Spanish. Make 2 copies of everything before leaving home, it will speed things up. There is usually a copy machine at the border. & you will need copies of your tourist card, but it will speed things up if that is all you need. At the border you will have to purchase tourist cards & a vehicle permit. Allow about $50 for everything. Try to have $100 in US cash available, you can also use it at the first toll booth, but few others. You will have to leave the vehicle permit folks a credit card number, or a $300 bond. This is to ensure the vehicle is returned to the US. It can take up to 4 hours to clear the border, but an hour is more usual. Please note that you frequently have to do all this, maybe 20 km south of the border, rather than at the border itself. Vehicle permits are not required for Baja or for the northern part of Sonora State. You still need a tourist card. Even so, make sure you have all the legal documents for your vehicle.

Vehicle permits are good for 6 months, although you can now get a 10 year one. This is not advised. It can cause you a lot of grief if you write the vehicle off or sell it sometime during those 10 years. If you do write off a vehicle in Mexico, get the hunk of windshield with the sticker attached , plus ensure the police & insurance reports show the vehicle VIN number. Unless you turn these in at the border, you will not be permitted to take another vehicle into Mexico at a later date. If you do have an accident, phone your insurance provider immediately and do not admit blame. They will provide a  lawyer.

So, photocopy the following

1) Your passport front page

2) Any vehicle registrations

3) Your birth certificate

4) Photocopies of your drivers license (or licenses if more than one vehicle) - front & back

5) Photocopies of your credit card

6) Copies of notarized permission to take any leased or company vehicle into Mexico.

You may or may not need all of those. You will have to get  photocopies of your Mexican visa at the border itself.

It is very important to get a receipt for your vehicle permit when you cross back into the US, no matter what crossing you use. Failure to return the sticker will prevent you form entering Mexico in future and even if you have returned it, their record keeping system is far from perfect, so you should retain a receipt. You cannot return it at all border crossings. You can no longer return at Tecate, for example.

Crossing back into the USA can be a 2 or 3 hour experience. You may not bring any Pork products across and some vegetables are not allowed, specifically potatoes & avocado's. If your remove the pit from the avocado's & cook the potatoes, they are OK. Any eggs must be hard boiled. Most fruits are prohibited.

Here are some documentation examples (some areas painted out for privacy):

Vehicle permit:

Vehicle Insurance:

Exit receipt:

RV Parks or Boondocking:

There are a lot of RV parks in Mexico, but many of these can be quite full during the peak period of November through March, especially on the West Coast, north of Manzanillo. Boondocking is possible, but not advisable if alone. You may overnight in many Pemex Stations. Campsites & RV parks range from about $5 up to $30 US a night. The most expensive ones I found were in San Carlos & Sayulita, near Puerto Vallarta. $18- $20 US is more the norm. For that, you usually get full hookup's. From November through March, remain flexible, or reserve.

Is Mexico safe:

It's as safe as you make it. Most of the problems are within 100 miles of the US border, mainly in Tijuana and Cuidad Juarez. RV'ers are probably as safe from violence as they are in the US, especially in  a group. Avoid traveling at night.

Do Mexicans hate or resent American's or Canadian's:

I have not experienced this. Most Mexicans I have encountered are more friendly than either Americans or Canadians & will go out of their way to help visitors. Just remember it is their country & they are proud of it. Americans may possibly find a bit more hostility than Canadians, due to the current border wall thing, etc. but none have complained to me. I have found most Mexicans treat people as individuals without preconceptions. Avoid overt signs of wealth or superiority, and avoid flying American or Canadian flags. If you must, ensure a Mexican flag is displayed more prominently. Displaying a Mexican flag is much appreciated.

Language issues:

Many Mexicans speak at least some English. Attempts at speaking Spanish are appreciated.

Can I get my truck fixed if it breaks down:

Most larger Mexican cities have Ford, GM & Dodge dealers & service. Service tends to be quite a bit cheaper than in the US, but here could be a few days wait for some parts.  E-Class tires are hard to come by. Carry a good spare. If you have room, an extra tire, off rim, is not a bad idea. Carry coolant & oil. Green Angels which are sort of like the AAA, cruise the highways helping tourists in distress. They do not charge anything except for parts, and most of them are legendary mechanics. Most highways are however patrolled only once in a 24 hour period, so timing is everything. I have heard that on the Cuota's (Toll Highways) towing is free

Can I get my RV fixed:

That one is tougher, RV parts are tough to find. Bring an extra sewer hose and any other specific fittings you think you could conceivably need.  Distilled water for your battery is also not a bad idea.

Can I drink the water:

No, usually not. Bring a refillable water container. (Maybe in your shower stall). These can be filled at almost any town, or exchanged. Maybe wait to get one in Mexico, they are available in almost any store and look for one the screw top types rather than the compression caps. These are very easy to find in Mexico, and means you can reseal it after each use, a good thing, especially if you are carrying it in your shower.  There are different brands and you can only exchange like for like, so be prepared to pour from one container to another, so you can immediately return the empty. Expect to pay about 15 Pesos  ($1- $1.25) for a large container fill. Use local water to fill your holding tank & use one of those blue cylinder water filters to ensure that sediment does not get in. They can be obtained at Camping World in the US or Canada Tire in Canada for about $20. They claim to remove bacteria & guardia, but don't trust them for drinking, but at least it is probably safe to use the water from them for teeth brushing & washing dishes. You can put a cap full of bleach in there  & use that water for showering & washing dishes. If you get Montezuma's revenge, Cipro (Ciproflaxino in Spanish) is available over the counter in Mexico. Flush your tanks a couple of times with good old USA water after you come back. Don't forget the hot water tank.

Are there sani dumps:

RV parks usually have them, so do bus stations in a pinch. I have never tried using one, but I have heard some will let you pay to use them.

What about power:

Power in Mexico can be very inconsistent. Voltages can range for 80 to 150 volts. I advise everyone to purchase a power surge protector. These are about $250 at Camping World for the 30 amp model, add about $75 for the 50 amp model. Otherwise you run the risk of blowing your fridge circuit board for starters. Many RV parks have only 15 amp service. It is actually not a bad idea to keep your fridge on propane.

What about propane:

It can be tough to find propane, or butane, as is often used instead. You cannot get it at gas stations, you have to search for a central outlet, usually located near larger towns. Please note that Butane can freeze, so if you are returning to colder climes, use it up first.

Gas, Diesel & prices & Pemex Stations:

All auto fuel in Mexico is sold through Pemex. prices are usually around $2.50 a gallon for diesel (2009) and it is widely available.  Sometimes you will find resellers using barrels in real small towns. Use these only as a last resort, and you won't likely find diesel, only gas. Mexico subsidizes fuel prices when the world price goes up. Diesel pumps are BLACK, not GREEN in Mexico. Green pumps are gas. ULSD is not available, so if you have a late model diesel, you may not want to take it into Mexico. A locking gas cap is advisable. This prevents attendants from starting to pump without zeroing before you are out of the truck or pumping the wrong fuel. In most cases you have to pay cash, so make sure you always have 1000 peso's in cash available. I always tip the attendant about 20 peso's . They really appreciate it, and it gives us Gringo's a good name.  If  someone washes your windows, give him 10 peso's, he may not actually work for the station & relies on tips. I would carry 1500 Peso's as there are toll booths to contend with as well. That brings up another point, a portable air pump is useful, it is hard to find places that can handle more than 60 PSI.

Roads:

Most roads in Mexico have little or no shoulders. This means extra caution while driving, especially passing. There are several freeways, but these are nearly always toll roads (Cuota's) and are almost as good as a US Interstate. They can get quite expensive, especially if you have a dually and/or tow a trailer. You can always take the free road (Libre's), but they are often slow & do not bypass towns. Libre's also have frequent Tope's (see description further on)

Mexican Road rules & hazards:

From what I can tell, it is illegal to turn right on a red light. A very common practice in Mexico is to activate your left hand turn signal to indicate to the vehicle behind that it is OK to pass. Many trucks do this. Obviously this can be very dangerous. If you do indicate you are about to turn left or move out to pass, ensure no one behind you is taking that as a signal, they can pass you. One way roads in towns are very common and sometimes not very well marked. Another quirk are left hand turns out of lanes to your right. These are associated with left hand turn signals, but it is very disconcerting to see cars turning left across the front of you. Many larger towns have lateral roads that parallel the main road. In some cities you are required to use these if you have an RV. Puerto Vallarta is one example. You will get ticketed if you do not use them. If you see buses & trucks using them instead of the main road, you can bet that is the case.

Low hanging trees or trees close to the edge of the road are a hazard especially to high RV's with vinyl roofs. It is very easy to get trapped in small towns on roads that have low trees, so exercise caution & try to use roads you see trucks or buses using. Low hanging power lines are also a hazard.

Some free roads have very little shoulder and sometimes that shoulder is very steep, so exercise caution.

Since driving in Mexico takes more concentration, try to keep segments short, and be aware of what is behind you. It is easy to forget to check your mirrors when you are concentrating a lot harder on driving. I find driving more than 200 miles a day is tough down there.

Topes, Vibradores, & Vado's:

These are speed bumps. Most are marked, some are not, and they are common on main highways. You do not want to hit one of these at over 5 KPH. Keep watch on the vehicle in front, to alert you to them or approaching vehicles that may give away their location. . I can guaranty you will hit at least one, too fast. Vibradores are series of small speed bumps, you can usually take at 30 KPH. A Vado is a dip in the road designed to allow streams in flood to pass over the road in rainy season. Some of them can be quite deep & a hazard especially if towing a trailer. Tope's are a favourite spot for vendors, who can be a pain, but they are also frequently manned by people collecting for charity, notably the Red Cross. Keep some small change handy.

Car Insurance:

You must have Mexican insurance. Expect to pay about $75 US for each $10,000 of value (RV & truck). This is for a 6 month policy, the most economical. You can purchase insurance  before crossing. Either Don Smith or San Xavier are likely the best. Lewis & Lewis ahs also been recommended. Sanbourns is pricey. Shop around & compare coverage & price. In most cases you can get a rebate from your insurer for the time spent in Mexico. Ask them what proof they require that your vehicle was below the border. This will likely give you a couple of hundred back. If you have an accident, immediately phone the number given to you by the insurance provider. Do not admit blame, let them handle it. This is a good reason to have a cell phone. Even if its an American or Canadian cell phone & the call is expensive. The police will very likely impound the vehicle until things are settled. In Mexico you are guilty till proven innocent. The insurance company will take care of legal aspects & provide an interpreter. It is not as bad as it sounds, your Mexican insurance provider is used to being able to deal with it.

Passports:

As of June 1st, 2009, you require a passport to travel between Canada, the US & Mexico. make sure yours is good for at least 6 months & carry photocopies of the main page. It is also a good idea to carry your birth certificate & picture ID.

Can I bring a Toad or ATV or motorcycle:

You must have one licensed driver (& registrant for each motorized vehicle). If you have a camper & 2 motorcycles & there are only 2 of you, you will not be allowed to bring one vehicle into Mexico. Ensure that registrations for more than one vehicle are not only in one name. If so transfer one to your wife. You will need to leave a $300 deposit at the border or a credit card imprint. Keep in mind that a towed vehicle will increase your toll highways cost a fair bit.

Can I bring my gun:

No, don't even think about it. Also no ammo.  You can carry a machete if it makes you feel better.

What about Checkpoints:

Checkpoints are common in Mexico. Don't let the guy behind sandbags with the machine gun scare you. They are looking for drug runners, not overweight TC's. They seldom stop RV's, but they may. There are also agricultural checkpoints at many State lines. They will confiscate some fruit & vegetables.

What if a cop pulls me over:

Some cops still take bribes, but don't come right out & offer one. You can ask if you can pay the fine on the spot. In effect, you may be paying a bribe, but acting like you are not. If you think he is trying to shake you down, offer to follow him to the police station to pay the fine right away, the ticket may suddenly change to a warning. This all assumes you can speak Spanish or the cop speaks some English, of course.

Pets:

Make sure their shots are up to date and get them on a program to prevent heartworm. Carry flea soap & spray, as fleas & ticks can be a problem.  Mexico does have good vets, finding one who can speak English can be a problem. Be prepared for a shock when you enter a vets office. They are markedly more primitive than those at home.

Should I exchange money before crossing:

You can, but ATM's are common in Mexico. The Canadian  Scotiabank, & Hong Kong based HSBC, have tons of them. Scotiabank is associated with BOA. Maybe start with 1500 pesos before you cross. I have had one experience of a mistake with an ATM in mexico, so it is a good idea to keep track of your account on line.

What about food:

Large supermarkets are common, including Wal Marts. You can buy anything (except decent whole grain bread, although I have found it in some). If you like Pasta, you will find that difficult to find. The larger grocery chains are Wal Mart, Mega, Gigante, Sobriana's & Ley's. The larger ones accept credit cards.

Metric:

Mexico uses metric, you may want to measure the height of your rig in metric. There are radar traps, so get familiar with the speed conversions.

Very approx conversions are as follows.

50 km = 30 miles

60 km = 40 miles

80 km = 50 miles

90 km = 55 miles

100 km = 60 miles

110 km = 70 miles

Will my GPS work:

Maybe. You can buy the Mexican maps for about $150 for later Garmins. Also MS Streets & trips. If you wish to purchase a map book, look for Guia Roji (http://www.guiaroji.com.mx ). This is about $20 and covers all of Mexico, Guatemala & Belize

Internet Access:

Many RV parks now have wireless access, in fact its more common than in the US.

Satellite Radio & TV:

Both XM & Sirius work well in Mexico. Sirius works better due to its higher satellite orbits. I have been told that Direct TV won't work well very far south, but Canadian based Star Choice works well all over Mexico. Go figure. There are no over the air English language TV stations in Mexico. However, Mexican soap operas are very entertaining even if you can't understand them.

Telephone:

This can get expensive. I suggest using Skype. If your cell is activated for Mexico, use it only for emergencies. It will cost a fortune. You can get relatively inexpensive pay & talk Mexican cell phones.

Web Sites & Travel Books:

Mike & Terri Church's Books Mike & Terri Church write the definitive guides on RV'ing in Mexico. They also have a Truck Camper. The newest edition of the guide is coming out Fall 2009. Don't go to Mexico without a copy.

Dot & Bill's Mexico Site This is one of the best, if not the best, web site for Rv'ing in Mexico with Maps containing clickable links to RV Parks. It is the work of Dot & Bill Bell of North Vancouver, BC.

Road signage:

Here is a list of Mexican road signs and what they mean. The ones in blue are the ones I feel are most common. The list came from the Bell's web site (see section above).

SPANISH	ENGLISH
ACOTAMIENTO	Soft Shoulders
ALTO	Stop
AREA DE DESCANSO	Rest Area
ASCENSO Y DESCENSO DE PEAJE A 250 m	Toll Booth Barrier Ahead in 250 m
CALLE SIN SALIDA	Dead End
CAMELLON CENTRAL	Center Divider
CAMINO CERRADO	Road Closed
CAMINO SINUOSO	Winding Road
CARRIL IZQUIERDO SOLO PARA REBASAR	Left lane Only for Passing
CARRIL LATERAL SOLO POR   VEHICULOS LIGEROS	Laterals Only for Light Vehicles
CASETA DE COBRO	Toll Booth
CEDA EL PASO AL PEATON	Give Way to Pedestrians
CICLOPISTA	Bicycle Path
CON LLUVIA DISMINUYA SU VELOCIDAD	In Rain Reduce Your Speed
CON NEBLINA ENCIENDA SUS LUCES	In Fog Turn on Lights
CONCEDA CAMBIO DE CIERRE SU ESCAPE	Close Muffler By-Pass
CONCEDA CAMBIO DE LUCES	Dim Your Lights Approaching Traffic
CONSERVE LIMPIO QUINTANA ROO	Keep Quintana-Roo Clean
CONSERVE SU DISTANCIA	Keep Your Distance
CONSERVE SU DERECHA	Keep to Your Right
CRUCE DE ESCOLARES	School Crossing
CRUCE DE PEATONES	Pedestrian Crossing
CUANDO TOME NO MANEJE	When You Drink Don’t Drive
CUIDADO CON EL TREN	Careful Rail Road Crossing
CURVA PELIGROSO	Dangerous Curve
DESPACIO	Slow
DEPOSITOS DE BASURA EN   CASETAS TELEFONICAS	Deposit Trash at the Telephone Booth
DESVIACION A 500 MTS	Detour in 500 Meters
DISMINUYA SU VELOCIDAD	Slow Down
DISMINUYA SU VELOCIDAD	Reduce Your Speed
CASETA DE COBRO A 1Km	Toll Booth in 1Km
ELIJA SU CARRIL OPORTUNAMENTE	Select Your Lane At Earliest Opportunity
ENTRADA	Entrance
ENTRADA Y SALIDA DE CAMIONES	Trucks Entering and Exiting
ENTRONQUE PROXIMO	Intersection Near
ENTRONQUE PELIGROSO	Dangerous Intersection
ESTA CARRETERA NO ES DE ALTA VELOCIDAD	This is Not a High Speed Road
ESTACIONAMIENTO SOLO PARA EMERGENCIAS	Emergency Parking Only
ESTE CAMINO NO ES DE ALTA VELOCIDAD	Not a High-Speed Road
EVITE ACCIDENTES	Avoid Accidents
EVITE LA INSTALLACION DE TOPES	Avoid the Installation of Speed Bumps
FELIZ VIAJE REBASE CON PRECAUCION	Have a Good Trip Pass with Caution
GRACIAS POR USAR EL  CINTURON DE SUGURIDAD	Thanks For Using Your Seatbelt
GRAVA SUELTA	Loose Gravel
GUARDE SU DISTANCIA	Keep Your Distance
HOMBRES TRABAJANDO	Men at Work
LO MEJOR TUS VACACIONES   UN BUEN REGRESO A CASA	The Best of Your Vacation is a Good Return Home
MANEJE CON PRECAUCION	Drive with Caution
MANEJE CON PRECAUCION   SU FAMILIA LE ESPERA	Drive with Caution Your Family Waits For You
MAQUINA TRABAJANDO	Heavy Machines at Work
MIRADOR	View Point
NO CIRCULAR POR EL ACOTAMIENTO	No Driving On the Shoulders
NO DE FRENTE	No Entry
NO DEJE PIEDRAS EL ACOTAMIENTO	Do not leave rocks on the highway
NO DOBLE RODADO	No Trucks with Duals
NO ESTACIONARSE EN ACOTAMIENTO	No Parking On Shoulders
NO FRENE CON MOTOR	No Engine Brakes
NO MALTRATE LAS SENALES	Don’t Disregard the Signs
NO MANEJE CANSADO	Don’t Drive Tired
NO REBASE CON RAYA CONTINUA	No Passing on a Continuous Line
NO REBASE POR EL ACONTAMIENTO	No Passing on Shoulders
NO REBASE	No Passing
NO TIRE BASURA	Don’t Throw Trash
NO TRANSITE POR FRANJAS LATERALES	Do Not Drive on Shoulders
NO UTILIZAR FRENO CON MOTOR	No Engine Breaking
OBEDEZCA LAS SENALES	Obey the Signs
OBLIGATORIO EL CINTURON DE SEGURIDAD	Seatbelts mandatory
PARA VUELTA IZQUIERDA ESPERE SU LUZ	Turning Left on Light
PARADERO	Bus Stop
PAVEMENTO DERRAPANTE AL ESTAR HUMEDO	Pavement Slick When Wet
PERMITA REBASAR UNTILICE SU  EXTREMA DERECHA	Allow Passing Use Extreme Right
PLAZA DE COBRO	Toll Both
POBLADO PROXIMO	Town Near
POR TU SEGURIDAD RESPETE LAS SEÑALES	For your Safety Respect The Signs
PELIGROSO	Dangerous
PRECUACION CRUCE DE PEATONES	Caution Pedestrian Crossing
PRECAUCION ZONA ESCOLAR	Caution School Zone
PRECAUCION ZONA DE GUANDO	Caution Livestock Zone
PRECAUCION ZONA DE TOLVANERAS	Precaution Wind Zone
PRINCIPIA TRAMO EN REPARACION	Main Highway Under Repair
PRINCIPIA ZONA DE DERRUMBES	Begin Rockslide Area
PRINCIPIA ZONA DE VADOS	Begin Area of Dips
PROHIBIDO ESTACIONARSE	No Parking
PROHIBIDO TIRAR BASURA	Throwing Thrash Prohibited
PROHIBIDO TIRAR BASURA MULTA O CARCEL	Throwing Trash Prohibited by Fine or Jail
PUENTE ANGOSTO	Narrow Bridge
RADAR EN OPERACION	Radar in Operation
REDUCCION DE ACOTAMIENTO	Reduction of Shoulders
REDUCCION A DOS CARRILES	Reduction to Two Lanes
REDUCTOR DE VELOCIDAD	Speed Bumps
RESPETE LIMITE DE VELOCIDAD	Obey the Speed Limit
RETURNO A 2KM CARRIL IZQUIERDO	U-Turn In 2km Left Lane
RUTA DE CAMIONES	Truck Route
SALIDA	Exit
SALIDA A 150 MTS RAMPA DE SEGURIDAD VEHULOS SIN FRENOS	Exit in 150 MTS for Vehicles without Brakes
SEMAFORO EN OPERACION	Stop Light In Operation
SE USARA GRUA	Tow-Away Zone
SI TOMA NO MANEJE	Don’t Drink and Drive
TERMINA AMPLIACION	End of Shoulders
TERMINA ZONA DE DERRUMBES	End Rockslide Area
TOPES	Speed Bumps
TRAFICO PESADO	Heavy Traffic Go Right
TRAMO EN REPARACION	Road Repairs
TRANSITO LENTO CARRIL DERECHO	low Traffic Keep Right
TRANSITO PESADO POR LIBRAMIENTO	Heavy Traffic by Libramiento or Circle Route
TROPICO DE CANCER	Tropic of Cancer
UN SOLO CARRIL	Single Lane
VADO PELIGROSO	Dangerous Dip
VEHICULOS LIGEROS	Light Vehicles
VEHICULOS PESADOS	Heavy Vehicles
ZONA DE FALLAS	Landslide Area
ZONA DE GANADO	Cattle Area
ZONA URBANA	Urban Zone Slow Down