Mexico
RVing in Mexico: Our experts answer your questions
By Dot and Bill Bell

Bill and Dot Bell

Dot and Bill Bell are Mexican RV experts and have taught and led seminars about camping in Mexico throughout Canada and the US. Their website, www.ontheroadin.com is considered the most up-to-date source about camping and RVing south of the border.

Questions this issue:

Fixed Income

Internet Reliability

Documents for Motor Home

Hi,
I'm on a fixed income of $1,700 USD per month. Is it really possible to park along beaches in the State of Sonora for free? If so, I would like to do this. Perhaps a month at an RV park and another month parked somewhere for free. Looks to me like most RV parks run from $250-$500 a month. Most around the $350 range. Is this a correct observation?

Thanks, R/ Don

Hi Don,

Free camping is possible but not recommended in Sonora. We say this with the following exceptions: There are experienced campers who know of safe places to park and will boondock year after year in the same place. They know the area and to some extent know the locals and authorities. We don't think it's safe to boondock without this experience or without people who have this experience.

Boodndocking in Mexico is enjoyed by many but we recommend caution. Bill Bell Photo

If you are on a budget and want to alternate between no hookups and a place with full hookups, we suggest the Bay of Conception in the Baja. The charge for the no hookup camping, right on the beach is around $7 per night. Often there is a sani-station and municipal water is delivered very cheaply. These places are close to heaven. There are also full hook-ups available in the small town of Mulegé which is less than ― hour to the North.

The cost per month for RV parks has risen, but your observations are correct. Plan for the higher amount and be pleasantly surprised when and if your bill is less.

Prices for fuel are definitely cheaper in Mexico. The border area charges more but after 100 miles or so the prices drop.

Adios, Dot & Bill

Dear Bill & Dot

We are going with you on the La Peņita Express caravan down the West Coast. Both Kris and I depend heavily on the internet for work and personal needs. I am wondering how good, how fast and how reliable the internet is, if it is even available, at La Peņita and the other places we will be stopping on the way down the West Coast. I am looking into purchasing some type of tripod internet setup if the internet is not available via Wi Fi at the camp sites. And this could and may lead into another whole discussion as to equipment and carrier for the tripod setup. But we won't get into that right now.

Please let me know about the availability and speed of any internet service that might be available.

Once again, thanks for any info.

J & K

Dear J & K,

Internet is becoming more and more common in Mexico and at various campsites. When you are coming down the Pacific Coast we stop at San Carlos where there are 2 RV Parks that supply high speed internet. (The Mirador and Totonaka) Mazatlan also has a park, La Posta that has reliable internet for a fee. La Peņita has internet although it takes a few days to get it up and operating once we arrive.

This is not to say that you cannot get signal in other places. There is a toll booth, for example, that we connect to on a regular basis as well as other hot spots that people leave open. Internet cafes are more prevalent in Mexico than in Canada or the US. Every small town has them.

Internet in Mexico is NOT as reliable as internet back home. The service provider, Telmex, can go off for a few hours at a time, although that happened for approximately 5-6 times over six months. We think the service is improving all the time.

However if you absolutely need to be connected with absolute reliability, then consider the Satellite systems. Before you buy however, visit some websites (i.e. Datastorm Users) and read all the problems and pitfalls of those systems. The uplink speed, for example, is terribly slow and you cannot use VOIP reliably. We know as we have a system but prefer to use WI-Fi or Park Systems.

We will ask if anyone has a satellite system in our group. Last year there were 3 rigs that had signal and they didn’t mind sharing it.

Adios, Dot & Bill

ps the Caravan this year is already full

Hi Dot/Bill,
My question is - our motor home is in joint names and the car is in my name. Can this cause any difficulty? If I am correct, I would assume responsibility for the car while my wife would take the motor home.

If there is a potential problem, we will make the necessary change when we register these vehicles in Alberta next month. Thanks for your advice on this issue.
Regards, Dennis

Dear Dennis,

There are new rules regarding bringing your vehicles into Mexico (temporary importation). Generally speaking, the one person - one vehicle per person rule applies. However under the new rules, one person can take 1 motor home and 1 tow vehicle into the country. (1 person is still not allowed to bring 2 cars across. Go Figure...)

For your particular circumstance, you can be responsible for both vehicles or you can split them up as you have outlined above.

Adios,

Dot & Bill

Helpful Hint: Water pressure in many RV Parks in Mexico is low. RVers often bring a small external pump to boost the pressure to their unit.

For more information about RVing and exploring Mexico, go to The Bell's Website or to ask your question about RVing in Mexico, write editor@ontheroadin.com