Baja Trips - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

svendawg · 03-07-2016, 07:34 AM

From experience during the holiday weekends like Easter the Mexican authorities have extra checkpoints where they have checked for FMM.s and turned tourists back if you don't have one.

taggermike · 03-07-2016, 07:53 AM

Baja is a huge place but some areas can get crowded on spring break. Stay away from San Felipe is my advice. The real hit this time of year is you can spend a very long time waiting to cross the boarder. 4-5 hours in line is a possibility.

I've had to show my pass port to get an fmm.

This is only what ive heard, not read on any official sights. If you state you are an American citizen at a port of entry, even if you do not have documents, they legally have to let you in to the country. They can then hold you in detention for days until you can prove who you are.

There are enough things you can't control when traveling in Mexico. So control the things you can. Every thing might be fine. Or you could get detained in Mexico and then again in the US. Its the law. You know it and its been in place long enough that playing ignorant is not gonna work. Get your documents together before you go. Until then there are great places in Cali to vacation. Mike

Mahigeer · 03-07-2016, 08:33 AM

Don't risk it.

It is not worth the risk.

rossman · 03-07-2016, 09:21 AM

Another thing to worry about is that most mexican auto insurance policies have the disclaimer that the coverage could be refused if you are not in the country legally. The could be interpreted as having a passport and FMM.

SDROB · 03-07-2016, 09:42 AM

I traveled back n forth without a passport for years and never got hassled coming back across. I always gave them a valid drivers license and was never held up because of it. I have had a passport now for two years and often travel with friends that don't have one. Still no problems.

The FMM issue however I do not know about. I personally have never got one and do not plan on getting one until it stops me from going down to my place in Baja.

On another note something to consider, I don't know for sure but I have heard if you are in an accident and need to be life lined back into the country they will not let you travel by air without the Passport Booklet. That was the main reason I purchased one.

Caseym · 03-07-2016, 01:28 PM

Went South and beach camped below San Quentin (Pacific Side) years ago. Returned on a Friday...didnt realize it was "Good Friday." For religious reasons most Mexican businesses were closed from Friday to Sunday. We were really
Lucky to find an open Pemex station. Even Ensanada was like a ghost town. 5 days earlier everything was crawling with people. Just be aware of little differences that u may encounter such as this. Others can probably elaborate on personal experiences in different parts of baja during Easter week.
Good Luck

ful-rac · 03-07-2016, 01:37 PM

I'll be in the don't risk it crowd...You might get away with it if your mexican and you speak spanish...but if your a gringo or a chino...you will probably go to Jail-o!

Especially with President Trump telling everyone mexico's gonna pay for the wall...I'm sure the Federales will not waste an opportunity to screw with Americans going down to Mexico from now on...Be safe have the proper paperwork, insurance and passports and identification.

SDROB · 03-07-2016, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

You might get away with it if your mexican and you speak spanish...

I agree with this statement. I definitely try and match the hatch while I'm down there. A little bit of spanish goes a long way.

dos ballenas · 03-08-2016, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDROB

I traveled back n forth without a passport for years and never got hassled coming back across. I always gave them a valid drivers license and was never held up because of it. I have had a passport now for two years and often travel with friends that don't have one. Still no problems.

The FMM issue however I do not know about. I personally have never got one and do not plan on getting one until it stops me from going down to my place in Baja.

On another note something to consider, I don't know for sure but I have heard if you are in an accident and need to be life lined back into the country they will not let you travel by air without the Passport Booklet. That was the main reason I purchased one.

I bet you recommend driving at night too?

If you don't know about the FMM then you really have no place giving out Baja advice.... look it up bud. Sure you have made it home safe to date, but you have been rolling the dice.

Oh and in my, and many others experiences, do NOT speak in Spanish to the police or mexican military. Playing the dumb gringo will get you much further.... Mexico needs our tourism dollars and the cops and military are aware of this, and are informed that they should not hassle Americans. I have never had to show any of the insurance paperwork, FMM, passport, etc. (been pulled over and asked for a bribe many times but talking in English always has gotten me out of it with no bribe or ticket). That said anything can happen so always be prepared.

Mahigeer · 03-08-2016, 04:38 PM

I know this is beating a dead horse, but the person who advocates "what is the worst thing that can happen" should be a travel companion with no documents.

It is easy to send other people to harms way when one is not with them!

SDROB · 03-08-2016, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dos ballenas

I bet you recommend driving at night too?

If you don't know about the FMM then you really have no place giving out Baja advice.... look it up bud. Sure you have made it home safe to date, but you have been rolling the dice.

Oh and in my, and many others experiences, do NOT speak in Spanish to the police or mexican military. Playing the dumb gringo will get you much further.... Mexico needs our tourism dollars and the cops and military are aware of this, and are informed that they should not hassle Americans. I have never had to show any of the insurance paperwork, FMM, passport, etc. (been pulled over and asked for a bribe many times but talking in English always has gotten me out of it with no bribe or ticket). That said anything can happen so always be prepared.

Funny that you might say that, I actually do travel mostly at night. However I never recommended it. It's just how it works out for me.

Just to be clear.... in response to your negative comment suggesting what I should not do (If you don't know about the FMM then you really have no place giving out Baja advice.... look it up bud.)

I never gave out any advice, all I did was share my personal experience which is what the original poster asked in regards to traveling without a passport.

Too add to that... in my personal experience (I have been traveling to Baja my entire life), I have found that being able to communicate, (speaking a little bit of spanish) goes a long way, and not playing the dumb gringo (like you suggested), I have also never had to pay a bribe or ticket. A little common respect also goes a long way... bud.

03-07-2016, 07:34 AM	#1
svendawg Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wildomar, Ca. Posts: 331	Not a good idea From experience during the holiday weekends like Easter the Mexican authorities have extra checkpoints where they have checked for FMM.s and turned tourists back if you don't have one.

03-07-2016, 09:21 AM	#4
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	Another thing to worry about is that most mexican auto insurance policies have the disclaimer that the coverage could be refused if you are not in the country legally. The could be interpreted as having a passport and FMM. __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

03-07-2016, 09:42 AM	#5
SDROB Malibu Stealth 12 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hollywood, San Diego, Gonzaga Bay Posts: 512	I traveled back n forth without a passport for years and never got hassled coming back across. I always gave them a valid drivers license and was never held up because of it. I have had a passport now for two years and often travel with friends that don't have one. Still no problems. The FMM issue however I do not know about. I personally have never got one and do not plan on getting one until it stops me from going down to my place in Baja. On another note something to consider, I don't know for sure but I have heard if you are in an accident and need to be life lined back into the country they will not let you travel by air without the Passport Booklet. That was the main reason I purchased one. __________________ She will keep you warm in the winter and give you shade in the summer (Rossman) I'm telling ya, you have to keep these suckers on a game clip until just before you drop them in the frying pan.(Rossman)

03-07-2016, 01:28 PM	#6
Caseym Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Temecula Posts: 194	Baha on my mind Went South and beach camped below San Quentin (Pacific Side) years ago. Returned on a Friday...didnt realize it was "Good Friday." For religious reasons most Mexican businesses were closed from Friday to Sunday. We were really Lucky to find an open Pemex station. Even Ensanada was like a ghost town. 5 days earlier everything was crawling with people. Just be aware of little differences that u may encounter such as this. Others can probably elaborate on personal experiences in different parts of baja during Easter week. Good Luck

03-07-2016, 01:37 PM	#7
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	I'll be in the don't risk it crowd...You might get away with it if your mexican and you speak spanish...but if your a gringo or a chino...you will probably go to Jail-o! Especially with President Trump telling everyone mexico's gonna pay for the wall...I'm sure the Federales will not waste an opportunity to screw with Americans going down to Mexico from now on...Be safe have the proper paperwork, insurance and passports and identification. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

03-07-2016, 07:53 AM	#2
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Baja is a huge place but some areas can get crowded on spring break. Stay away from San Felipe is my advice. The real hit this time of year is you can spend a very long time waiting to cross the boarder. 4-5 hours in line is a possibility. I've had to show my pass port to get an fmm. This is only what ive heard, not read on any official sights. If you state you are an American citizen at a port of entry, even if you do not have documents, they legally have to let you in to the country. They can then hold you in detention for days until you can prove who you are. There are enough things you can't control when traveling in Mexico. So control the things you can. Every thing might be fine. Or you could get detained in Mexico and then again in the US. Its the law. You know it and its been in place long enough that playing ignorant is not gonna work. Get your documents together before you go. Until then there are great places in Cali to vacation. Mike

03-07-2016, 08:33 AM	#3
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,910	Don't risk it. It is not worth the risk.

03-08-2016, 04:38 PM	#10
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,910	I know this is beating a dead horse, but the person who advocates "what is the worst thing that can happen" should be a travel companion with no documents. It is easy to send other people to harms way when one is not with them!