The legal stuff…and more…

I promised a blog on the paperwork you’ll need to be legal in Baja, and this is it:

• You’ll need Mexican insurance for your RX3.   We use BajaBound insurance exclusively.  They have the RX3 in their data and getting insurance is easy to do online.  Here’s the link:   www.BajaBound.com   If you get stopped in Mexico and you can’t show proof of Mexican insurance, you’ll be spending a lot more time in Mexico than will the rest of us.   Your regular motorcycle insurance won’t cover you in Mexico.  You’ll need to print a copy of your policy (which you can do online after you purchase it from BajaBound) and take it with you.    And just in case you were wondering, we don’t have any kind of a business relationship with BajaBound.  We just think they’re good folks and they are the only company we use.
• You’ll need your US passport.   You should carry that with you at all times.
• You’ll need a Mexican tourist visa.  We’ll stop for that in Ensenada.   I think it was $20 last year.

A few more words on expected norms in Baja…

• We’re guests down there.   It’s no secret that the relationship between the US and Mexico has deteriorated in recent months.  That should not affect us.  I’ve been following what’s going on in Baja and it’s all good.
• The pace of life in Mexico tends to be slower than what you are probably used to in the US.  The service is slower.  Just relax and roll with it.  If you act like a horse’s rear end things could (pardon the pun) go south quickly.   Be nice.
• If you enjoy a drink or two, save it for the evening after the bikes have been put away.  We don’t want anyone drinking (even a single beer) at lunch or at any time if we have more riding in front of us on that day.
• We will go through many military checkpoints.  Don’t photograph anything when we do so.
• At the checkpoints, it’s likely we’ll be searched.  Again, just roll with it.   Don’t be aggressive or attempt to explain your rights to the young, heavily-armed, and bored soldiers who are manning these checkpoints.   They will be interested in your motorcycle and they are only doing their jobs.  Just roll with it.  Be nice.
• We may be stopped on the way into Mexico as soon as we cross the border.  That’s something the Mexican government started doing intermittently a couple of years ago.  Don’t photograph or video anything, and don’t be cute trying to sneak a photo or video.   Again, just be nice and we’ll all be okay.
• I’ve never had anything stolen in Baja, but I’ve never left things laying around, either.  I always keep my wallet on me and I don’t leave anything on my bike (like a cell phone, a GPS, a Go Pro, a helmet, or a camera).

That’s about it as far as guidance goes.  I’ve always found the Mexican people in Baja to be extremely polite and very welcoming.  We’re going to have a good time, folks.