Mainland Mexico van travel

Border basics and permits

Mainland Mexico van travel rewards drivers with wild coastlines, cool highlands, and cities humming with food and music. Start with immigration and vehicle paperwork. Most travelers receive an FMM tourist card at the border or at a ferry terminal, valid for up to one hundred eighty days. Keep it with you during the trip and return it when you exit the country. Next is your vehicle authorization, which lets your van enter beyond the border region.

FMM and vehicle TIP

A Temporary Import Permit is required for most of Mainland Mexico. Obtain it at a Banjercito office at the border or at ferry ports. You will pay a refundable deposit based on model year plus a small processing fee. The deposit returns when you cancel the permit before it expires, so guard that original document. Carry copies of your registration and passport, and match the name on the permit to the person driving the van. If your route includes only limited free zones near the border you may not need a permit, but once you head south into the interior you should expect to have one.

Insurance and ferries

Purchase Mexican liability insurance from a Mexico based insurer since many foreign policies do not cover civil liability. Keep both digital and printed copies. If you plan to sail from Baja to the mainland, Baja Ferries runs routes from La Paz to Mazatlan and Topolobampo. You can buy a cabin to rest, and you must have your vehicle permit in hand before boarding. Arrive early for inspections and bring tie downs if asked.

Roads, seasons, and safety

Mexico offers two main road types. Cuota highways are toll roads with better pavement, reliable shoulders, and faster travel. Libre highways are free and slower, often passing through small towns. Choose cuota when you need distance and use libre when you want scenery and markets. Always slow for topes which are speed bumps of many shapes that keep local streets safer.

Tolls, topes, and checkpoints

Tolls are paid in pesos, so carry small bills and coins. Some plazas accept cards, but networks can be unreliable. Drive daylight hours to avoid livestock, unmarked speed bumps, or construction at night. Police and military checkpoints are routine. Slow, smile, answer questions simply, and keep documents ready. If asked to open storage, step out and assist without rushing. Respect on both sides keeps the line moving.

Camping, connectivity, and daily life

Camping spans beach palapas, family run RV parks, eco camps, and informal stays with permission. In popular areas like Nayarit, Jalisco, and Oaxaca you will find organized campgrounds with showers and electricity. Inland, balnearios and ranches sometimes allow paid camping with access to hot springs or pools. Ask before you park, keep noise down, and pack out your trash. In the rainy season choose elevated pads and avoid soft sand after storms.

Water planning matters more than miles. Bring a gravity filter or purifier for tap water and rivers. Many towns sell garrafones of purified water, and shops happily refill your containers. Propane is widely available, though fittings vary, so carry the correct adapter for your tank. Fuel stations are frequent on main highways. Magna is regular gasoline, Premium has higher octane, and diesel is common for commercial corridors. Watch the pump zero out before fueling and confirm the grade.

Cash flow is straightforward with a few habits. Use ATMs inside bank branches during business hours to reduce skimming risk. Keep small bills for tolls, parking, and markets. For connectivity, Telcel prepaid lines have broad coverage with good data packages, and eSIMs are becoming common. Messaging apps are standard for businesses and camp owners, so confirm with a text before you arrive. City driving is best during mid day hours, while early mornings and evenings are quieter in tourist zones.

Seasons shape routes. The dry months from November to May favor coastlines and desert tracks. The rainy stretch from June to October brings lush scenery along with slick clay and washouts inland. On the Pacific and Caribbean, tropical storms can arrive from late summer through fall, so watch forecasts and choose sheltered sites if a system forms. Highlands from Puebla to Chiapas sit at altitude, which means cool nights all year. Vehicles breathe better on climbs when cooling systems are healthy, and brakes should be in top condition before you descend into valleys.

Urban sightseeing adds texture to long drives. Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende offer walkable centers with secure paid parking lots near the action. Mexico City is best visited without the van unless you book a gated hotel lot. The coast shines with small beach towns like San Pancho and Mazunte where you can camp near food stands and morning surf. For mountain time, consider the Sierra Gorda or the pine forests outside Patzcuaro. In the south, Chiapas rewards careful drivers with waterfalls, canyons, and brilliant highland villages.

Health and comfort come from simple habits. Drink plenty of water at altitude and in humid zones. Wash produce with purifier drops and rinse gear in fresh water after salt air days. Keep a basic first aid kit plus sun protection and insect repellent. Learn key phrases for parts and repairs. Taller means workshop, refaccionaria is parts store, and gasolina premium is the name for higher octane fuel. A calm tone and patience turn minor problems into quick fixes.

Well prepared vans make the journey smoother. Good tires with sidewall strength shrug off potholes. A second battery and solar keep fridges cold on long beach days. Ventilation helps in tropical nights, and roof fans move air without draining power. Lockable storage keeps gear organized during checkpoints and border crossings. Mount recovery boards if you plan to drive onto soft sand or river stones.

OZK Customs builds and upfits vans that thrive on Mainland Mexico routes. Our team outfits rigs with dependable power systems, cooling that holds at the coast, and storage that swallows boards, bikes, and camera cases. We add suspension upgrades for rough pavement, custom racks for water and fuel, and Starlink installation for remote work days. If you want a van tailored to long miles, heat, and border checks, our crew will design a setup that fits how you actually travel.

Ready to plan your rig for the trip south and back again with fewer surprises on the road Give our team a clear picture of your needs and we will turn it into a smart, reliable build. Explore our Recreational vans, see how we approach Custom build vans, or browse Mainstream vans that align with your budget and travel style.

Tell us where you want to camp, how many miles you cover in a day, and what gear must come along. We will map power, storage, cooling, and connectivity to your plan and build a van that feels effortless from Baja ferries to Oaxaca beaches and highland towns. Fill out the form to start your custom build or upfit today.