riding to Mexico - documentation?

[nevada72]

I'm planning a segmented trip to Xijuatanejo Mexico this January. I'll leave Wisconsin in the next couple of weeks and head to Arkansas. I'll park the bike there, fly home, fly back in 3-4 weeks, head to Texas, fly home and back, and then down to Mexico. I wish I could devote the time to a solid trip, but not a chance. Besides, getting away 1 week a month this winter is certainly better than nothing. After Mexico I hope to have the enthusiasm left to head to California, up to Vancouver, and then east to home. But, 1st things 1st - warm weather riding this winter!

I've been searching the archives to prepare for the trip and my biggest question is - What is the process for crossing into Mexico? As I understand it, I'll need travel documents per usual (passport), and current title and registration for my bike. Anything else?

[rocketman]

Best place for current info would be the Mexican Embassy site or the US State Dept site. You can get a "passport card" but it costs around $65 so if its for a one time use you would have to consider the cost factor, but it is certainly more convenient. I would guess you should check with your insurance for coverage out of the county. And unless you inform your cell provider you going there, you may not be able make calls, last time I visited Cabo I didn't do that and kept getting connected to a Mexican operator who didn't speak English so was never ever able to activate my service while there. Its also a good idea to leave an intermarry with someone, no matter how sketchy it may be.

RM

[Visian]

I've been searching the archives to prepare for the trip and my biggest question is - What is the process for crossing into Mexico? As I understand it, I'll need travel documents per usual (passport), and current title and registration for my bike. Anything else?

i wrote a trip report a few years ago.

a few posts down, there's a description of the documents you need. bring copies of everything.

buy insurance and have proof of it in hand before you depart. the link in my story is no longer applicable, but there are a number of alternatives if you search on "motorcycle insurance mexico".

the best advice i can give you is:

- ride with large huevos. in cities and towns, you will only get the space you need, not your full lane. avoid riding in mexico city.

- don't ride at night, there are lots of animals out there, some of them are humans with guns (narco-traffic)

- bring your heated jacket... there are lots of high elevations (read my story)

- don't plan on finding much in the way of good camping

- those little hotels on the outskirts of town, the ones with the courtyards that you can't see from the road are good places to stay, but they're not only for sleeping.....

- try to speak spanish to people, they will appreciate it.

it's a great place to ride.

ian

[beemerdons]

http://www.banjercito.com.mx/site/im...ionesIITV.html nevada72: Visian has an excellent Mexico travel article at his link, he covers everything that we at AZ Beemers would! My link above will take you to the newly expedited process for obtaining your Banjercito, the Mexican Vehicle Import Permit Form.

All eight AZ Beemers used this electronic tool to have our Banjercito stickers on our BMW's before we left Estados Unidos for Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

I am in firm agreement with Visian that you do not ride at night in Mexico; EVER!

Every close call that we AZ Beemers have had on our many trips into Mexico have involved breaking our cardinal rule of never riding after dark South of the Border!

For insurance, we at AZB really recommend www.mexpro.com based in Flagstaff.

If you stay in Mazatlan, Sinaloa we recommed Siesta Inn at Olas Altas in Viejo Mazatlan (Old Town). In San Blas we recommend Hotel Garza Canela next to the Navy Base. In Puerto Vallarta we recommend a hotel across the street from the Sheraton Bugambilias to save muy dinero; as long as you buy your food and drink from the Sheraton while there, you can use their beach and pool; no problemo!

nevada72: Keep your eyes on the Ride Reports section! In next 24 hours, our AZB member AZ-J will be posting an extensive photo article on the AZ Beemers Trip to the XII Convencion Internacional BMW Rally hosted by Ruben Tenorio and amigos!

[beemerdons]

nevada72: This is 2 years away and you may not want to leave your Wisconsin in October; ridden an M/C to Door County and know that you have Indian Summers.

But since this will require 3 weeks away from work and family, we at AZ Beemers are already negotiating with our bosses and La Familia to get away to Guatemala!

You and other BMW MOA Forum members are warmly welcome to ride with AZB!!!


"AZ BEEMERS OCTOBER 2010 RIDE TO CHIAPAS ESTADO FOR BMW MOTO CLUBS OF MEXICO INTERNATIONAL RALLY!

We AZ Beemers had such a wonderful time in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta this October for the Moto Clubs Rally in 2008; letÔÇÖs go to Chiapas!!

Phoenix to Guaymas, via Hermosillo: 8 hours and 425 miles.
Guaymas to Mazatlan, via Los Mochis: 11 hours and 490 miles.
Mazatlan to Puerto Vallarta, via Tepic: 6 hours and 285 miles.
Puerto Vallarta to La Mira, via Barra de Navidad: 8 hours and 365 miles.
La Mira to Acapulco, via Zihuatanejo: 5 hours and 225 miles.
Rest Day in Acapulco and have the significant others fly in to join us.
Acapulco to Puerto Escondido, via Cuajinicuilapa: 6 hours and 240 miles.
Puerto Escondido to Tuxtla Gutierrez, via Juchitan: 9 hours & 350 miles.

4 nights partying with our fine friends from Mexico Moto Clubs in Chiapas.

Tuxtla Gutierrez to Villahermosa, via Palenque: 9 hours and 250 miles.
Villahermosa to Veracruz, via Acayucan: 7 hours and 300 miles.
Rest Day in Veracruz and have companions fly home to Estados Unidos.
Veracruz to Tampico, via Tuxpan: 8 hours and 315 miles.
Tampico to Brownsville, Texas: 7 hours and 315 miles.
2 days: 18 hours and 1,250 miles from Brownsville back to Phoenix, AZ.

These times and miles came directly from the AAA Map and Guide Book.

AZ Beemers: Start saving your vacation time and dinero for a 3-week and 5,000+ mile trip to see our amigo Senor Ruben Tenorio in Chiapas 10/2010!"

[nevada72]

Thanks for the tips guys! I read through the links - great write up Ian and very helpful. Don, I'm going to start planning for that one. Sounds great!

[beemerdons]

nevada72: Since you will have the added mileage of getting to Phoenix to start the trip with AZ Beemers; you are welcome to store a truck and trailer at my place.

Our honorary AZ Beemer member Chuck Denison of Laramie, Wyoming who rode with us in Jalisco was on a thirty day trip to Mexico. Chuck did not know if he'd be returning to snow covered roads in WY on his return, he trailered his bike to Las Cruces, New Mexico; then rode his BMW R1200GS Adventure South from there.

[moshaffer]

A lot of excellent advice all ready. When I ride my bike out of the US, even into Canada, I ALWAYS phone my insurance agent and they have a common form they fill out and send you that shows your existing insurance is good in the country (s)you are travelling to. Also, notify your credit card company where you are travelling too so they know there will be charges coming in from out of the country and not block your card after they receive the first transaction, had that happen before. I don't know if this still is in affect today or not but I'm sure some of the other members can tell you, at one time what ever entry port you entered Mexico at you had to exit through the same one or pay a fine, bribe, at any other exit point. Good luck.
Mo

[nevada72]

nevada72: Since you will have the added mileage of getting to Phoenix to start the trip with AZ Beemers; you are welcome to store a truck and trailer at my place.

Thanks Don for the generous offer. Chances are good I'll make that trip.

For this winter, I'm still sorting through my winter itinerary and Arizona might be as far SW as I go this year. I'm rethinking my solo visit to Mexico in favor of joining a group. Much safer regardless of where one is traveling, but especially outside the US.

[beemerdons]

Our club has a number of members with very close ties still to Mexico: Martin Osete was born in Nogales, Enrique Garza's Mom was born in Magdalena, Sonora and Arte Montoya's Mom and Dad still live in Ciudad Palomas, Chihuahua Estado.

Our Phoenix local newspaper, The Arizona Republic, reports all activities going on in Mexico due to large immigrant readership; and things have been violent lately.

There was a huge shootout in Nogales last week and we narrowly avoided a shootout on Mexico Ruta 15 by six hours on our way South to Jalisco last month.

What's going on is "Narcotraficantes" are violently fighting the Federales to prove they can protect their drug trafficking against Mexican government intervention.

There's two cities in particular that we AZ Beemers try to get through as quickly as possible: Caborca in Sonora and Culiacan, Sinaloa. Muy malo drogas hombres.

Keep your eyes on our website if you want to ride into Mexico with us. We have a two night three day ride to Puerto Penasco over the weekend of February 28th.

We are riding to Real de Catorce from April 17 through 26th, 2009. You will need to rent a dirt bike for this trip. All of the details are at www.azbeemers.org/forum

[nevada72]

Keep your eyes on our website if you want to ride into Mexico with us. We have a two night three day ride to Puerto Penasco over the weekend of February 28th.

That sounds like a very good option. I checked the website and saw the off road trip. Very tempting and sounds like a gas, but I'll ease into this with a road trip.

It's a shame about the violence. It's that kind of stuff that confirms my decision to travel Mexico with people who know the ins and outs of an area. I've bungled my way through Europe, but the consequences are little worse than a bad meal.

[PAULBACH]

Find some time to read this thread

before you leave. A lot of good ideas have been posted by MOA members who have

• gone there
• seen the sights
• bought the tee-shirt &
• came home again

Best,

Paul

[rcryan]

Nevada 72: Last year 3 of us Wisconsinites did a Mexico/Guatemala ride leaving the day after Christmas through Jan 10th. We covered 4,300 miles and had a great time.

Paperwork needed:
1) Insurance as someone mentioned
2) Passport
3) DL
4) Bike registration

Note that we carried duplicate dummy wallets and extra copies of everything. We also cross carry each others papers in case of a serious problemo.

You must import you bike into the country which requires separate forms and a sticker for your bike. You'll need to pay a fee at a bank once in country that you show on the way out. We crossed at Matamoros both directions and it was fairly easy.

This year we are planning a return trip. We hope to make it to Belize and possibly El Salvador. Departure from Wisconsin will be Dec 26th. Trailer to Texas and ride to the border from Austin. We'll spend the night on the US side and cross early AM. Beat feet south to get as far south as we can on day one. I have more details if your interested. I found a great GPS Mexico map that loads into my GPS and makes life much easier.

[nevada72]

I have more details if your interested.

I am definitely interested. PM sent.

[beemerdons]

nevada72: Isn't this MOA Forum great stuff? The upcoming trip of rcryan and his Wisconsin friends sounds fantastic and it is wonderful that you can travel South with well seasoned Mexico traveling companions. By the way, a BMW gentleman named Todd from this Forum has also volunteered to ride to Chiapas, Mexico with AZ Beemers in October of 2010. More the merrier for our Guatemala Ride in 2010!