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>Rosarito Beach Travel Tips

It is recommended to register with your consulate when you visit our country.

It is strongly recommended that you obtain full coverage insurance.

In case of accident notify the insurance company.

While driving respect and obey traffic signs.

If you are visiting Mexico for less than 72 hours and traveling only north of Ensenada, you do not need to file any paperwork with immigration. Just bring your proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or even driver's license) if you are American, or your passport and visa if you are a citizen of another country, for re-entry to the US.

If you are staying for longer than 72 hours, and/or traveling to Ensenada or anywhere farther south, you need a tourist card. You can get this visa at either the Mexican consulate closest to your home town or at the Immigration office near the border entrance. Make sure you have one of the following proofs of citizenship in order to obtain your tourist card:

>Passport

>Birth Certificate, accompanied by a photo I.D. or

>Voter’s Card, accompanied by a photo I.D.

It is necessary to have the migratory form with you while you remain in Mexico, and turn it in when you leave the country. Minors must come accompanied by their parents, or have a notarized letter from the absent parent, authorizing their leaving the country.

Tourists are permitted to enter Mexico with their personal effects and other articles necessary for their stay in the country. The Customs General Office, part of the Secretariat of Treasury and Public Credit, distributes brochures describing duty-free articles.

>To carry weapons without a permit is a federal offense in México.

>Importing sports weapons requires an updated permit, which may be granted by any Mexican consulate.

>Upon entry into México, declare all electronics equipment valued at more than $50. This applies to items that will be given as gifts. Provide a receipt for each item showing the value.

>Firearms, cartridges, bullet clips, explosives, chemical substances associated with weapons, ammunition, munitions, and other weapons (unauthorized buying and selling such items in México is a federal crime carrying severe penalties)

>All substances, products, goods and items regulated by Mexican trade laws

>Narcotics and other street drugs

>Items that carry diseases or harmful biological vectors (such as soil, hay or cattle feed, straw or artifacts made with straw, home made foods, fresh, dried, frozen, or canned meat and meat products, such as cold cuts, or smoked, salted, or preserved meats, coming from unauthorized countries.)

ATM machines are conveniently located all along the B. Juarez Blvd. in the tourist center of Rosarito. Many will provide only pesos, automatically using the current conversion rate when taking money from your bank account.

Taximeters are not widely used in Baja, when using a taxicab make sure to negotiate the fare before boarding. Have exact fare for public transportation.

(transfers to the USA)
Emergency Ambulance Transfer Service to the U.S. can be arranged through Medic One Medical: within Baja: 01(800) 027-3320, in the USA (888) 901-7037 and (619) 247-6768.

Further assistance can be obtained from the Baja California Visitor Assistance Hot Line 078 or any local office of the State Secretary of Tourism.

Dial the number 066 to notify the municipal police. Ask that a policeman and a police accident investigator come to the scene to make a report. Or you can call the Tourist Assistance Hotline 078.

Do not remove the vehicles that are involved in the accident.

Go with the accident investigator to the corresponding police station.

You have the right to call your vehicle insurance company representative to discuss the accident with the judge and the accident investigator to determine who was at fault.

If someone is injured, no matter how slightly, the person alleged to have done the injury must present himself at the State DA’s Office.

If no one is injured, the parties to the accident can go before a judge to make an agreement concerning payments for the repairs, thus avoiding going to the State DA’s office.

If you are stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation, you should always politely insist on a written citation. When faced with a fine that you consider unfair, you can contest the fine by filing an appeal, either orally or in writing, for a municipal judge to review the fine. To do this, immediately go to the nearest municipal judge, you can also call our Tourist Assistance Hot Line 078.

Remember that Mexican laws are applied equally to local residents as well as visitors who find themselves in Mexican territory. Always remember to carry with you a valid photo ID.