Mexico: General Discussion
- Thread starter Dave
- Start date
Rule #1, don't believe the hype surrounding travel in Mexico.
My personal experiences traveling in Mexico have been amazing, and I've been going to Mexico once or twice a year for over decade. Travel in Mexico can be dangerous if you're looking for illicit activities, but if you're headed south in search of street tacos, cervezas and sunshine (and you're not an asshole) the odds are in your favor that you'll find that and more. Knowing some Spanish helps, and always trade in local currency (Pesos) if you can.
As always, whether you're traveling through Chicago, Cabo, Toronto, Tijuana, Miami or Monterrey, the basic rules of travel in an unfamiliar area apply. Do your research ahead of time. Know the laws and which areas to avoid. Use common sense and maintain your wits (and situational awareness) and all will be well. Travel with a group for maximum safety and fun, and check current conditions before you go.
Baja gets in your blood, and I've had similar experiences on the mainland from Quintana Roo to Jalisco. Get past the border towns and head south and time slows down. People are friendly and things move slower, and Mexican culture and cuisine is worth the trip every time. If you haven't been, you should give it a try.
Visitors to Mexico are encouraged to register in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and review all present travel warnings and advice on the Department’s Mexico travel information page.
My personal experiences traveling in Mexico have been amazing, and I've been going to Mexico once or twice a year for over decade. Travel in Mexico can be dangerous if you're looking for illicit activities, but if you're headed south in search of street tacos, cervezas and sunshine (and you're not an asshole) the odds are in your favor that you'll find that and more. Knowing some Spanish helps, and always trade in local currency (Pesos) if you can.
As always, whether you're traveling through Chicago, Cabo, Toronto, Tijuana, Miami or Monterrey, the basic rules of travel in an unfamiliar area apply. Do your research ahead of time. Know the laws and which areas to avoid. Use common sense and maintain your wits (and situational awareness) and all will be well. Travel with a group for maximum safety and fun, and check current conditions before you go.
Baja gets in your blood, and I've had similar experiences on the mainland from Quintana Roo to Jalisco. Get past the border towns and head south and time slows down. People are friendly and things move slower, and Mexican culture and cuisine is worth the trip every time. If you haven't been, you should give it a try.
Visitors to Mexico are encouraged to register in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and review all present travel warnings and advice on the Department’s Mexico travel information page.
Before you hit the road part of the planning you should perform can be found here:
US Embassies and Consulates in Mexico - https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/
US Embassies and Consulates in Mexico - https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/
MEXICAN TRAVEL TIPS:
Most people who travel to Mexico have zero issues. But, just like any other country in the world, crime is a fact of life, and as a traveler you may be targeted for theft especially if you look like an easy target.
While you're in Mexico:
•Blend in as much as possible. Walking around with a camera around your neck may make you a mark for thieves. Smile, be polite, and above all, DO NOT act like the Ugly American.
•Choose ATMs in malls or stores if possible. Avoid using ATMs at night or in deserted places. When you withdraw money from an ATM, put it away immediately. Carry only the cash you need for the moment in your pocket. Carry your passport, credit card and extra money inside your clothes in a money-belt. When you need to get something out of your money belt, do it in a private place.
•Exercise particular caution when in crowds or markets. Pickpockets can be very crafty and sometimes work in pairs - one person will distract you while another takes your wallet.
•A vital part of staying safe is keeping your wits about you, so be cautious about drinking too much alcohol, and avoid recreational drugs, which, despite what you may have heard, are actually illegal in Mexico.
• Fuel. Gasolina at PEMEX (like a Mexican 7/11) is good to go however Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel may or may not be available. Use Pesos if you can for accurate pricing, unless you like the Gringo exchange rate for USD which always favors the cashier
Here are a few more things to consider:
1. You must have Mexican Vehicle insurance. You can be jailed if you do not have proof of liability coverage. Get your Mexican auto insurance before you go. I have used Baja Bound in the past: https://www.bajabound.com/ ; Sanborn's is also good: https://www.sanborns.com/
2. DO NOT bring anything firearms related into Mexico. Even a spent shell casing lost under the drivers seat could cause drama and provide probable cause to impound your vehicle and put you in jail. Do not bring large knives into Mexico.
3. NEVER bring illegal drugs into Mexico. Checkpoints manned by the Mexican Army and/or Federales are there to check for these types of things. Marijuana is illegal.
4. Keep prescription medications in the original, labeled container. Bring only what you need.
5. Identification: Bring your passport, a drivers license and a copy of your birth certificate. A drivers license alone is not sufficient for reentry into the US.
6. Photocopy ALL important documents and keep them in a separate area of the vehicle.
7. Use a money belt to hold large sums of cash and your passport.
8. Provide a detailed itinerary with family in the US and keep them posted with any changes.
9. Learn some Spanish before you go.
Most people who travel to Mexico have zero issues. But, just like any other country in the world, crime is a fact of life, and as a traveler you may be targeted for theft especially if you look like an easy target.
While you're in Mexico:
•Blend in as much as possible. Walking around with a camera around your neck may make you a mark for thieves. Smile, be polite, and above all, DO NOT act like the Ugly American.
•Choose ATMs in malls or stores if possible. Avoid using ATMs at night or in deserted places. When you withdraw money from an ATM, put it away immediately. Carry only the cash you need for the moment in your pocket. Carry your passport, credit card and extra money inside your clothes in a money-belt. When you need to get something out of your money belt, do it in a private place.
•Exercise particular caution when in crowds or markets. Pickpockets can be very crafty and sometimes work in pairs - one person will distract you while another takes your wallet.
•A vital part of staying safe is keeping your wits about you, so be cautious about drinking too much alcohol, and avoid recreational drugs, which, despite what you may have heard, are actually illegal in Mexico.
• Fuel. Gasolina at PEMEX (like a Mexican 7/11) is good to go however Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel may or may not be available. Use Pesos if you can for accurate pricing, unless you like the Gringo exchange rate for USD which always favors the cashier
Here are a few more things to consider:
1. You must have Mexican Vehicle insurance. You can be jailed if you do not have proof of liability coverage. Get your Mexican auto insurance before you go. I have used Baja Bound in the past: https://www.bajabound.com/ ; Sanborn's is also good: https://www.sanborns.com/
2. DO NOT bring anything firearms related into Mexico. Even a spent shell casing lost under the drivers seat could cause drama and provide probable cause to impound your vehicle and put you in jail. Do not bring large knives into Mexico.
3. NEVER bring illegal drugs into Mexico. Checkpoints manned by the Mexican Army and/or Federales are there to check for these types of things. Marijuana is illegal.
4. Keep prescription medications in the original, labeled container. Bring only what you need.
5. Identification: Bring your passport, a drivers license and a copy of your birth certificate. A drivers license alone is not sufficient for reentry into the US.
6. Photocopy ALL important documents and keep them in a separate area of the vehicle.
7. Use a money belt to hold large sums of cash and your passport.
8. Provide a detailed itinerary with family in the US and keep them posted with any changes.
9. Learn some Spanish before you go.
*Disclamer: This is for informational purposes only. International travel information and requirements can change rapidly. YOU must verify everything yourself before you travel!
Visitors to Mexico are encouraged to register in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and review all present travel warnings and advice on the Department’s Mexico travel information page.
Several years ago, citizens of the United States and Canada could travel to Mexico without a passport, but with the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that the United States government began implementing in 2004 with the goal of strengthening border security, the passport requirement came into effect for travelers within the different countries that make up North America.
Citizens of the United States or Canada who are planning a trip to Mexico will need to carry either a passport or other WHTI-compliant travel document. Travelers entering Mexico by land may not be asked to present a passport, but will certainly need to present one upon return to the United States, so be sure you have it with you before crossing the border, or you could face some hassles when it's time to return home.
Tourist Card Info:
A tourist card, also called an FMM ("Forma Migratoria Múltiple," previously referred to as an FM-T), is a tourist permit that is required for all foreign citizen travelers to Mexico who will not be engaged in any type of remunerated work.
FMM Tourist cards may be valid for up to 180 days and allow the holder to remain in Mexico as a tourist for the allotted time. Be sure to hold on to your tourist card and keep it in a safe place, as you will need to hand it in when you are departing the country.
There is a fee of about $23 USD for the FMM tourist card. You can pick up a tourist card at your point of entry or from a Mexican consulate before your departure.
Remember that the tourist card must be stamped by an immigration official when you enter Mexico, otherwise, it is not valid. Apply for the FMM tourist card online on the website of Mexico's National Immigration Institute: online FMM application. Mexico's National Immigration Institute (INM) now allows travelers to apply for a tourist card online up to 7 days before entering Mexico.
Upon arrival in Mexico, you will present the filled-in FMM tourist card to the immigration official who will stamp it and write in the number of days that you are allowed to stay in the country. The maximum is 180 days or 6 months, but the time actually given is at the discretion of the immigration official (often only 30 to 60 days are granted initially), for longer stays, the tourist card would need to be extended.
You should keep your FMM in a safe place, for example, tucked into the pages of your passport. Upon leaving the country you must surrender your tourist card to immigration officials. If you do not have your tourist card, or if your tourist card is expired, you may be fined.
If your FMM tourist card is lost or stolen, you will need to pay a fee to get a replacement tourist card at an immigration office, or you may be fined when you're leaving the country.
Border Zone
The border zone is comprised of an area roughly 20 km into Mexico from the U.S. border and also includes most of Baja California and the Sonora "free zone". In the past, travelers who were remaining within the United States border zone for up to 72 hours did not need the FMM tourist card.
However, now the tourist card (FMM) is required for all non-Mexican visitors to the country who will remain for fewer than six months. Even in the border zone.
Documents Required in Mexico: ALWAYS carry passport, FMM, drivers license and copy of birth certificate. And don't forget proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
Contact Information:
Mexican Ministry of Tourism:
https://www.gob.mx/sectur/
http://www.cptm.com.mx/
Call (55) 5250-0123 24-hour hotline
Toll Free: (01) 800-903-9200
from the U.S. 1-800-482-9832.
Teléfono: 30026300
contacto@sectur.gob.mx
The US Embassy in Mexico:
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/embassy/
Embassy of the United States in Mexico City
Paseo de la Reforma 305
Colonia Cuauhtemoc
06500 Mexico, D.F.
Embassy Telephones:
From Mexico:
Tel : ( 01-55 ) 5080-2000
Fax: ( 01-55 ) 5080-2005
From the U.S.:
Tel: 011-52-55-5080-2000
Fax: 011-52-55-5080-2005
For after-hour emergencies, please call the Embassy at 01-52-55-5080-2000, press “0”, and ask the switchboard operator to connect you to the duty officer.
Consulates:
Monterrey Consulate:
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/monterrey/
The Consulate General in Monterrey is one of the largest and busiest consulates in the world. The Monterrey consular district, includes Nuevo Leon, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí and most of Coahuila. This district has nearly 13 million inhabitants and is nearly the size of Texas.
The Consulate General staff includes 82 U.S. Officers representing eleven U.S. government agencies plus their 145 Mexican employees.
The Monterrey U.S. Consulate General is located at:
150 Avenida Alfonso Reyes
66196 Santa Catarina, N.L. Mexico
Telephone and Fax Numbers:
From Mexico
Telephone: (01-81) 8047-3100
From the U.S.
Telephone: 011-52-81-8047-3100
Business Hours:
The U.S. Citizen Services Unit is available to the public 8:00 am through 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding U.S. and Mexican holidays.
The Consulate General’s ACS Unit can also be reached by e-mail at MonterreyACS@state.gov. A text/WhatsApp messaging service is available for the hard of hearing: (81) 8270 8996.
After Hours Emergencies:
01-55-5080-2000 (from Mexico)
011-52-55-5080-2000 (from the U.S.)
Email: MTRDutyOfficer@state.gov
Tijuana Consulate:
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/tijuana/
The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit of U.S. Consulate General Tijuana provides a wide range of services to U.S. citizens visiting or residing in the Baja California region of Mexico. The ACS Unit issues passports, registers U.S. citizens born in Mexico, performs notarials, and provides assistance to U.S. citizens arrested in Mexico and to the families of Americans who pass away in our consular district, which includes the Mexican States of Baja California and Baja California Sur. Our Consular Agency in Cabo San Lucas handles services for U.S. citizens in the Cabo San Lucas/ La Paz region.
The Tijuana U.S. Consulate General is located at:
Paseo de las Culturas s/n
Mesa de Otay
Delegación Centenario C.P. 22425
Tijuana, Baja California
Telephone:
(664) 977-2000 from 7:30 am to 4:15 pm Monday through Friday (Dialing from the U.S. 011-52 + phone number)
Emergencies only: nights, weekends, and holidays, from the U.S. dial: (619) 692-2154 (From Mexico dial 001-619-692-2154)
Consular Agencies:
Cabo San Lucas:
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/tijuana/consular-agency-los-cabos/
The Consular Agency in San Jose del Cabo offers routine and emergency services for American Citizens visiting or residing in Baja California Sur. The Consular Agency performs notarial services and receives applications for U.S. passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Please note that the Consular Agency is unable to provide any visa-related information or services.
Available services include passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and notaries by appointment only.
Visitors to Baja California Sur are encouraged to register in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and review all present travel warnings and advice on the Department’s Mexico travel information page.
For after-hours emergencies, please call the Duty Officer at the U.S. Consulate General Tijuana. From Mexico, please dial 001 (619) 692-2154, from the U.S., please call (619) 692-2154.
Visitors to Mexico are encouraged to register in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and review all present travel warnings and advice on the Department’s Mexico travel information page.
Several years ago, citizens of the United States and Canada could travel to Mexico without a passport, but with the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that the United States government began implementing in 2004 with the goal of strengthening border security, the passport requirement came into effect for travelers within the different countries that make up North America.
Citizens of the United States or Canada who are planning a trip to Mexico will need to carry either a passport or other WHTI-compliant travel document. Travelers entering Mexico by land may not be asked to present a passport, but will certainly need to present one upon return to the United States, so be sure you have it with you before crossing the border, or you could face some hassles when it's time to return home.
Tourist Card Info:
A tourist card, also called an FMM ("Forma Migratoria Múltiple," previously referred to as an FM-T), is a tourist permit that is required for all foreign citizen travelers to Mexico who will not be engaged in any type of remunerated work.
FMM Tourist cards may be valid for up to 180 days and allow the holder to remain in Mexico as a tourist for the allotted time. Be sure to hold on to your tourist card and keep it in a safe place, as you will need to hand it in when you are departing the country.
There is a fee of about $23 USD for the FMM tourist card. You can pick up a tourist card at your point of entry or from a Mexican consulate before your departure.
Remember that the tourist card must be stamped by an immigration official when you enter Mexico, otherwise, it is not valid. Apply for the FMM tourist card online on the website of Mexico's National Immigration Institute: online FMM application. Mexico's National Immigration Institute (INM) now allows travelers to apply for a tourist card online up to 7 days before entering Mexico.
Upon arrival in Mexico, you will present the filled-in FMM tourist card to the immigration official who will stamp it and write in the number of days that you are allowed to stay in the country. The maximum is 180 days or 6 months, but the time actually given is at the discretion of the immigration official (often only 30 to 60 days are granted initially), for longer stays, the tourist card would need to be extended.
You should keep your FMM in a safe place, for example, tucked into the pages of your passport. Upon leaving the country you must surrender your tourist card to immigration officials. If you do not have your tourist card, or if your tourist card is expired, you may be fined.
If your FMM tourist card is lost or stolen, you will need to pay a fee to get a replacement tourist card at an immigration office, or you may be fined when you're leaving the country.
Border Zone
The border zone is comprised of an area roughly 20 km into Mexico from the U.S. border and also includes most of Baja California and the Sonora "free zone". In the past, travelers who were remaining within the United States border zone for up to 72 hours did not need the FMM tourist card.
However, now the tourist card (FMM) is required for all non-Mexican visitors to the country who will remain for fewer than six months. Even in the border zone.
Documents Required in Mexico: ALWAYS carry passport, FMM, drivers license and copy of birth certificate. And don't forget proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
Contact Information:
Mexican Ministry of Tourism:
https://www.gob.mx/sectur/
http://www.cptm.com.mx/
Call (55) 5250-0123 24-hour hotline
Toll Free: (01) 800-903-9200
from the U.S. 1-800-482-9832.
Teléfono: 30026300
contacto@sectur.gob.mx
The US Embassy in Mexico:
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/embassy/
Embassy of the United States in Mexico City
Paseo de la Reforma 305
Colonia Cuauhtemoc
06500 Mexico, D.F.
Embassy Telephones:
From Mexico:
Tel : ( 01-55 ) 5080-2000
Fax: ( 01-55 ) 5080-2005
From the U.S.:
Tel: 011-52-55-5080-2000
Fax: 011-52-55-5080-2005
For after-hour emergencies, please call the Embassy at 01-52-55-5080-2000, press “0”, and ask the switchboard operator to connect you to the duty officer.
Consulates:
Monterrey Consulate:
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/monterrey/
The Consulate General in Monterrey is one of the largest and busiest consulates in the world. The Monterrey consular district, includes Nuevo Leon, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí and most of Coahuila. This district has nearly 13 million inhabitants and is nearly the size of Texas.
The Consulate General staff includes 82 U.S. Officers representing eleven U.S. government agencies plus their 145 Mexican employees.
The Monterrey U.S. Consulate General is located at:
150 Avenida Alfonso Reyes
66196 Santa Catarina, N.L. Mexico
Telephone and Fax Numbers:
From Mexico
Telephone: (01-81) 8047-3100
From the U.S.
Telephone: 011-52-81-8047-3100
Business Hours:
The U.S. Citizen Services Unit is available to the public 8:00 am through 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding U.S. and Mexican holidays.
The Consulate General’s ACS Unit can also be reached by e-mail at MonterreyACS@state.gov. A text/WhatsApp messaging service is available for the hard of hearing: (81) 8270 8996.
After Hours Emergencies:
01-55-5080-2000 (from Mexico)
011-52-55-5080-2000 (from the U.S.)
Email: MTRDutyOfficer@state.gov
Tijuana Consulate:
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/tijuana/
The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit of U.S. Consulate General Tijuana provides a wide range of services to U.S. citizens visiting or residing in the Baja California region of Mexico. The ACS Unit issues passports, registers U.S. citizens born in Mexico, performs notarials, and provides assistance to U.S. citizens arrested in Mexico and to the families of Americans who pass away in our consular district, which includes the Mexican States of Baja California and Baja California Sur. Our Consular Agency in Cabo San Lucas handles services for U.S. citizens in the Cabo San Lucas/ La Paz region.
The Tijuana U.S. Consulate General is located at:
Paseo de las Culturas s/n
Mesa de Otay
Delegación Centenario C.P. 22425
Tijuana, Baja California
Telephone:
(664) 977-2000 from 7:30 am to 4:15 pm Monday through Friday (Dialing from the U.S. 011-52 + phone number)
Emergencies only: nights, weekends, and holidays, from the U.S. dial: (619) 692-2154 (From Mexico dial 001-619-692-2154)
Consular Agencies:
Cabo San Lucas:
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/tijuana/consular-agency-los-cabos/
The Consular Agency in San Jose del Cabo offers routine and emergency services for American Citizens visiting or residing in Baja California Sur. The Consular Agency performs notarial services and receives applications for U.S. passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Please note that the Consular Agency is unable to provide any visa-related information or services.
Available services include passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and notaries by appointment only.
Visitors to Baja California Sur are encouraged to register in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and review all present travel warnings and advice on the Department’s Mexico travel information page.
For after-hours emergencies, please call the Duty Officer at the U.S. Consulate General Tijuana. From Mexico, please dial 001 (619) 692-2154, from the U.S., please call (619) 692-2154.
Machelle and I also make copies of our passports. They aren't valid for anything but at least it is something. I keep a copy in the glove box, one in my wallet and one in Machelle's purse.
Not sure about other states, but in CA you don't have to surrender your expired driver's license when you get a new one. I keep the valid drivers license deep in my wallet and one of the expired versions in the front of my wallet.
Not sure about other states, but in CA you don't have to surrender your expired driver's license when you get a new one. I keep the valid drivers license deep in my wallet and one of the expired versions in the front of my wallet.
I think I may plan a trip. Had to cancel a recent trip with experienced leader...