Getting There

Arriving at the Airport -- Throughout Baja, the procedure is fairly standard. You disembark the plane -- often directly onto the tarmac -- and enter the line for immigration. You will present your passport and immigration officials will provide you with a tourist visa. You will then pass to baggage claim, pick up your luggage, and pass through customs. Your luggage may be scanned, and then you'll be asked to push a button. If green, you are free to pass through, and if red, you may have your luggage searched. It's an easy process that, barring excessive crowds, takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Getting into Town from the Airport -- Getting from the airport to your final destination is simple in Baja. In most airports, there is a kiosk where you can sign up for a shuttle -- the economical option. Otherwise, taxis are always waiting when flights come in; so hopping a cab to your hotel or downtown is a cinch.

By Car

Driving is not the cheapest or most efficient way to get to Mexico, but it is the best way to see the country. Even so, you may think twice about taking your own car south of the border once you've pondered the bureaucracy involved. One option is to rent a car once you arrive and tour around a specific region. Rental cars in Mexico generally are new, clean, and well maintained. Although they're pricier than in the United States, discounts are often available for rentals of a week or longer, especially when you make arrangements online or in advance from the United States.

If, after reading the section that follows, you have additional questions or you want to confirm the current rules, call your nearest Mexican consulate or the Mexican Government Tourist Office. Although travel insurance companies are generally helpful, they may not have the most accurate information. To check on road conditions or to get help with any travel emergency while in Mexico, call tel. 01-800/903-9200, or 555/250-0151 in Mexico City. English-speaking operators staff both numbers. If you plan to stay in Baja, the Discover Baja Travel Club is a long-standing favorite among Baja road warriors for insurance, travel tips, permits, and more (www.discoverbaja.com).

In addition, check with the U.S. Department of State for warnings about dangerous driving areas.

Car Documents -- To drive your car into Mexico (even for the day), you'll need a temporary car-importation permit, which is granted after you provide a required list of documents . The permit can be obtained through Banco del Ejército (Banjercito) officials, who have a desk, booth, or office at the Mexican Customs (aduana) building after you cross the border into Mexico.

The following strict requirements for border crossing were accurate at press time:

If you receive your documentation at the border, Mexican officials will make two copies of everything and charge you for the copies. For up-to-the-minute information, a great source is the Customs office in Nuevo Laredo, or Módulo de Importación Temporal de Automóviles, Aduana Nuevo Laredo (tel. 867/712-2071).

Important reminder: Someone else may drive, but the person (or relative of the person) whose name appears on the car-importation permit must always be in the car. (If stopped by police, a nonregistered family member driving without the registered driver must be prepared to prove familial relationship to the registered driver -- no joke.) Violation of this rule subjects the car to impoundment and the driver to imprisonment, a fine, or both. You can drive a car with foreign license plates only if you have a foreign (non-Mexican) driver's license.

Mexican Auto Insurance -- Liability auto insurance is legally required in Mexico. U.S. insurance is invalid; to be insured in Mexico, you must purchase Mexican insurance, and you must have proof of U.S. insurance to acquire it. Any party involved in an accident who has no insurance may be sent to jail and have his or her car impounded until all claims are settled. This is true even if you just drive across the border to spend the day. U.S. companies that broker Mexican insurance are commonly found at the border crossing, and several quote daily rates.

Discover Baja Travel Club, 3089 Clairemont Dr., San Diego, CA 92117, is a great, friendly place to start (tel. 800/727-2252; www.discoverbaja.com). You can also buy car insurance through Sanborn's Mexico Insurance, P.O. Box 52840, 2009 S. 10th, McAllen, TX (tel. 956/686-3601; fax 800/222-0158 or 956/686-0732; www.sanbornsinsurance.com). The company has offices at all U.S. border crossings. Its policies cost the same as the competition's do, but you get legal coverage (attorney and bail bonds if needed) and a detailed mile-by-mile guide for your proposed route. Most of Sanborn's border offices are open Monday through Friday, and a few are staffed on Saturday and Sunday. AAA auto club also sells insurance.

Returning to the United States with your Car -- You must return the car papers you obtained when you entered Mexico when you cross back with your car, or at some point within 180 days. (You can cross as many times as you wish within the 180 days.) If the documents aren't returned, heavy fines are imposed ($250 for each 15 days late), and your car may be impounded and confiscated or you may be jailed if you return to Mexico. You can only return the car documents to a Banjercito official on duty at the Mexican Customs building before you cross back into the United States. Some border cities have Banjercito officials on duty 24 hours a day, but others do not; some also do not have Sunday hours.

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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Los Cabos & Baja, 2nd Edition Author: Emily Hughey Quinn Pub Date: October 22, 2007 Price: $17.99				Related Titles: Cancun & the Yucatan For Dummies, 3rd Edition Frommer's Cancun & the Yucatan Day by Day, 1st Edition Frommer's Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan 2009

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