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ARRIVING IN SAN FELIPE, MEXICO There are many ways to get to San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.
You are required to have Mexican insurance on cars, SUVs, trucks, and tow vehicles (e.g., RVs, trailers pulling boats, trailers pulling ATVs) you bring into Mexico. Make a copy of your insurance paperwork so that you can have one copy in your glove compartment and another elsewhere in case your vehicle is stolen. Also, make certain you have proof of ownership for all vehicles and toys (e.g., ATVs) you bring with you. Having a copy of these elsewhere is advisable as well. If something happens to your vehicle, most insurance companies require you to report it while you are in Mexico. Boat insurance covering launch and the boat being in the water is optional. If you are driving your own car, you can obtain Mexican insurance by the day or yearly. Compare the prices to determine what is the best deal. Usually, if you are in Mexico twenty days or more during a year, the cost of the yearly insurance will be cheaper than the daily insurance if you buy insurance that covers all of Baja California. You can also purchase emergency road service. Call your existing insurance company to see if any of your vehicles are already covered for Baja Mexico as some insurance companies are now including this insurance with their U.S. auto insurance. Make certain you also have proof of ownership and registration in your car (better yet, keep an extra copy kept separately with the extra copy of your insurance). If you are renting a car, make certain that you have the correct Mexican insurance from the rental car company. We have rented cars in San Diego, California and told them that we are going to San Felipe, Mexico and they have mistakenly given us insurance that only covered travel to Ensenada, Mexico and no further south than that (San Felipe is further south on the Baja Pennisula than Ensenada). Or, save money by pre-planning and purchase rental car insurance from a separate insurance agency. Other insurance that you can purchase is Medical Evacuation insurance. See the Yellow Pages under the Insurance section for Insurance companies. As of the January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens 19 and over planning to travel from Mexico to the United States will be required to have a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or passport to enter the U.S. Mexico does not require you to have a passport to enter the country. If you are going to be in San Felipe for 7 days or less, you do not need a visa. If you plan to stay longer as a tourist (a non-Mexican citizen), you need to obtain a tourist visa at the Mexicali Immigration Office or the San Felipe Immigration Office. You will need a passport or a birth certificate and drivers license. The San Felipe Immigration Office is located on the left hand side just before the glorietta (round about) as you come into town from the north. They have a sign over the front door that says "Bienvenidos a Mexico" (Welcome to Mexico). I don't know of anyone who has ever been asked to show their tourist visa. If you plan to purchase property, you will eventually need an FM-3 in order to protect your legal interests in Mexico. The FM-3 must be renewed every year. To obtain and FM-3:
If you plan to work in Mexico, you will need to obtain a work visa. This requires that you be working for a corporation. Discuss this with the corporation you are trying to work for or with a lawyer. If you are going to be fishing with your boat in Mexico, you need a boat permit and fishing permits for each person on the boat. You don't need permits if you will not be fishing. However, if you are caught with any fishing gear on your boat, you must have a permit. When you get to the border, you should go into the "Nothing to Declare" lane if your belongings meet the criterial listed below. If you have more than what you are allocated below, you need to declare the items and pay a duty on them (usually around 25%). You also need to declare if you have more than $10,000 in U.S. currency, or equivalent or other monetary instruments or if you are bringing any of the following: animals, agricultural products, or medicine other than personal use. If you can read Spanish, you can find more information at the Mexican Customs web site. When you get to the border stoplight, wait for the car in front of you to stop. Do not pull in right behind the car in front of you as you may cause the red light to flash instead of the green light. When it is your turn, pull up to the stoplight. When you receive a green light, proceed into Mexicali. If the light stays red, you will be waived aside for your vehicle to be inspected to ensure you have not brought more than what you are allowed. Never, ever bring firearms, ammunition, spent ammunition (shells), or illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine). What you can bring so you can drive through the "Nothing to Declare" lane.
Road conditions from Mexicali to San Felipe are usually good. However, there is sometimes road construction in Mexicali on the road heading to San Felipe. If you want to avoid potential construction:
There is also often road construction around the dry lake (Laguna Salada). Watch for potholes here and for pothole repair crews. Once you get past the military checkpoint, there are deep dips in the road where water flows over the road when it rains. Therefore, watch to ensure you are not driving so fast that you fly into the air when you get to a dip or blow out a tire hitting one of the many potholes at the bottom of the dips. If you are coming from Ensenada on Highway 3, the road is a little less well maintained, but it is still a decent road. There are also many deep dips in the road where water flows during the rains. We have had friends blow a tire on one of these potholes, so be careful and dry at a safe speed. We recommend you obtain a full tank of gas before you drive over the border. There are gas stations throughout Mexicali, but taking care of this task before going over the border gives you one less thing to worry about. If you do not obtain gas on the U.S. side of the border, ensure your tank is full before you leave Mexicali as there are no gas stations until San Felipe. If this is the first time you are driving in Mexico, drive the speed limit and drive carefully. Driving is not any more dangerous than in the U.S. or Canada; however, if you are unfamiliar with an area, risk of accident is always higher. If there is a solid yellow line on the road, this means you are not supposed to pass the vehicle in front of you. If you want to pass the car in front of you, be very certain that you can see that it is clear to do so. Some people drive 80 miles per hour or more and if you combine this speed with yours, you can see how quickly two vehicles can meet coming opposite directions. We have seen the results of head on collissions and it isn't pretty. Please value your safety and the safety of others over your desire to quickly reach your destination. Often, if you are behind a vehicle and cannot see around it, the driver of the vehicle in front of you will turn on their left turn signal to let you know it is safe to pass. However, this can also mean that they are going to turn left, so be very certain you know they mean that it is safe for you to pass and not that they are turning. If you break down, sooner or later the Green Angels or the Highway Patrol should drive by. Or, dial 078 and ask to be connected to the nearest Green Angel. Or, try using CB channel 9. The Green Angels work for the Federal Secretary of Tourism and will do their best to fix your car for free and will only charge you their cost for parts, gas, and oil. You can also obtain assistance by dialing 112 on your mobile phone. If you are driving at night, most of the road to San Felipe does not have streetlights and many cars do not have headlights, tailights, or turn signals, so be extra careful. There may also be livestock in the road, since much of the drive goes through rural areas or broken down vehicles. Remember there is little to no shoulder in most places. Better yet, only drive during the day. Remember that the speed limit is shown in kilometers per hour, not miles per hour. Also, in Mexicali, the green light on stop lights will blink before the light turns briefly yellow and then red. Calexico, California, USA --> Mexicali, Mexico --> San Felipe, Mexico San Felipe, Mexico is approximately 140 miles (223 kilometers) south of Calexio, California. The good news is that there are plenty of signs directing you from Mexicali, Mexico to San Felipe, Mexico.
All gas stations are Pemex stations and have green signs. Most of the Pemex stations in Mexicali have people who will pump your gas for you. Give them the exact dollar/peso amount you want in your car. Check to ensure the pump is set to 0 when the pumping starts. We have never had problems with dishonesty in Mexicali, but have had issues in Ensenada, so this is just a precaution. Most Pemex stations have toilets. They are usually not maintained and can be disgusting. You will also need to bring your own toilet paper. Grocery stores, restaurants, or hotels often have toilets that are in better shape. However, once you are outside of Mexicali and there are no facilities, the only other location you might want to try is one of the little grocery stores. They can be recognized by the Tecate signs or signs that say "Abarrotes". There is also a pay restroom at kilometer 136 (La Ventana) and the intersection of Highways 3 and 5. Military Checkpoints are usually located at the intersection of Highway 3 and 5. These checkpoints are here at the U.S.'s request to try and prevent drug smuggling. The military are usually very young men in uniform carrying weapons. So far, every encounter we have had at a military checkpoint has been pleasant. The men are usually friendly and polite. At the checkpoint, you may be waived through with no questions. Or, you will be asked where you came from and/or where you are going and why. Very rarely do they ask you to get out of your car. If they speak to you in Spanish and you don't understand, simple say "No ah-blo es-pan-yol". They either will switch to English or simply waive you through. Or, you can say "I came from [place city here] and am going to San Felipe for vacation". If it is a very hot day and you have cold water, these young men would most likely be grateful if you gave them a few bottles. If you are pulled over by the police and you are asked to pay them for whatever your violation may be, do not do so. Any fines for violations must be paid directly to the police. Instead, ask to go to the police station to pay your fine. However, there are exceptions. We were on our way to drive back to the U.S. when we were pulled over for doing a California stop at El Dorado Ranch. Because we would have missed our plane if we were delayed, we gave the office $20, which he pocketed. Also, if you have open containers of alcohol or have been drinking, asking to go to the police department is probably not a very good idea. If you are involved in an accident, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. If you cannot call your insurance company, see if you can locate someone who can contact the company for you. Motorists involved in an accident are usually put in jail until an agreement has been reached between those involved in the accident. If injuries are involved, the severity of the injuries will help authorities determine the monitary responsibilities of the drivers. Dial 112 on your mobile phone for police assistance. All parties are usually asked to appear at a hearing the next day. A Mexican insurance policy is recognized by the authorities as a guarantee of payment for damages incurred. Presentation of the policy assists in bringing about an early release. Ultimately, a bond must be placed to guarantee payment of damages or claims in order to get out of jail. The traffic fine is collected and the automobile released after an agreement is made on the payment of any damages. All those involved should keep their release papers as evidence the case is closed. Buses run several times per day. However, you may not find anyone who speaks English. You can email abc@abc.com.mx or call the main Autotransportes de Baja California (ABC) number to obtain a schedules and costs at (from the US) 011-52-686-621-2424. Mexicali: Centro Cívico Tiajuana:
Phone: 011-52-686-621-2424 Ensenada: Central Camionera San Felipe: Other option: You can take the bus to San Felipe from Tiajuana, Ensenada, or Mexicali. Mexicali: Tiajuana: Ensenada: Please call (from US) 011-52-686-621-2424 for actual cost.
A great location for information on flying in Baja is Baja Bush Pilots. No commercial flights currently come to San Felipe. However, there is an airport about 9 kilometers south of town where private planes can land. The airport is open from 7 AM to 6 PM. The runway orientation is 13-31 and is 1,500 meters long by 31 meters wide. The control tower is on frequency 118.5 MHz. Co-ordinates are 30° 56' north latitude and 114° 48' west longitude. Elevation is 42 meters. Identifying call letters are MSF for international and SFE for national flights. They carry 100/30 AV gas and Jet-A. Phone ahead of time to check availability of space and gasoline. Prior to flying to San Felipe, file a flight plan with the FAA with Advise Customs (AD CUS) to make it easier to return to the United States. Phone (from the US): 011-52-686-577-1368.
You will need to bring your valid passport. If you have a valid FM-2, FM-3, or Tourist Visa, you will not need to pay any fees. However, if you do not already have a visa, you will need to ~$20 per person to obtain one. Transportation To/From Airport You can take a taxi to and from the airport. Or, contact Thrifty Car rental (011-52-686-577-1277 or info@thriftysanfelipe.com) prior to your arrival in order to reserve a rental car. OTHER INFORMATION Before you start your journey, talk to your cell phone provider and find out if you can get service in San Felipe. Our experience is that Cingular works if you have a GSM phone. As of this writing and based on our experience, Sprint does not work and neither does Verizon (although Verizon it is supposed to). Please let us know if you have had success with either Sprint or Verizon. Ask your provider what the rates would be if you call within Mexico or call the U.S. as the rates are usually significantly higher than your regular cell phone rates and you don't want to have a big surprise on your cell phone bill. Usually, cell phone rates will be cheaper than calling the U.S. from a payphone. Less than 5 minutes on a payphone to the U.S. with your credit card can be $40. Telcel, the Mexican cellular service, has been reliable for us. If you go to Mexico frequently and your current mobile phone does not work in Mexico, consider purchasing a Telcel phone for about $50 and buying a prepayed phone card. There are several Telcel stores in San Felipe. One is just south of Pete's Camp around km 179. One is on the right just past the glorietta (round about) as you go into town. Two are on the road south of town as you head towards the Marina. When you buy a phone card for $200 pesos or $500 pesos, you actually get more pesos than you have purchased. For example, if you purchase a $500 peso card, you receive over $800 pesos. The $500 peso card is the best deal because you get fewer bonus pesos with a $200 peso card than with a $500 peso card. However, the prepayed phone cards expire, so be certain not to buy more pesos than you will use before you return home. Outgoing calls to the U.S. are usually more than $1.50 per minute, but incoming calls can be as low as .20 cents per minute, depending on where the call is coming from. You can check the remaining peso amount on your card by dialing *333 and selecting option 1. If you want voice mail on your phone, you may need to visit a Telcel store to get help setting this up. San Felipe businesses accept both dollars and pesos. To obtain the most value for your money, use pesos as some businesses have a tendency to not convert the exchange rate correctly, to their benefit. Larger grocery stores with computers usually do the conversion correctly. Check the current exchange rate here. You can use your ATM card at the ATM machines in town (there is one at Bancomer, one at Banamex, and one at El Dorado Ranch by the La Palapa restaurant), but you will receive pesos, not dollars. Remember to mentally add a 0 to the amount you are taking out because the machine only gives pesos. So, if you select 100, you are only getting around $10 U.S. dollars. Instead, if you want around $100 U.S. dollars, select 1,000 pesos. Your bank will probably charge you around $5 for ATM transactions. Also, the ATM may only give you 200 or 500 peso bills. If it does, you may want to go into the bank to get 100 peso bills as many locations will not have change for bills as large as 200 or 500. In town, we prefer Banamex because you simple take a number when you enter the bank and sit until your number is called. Changing money is quick at Banamex. Out of town, we prefer El Dorado Ranch because the ATM usually provides smaller bills. Bancomer is quick to change money if the lines are not long. Wells Fargo Bank in the U.S. now has a program where you can link your Wells Fargo account in the U.S. with your Bancomer account in Mexico. You can transfer up to $3,000 between the accounts for a service fee of $5. You can then go to Bancomer to withdraw cash when you need it. Technically, you need to bring 1) a certificate of vaccination against rabies (dog and cats), 2) a certificate of good health from a vet, and 3) an international sanitary transit permit. All these things can be verified by the Mexican consulate nearest you. In reality, no one will check the paperwork of your animals in Baja. However, if you love your pet The electricity voltage is the same as in the U.S. The metric system is used in Mexico.
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