Going to mexico soon?
 

Any one going over to Mexico shortly? I am due to be hitting the border in about 2 weeks coming down from the US , was wondering if anyone else will be crossing around the same time?
I am riding solo (trying RTW) and have covered a good bit of the US and some of Canada already, any company along the way is welcome. :welcome:

KEv

http:\\Dublin-Ushuaia-Trip

If you make it to Mexico City we will be happy to put you up and show you around, Send me a PM and we can arrange something. Safe travels

arrived in LA today and going to hang out for a few days , then heading down through Baja, prob leaving next wednesday or thursday if anyone fancies a ride. :)

Sierra Nevada's
 

Irishkev - If you have never ridden around the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you might want take advantage before heading to Mexico. If you are keen on this, bail out of LA and head towards Yosemite or Seqouia National Forest. The mountain roads are awesome and little traffic. I am heading to Costa Rica from California soon - you are about 5-6 weeks ahead of me.

Enjoy

cheers man i will look into it. Spent the day at the beach today. it was like bikini heaven lol :thumbup1:

Kev:
Where are you at, now?
Have you passed by Mexico?


Humberto

I am resting up at La Habra at the moment, and re organising the bike, sent a box of stuff home today, and got some extra fuel cans (just in case). Going to head to San Diego on Thursday evening and from there I will cross into Mexico, follow route 1 down as far as La Paz, and cross over to Mazatlan, (i see a few photos on your site there - nice) and from there going to follow the pacific down

If you do cross on the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan by all means get a cabin. Kind of pricey but was well worth it. IMO

I hear the office in Tijuana is hard to find.. as manu chau sung.. welcome to tijuana por el sexo y marijuna... so thinking i will burn through and pick it up at the ferry terminal in La Paz. i have been informed this is possible! Interesting on the topo route, the guys on adv rider were saying the mazatlan ferry was around 100 dollars or there abouts, but if topo is cheaper it may well be worth checking out, for a days ride.
thanks guys.

Kev:
If you ´plan to go thru Guadalajara, drop me an e-mail, I could show you some surroundings, share some info, tips and beer.

Humberto:thumbup1:

Baja
 

Finding the Aduana in Tijuana is a bit complicated but not really that tough if you keep calm and follow the signs as you cross the border from San Ysidro CA. You have to wend your way up over the first bridge and do a loop around the clocerleaf to wind up at the big building to your southwest as you came in, and the offices you are looking for are in the middle of that block , plenty parking. After that it is back onto the loops to get into downtown TJ and either Mex1D toll road around west side of city or the old free route Mex 1 right through town, both well marked routes to Ensenada.
As for the two ferry routes from Pichilingue to mainland Mexico - it is a choice between 5 to 6 hours to Topolobampo or 15 hours to MAzatlan. .
This past winter the Topo run left at 3pm and landed the dark. The run to Los Mochis is a straight flat 25km bit , but if you are avoiding night riding there is a nice hotel in Topo now, only one.
The trip to Mazatlan is an overnight run and ticket price includes a meal voucher for evening and morning. I think the basic salon price was reasonable if you consider it as a mini cruise and note that one need not take a hotel for that night..Two years ago I Just opted for the low cost salon rate, no cabin. It was nice dry weather and I rolled out my sleeping bag in a quiet corner on deck and spent a lot of time watching the fireworks of thunderstorms over the mainland as the ship chugged south before dozing off.

Hola amigo. Although you can do it further south, always clear your paperwork at first point of entry--in your case, Tijuana. It's not required but in the event that there is a complication in your documents, it's easier to resolve from the US side by faxing and so forth. You'll need to show a tourist card, passport, registration and permanent title to the vehicle. You can buy your $22 tourist card right next to the Banjercito counter. Do this first.

There is a small office nearby to make copies of all these documents, so in order to avoid waiting in line twice, do this before reaching the Banjercito Window. There can be touts at any border crossing willing to "assist" but they are absolutely unnecessary, don't even stop until reaching La Aduana. The Customs Office.

This is a very straight forward procedure and contrary to claims, never involves bribes or graft as you are dealing directly with a Mexican Bank. The six-month permit costs about $35USD and must be paid for with a credit card or by posting a bond. Don't forget to clear the bike out at departure point or your vehicle will remain in the system and eventually regarded as imported. Save that receipt.

When crossing into Tijuana, at San Ysidro, the Customs office is easy to find by looping around to your right. The street is actually directly behind the first inspection stations that you see when crossing. The best thing to do is ask a cab driver or any male for that matter: "Perdon amigo, donde esta la aduana Banjercito?" I'd be surprised if they did not take you by the hand to show you the way.

I'm now in the US for a few weeks but returning to my home in Mazatlan 23/8/07. If you arrive after that date, you have a rack for a few days. Contact direct: locovikingman@yahoo.com Study your phrase book, as below the border, when visiting the best places, few people speak English. The meekest attempts at their language results in greatest responses. Whatever respect you give a Mexican is returned ten-fold. Be ready to fall in love with an entire nation. Ojala que le vaya bien.

Good advice above but if you decide to do La Paz you CAN get import permit etc, go there the day before you leave.

I went Baja Ferries as there was a cute Argentinian bording but there is an alternative ferry that was a little cheaper. From memory I paid $130+passage to Mazatlan, Topo was cheaper but not much cheaper than the fuel for the extra distance. Just depends if you want to ride it.

For the alternative, go through the `customs` check and there is an office next to Baja ferries small ticket shed. TCM or something similar.

Hope it helps

Hey guys thanks for all the advice! Am in La Paz at the moment, and have booked the ferry for tomorrow to Mazatlan. Found the office in Tijuana! even went up a one way street.. the wrong way but hey you gotta love mexico! Una Pais Muy Bonita! really liking it here, and they locals are really friendly! bit confusing with my iberican spanish, but learning quickly! even picked up two more Irish riders in Baja so now we are 3!

God help Mexico! y Vaya con Dios!! ;)

Kev