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Ensenada · Clearance · Paperwork · The Return

Your First Time to Mexico

Mexico is sixty miles from your slip and might as well be six hundred — not because of the water, but because of the unknowns: paperwork, clearance, fuel, comms. Do it once with someone who's done it, and it's a weekend run forever after.

Investment
from $150
Format
2–3 days
Where
San Diego ↔ Ensenada
Request Free Intro Lesson Call 858-230-5079
55ft Californian motoryacht — first trip to Mexico yacht training, San Diego to Ensenada
The Program

What this actually is

The passage to Ensenada is one of the most achievable international trips in boating — a day run down a well-travelled coast. What stops owners isn't seamanship. It's the stack of unknowns: the TIP, the FMM, port captain check-in, fishing licences, insurance riders, where to fuel, what the radio procedure is, and the low hum of 'what if something goes wrong down there?'

This program clears the stack. We handle the paperwork preparation together before departure so nothing is mysterious, run the passage south with you in command, complete the clearance process properly in Ensenada, and bring the boat home. You finish with a complete, repeatable playbook — documents, contacts, procedures — for every future trip down the coast.

Who It's For

You'll recognise yourself in one of these

The paperwork is the wall

TIP, FMM, port clearance, insurance — it's genuinely confusing the first time and trivial every time after. We do the first time together.

Baja is the dream

Cabo, the Sea of Cortez, the long trips south. Ensenada done properly is the first rung of that whole ladder.

You want the safety margin of experience aboard

International waters with a professional beside you for the first run — then it's yours.

The Curriculum

What we cover

01
Documents and clearance prep

Temporary Import Permit, FMM tourist cards, vessel documents, Mexican liability insurance, fishing licences — assembled and verified before we leave the dock.

02
Passage planning south

Routing, the border crossing, comms plan, fuel strategy, and contingency ports — built together in the planning session.

03
The run to Ensenada

You command the passage. Coastal navigation, traffic, and the rhythm of a proper international day run.

04
Clearing in, properly

Marina check-in, port captain procedure, and the local knowledge that makes the process smooth instead of stressful.

05
The return and your playbook

Clearing out, the run home, US re-entry (CBP ROAM), and a written playbook so trip two needs no help at all.

The border isn't a wall — it's a checklist. Complete it once with help and Mexico becomes the easiest big adventure your boat will ever do.

Straight Answers

Questions owners actually ask

What paperwork do I actually need?
Typically: vessel documentation, a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for the boat, FMM tourist permits for everyone aboard, Mexican liability insurance, passports, and fishing licences if anyone wets a line. Requirements shift, so verifying the current list is literally step one of the program.
Is it safe to take my boat to Mexico?
The Ensenada run is made constantly by cruisers and race fleets — it's a well-travelled, well-supported route. The program's whole purpose is replacing vague worry with specific preparation: comms, contingencies, insurance, and local knowledge.
Does my US insurance cover Mexican waters?
Often not without a rider — most policies need a Mexico endorsement plus separate Mexican liability coverage. This gets confirmed against your actual policy in the planning session, before anything is booked.
What does it cost?
Training starts from $150. Every program is scoped to your boat, your goals, and the hours involved — and you get a fixed quote before we book anything. No hourly surprises.
Start Here

Request a free intro lesson

One hour on your boat, at your dock. No charge, no obligation. You'll get a straight read on where you're at, what to work on first, and whether this program is the right fit. If it's not, I'll tell you.

Or just call
858-230-5079

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