Before you go
The resorts will charge a fee if cancelled prior to their cut off date (usually 10-14 days before arrival), but will not refund any monies for a cancellation less than that. If you're visiting during a holiday, you won't get a refund at all if you cancel more than 24 hours after making your reservation.
But life happens. Kids get sick, parents need care, or a million other situations that might prevent you from going on vacation. Get trip insurance with Travel Guard , World Nomads, or compare multiple companies HERE. It's worth every penny.
Trip insurance can also cover medical bills if anyone gets injured while visiting. Though medical costs are only a fraction of what they are in the US, they have to be paid in full. Your medical insurance at home will be of no use.
Please see the full article at my blog.
Travel Insurance
Since Puerto Peñasco has mostly vacation rental condos and houses, cancellation policies are different than what you may be used to at hotels.
Crossing the Border...
Please also check our Border Info page for more details. This is certainly not the total list of do's and don'ts, but if in doubt, leave it home or make sure you have strong facts from official government sources that what you plan to take will be problem-free. Even then, consider just leaving it at home.
-
The border is closed from 12 midnight until 6am.
-
DO NOT EVEN THINK about bringing drugs, guns, ammo, or weapons of any kind into Mexico or into the US
-
While on the US side, enable your dashcam or your phone app dash cam. Put your wallet/passports in your pocket in case they ask you to get out of the car (they won't want you to take a purse or anything out)
-
DO NOT joke around. He may not be in a good mood and you don't want to delay your arrival, do you?
-
Randomly they will want to check paperwork on your trailer/jet ski/boat/ATV (bring all titles, etc.), to see if you're bringing items they want to collect tax on (have receipts if you're bringing new items), or see the paperwork for your furry four-legged friend (see here for pet info).
-
If they pull you over to check your car, just be respectful. If they ask you to step out of the car (which they have every right to do), don't make a fuss and follow all directions and you'll be on your way as soon as possible. When you get back in, ensure your camera, computer, etc are all there (just in case).
The Mexican side...
Sonoyta:
I know you're looking forward to the beach and a frosty beverage, but DRIVE SLOWLY through Sonoyta. The police are notorious for catching people where the speeds change (frequently).
20kph = 12mph, 40 = 25mph, 60 = 37mph. (Most car speedometers show both anyway.) From the border to the center of town is 25 mph. Just after the right fork it goes down to 12mph for a couple miles until after the Ley grocery store. Then back up to 25mph. As you get to the outskirts of town, follow the flow of traffic through the desert (usually around 75mph). Pull to the right to let people pass you (often).
It's far better to "waste 20 minutes" crawling through town, than waste a few hours at a police station. Sonoyta's not that big of a town, you'll be on the open road soon enough. Once you've passed town, it will take less than an hour on the well-paved road through the desert.
If you DO get stopped for speeding, please see our section on Local Police
