Baja Trips

[Kesepton]

Hi, I know there are a lot of veterans of Baja on here and I was hoping you could answer a few questions. I didn't realize that my wife didn't have a passport and that mine was expired... We were hoping to go down March 25th - 29th.

My buddy who is going with us has told me that we don't need it, but we might get hassled at the border when coming back but still can get through. What are your experience with this? I was reading that they wont even sell you an FMM unless you show your passport now. Do I even need this?

Another thing is that Easter will fall during that weekend. Any ideas on what to expect in that area? We were really hoping to have a quiet Baja get away, especially for our first trip, but I am afraid that itll end up being pretty crowded. Or, are the "easter crowds" still more private than the usual weekday crowd?

I know about the trip that's suppose to be scheduled during that time and hope to hook up with those guys when we get down there. If nothing else than to say hi.

Thanks for the help guys.

[YakDout]

The FMM is required no matter length of stay. Free if you want one for under 7 days. You can get a 6 month for a small fee. You are correct that you need a passport to get an FMM as they put the passport number down on the paper. Its not to say that people still go down not knowing they need one and get away with it. Its only a matter of time you get checked at an inspection though. Not sure what the consequences would be as mexico does not have the same type of "book law" as we do. I would say at minimum I would want to bring birth certificate with you if you dont have a passport, otherwise you could be tied up at the border for quite some time. Probably lots of paperwork and questioning if they felt so obliged.


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[svendawg]

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]

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]

Don't risk it.

It is not worth the risk.

[rossman]

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]

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.