DESTINATIONS mexico los cabos customs-and-duties-29

TRAVEL TIPS

Customs and Duties

Upon entering Mexico, you'll be given a baggage declaration form and asked to itemize what you're bringing into the country. You are allowed to bring in 3 liters of spirits or wine for personal use; 400 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 200 grams of tobacco; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use; one video camera and one regular camera and 12 rolls of film for each; and gift items not to exceed a total of $300. If driving across the U.S. border, gift items shouldn't exceed $50, although foreigners aren't usually hassled about this. Although the much-publicized border violence doesn't usually affect travelers, it is real. To be safe don't linger long at the border.

You aren't allowed to bring firearms, ammunition, meat, vegetables, plants, fruit, or flowers into the country. You can bring in one of each of the following items without paying taxes: a cell phone, a beeper, a radio or tape recorder, a musical instrument, a laptop computer, and portable copier or printer. Compact discs are limited to 30 total and DVDs to 10.

Mexico also allows you to bring one cat or dog, if you have two things: (1) a pet health certificate signed by a registered veterinarian in the United States and issued not more than 72 hours before the animal enters Mexico; and (2) a pet vaccination certificate showing that the animal has been treated (as applicable) for rabies, hepatitis, distemper, and leptospirosis.

For more information or information on bringing other animals or more than one type of animal, contact the Mexican consulate, which has branches in many major American cities as well as border towns. To find the consulate nearest you, check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (go to the "Servicios Consulares" option).

Information in Mexico

Mexican Embassy (202/728–1600. www.embassyofmexico.org.)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (55/3686–5100. www.sre.gob.mx.)

U.S. Information

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (877/CBP–5511 in U.S.; 202/325–8000 outside the U.S. www.cbp.gov.)

BACK TO

Ready for a trip of a lifetime to Los Cabos?

CONTACT US TODAY