sded gave a pretty complete answer to your question. Going on the Baja-ha-ha will mean that your first port of entry will be Cabo San Lucas. Even with the discount the ha-ha folks get at the marina there, you will find it expensive to stay. It might be worth staying over a night or two inorder to clear immigration (your first stop, if you're doing it yourself) and then the Port Captains Office (the stop after Immigration). You can pay your entry fee at the Port Captains Office by credit card, thus saving a trip back across town to the bank, but you must let them know in advance that you'd like to make payment by credit card before they begin processing your paperwork. The Port Captains office is open for 1/2 day on Saturdays, but they'll only handle clearing vessels out of the port, not entry.
You can also pay a fee to the local ships agent to do the paper work for you. If I recollect, people indicated the fee was around $100-$120 U.S., takes the agent a couple of hours to complete and allows you the freedom to relax after your last leg from
Bahia Santa Maria.
You can either get your temporary
import permit (TIP) on-line or in
La Paz. The office in
La Paz is located out near the
ferry terminal (on the southeast corner of the terminal building). Bring all your ships papers with you (copies of each speed the process) to get your TIP.
You do need Mexican liability
insurance. I'd recommend getting this before entering Mexico. As sded indicated, there is an enormous resource of information in the Baja-ha-ha paperwork you recieved, including where you can get insurance. There is also a great deal of useful information to be had at Down
Wind Marine on Canon Street in San Diego. The also provide a Cruisers Guide to Mexico both at the store and on-line (http:\\
Downwind Marine Inc).
There has been a change in fishing
license requirements since John A has gone to Mexico. You no longer are required to get a license for the boat or dingy; everyone else on board is required to have a Mexican fishing license. It's probably easiest to get them when you're in San Diego at H&M Landing on Shelter Island (located on Scott Street). Otherwise, they can be purchased in Mexico, but like almost everything else, are more trouble (e.g., take more time and effort) to get.
One further consideration if you're planning to
cruise the islands in the
Sea of Cortez. Since many of these are now part of a National Park system, you'll be required to get a permit (either daily or yearly, depending on what your plans are) that allow you to visit these islands. These permits (along with fishing licenses, if you didn't already get them in San Diego) can be easily obtain at Marina de La Paz, in La Paz. The yearly passes are relatively inexpensive and help defray some of the expense of patrolling and maintaining these beautiful islands and
anchorages.
I know you'll have a blast on the sweet sixteen of the ha-ha and will meet some great fellow cruisers and sailors. Be sure to get to know the Grand Poobah and Dona Maria on Profligate. They have a great job being able to do this each year, but do put in a great deal of time and effort to make sure it's a success. Anything you can do to help by volunteering your time would be well worthwhile. Fair winds and have fun!