Before You Go
Your RV/auto insurance from home will not cover you in Baja, and don’t drive without Mexican insurance. If you have an accident without it, you may be detained in jail for awhile until the authorities figure out what happened. Shop around for your insurance. A daily rate is very expensive (but available), so if you plan to stay for more than three weeks, a six-month policy would be cheaper.
You will also need a tourist card, if you are planning to stay for more than three days or if you travel south of Ensenada. You can get your card when you get your insurance at a travel club, or you can buy one as you cross the border into Mexico. Its also possible to pick one up in Ensenada.
Make sure your rig is in the best possible shape before you head south. Take along a good spare tire and take replacement filters, belts and hoses. On the main roads, help is usually available. You can also flag down one of the government’s Green Angels’ pickups that roam the highways to assist travelers.
The best time to go is late fall or early spring. In the summer the heat is oppressive. In the winter it can get downright cold – not Minnesota cold – but colder than you would expect.
Fuel, Food and Water
There’s no need to worry about fuel as you travel the main highways. You’ll find plenty of stations and most have diesel. Mexico stations do not take credit cards. Propane is available near most large towns.
I never use the local water at campgrounds. There are water-purification shops just about everywhere. They will run a hose out to your RV and fill up the freshwater tanks. You don’t have to stock your RV with food before you cross the border because you’ll find modern grocery stores in most of the bigger towns.
Credit cards are the best way to pay when you can because you get the best exchange rates. ATMs are found in larger towns and are the best ways to get cash. Traveler’s checks are a trusted old standby, but you can also use dollars.
to be contiuned next Thursday …………………………………………………
John Holod – RV Adventure Videos
John can be reached via email at www.rvadventurevideos.com or toll free at 877-783-7227. His personal appearance schedule and videos are also available at www.rvadventurevideos.com
Schedule:
January Schedule: 6th Auburn WA – 7th Bellevue WA – 8th Seattle WA – 9th Portland OR – 11th-13th (Jodie) Hartford CT RV Show – 16th-20th (Jodie) Tampa FL Supershow – 18th-21st Boston RV Expo – 24th – 27th Chicago RV & Camping Show
Rosalie Ellis
Yes there are insurances that cover you on both sides of the border. But, it is absolutely necessary to buy Mexican Liability when crossing over the border. As US insurance usually only covers the coach. You have to have personal liability per Mexican Law. We have traveled the Baja many times. Yes, the roads are narrow and you have to be alert at all times to approaching trucks so you don’t come too close and lose a mirror! But it is worth it. Beautiful scenery, wonderful people.
Scoundrel
“Your RV/auto insurance from home will not cover you in Baja”??
That is incorrect. Some insurance does cover you in Mexico and not just the Baja side but the mainland as well. Mine does…….Still I would agree purchasing additional insurance for Mexico is the proactive approach.
2oldman
” Traveler’s checks are a trusted old standby”
They are? I thought they were all but obsolete.
wyalusingwillie
Just call me an old fuddy-duddy stick in the mud (The Mississippi R. Mud!) but Baja sounds like a long way!