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Advice for Travel in Mexico PASSPORTS
CUSTOMS
Once you arrive, take your forms to the immigration area and queue up in the lane sign posted for foreign visitors. At the desk, an immigration official will inspect your documents, write a number of days on the Tourist Permit that your permit will allow you to stay in Mexico for, stamp your Tourist Permit and Passport, return a copy of the Tourist Visa to you and ask you to proceed to customs. Important! KEEP YOUR TOURIST PERMIT SAFE for your departure! If you do not have your permit with you when you leave, you will need to undergo some Mexican Immigration red-tape. Once you have reclaimed baggage, take it and your Customs Declaration Form to the exit gate, where you will be presented with a Red/Green Traffic Light. Below the traffic light is a button, which you will be asked to press. If the light flashes green, you walk through without being inspected. If the light flashes red, your bags will be inspected, either casually or thoroughly. It is rare to come up red, but if you do just say everything you have in the bag besides basic needs are gifts for the house you are staying in. When you travel in Mexico do not pack your camera in your check-in luggage, there have been several instances where cameras have been stolen out of luggage, so this goes for all valuables- pack them in your carry-on. Also, keep an eye on your carry on luggage when going through security check points, x-ray machines, ect… (High crime in Mexico City, low crime in Puerta Vallarta, extremely low crime in San Pancho.) Regulations
Customs Allowances
into Mexico: When you travel in Mexico items for personal use will be allowed, new or used, but only in quantities that are commensurate with the definition of 'personal use'. If you are carrying large quantities of one item or if the Customs Inspector believes you are trying to commercialize your goods, then you may be interviewed further. When you travel in Mexico be aware that drug offenses, even small amounts of 'soft' drugs, e.g. cannabis/marijuana are likely to land you in a Mexican prison …don't expect your consulate to bail you out in this case because it won't be able to! 20-25 year prison sentences for drug and serious arms related offenses are not uncommon. MONEY AND
CREDIT CARDS You often cannot use credit cards when you travel in Mexico. In San Pancho, credit cards are not generally accepted (except at Costa Azul and La Ola Rica). You can easily pay with US dollars, but the rate is 10 to 1. There's a place to change money next to El Indio, the little market in San Pancho, but again, the rate isn't as good as the airport. The airport now has three ATM machines; so if one is broken, keep looking. Even if they have a limit of $3,000 pesos per transaction, you can make several transactions. Remember that a hundred pesos is only $10 dollars. There's also an ATM machine at the HSBC bank in Bucerias, which is about halfway between Puerto Vallarta and San Pancho, and there are a couple in La Penita, which is 20 minutes north of San Pancho. Tipping
Useful Telephone Numbers American
Embassy: Telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000
U.S. Consulates
General U.S. Consular
Agents |
