Veracruz 101: Tips for Visiting Another Country

Visiting another country is full of many personal and gratifying rewards that you are unable to gain when vacationing only near your home. There is so much more to see that is different and new to you, but at the same time you have to respect this new culture that you have just landed in. Just like at home there are several things that you would not do because they are disrespectful and the same is true in other countries and cities, such as Veracruz. Mexico is unique in that you have to cross the border and this offers new unique challenges of its own.

First, it's important to begin with crossing the border into Mexico and driving in this country. Crossing the Mexican border is a uniquely stressful situation. Crossing the border into Mexico by plane is much easier than by car. The cost of a tourist visa is included in your airfare and you will need your passport. In the past all you needed was a birth certificate, but the laws have changed. Upon your arrival, you should be able to pass through customs and immigration with ease and little hassle.

Things get a little more complicated by car, but there are several different border crossings that you can use. Some are very busy as people pass through them every day and there may be hundreds of cars. Others are very remote and the traffic is very light. When you are driving into Mexico, you will have two lanes to choose from, one is the nothing to declare lane and the other is the declaration lane.

If you need to declare items with Mexican customs, then you need to process paperwork at the border. If you do not need to do this, then you will go through the lane for no declarations. There are several stop lights and in most cases you will not need to pull over, but if you do need to pull over the border patrol officials will do a quick check of your vehicle and then you will be on your way. If you are traveling in an RV, then you will want to go through the declaration lane because the border patrol generally checks these vehicles.

There are a few items you will need when crossing in your car. Searches are conducted randomly based on the red or green light that each car receives. There are several items you should not take into Mexico including guns, ammunition, drugs and knives. These items won't get past border patrol. You also need to purchase a tourist visa when you cross or before you cross. All non-Mexican citizens above the age of two need a visa. If you have a passport, they will stamp it to show your entrance. You also need a car permit and it helps to have Mexican auto insurance as well. This is because the Mexican government doesn't recognize American insurance and if you're in an accident you need to have coverage. A lot of accidents happen in Mexico at night, so it is best to not drive there at night at all.

To apply for your car permit, you need to have the title of the car, a passport and a major credit card with the same name as the title. Your car and papers will be examined to ensure that it was not stolen and that you have not broken any importation rules. These permits are usually good for six months and only cost about twenty dollars. The permit sticker goes on the front driver side window and you will go through another checkpoint.

Once you're in Mexico there are going to be some challenges with the language unless you know Spanish. It's always a good idea to have an English to Spanish dictionary to reference words. You shouldn't have too much of a hard time communicating and if you're in a tourist area there is a good change most people will speak English.

When you're coming home you will have to go back through customs and claim any items that you are taking home with you. You may have to pay taxes on specific items. Items you may not be allowed to bring back with you include fruits and vegetables and possibly water if it is not bottled and sealed. You will also need to exchange your money back to American bills before going home.

If you travel smartly and safely, you should have no problem enjoying your Veracruz vacation. Remember to have your passport and identification with you at all times and be smart about how you keep and store your belongings while you travel through the country.