RV Journey in Baja California – All the pieces We Discovered

In 2021, we went on our first RV journey to Baja California and on this put up we’ll share all the pieces we realized and suggestions on your Baja tenting journey. This information will cowl getting a Mexican Vacationer Card, Baja auto insurance coverage, Mexican customs restrictions, border crossing into Baja, driving in Baja, getting gas in Baja, security, seashore tenting, and different assets for RV journey in Baja.

After you’re completed with this information, take a look at our podcast with Paul Pritts, a very good buddy of ours who has been touring to Baja since he was an adolescent and now leads teams for meet-ups on the seashores there.

RV Journey in Baja

Going to Baja in an RV has been on our journey bucket listing since we began full-time RVing in 2015. When Bob Wohler’s of Off-Street Security Academy introduced he was providing a guided tour via Baja California, we each jumped on the alternative. To discover a tour like Bob’s, take a look at our Overland Excursions and Occasions Roundup.

The Baja peninsula is a well-liked Mexico journey locations for RVers and our week lengthy journey didn’t disappoint. Watch our Baja journey video under or preserve studying.

We every utilized for a Mexican Vacationer Card or FFM for our Baja California journey. The method to acquire the FFM was very simple via the Instituto Nacional de Migración web site. After paying $575 Pesos per utility we every obtained an electronic mail to obtain and print our Mexican vacationer card.

You can even get hold of a FFM on the INM workplace while you cross the border into Mexico. Since we had been on a bunch tour, everybody utilized for his or her FFM on-line and introduced a printed copy. Be sure to print a duplicate of your FFM receipt to indicate the INM workplace on the border crossing. In any other case, you will have to pay the price once more earlier than you will get the official stamp, which somebody on our tour skilled.

There are a number of insurance coverage carriers based mostly in the USA focusing on Baja auto insurance coverage insurance policies. As a result of we had been on a guided Baja caravan journey, we had been required to buy our auto coverage via Baja Sure. One of many causes everybody on the group tour was required to make use of the identical Baja insurance coverage provider was in order that if any of the RVs had a problem, there was just one quantity to name moderately than attempting to determine who has which insurance coverage.

If you happen to’re not required to buy via a particular insurance coverage provider on your Baja RV journey, make sure to store round and verify together with your U.S. auto and RV insurance coverage supplier to see if they provide protection in Mexico. We’ve used Progressive and Geico for our auto and RV insurance coverage in the USA and each firms supply auto insurance coverage protection in Mexico.

Be sure to do your analysis and perceive the coverage you might be getting. In my article on RV Security and Preparedness, one of many suggestions is to know your insurance policies earlier than you want them. Discuss to the insurance coverage agent and skim via the coverage so you realize what is roofed and what’s not lined.

Baja Sure Insurance coverage Expertise

Baja Sure is an insurance coverage dealer. They work with a number of firms so you might have choices when deciding which coverage is best for you. The expertise of buying our auto insurance coverage via Baja Sure was superb. Shauna was our contact and he or she promptly responded to all our questions through e-mail and on the cellphone.

Since we personal a closely modified 2000 F350 truck and pop-up camper we needed to ensure the aftermarket upgrades had been lined by the coverage. We had been in a position to set a money worth for the truck and a separate money worth for the camper. For 9 days and the utmost legal responsibility restrict, our coverage ended up costing simply over $300.

Whenever you get a quote via Baja Sure, you will get the each day charge, 6 month charge, or an annual charge. Since we had been on a seven evening, eight day Baja tour, we opted for the each day charge. We additionally had the choice of extending our protection whereas we had been there however we’re instructed it needed to be completed in the course of the week whereas the workplace was open. If you happen to plan to spend an prolonged period of time in Baja, it could be extra economical to buy a six month and even an annual auto coverage.

The excellent news is we didn’t want to make use of our Baja Sure insurance coverage whereas touring in Baja so I can’t present any suggestions on claims expertise with Baja Sure.

Driving a Financed Car in Baja

Are you driving a financed car to the Baja peninsula? Be sure you contact your lien holder about their necessities for taking the car throughout the border into Mexico. Under are some articles we discovered on driving a financed car to Baja together with info on whether or not or not you want an official letter of permission.

Crossing Into Mexico with a Financed Car

Methods to Drive Financed Autos into Mexico

Car Permits and Financed Autos

Mexican Customs Restrictions

At any time when we journey to a different nation, we all the time lookup the customs laws for that nation. That is particularly necessary when touring in an RV as a result of we’re bringing our house on wheels and what’s allowed in a single nation will not be allowed in one other or the quantity could also be restricted. Going to Mexico just isn’t our first worldwide border crossing, we have now visited a number of Canadian Provinces in an RV.

So what must you carry to Baja? Or extra importantly, what are you able to carry to Baja Mexico? Go to the Mexican Customs web site for the freshest info on methods to clear customs on the Baja Mexico border. There’s a part on objects/items you can’t carry into Mexico in addition to solutions to different questions.

To make it simple on ourselves, we arrived with a number of beers chilling within the fridge and opted to buy recent produce and different meals objects as we traveled round Baja.

Since we bought our insurance coverage via Baja Sure, we learn most of the useful resource articles on their web site about touring to Baja in a car. This put up particulars what objects you may carry driving into Baja.

There are a number of border crossing choices when driving from the USA to Baja Mexico. Our caravan of 9 campers crossed at Puerto Mexicali II on a Sunday morning and had a really easy border crossing.

Previous to crossing, our information held a bunch assembly and checked everybody’s paperwork to ensure we had all the pieces so as. He had despatched a really detailed electronic mail to every of us so we knew what we needed to carry. After we arrived on the border, our tour information introduced an official invitation letter from the Baja Tourism Board to the immigration workplace.

All 9 autos pulled into the inspection space the place the brokers requested us questions and inspected our campers. There was additionally a canine working the world and sniffing the autos. We weren’t requested to open our fridge or any of the storage bays and cupboards in our camper. The border agent was very pleasant and had restricted English. After the inspection we walked over to the immigration workplace to indicate our passports and the “Entrada” portion of our FFM and get the “Salida” portion stamped.

Earlier than You Go Guidelines

Whether or not you’re happening a guided tour of Baja or exploring by yourself, put collectively your personal Earlier than You Go Guidelines. This listing might embrace your RVing software equipment, important RV gear, your journey water filter and objects particular for worldwide journey.

This Earlier than You Go Guidelines accommodates objects that you could be not have thought-about, however are good to have in your listing. It’s additionally good observe to verify the U.S. Division of State’s web page on touring to Mexico for the newest info and journey advisories.

One necessary tip I need to share with you is to carry copy of your FMM receipt. After we crossed the border into Baja, a pair individuals in our group didn’t have a printed copy of their receipt and needed to pay the price once more on the immigration workplace.

Driving in Baja California

We drove a very good portion of Baja California, however we didn’t make it right down to Baja California Sur. Our expertise of driving in Baja was superb. The roads had been properly paved, the street indicators had been simple to learn and comply with, and once we did get off the pavement, the sand was onerous filled with some ruts and washboard sections.

Regardless of being properly paved, many sections of the street had been very slender with no shoulder and drop offs on both aspect. We encountered many massive semi-trucks which had us slowing down and hugging the sting of the pavement. The native drivers tended to hurry and would go at any alternative, even in blind curves – so be careful! We received in a single state of affairs on a two lane street the place we had vehicles 3-4 huge all passing on the identical time! A lot of our street guidelines don’t apply in Mexico so be very conscious.

To offer you an thought, we drove Mexico 5 south via San Felipe to an off-road detour to Coco’s Nook earlier than getting again on Mexico 5 in direction of Mexico 1 to Bahia de los Angeles. From there we made our manner north on Mexico 1 to Ensenada then drove Mexico 3 to Tecate then ended up on Mexico 2D, which is a toll street that received us to the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry. In whole, we drove over 800 miles in Baja California.

Baja California Maps

We downloaded the NatGeo Baja California map on our Gaia GPS cellular app, which got here in very helpful. The app additionally tracked our whole journey which we will export or share with buddies. See our put up on Important Apps for RVing for different apps we use whereas touring.

If you happen to desire to have paper maps, each of NatGeo Baja maps can be found for buy on Amazon.

Ideas for Driving in Baja

Do a fast seek for Baja driving suggestions and also you’ll discover some frequent suggestions which are talked about over and over. The preferred one we got here throughout was don’t drive at evening, which we by no means did.

As soon as we received on the street in Baja we understood why it’s not advisable to drive at evening. The roads can get very slender and sharing the street with massive vans when it’s darkish simply didn’t seem to be a good suggestion. Plus, shoulders typically had a steep drop off, if there was a shoulder for that part of the freeway.

Baja Sure has an intensive article on Baja driving suggestions that features paperwork to have with you and coping with the police throughout visitors violations.

Fuel and ULSD Diesel in Baja

Pemex (Petróleos Mexicanos) is the state owned chain of fuel stations in Baja. We did see Arco, BP and Chevron stations all through our journey, however we solely added gas at Pemex. Out of the 9 campers on our Baja journey, 5 ran on fuel and 4 ran on diesel, together with our truck. One of many diesel vans required Extremely Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) which was out there at each station we stopped for gas.

The NatGeo Baja map had fuel and diesel stations clearly marked, which made it simpler to plan our subsequent gas cease. Our information advisable submitting up as typically as we stopped as a result of the subsequent station may very well be out of gas.

Since we have now a 51 gallon after market gas tank, we didn’t need to refill as typically as different individuals on the tour. On the Pemex station, there was all the time a separate space for the diesel pumps and these have a black deal with, not the inexperienced that we’re used to in the USA.

At every fuel station, we needed to watch for an attendant to come back by and pump the gas for us and we all the time paid in money. The gas costs didn’t differ an excessive amount of in Baja California, however we seen it was cheaper on the Pacific aspect in comparison with the Sea of Cortez aspect.

Many of the fuel stations had very clear bogs with rest room paper, trash cans and a market to purchase snacks and provides. At one Pemex station we even purchased a scrumptious seeded watermelon out of the mattress of a truck within the car parking zone.

We additionally noticed guys on the aspect of the street promoting gas out of the again of their vans from bottles. I don’t know if this was simply gasoline or if that they had diesel however except you had been operating on fumes, I might wait till you might be at a fuel station as you don’t need to run the chance of getting contaminated gas.

Navy Checkpoints

Relying on the place you go in Baja, you’ll possible come throughout a number of army checkpoints. The primary army checkpoint we encountered was proper earlier than San Felipe heading south on Mexico 5. That one felt barely intimidating as a result of it was our first one and we didn’t know what to anticipate. They requested us the place we had been going and requested us to open the camper so they may have a look inside. Then we had been waved via the verify level and pulled over to attend for the remainder of the group.

These army verify factors are a part of touring in Baja and differ when it comes to how in depth they look at the camper and what questions they ask. At one army verify level, they opened each of our backpacks and seemed via the contents.

Everybody we encountered was pleasant and a few spoke a really restricted quantity of English. Kait and I each used the tiny little bit of Spanish we knew to have interaction in informal conversations.

A word relating to drugs – when our backpacks had been checked, the officer went via every pocket, trying over the objects. Of word, he pulled out the bottle of generic Excedrin I carry and requested about it. When he realized it was “like Aspirin,” he appeared content material and put it again. If you happen to do carry prescriptions, be certain that to lookup what documentation you must present it’s a prescription. We’d advise in opposition to placing any capsules, and many others in unmarked containers they usually might increase considerations in the event you’re searched.

Seashore Tenting in Baja

There may be loads of seashore tenting in Baja California on the Sea of Cortez aspect in addition to the Pacific Ocean aspect. Earlier than we began our Baja journey, our information advisable the guide Traveler’s Information to Tenting Mexico’s Baja: Discover Baja and Puerto Peñasco with Your RV or Tent. It’s a very good useful resource to have earlier than and through your Baja journey.

Seashore tenting on the Sea of Cortez aspect was one of many highlights of our journey via Baja. Our favourite spot was Playa La Gringa in Bahía de los Ángeles. Count on to be boondocking because it’s a primitive tenting space with no hookups or facilities. There have been a number of trashcans scattered alongside the seashore. It was very peaceable and quiet throughout our keep and the water was good and calm for kayaking.

Since we had been on a guided tour, we didn’t have to fret about discovering campgrounds every evening, but when we had been to return on our personal, we might additionally reference iOverlander to discovering tenting in Baja.

The campground facilities in Baja different as did the value. We stayed at fundamental campgrounds with none hookups and really fundamental facilities. These campground price between $10 and $40 per evening and one of the vital fundamental campground was additionally the costliest.

Some campgrounds in Baja had flushing bathrooms and chilly water showers, others had sizzling showers, flushing bathrooms and even recent water to fill your tanks. Learn our put up on water filtration methods for RVs.

Relying on the campground, there might or will not be somebody there to greet you and take your cash. On the first campground we stopped at, it seemed abandoned. All of us parked, arrange camp and loved the remainder of the day. That evening whereas we sat on the campfire, a automotive drove up and a man got here out to gather the tenting price. It was $40 US and the costliest of the journey. Because it was already darkish and we had been all arrange, we paid the charges however had we identified previous to arriving, we might have seemed for a cheaper choice.

Not one of the campgrounds we stayed at had rest room paper within the bogs so we all the time made certain to carry our personal.

Meals and Drink in Baja California

Whereas one of many perks of RV journey in Baja is having your private home with you, we nonetheless loved sampling the native fare.

After all the primary merchandise on our listing of issues to eat in Baja had been fish tacos. China’s Place stroll up taco stand in Bahía de los Ángeles had nice made to order tacos. We loved the fish and shrimp tacos a lot we ended up going again for spherical two. There’s a comfort retailer subsequent door the place you may seize an ice chilly beer to take pleasure in with the tacos.

The perfect meals we had in Baja had been tostadas at La Guerrerense in Ensenada. We determined to interrupt away from our tour on the final day with a view to strive these wonderful tostadas. All the pieces we ordered was wonderful together with the shrimp ceviche and the tostada especial with cod and octopus topped with sliced avocados.

There was no scarcity of nice meals in Baja California. Except for the tostada spot, all of the eating places we discovered had been by strolling round. Considered one of Joe’s favourite eating places served Sinaloa model grilled hen with freshly made tortillas.

Security and RV Journey in Baja

After we instructed family and friends we had been going to Baja, one questions we stored getting was “Is it protected to journey via Baja California?” We didn’t have any security considerations touring in Baja Mexico. One cause was as a result of we had been in a bunch and there’s security in numbers. One other was as a result of Bob, our information, was properly versed within the space and we knew we had been in good fingers. As a buddy Paul put it in our podcast with him on Baja, “Simply don’t do something silly. Use frequent sense, and also you’ll be advantageous in Baja.”

That mentioned, you will need to be ready and have security plans in place while you’re out on the street. The present instances have taught us how essential it’s to not get caught off guard and need to scramble when emergencies come up. It’s additionally necessary to not let concern cease you from residing the life you need, however getting ready for all eventualities will serve you properly if issues go incorrect.

We suggest taking steps to make sure you’re ready for no matter comes your manner whereas touring. Learn our put up on RV security.

Border Crossing by Land Again to United States

Crossing the border again into the USA from Baja California was fairly the memorable expertise for us.

We received in line on the Tecate Port of Entry round 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and we may see the truck campers from the tour had been about 20-30 vehicles in entrance of us. The road was inching alongside once we obtained a name from our information telling us that the border hours of operation had modified as a result of pandemic. Any autos that didn’t make it handed the gate by 2 p.m. must go to a different border crossing.

Sadly we missed the reduce off by a number of autos and drove to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. We ended up in line for 5 hours earlier than lastly getting again to the U.S. The large lesson right here is to double verify the hours for the port of entry and don’t assume it will likely be open in the course of the hours posted (Tecate’s border crossing was nonetheless listed as being open till 10pm). Additionally, have a minimum of one backup border crossing with driving instructions.

Whereas ready in line in Otay Mesa to get again to the U.S., we noticed all kinds of meals distributors, trash collectors, and even leisure alongside the route. There have been additionally indicators for public restrooms, which we didn’t use since we had our transportable tenting rest room within the camper.

Be ready for an extended wait (we had been in line at Otay Mesa for over 5 hours) and don’t overlook to verify the U.S. customs laws on issues equivalent to objects to declare, duty-free limits, and prohibited objects. Try Baja Sure’s put up on re-entering the U.S. from Mexico.

Sources for RV Journey in Baja

There are a number of assets on RV journey in Baja. Here’s a listing of those that we used (some have been talked about above):

That’s it! I hope you discovered this put up useful in planning your personal RV journey to Baja California.