Visa ahead of sailing to Ensenada??

[wingover]

I am hearing different stories about sailing from San Diego to Ensenada. Some say you need to get your visa ahead of time some say just sail to Ensenada and get it there.
Anyone sailed there recently?

[Dos Gatos]

email jonathan at cruiseport marina in ensenada. He'll let you know. At cruiseport, you get documents services included in one night slip fee and he'll drive you to the office and walk you through the process. Visa, TIP, fishing license if you want and port fee if applicable.

[Bash]

Mexico: Visas Now Required in Advance — Noonsite

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Dos Gatos

email jonathan at cruiseport marina in ensenada. He'll let you know. At cruiseport, you get documents services included in one night slip fee and he'll drive you to the office and walk you through the process. Visa, TIP, fishing license if you want and port fee if applicable.

Jonathan is a great guy and cruiseport is a great place to stay (compared to the other options in Ensenada).

We cleared in a few months ago; no visa needed in advance.

There is usually a big disconnect between the official national policy (in this case, visas in advance) and what is happening at the local level (such as the port captain or captania). Mexico is a great country, but the laws can be confusing. I've found that 1/3 of the laws are enforced, 1/3 are selectively enforced, and a 1/3 are ignored. I see a lot of westerners, especially Americans, frustrated at the rather whimsical nature of things. In the US if the State Department says you need x, y, and z to do something, there's a 99% chance that you need exactly those things. In Mexico, not so much.

[Dos Gatos]

There is usually a big disconnect between... national policy... and what is happening at the local level.

+1

There is a new president and political party in power now. Mexico is all about change. They love to fiddle with policy.

Call Cruiseport and they'll let you know how things are being handled in Ensenada.

San Diego to Ensenada is a good overnight trip. Easy to arrive early am in a new country, with a new sunshine and all the vhf is in spanish. Good to know the idioma before you depart.

If you email the day before you leave, Jonathan will let you know your slip number. Otherwise, no guest docks at Cruiseport so just pull into an empty if you don't have one assigned. The office opens at 9. You can meet all the liveaboard Norte Americanos at morning coffee while Jonathan prepares your paperwork.