Cash and Credit Cards - Page 23
March 20, 2007 Reader Report -
Thought you
might like to know that there is a bank and ATM in Mulege now. -
Courtesy of Marilyn and Ray Broomfield
Crossing the Border - Page 24
March 31, 2007 Update - The passport stamp plot
thickens. Today we departed Mexico at the Santa Teresa crossing just west
of El Paso. We found a sign (in English) posted which read as follows:
Read duties and obligations on back of your
Migratory Form (FMN, FMVC or FMT Permit).
The migratory Form has a $237.00 pesos fee and has
to be paid in any bank in Mexico, please read list in the back of the
Migratory Form (Permit).
The Migratory Form has to be returned IN PERSON to
any Mexican Immigration Office (not to the Consulate), right when you are
leaving the country and before the expiration date.
Avoid fines, make sure that the officer stamps
your passport when issuing and when canceling (returning) your permit.
If you got a Migratory Permit previously and you
lost it, you don't have it with you and/or your passport shows lack of a
stamp out, you won't be able to get a new one unless you get a
Comparecencia por Perdita de Documentos, (loss of Federal Documents
Report) from the Averiguaciones Previas Office (police department).
If an untimely opened stamp on Migratory Form
(Permit) has to be closed (or returned), a fine of $50.87 pesos has to be
paid for each day that got overdue.
Don't get confused, when you cancel the car permit
(in its case), you are not canceling the migratory permit, the migratory
permit has to be canceled in the Mexican immigration offices.
Although the language is a little hard to follow it
is apparent that passport stamps are now being used to control the
issuance and collection of visas. We've been expecting that the system
would eventually be in place to make sure people turn in their visas when
leaving Mexico, now it apparently is. Unfortunately, the process is
confusing and officials are sometimes trying to claim that stamps should
be in your passport even though they were not always available in the
past. Our advice is to make sure you get your passport stamped when
entering Mexico, turn in your paid visa form when you leave, and get a
Salida stamp in your passport to prove you've done so. Note that although
we have returned our visas religiously over the years we still had some
entry stamps in our passport without matching exit stamps. The Migración
officer, this time, was not concerned about that and did not give us any
problems.
March 4, 2007 Update - We have been receiving
requests for information from folks who have heard that they must leave
Mexico at the same crossing they used when entering. This is not true, you
can enter and leave at any crossing with a Migracion office. If you need
to give up your vehicle hologram you must make sure it's a crossing with
an Banjercito office.
March 2, 2007 Update - Although we have never had this
happen to us we are beginning to hear reports from others. Sometimes, when
you enter Mexico by RV, your passport gets stamped with an entry stamp. If
so you must make sure that you get it stamped again when you leave. Some
people have recently been threatened with fines for not doing this. In at
least one case significant legal fees were incurred in getting a proposed
fine reduced.
Ferries - Page 29
December 15, 2007 Reader Report - Have just taken ferry from La Paz to Topolobambo. The ferry is ex Stena lines from Europe and very nice. Wanted to go to Mazatlan, but quoted 12,500 pesos for 28 ft motorhome! More than a semi trailer, according to advertised prices. This run is 6,240 pesos for the rig and 710 pesos per person, which includes meal and drink. Friends in 19ft van paid 3,110 pesos. Buying ticket was long process, we were at office in line-up at 9am, didn't get tickets til 11. Then went and parked in loading area. What a fiasco, the ramp was so steep, many of the semi trailers were unable to get up, they were supposed to reverse! Loading had started before we got there, and continued for several hours. Scheduled departure time 3pm, 1/2 hour later we left. Supposed to be 5hr trip, it was well past 11pm before we were unloaded. Driver only allowed to vehicle deck, so trying to link up afterwards a nightmare as no designated pick up area. One good thing, we were allowed/encouraged to stay in terminal parking area overnight. Suggest people allow lots more time than we are accustomed to in US/Canada, nothing moves efficiently in the whole process.
Low Sulphur Diesel - Page 30
October 31, 2007 Update - October 31, 2007 Update - I know for certain that Pemex is working like crazy at the refinery level to get the new fuel out to the stations. All diesel truck engine manufacturers in Mexico now specify ULSD and sales of new commercial trucks are way down. Good thing the manufacturers had an inventory of earlier Moderate Sulfur engines. One of the criteria that Pemex specified for the news release and advertising of ULSD at the station level is for "enough" of the new fuel to flush out all of the old fuel from station tanks to insure that anything dispensed at the pump will not violate whatever specifications the new fuel is meant to meet. I helped my dad run a large gas station back in the seventies. It did a lot of volume yet it took more than six months before the new unleaded gasoline flushed out the heretofore leaded regular bulk tank! At least that is what the California Emission Control headquarters told us. - Courtesy of David Eidell
October 25, 2007 Update - We've been receiving some questions about the availability of low sulphur diesel in Mexico. As you probably know all diesel-engined vehicles sold in the US and Canada, beginning with the 2007 model year, require the use of low sulphur diesel. I've questioned reps of major manufacturers and they tell me that any use of higher sulphur fuels will cause a breakdown within very few miles, and also probably void the engine warranty. Almost all diesel sold for vehicles in the US and Canada is now OK for those 2007 vehicles. I asked David Eidell, a long-time Mexico traveler and also the operator of Flores de Las Peñas RV Park near Ixtapa (page 161 of the third edition) to look into this and here's what he found:
I intercepted the following breve from Petroleos Mexicanos with more information about the possibilities of actually seeing ultra-low sulfur diesel in the near (rather than far) future:
Ok Guys, here you go... the memo (resumed and translated, if you want to read the full note, in spanish, go to: http://www.apartados.hacienda.gob.mx/novedades/espanol/docs/comunicado_095_2006.pdf):
On January 30th, 2006, the Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), published in the Federal Official Diary, the "Specifications for fossil fuels for the protection of the environment", in which are stated the new requirements Pemex will have to comply with, in order to produce and commercialized the fuels and diesel that are sell throughout our country.
The new Premium Ultra Low Sulfur, should have an average of 30 millions per part of sulfur (30 ppm), while the new Pemex Diesel Ultra Low Sulfur will have a maximum of 15 ppm.
These new norms and specifications, are the result of a revision process that started in May of 2002, and in which the private, public and academic sectors participated.
It must be noted that Pemex began to delivered the Premium fuel with the required specifications on October 2006. The quality required should be gradually met, due to the actual existence of fuel in the Gas Station's tanks, with a high content of Sulfur.
Regarding Diesel Ultra Low Sulfur (Diesel UBA), it's introduction began on October 2006, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. In January 2007 in will be extensive throughout the Northern part of Mexico and then to the rest of the country.
Editor's note - the following is Dave's analysis:
We should be reminded that in Mexico we only have two kinds of Diesel... Regular diesel and Marine diesel... that is it... while in the States the are several ones, each with different quality and quantities of sulfur.
This is a little confusing, but all-in-all I believe that it (the letter) is trying to tell us that the company had reforulated its diesel to "low sulfur" and now it is in the process of converting to ultra low sulfur diesel.
Most of the gasolineras have banners announcing that premium gasoline is "UBA" and they have been around for perhaps the last eight months.
But none of the stations that I have encountered so far have a banner declaring a new diesel fuel.
I will keep current on this and hopefully we will hear of a new diesel before it becomes "old news".
Saludos!
David
Editor's further note: Sounds to us like Pemex started producing and delivering diesel with 30 ppm of sulphur in October 2006. Hope that's right but we haven't been able to confirm it for sure. We'd appreciate a note from anyone with further information. If you have a diesel vehicle you should check with the manufacturer to see what its fuel requirements are. You might consider skipping Mexico this year unless you can be sure that diesel meeting your vehicle's specifications is available.
Fuel Prices - Page 30
November 4, 2007 Reader Report- Magna sin (regular gas) is 7.01 pesos per liter and diesel is 5.93 pesos per liter or $2.45 and $2.08 US, respectively/gallon at rate of 10.8pesos/ US dollar. - Courtesy of Bruce and Linda DesChamps
Century Beach Resort - North of Rosarito -
Page 55
February 20, 2007 - The Century Beach Resort at Km 25 N
of Rosarito Beach is open but no longer accepts RVs. The RVs are gone, and
so are the spaces and hook-ups. Too bad, it was a great location. -
Courtesy of Rainer Wilson
Trailer Park Martin Quezada Ruíz - San Ignacio - Page 121
January 31, 2008 Update - Recently Martin died suddenly and the gates were locked. No dates out to dry. Not sure of the future status. - Courtesy of Larry and Joyce Space
Playa Santispac - Bahía Concepción -
Page 139
May 15, 2007 Reader Report - Playa Santispac continues to
evolve. All of the semi-permanent structures have been removed and the
palapa owners have relocated them to other Bahia de Conception Playas. RV
camping is still OK at $7 per night, if there are no permanent structures
involved. Ray's restaurant has burned down and the chef has opened a
restaurant in Mulege. Anna's restaurant is still open. Rumors abound about
some unknown development taking place at some unknown time. In the mean
time, Santispac was little used while we were in the area. The playa is wide
open and beautiful. Beach-front camping awaits. - Courtesy of Kim Vogley
and John Smaker
Playa Escondida, Bahía Concepción -
Page 140
May 16, 2007 Reader Report - Eco Mundo, the kayak
operator just south of Posada Conception, has gone out of business. All of
the small "eco-structures" were burned down. The large central building
remains but is closed up. Play Escondida remains unchanged. - Kim
Vogley and Jon Smaker
Aquamarina Trailer Park, La Paz - Page 167
November 3, 2007 Reader Report - For information, we arrived in La Paz November 01, 2007 to find Aquamarina RV Park permanently closed. - Courtesy of Dave & Leslie Shefley
Editor's Note - The Aquamarina is definitely closed. In fact, we received this message from the owners:
The Aquamarina RV Park in La Paz has ceased to operate and is closed permanently due to a land sale. In many ways we regret this decision to close. Thank you, Richard and Mary Lou Adcock, Owners
La Paz Trailer Park, La Paz - Page 167
November 3, 2007 Reader Report - For information, we arrived in La Paz November 01, 2007 to find La Paz Trailer Park permanently closed. - Courtesy of Dave & Leslie Shefley
Editor's Note: Based upon our own experience and messages like the one below we're not sure if the La Paz is really permanently closed, but it may be. We'll see what happens later in the year.
June 7, 2007 Reader Report - We have just stayed at the
La Paz RV Park in La Paz. We have been here before and liked it but it was a
bit of a disappointment this time. There was no hot water in the showers and
no one around to assist in any way. They keep the gate shut all the time and
we saw many RVs stop and pass by due to the fact that no one came around to
open it and let them in. The rates are the highest in town at $24 US. They
do now have Wi-Fi if you can get the gal in the house to come out and give
you the security code but we never did figure out if there was a laundry
here anymore.
El Cardonal's Hide-a-way Resort - Los Barriles -
Page 185
February 5, 2007 - The following report may mean that access
to this resort is again only possible by the rough and sometimes steep
coastal road. If so that would mean that only vans and small and nimble RVs
will be able to reach the Hide-a-way:
We stayed in Los Barriles, and decided to take a day trip
N. in our Jeep up to Bahia los Muertos. I was also interested in seeing El
Cardonal for a possible future trip. We headed north and soon hit the paved
road over the mountain. I presume this is what you describe as the "new"
road. It has now been severely damaged by storms. Much of the road was one
lane due to rock slides and cave ins. We drove up and over the first
mountain and started up the second. The road was so badly undercut that I
could not imagine driving any RV on it!. In many places the pavement
remains on the edge of the cliff, but there is no support underneath. We
decided it was not a safe trip even in our Jeep, and returned to Los
Barilles. There were several road crews working, but it appeared much of
the road would need to be rebuilt. I do not know what the No. access is
like, but from the S. the "new road" is not suitable for any size RV. -
Courtesy of Pat and John Downing
Brisa del Mar RV Resort - San Jose del Cabo Campgrounds -
Page 200
February 27, 2007 Updates - February 27, 2007 Update - The
Brisa del Mar is no longer accepting daily RVers and their long-term folks
have been given notice. Looks like this old favorite is finally going to
close its doors.
La Jolla de Cortez - Puerto Peñasco -
Page 232
June 15, 2007 Update - This park is now closed.
Playa Miramar RV Park - Puerto Peñasco -
Page 236
June 15, 2007 Update - This park is now closed.
Playa Elegante RV Park - Puerto Peñasco -
Page 237
September 26, 2006 Update - It is reported that this park
will close on November 30, 2006. - Alan Clarke (www.gypsyy.com)
