Things to Know Before You Go To Mexico

DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS

Do I need Mexican Auto Insurance? Yes, your U.S. insurance will probably not cover you in Mexico. Insurance is available at several outlets in Tucson and Nogales, AZ. Many club members use agencies that provide GE Seguros insurance (e.g., Budget/Sanborn’s 624-8154). We recommend that you get full vehicle coverage, including legal assistance and vehicle road assistance. The insurance period should cover you the entire time you are in Mexico plus some extra time for unexpected delays. Usually 8 a.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Monday is sufficient.

Documentation? You need your U.S. driver's license and vehicle registration or title. If you have a lien holder listed on your registration or title, you will need a letter from the lien holder giving you permission to take the vehicle to Mexico. The same applies for leased vehicles; you will need a letter of authorization from the lessor to allow you to drive the vehicle into Mexico. You also need proof of citizenship for you and all passengers, either a valid passport (check the expiration date) or notarized birth certificate. People under age 18, if not traveling with both parents, should have a notarized letter from the other parent authorizing the minor to travel (or signed by both parents if traveling with a non-parent). Drivers need to bring photocopies of their driver’s license, passport or birth certificate, and registration or title.

AT THE BORDER

Our usual route into Mexico is through the Mariposa Road (I-19 exit 4) truck route. This eliminates the main crossing in downtown Nogales, which can be busy and slow at times. The truck route stays open until 10:00PM for the return on Sunday night; if you arrive later than that you will have no choice but through downtown Nogales.

What about customs/immigration? Don't take any plants or flowers into Mexico. Do not bring any weapons (other than a packed dive knife) or illegal substances into Mexico. Penalties for possessing these items are severe. On the Mexican side of the border, you may or may not be asked to stop. A green light indicates that you may proceed without inspection. A red light indicates that you need to pull into the inspection bay so the officers can check the items you are taking into Mexico. Assure them that it is dive gear, personal clothing, food (aparatos de buceador, ropas, comidas), etc. and there is not usually a problem. Always be friendly and cooperate with Mexican officials. You can bring up to $300.00 worth of retail goods back to the U.S. and that may include one liter of alcohol. Do not bring back plants, produce or meats back into the U.S. Always be friendly and cooperate with U.S. officials.

AT THE 21 KILOMETER CHECKPOINT (ENTERING MEXICO)

Once you have cleared the border checkpoint and paid the first toll, you will have to stop at 21 kilometers from the border to obtain a visa and a permit to drive your vehicle into Mexico. The steps (in order) are: 1. Obtain a visa for the driver from the Migracion office; 2. Obtain a photocopy of the visa and other documents; 3. Obtain a vehicle permit from the Only Sonora office; 4. Drive your vehicle through the inspection gate.

21-Kilometer Checkpoint

Visas: Drivers need to obtain a 3-day (free) or 180-day visa (205 pesos) from the Migracion office located behind the Only Sonora building. Visas for passengers may be obtained at your discretion. Obtain and fill out the visa request form (Forma Migratoria Para Turista, Transmigrante) and then present your passport or birth certificate for approval. Once you have the visa, get a photocopy of the visa at one of the photocopy services located behind the Migracion office. Then proceed to the Only Sonora office to obtain the vehicle permit.

Migracion Office for Visa

Vehicle Permits: Drivers need to obtain a 3-day (free) or 180-day (price?) vehicle permit from the Only Sonora office. The permit must be returned when you leave Mexico. If you decide to get a 180-day permit be sure that you will be returning to Mexico during that period of time to return it. Present the copies of your passport or birth certificate, vehicle registration or title, and visa. The Mexican official will issue you a window sticker and a receipt, and will have you sign a keep a yellow form (Importacion Temporal De Vehiculos) that he or she will keep. Place the sticker inside your windshield on the lower passenger side of the window.

Only Sonora Office for Vehicle Permits

Inspection: Gather your passengers and drive through the inspection gate. A green light indicates that you may proceed without inspection. A red light indicates that you need to pull into the inspection bay so the officers can check the items you are taking into Mexico. Assure them that it is dive gear, personal clothing, food (aparatos de buceador, ropas, comidas), etc. and there is not usually a problem. Always be friendly and cooperate with Mexican officials.

21 KM Inspection Gate

AT THE 21 KILOMETER CHECKPOINT (LEAVING MEXICO)

When you are leaving Mexico, you must stop again at the 21-kilometer checkpoint but on the other side of the highway. A Mexican official will come out to your vehicle and will remove the window sticker. You need to give him or her the vehicle permit receipt you obtained earlier at the 21-kilometer checkpoint. He or she will take the sticker and receipt into the office and will return with the yellow form you signed. Be sure to get this form because it is your proof that you returned the vehicle permit. The yellow form can also be presented at the Only Sonora office when you return to Mexico to expedite the permit process.

21 KM Checkpoint Office When Leaving Mexico

U.S. Border Checkpoint When Leaving Mexico

DRIVING

How's the gas? Magna Sin, the unleaded gas, is available at Pemex stations along Route 15 south of Nogales. Do not use Nova regular in autos requiring unleaded gasoline! The gas is dispensed in liters, 3.86 liters per gallon. It’s best to pay for gas using pesos.

What about other auto service? If you break down during the day, Mexico has a fleet of emergency vehicles, the 'Green Angels' to assist travelers on highway 15 and other major highways. The Green Angels are trained mechanics who speak some English; services are free except for parts and gasoline.

How are the roads? Highway 15 South from Nogales to Guaymas is a fairly new four-lane highway, divided for much of its length, except through some of the villages, towns, and the city of Hermosillo. Even so, there are numerous places where one side may be closed for repair work, which diverts traffic to two-way on the side that is open. In the hills and low mountains, be aware of potholes and rocks that may be in the road, especially through cuts in the hills. Just be alert. It is still not a good idea to be traveling the open road in Mexico after dark - horses, cattle, and yes, even people, can wander onto the roadway and be hazards to driving. The roads in Mexico do not have much in the way of a shoulder to pull off on and the drop-off from pavement to what little shoulder there is can be up to a foot. Consequently, be alert for traffic stopped in the travel lanes for any number of reasons - breakdowns, flat tires, or just taking a rest (another reason not to drive after dark!). Make sure you slow (almost to a stop) to cross the topes (speed humps) that are in the road in various small towns and at tollbooths.

 

Beware: Topes (Speed Humps) in 1) 300 Meters and 2) Right Here

One of 3 Toll Booths in Each Direction

 

OTHER GOOD INFO

How many toll booths and what are the toll road fees? There three toll booths. The locations and fees (April 2003) in nuevo pesos are: Nogales - $33 nuevo pesos, Magdalena - $17 nuevo pesos and north of Hermosillo - $53 nuevo pesos. They will take American money but the change will be in nuevo pesos. The exchange rate is basically 10 nuevo peso to 1 dollar. It is recommended to check the current exchange rate before traveling to Mexico. The toll booths areas have restrooms and stores to buy snacks and drinks.

Can I drink the water? In most of Sonora, the water comes from deep wells and the water should be safe to drink. In San Carlos, the same is true. But, to be safe, take drinking water with you. You may also purchase bottled water in the markets in San Carlos or along the way. You will also want water to help keep you hydrated while diving, so it's always a good idea to take several bottles or a gallon or two of drinking water from the U.S. It is also a good idea to have water in your vehicle, since you will be traveling through the northern Sonora desert for most of the trip and IF you should have a breakdown, you will need water for you and your passengers. If you freeze a bottle of water (after taking a small amount out of the jug to allow for expansion when frozen), you can keep your cooler cooler on the way down without adding extra ice and the water will be cold to drink!

How are the hotels/motels? Tourist accommodations range from Mexican style Motel 6 to lavish resorts, with prices according. We most often stay at Motel Creston, which is clean and has cold air conditioning. The Hotel Tetakawi, a Best Western affiliate, is a notch above and is located east of most of the town of San Carlos but is next door to the Paradise restaurant. Farther up the scale is the Plaza Las Gloria, located at the old marina (San Carlos Marina) and the Plaza San Carlos located on Catch 22 beach northwest of San Carlos, but near the newer Marina Real. All the accommodations have air conditioning, which works most of the time (contrary to instructions sometimes posted, DON'T turn it off when you leave the room in the morning to go diving - you'll roast when you return!). Some items you may want to bring for the hotels/motels:

a. Your own washcloth (and possibly a spare towel of your own)

b. Your own pillow or pillows, with distinctive pillowcase.

c. A stopper for sink (if you need a basin of water for hair, etc.)

d. Alarm clock - or sign up with dive guide for wake-up service.

c. A couple of clothespins - can also be used to close the gaps in window drapes.

Motel Creston

How's the food? Excellent. Yes, you can get Mexican food in San Carlos. You can also get seafood, including fish, shellfish, etc. (in season), as well as beef, goat, and chicken dishes. San Carlos has some great restaurants and some adequate. Rosa's Cantina is the only place that opens early enough for breakfast before boarding the boat and there is usually a large crowd of divers in line for breakfast after 6:00AM. For dinner there are a number of other good restaurants including Blackie’s and El Bronco. For burgers, pizza, and other snacks and ice cream, Jax Snax is located across the street from Motel Creston.

Jax Snax

THE DIVING

The Sea of Cortez has been described as one of the eight premier dive locations in the world. While we do not have hard-coral reefs off San Carlos, there are abundant tumbled rock and rocky patch reefs, home to an abundance of Indo-Pacific and tropical reef fishes, as well as sea lions, dolphins, occasional whales (in the winter months), rays, and some pelagics (deeper ocean fishes). San Carlos is also a base for sport fishing for marlin, billfish, mahi mahi, and other game and good-eating fish. The rocky reefs also support a large variety of soft gorgonian corals, sea fans, algae, tube and Christmas tree worms, octopus, moray eels, nudibranchs, and various starfish.

How are the dive boats? We usually charter a boat from Gary's Dive Center in San Carlos and include tanks and air fills in the charter so that we don't have the hassle of transporting tanks. The boats depart and return to San Carlos Marina (on some trips, the boat will depart from O dock at the old marina but these will be indicated on the trip itinerary), located a couple miles west of San Carlos proper. Boat departure is scheduled for 8:00AM daily, unless other arrangements are made. The boats range from 34' to 46', depending on size of group, and are equipped with fire extinguishers, life vests for all passengers, two-way radios, and a tape player. All have a head (toilet) aboard and a swim/dive platform at the stern with a ladder to make entry/exit easier for the diver.

What should I bring on the boat? Your dive gear, including weight belt, cooler with extra water, soft drinks, snacks and something for lunch on Saturday, a towel, your sunscreen, a hat of some sort for sun shade. If you will need weights or a weight belt, you will need to let your Divemaster know before Saturday morning so that these can be on the boat for you before the boat departs.

WHEN THE DIVING'S DONE

Sunday's diving is usually scheduled so that we can return to the dock by noon, to allow us time to return to the motel, shower and pack up for the trip back to Tucson. Most of the motels have check-out time of 11:00 or 12:00 but we can usually arrange one or two rooms for later checkout and if everybody cooperates in taking turns in showers, get everything done and ready for lunch by 1:00 or 1:30PM. We usually meet at Jax Snax for a lunch before departing for the trip north on Highway 15. On the trip home, don't forget to stop at the 21 km checkpoint to turn in your car sticker, if necessary (and it will be if you have a SONORA ONLY sticker). There is also a checkpoint about 70 miles north of Hermosillo for the Federal Judicial Police; do not fail to follow instructions at this checkpoint. They will usually only want to know where you have been in Mexico and where you are going. If you're lucky, they'll just wave you on through.

HAVE A GOOD DIVE TRIP!

Updated 4/17/2003