This is my first trip down to Baja with my 2020 Turbo S 4 seater. We rented a house in Los Barrilles. I read a recent post about putting a book together with all of my paper work and that worked well.
I had the following info in plastic covers:

1. Copy of truck registration
2. Copy of trailer registration
3. Copy of Rzr registration
4. Truck American insurance card
5. Trailer American insurance card
6. Rzr American insurance card
7. Truck pink slip
8. Trailer pink slip
9. Rzr pink slip or letter from finance company
10. Mexican truck insurance
11. Mexican Rzr insurance
12. Mexican Visa

Look for the line that identifies that you need to declare items.
Pull into a spot and an official will come out and ask for your passport and drivers license.
They went thru most of the stuff we brought. I had most of the stuff in totes.
We had some contraband but they did not make a big deal about it.
**** Know where the vin on your machine is. They are going to take a picture.
They gave me a slip for the inspection.
I went inside and they stamped my visa. Ask for an extra copy.
I am a member of Vagabundos and purchased my Visa, Mexican truck insurance, and fishing license before I came down.
I went to the first set of windows and handed them the slip. They gave me back another piece of paper for the banker at the next set of windows.
I went to that guy and paid $2,000 pesos for the goodies I brought in. Food and medical supplies for a friend in Mulege
Now the fun started. Apparently I needed an import license for the Rzr. I’ll try to get that from Vagabundos before I come down next time. Due to the dumping of stolen Rzrs in Mexico they are tracking what is coming into the country. They took copies of my visa, truck registration, rzr registration and a picture they took of the rzr vin and bundled them together. I think I paid a $55.00 dollar fee to process the paperwork and a $400 dollar deposit on my credit card. The import license is for 6 months. They gave me a phone number and address in Otay to go to so they can verify the vin on my rzr when I take it out. If I don’t stop on the way out they keep the deposit. No idea where that is at yet and towing a 28ft enclosed trailer in TJ sucks but I’ll figure it out.

This all took about 2 hours and I had most of my paperwork. Most officials spoke some English. Don’t get frustrated just get through it.

Sheffield is my lender on the rzr. They were real helpful but it takes a few days. I had to set my payment up on auto pay and get full coverage, name them and send them a copy.

I found an insurance broker in San Diego that does rzrs you can get full or liability. Your Mexican rzr insurance is only good on official Mexican roads but a lot of the dirt roads here are legal roads. You are on your own in the arroyos and river beds. We’re driving the paved roads no problem in town for trips to the store and restaurants. LB is small not sure about bigger towns Cabo or La Paz.

I love it down here and look forward to running the arroyos and secluded beaches with my rig. Mandalo (“Send it” in Spanish)

No thanks..

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Yep. I'm with you. To each their own. I'll pass. There's plenty to see and do "up" here to keep me busy.

 

Only Boston stands out as a crazier place to drive than TJ! In all fairness my last driving adventure thru TJ was during the Ford administration. Walked across & used taxis thereafter.

 

Walked across the border in Nogales Mexico on the way back through The border,I and my wife.Two border guards said Sir come with us took me in the search room they told me it was my lucky day I had a strip down and spread Eagle then they told me I was free to go. Never again enter Mexico!!!!

 

Coming back from West Germany in 1988 through JFK, I had to go into a small, windowless room with two customs agents. I had declared several litres of various European alcohols in my bags. They made me open my bags and take out all of the bottles (A couple dozen) and put them on the table whereupon they helped themselves to two bottles each and then let me pass without paying any import duties. It was straight out of Hollywood.

 

My brother went to Mexico once 15-20 yrs ago...US id and everything...they wouldn't let him leave. I don't remember how he finally got through to them but it was a pain...and pretty funny from my side.

I think they thought his id and visa were fake🤣. Problem was we could pass as being Hispanic even though we aren't even close.

Anyway, hope you enjoy your stay... that's too much of a hassle for me.

 

My wife and I went to Rocky Point about 10 years ago and we were on a dirt road pulled to the side getting directions to where our friends were staying. Mexican police pulled up behind us and came to my door and told me I was in a no parking area (in the middle of the desert) and that I had to pay him $100 or go to jail. Those were my only two options. Turned around and drove 3 hours back home and have never gone back and never will.

 

Back in the early-mid 70s, my best friend and her ex-husband were on a racing team that went to Baja every year. They caravanned down for mutual protection but it didn't matter. Back then there were still bandidos in the desert and of course, the crooked cops. They got robbed by both a couple times.

 

I’m Mexican and I won’t even cross the border anymore. I used to cross all the time to surf till my buddies and me ended up in jail for mistaken identity. Luckily the actual criminals were captured (didn’t look that much like us) so they let us go.

 

Back in the late 80's, I was in San Diego on a 2 week military training exercise down from Alberta Canada. One day we drove to the US/Mex boarder and then walked across. Going through the turn style security gate, I was hit on the back by an elderly Mexican lady also going to TJ, I swear to god she had a brick in that bag...I moved and let her pass, the guard just laughed and let us pass. We were only in TJ for about 3 hours, I was nervous the entire time because everywhere we went I could see people watching us. I was never so happy to cross back over into the US in my life.....never again!

 

Big Al, I'm with you man. I'm 40ish and went down my entire childhood, fished the Sea of Cortez with my dad, camped on the beach in Loreto for weeks at a time, and never did we have issues. My dad owned a home between Rosarito and Ensenada. Beautiful times were had, and I am grateful that my kids were able to spend time there as well. Mexico is certainly an adventure, and if done with respect for the people in the country, it's an awesome adventure to be had. I remember driving from Ontario, CA to Loreto, as a child in our new new CJ-7, towing a 14ft aluminum boat in 1985. Was the road nice? Hell no. Was the yellowtail fishing awesome, hell yes! Anyway, have a blast in Baja.

 

Blonde hair gring0 here who use to ride my Harley at 19 with my then girlfriend (now wife) to their family beach house towards Ensenada. We use to ride dirt bikes and surf all the time down there but they no longer have the house. We have kids but have not taken them down yet, hope to share similar experiences with them some day. It’s best to not look flashy and not be obnoxious. I’ve driven brand new diesel trucks and 20 year old beaters down there and would prefer the beater any day. Locals don’t have much and some cops like to take advantage but most are good people.
Let us know how the trip goes Big Al, we might take some of your advice someday.

 

Went thou the border in Nov of '09 for the Baja 1000. Was caring motorcycles for the race. A local in San Diego has use set up for all of the paperwork to get in. Had to pull over and they checked the vin on the bikes with the paperwork. If you do cross, make sure that your gas cans are empty. You have to buy your gas down there. I drove a chase truck down there for 2 weeks before the race. The roads are bad and worst, stop signs and stop lights are hard to see. If you had to get from one side of baja to the other side, there was a dirt road and it took about 4-5 hours to get across. Less than 100 miles. The food was great and don't drink the water. Drank beer most of the time and bottled water. Would like to go again. The team ended up with a 5th place finish in the motorcycle class.

 

Thanks for the info Big Al that's all very helpful. I plan on going to Baja in November for the 1000. We will be in a toy hauler with a RZR. I'll probably spend a few weeks there.

I went down to San Felipe on my motorcycle 2 years ago for Xmas. Crossed the border at San Luis, Arizona absolutely no problems, only documents that was asked for was my passport. I stayed in San Felipe for 4 days on the beach at Petes Campo, but rode my motorcycle all over the area had a very pleasant experience. I had to go through a military check point on my return and was only asked to open my tank bag.
Crossed the border in Mexicali and the line to get back into the United States was extremely long and heavy 2 or maybe 3 lane traffic, I can't remember, but on the motorcycle I just split laned to the front of the line and went straight up to the border crossing agent he checked my passport and BAM I was back in the good ol USA

 

check into the Facebook page: "Ride Baja". I think you'll find what you are looking for there and lots of support!

 

Thanks

 

Also, Bajabound.com ..... a lot of info there including road tips when driving down to BCS

 

Crossed at Mexicali a few times with my 41’ toy hauler in tow and the RZR inside. It was a short quick process going south. A quick look at the papers, look at the health cert. for the dogs and on my way to San Felipe. Going back north at Calexico it was always a long line and at least three hours getting back across.