Geocaching in Mexico

[+T-Man95]

We are going to Puerto Vallarta in March 2008. Saw there were a few geocaches in the area, and thought we'd take our GPS. Has anyone gone through mexican customs at the airport with one of these things? Are we supposed to declare it or not?

[+Seasoned Warrior]

We are going to Puerto Vallarta in March 2008. Saw there were a few geocaches in the area, and thought we'd take our GPS. Has anyone gone through mexican customs at the airport with one of these things? Are we supposed to declare it or not?

 

I take quite a bit of electronics into Mexico regularly. I fill out a form on the US side that says I have the stuff and that I am going to bring it back. The most problems I've ever had has been with US customs and they will make you pay taxes on stuff you bring into the US in excess of your allowed amounts. I'm sorry but I don't know the declaration form number but make sure you have before you leave the US. this just seems to be general policy, I've had the same situations when coming in from the Caribbean as well as Europe. It also depends on your port of entry, I've had fewer problems in San Ysidro, CA and El Paso, TX seemed to be the toughest.

[+Seasoned Warrior]

The form you need is the Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad, Customs form # CBP Form 4457, available in PDF format Here Make sure that you ahve a customs official sign it, and they will want toe se the items and verify the serial numbers. I usually don't get asked but I have enough stuff between cameras, and other elctronic eqipment to not want to pay tariffs. Good luck, I love PV and own property there at Bahia Banderas. Great place to visit.

[+Ambrosia]

We flew down to Cabo a couple years ago, I don't remember any issues. Caching down there was a great experience, one of my favorites. Good memories!

[+hydnsek]

I haven't been to Mexico with my GPS and other gizmos, but it never even occurred to me to declare them when I went to Europe a year ago. Maybe it should have...but luckily, I was never asked about them at any point, including re-entering the US and traveling through five countries.

[groundhog123]

The form you need is the Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad, Customs form # CBP Form 4457, available in PDF format Here Make sure that you ahve a customs official sign it, and they will want toe se the items and verify the serial numbers. I usually don't get asked but I have enough stuff between cameras, and other elctronic eqipment to not want to pay tariffs. Good luck, I love PV and own property there at Bahia Banderas. Great place to visit.

 

I' ve never declared any of my electronic gadgets while traveling abroad. Never had a problem. I always carry my cameras, GPS etc. in carry-on. Been to Germany, Japan, Mexico, Bahamas and always zipped right through customs. Maybe I have been lucky.

[+BlueDeuce]

We are going to Puerto Vallarta in March 2008. Saw there were a few geocaches in the area, and thought we'd take our GPS. Has anyone gone through mexican customs at the airport with one of these things? Are we supposed to declare it or not?

 

Huh, I'll be there in two weeks. I only saw one in the area Puerto Virtuallarta . After that you're talking 12 - 16 miles for the next ones. I don't plan on traveling that far out so I'm leaving the gps at home.

 

I was talking to some of the people who logged the virtual recently and was told there are plenty of "internet cafes" so you don't have to bring a laptop either.

[+Roaring_Fork]

We were in Cabo San Lucas last week and took three cameras and my GPS unit with no problems. I even used the GPS unit in the plane (Frontier Airlines) to track our flights. A flight attendant asked me what my GPS was and I showed her where we were and how fast we were flying. She thought it was cool!

[+usyoopers]

We have never filled out any forms declaring what we brought IN the country, OUT (your purchases) is another story.

 

We have traveled to Italy and Mexico with the GPS in tow. We just tuck them in the carry on bag along side the camera...never had any questions!

[+Seasoned Warrior]

I find it really curious when someone asks a question and then the question is answered correctly why do others assume that their experience is the definitive answer. Perhaps you have not had to declare anything leaving the country because of the difference in value between what I carry and what you carry. If you go to

 

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation...ister_items.xml

 

Which includes the following statement that I consider the definitive answer considering it comes from the enforcement agency as opposed to anecdotal information from someone who for many reasons may not have encountered the situation.

 

From Customs Enforcement website "If your laptop computer was made in Japan—for instance—you might have to pay duty on it each time you brought it back into the United States, unless you could prove that you owned it before you left on your trip. Documents that fully describe the item—such as sales receipts, insurance policies, or jeweler's appraisals—are acceptable forms of proof.

 

To make things easier, you can register certain items with CBP before you depart— including watches, cameras, laptop computers, firearms, and CD players—as long as they have serial numbers or other unique, permanent markings. Take the items to the nearest CBP office and request a Certificate of Registration (CBP Form 4457). It shows that you had the items with you before leaving the United States and all items listed on it will be allowed duty-free entry. CBP officers must see the item you are registering in order to certify the certificate of registration. You can also register items with CBP at the international airport from which you’re departing. Keep the certificate for future trips.

 

Sounds a lot like what I said. I have been doing this since 1963 and have had situations arise when the 16mm Arriflex I had in my luggage along with the 20 lenses, the bulk film reels, tripods and other accessories would have been taxed had I not taken the precautions. The same goes for today with the digital equipment I carry. I have no idea whether the original poster had a cheap throwaway GPS or a Total Station. My reply was fact, YMMV!

[+Cedar Grove Seekers]

I find it really curious when someone asks a question and then the question is answered correctly why do others assume that their experience is the definitive answer. Perhaps you have not had to declare anything leaving the country because of the difference in value between what I carry and what you carry. If you go to

 

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation...ister_items.xml

 

Which includes the following statement that I consider the definitive answer considering it comes from the enforcement agency as opposed to anecdotal information from someone who for many reasons may not have encountered the situation.

 

From Customs Enforcement website "If your laptop computer was made in Japan—for instance—you might have to pay duty on it each time you brought it back into the United States, unless you could prove that you owned it before you left on your trip. Documents that fully describe the item—such as sales receipts, insurance policies, or jeweler's appraisals—are acceptable forms of proof.

 

To make things easier, you can register certain items with CBP before you depart— including watches, cameras, laptop computers, firearms, and CD players—as long as they have serial numbers or other unique, permanent markings. Take the items to the nearest CBP office and request a Certificate of Registration (CBP Form 4457). It shows that you had the items with you before leaving the United States and all items listed on it will be allowed duty-free entry. CBP officers must see the item you are registering in order to certify the certificate of registration. You can also register items with CBP at the international airport from which you’re departing. Keep the certificate for future trips.

 

Sounds a lot like what I said. I have been doing this since 1963 and have had situations arise when the 16mm Arriflex I had in my luggage along with the 20 lenses, the bulk film reels, tripods and other accessories would have been taxed had I not taken the precautions. The same goes for today with the digital equipment I carry. I have no idea whether the original poster had a cheap throwaway GPS or a Total Station. My reply was fact, YMMV!

 

I find it really curious that you assume your answer is definitive. Would the US Customs and Border Patrol have any jurisdiction over someone travelling from Canada to Mexico? Based on the caches the OP has found, I'd guess he is Canadian.

 

Not that my experience is the definitive answer, but I've never had a problem with my GPS or camera equipment with either Canadian or Mexican authorities (at various locations in both countries).

[+Scare Force One]

Just don't drink the water .

 

~.~Scare Force One

[+Ambrosia]

I find it really curious when someone asks a question and then the question is answered correctly why do others assume that their experience is the definitive answer. Perhaps you have not had to declare anything leaving the country because of the difference in value between what I carry and what you carry. If you go to

 

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation...ister_items.xml

 

Which includes the following statement that I consider the definitive answer considering it comes from the enforcement agency as opposed to anecdotal information from someone who for many reasons may not have encountered the situation.

 

From Customs Enforcement website "If your laptop computer was made in Japan—for instance—you might have to pay duty on it each time you brought it back into the United States, unless you could prove that you owned it before you left on your trip. Documents that fully describe the item—such as sales receipts, insurance policies, or jeweler's appraisals—are acceptable forms of proof.

 

To make things easier, you can register certain items with CBP before you depart— including watches, cameras, laptop computers, firearms, and CD players—as long as they have serial numbers or other unique, permanent markings. Take the items to the nearest CBP office and request a Certificate of Registration (CBP Form 4457). It shows that you had the items with you before leaving the United States and all items listed on it will be allowed duty-free entry. CBP officers must see the item you are registering in order to certify the certificate of registration. You can also register items with CBP at the international airport from which you’re departing. Keep the certificate for future trips.

 

Sounds a lot like what I said. I have been doing this since 1963 and have had situations arise when the 16mm Arriflex I had in my luggage along with the 20 lenses, the bulk film reels, tripods and other accessories would have been taxed had I not taken the precautions. The same goes for today with the digital equipment I carry. I have no idea whether the original poster had a cheap throwaway GPS or a Total Station. My reply was fact, YMMV!

Wow. I just wanted to share my experience with them, and affirm that we had a good time caching in Mexico. Our experience doesn't in any way negate your experience, nor yours ours.

 

The thread wasn't over the moment you posted.

[+egami]

Time to lynch Season Warrior...quick, pile on!

[+Ambrosia]

Time to lynch Season Warrior...quick, pile on!

So what.....it's ok for him to say something negative towards us, but not for me to disagree with him? I'm getting tired of your posts.

[groundhog123]

I find it really curious when someone asks a question and then the question is answered correctly why do others assume that their experience is the definitive answer. Perhaps you have not had to declare anything leaving the country because of the difference in value between what I carry and what you carry. If you go to

 

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation...ister_items.xml

 

Don't recall anyone writing that your response was incorrect. Others were just giving their experience traveling abroad with expensive electronic equipment........Oh excuse me, I forgot, you carry much more expensive equipment than myself.

[+egami]

Time to lynch Season Warrior...quick, pile on!

So what.....it's ok for him to say something negative towards us, but not for me to disagree with him? I'm getting tired of your posts.

 

Wow, no need to attack me...

[+BlueDeuce]

I find it really curious when someone asks a question and then the question is answered correctly why do others assume that their experience is the definitive answer. Perhaps you have not had to declare anything leaving the country because of the difference in value between what I carry and what you carry. <snip>

 

I don't think you are wrong, and in some places you shouldn't take a gps (such as Cuba).

 

In this case the OP asked about carrying a GPS to Mexico and in a fairly cache sparse area.

[+egami]

Duece, just my interpretation, but I think SW's main point was in regards to the duty, taxation and customs part of the question?

 

At any rate...do I dare ask about Cuba? Not that I'd ever waste time going there...

Edited November 17, 2007 by egami

[+BlueDeuce]

Duece, just my interpretation, but I think SW's main point was in regards to the duty, taxation and customs part of the question?

 

At any rate...do I dare ask about Cuba? Not that I'd ever waste time going there...

 

Yes, that was the main point of the response, and not wrong, but not specific enough to the question. Simply asking about taking a GPS to Mexico.

 

I'll link to the Cuba issue later, jr wants to play Sonic.

[+egami]

Duece, just my interpretation, but I think SW's main point was in regards to the duty, taxation and customs part of the question?

 

At any rate...do I dare ask about Cuba? Not that I'd ever waste time going there...

 

Yes, that was the main point of the response, and not wrong, but not specific enough to the question. Simply asking about taking a GPS to Mexico.

 

Ok, I guess I interpreted the OP's question the same way SW did being that he asked about customs and declaring items...anyway, it's all been answered it seems.

 

I'll link to the Cuba issue later, jr wants to play Sonic.

 

Enjoy! And, GO JR!

[+Seasoned Warrior]

ROTFLMAO

[+T-Man95]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. Good to hear you are geocaching internationally. I should have mentioned at the time that we'd be flying direct to PV from Canada, no stops in the U.S. Good observation, Cedar Grove Seekers.

 

Actually there are 7 caches in the PV area, if anyone is interested; the one on the Malecon that you mentioned, BlueDeuce, and another virtual in Bucerias, which is where we will be staying. Another in Sayulita, which we were planning to go to before I knew there was a cache there. One is way up farther north, but the name "Stairway to Heaven" and the descrition of the location sounds almost like it shouldn't be missed. The last 3 are in Yelapa, where everyones goes on the boat/snorkel tours anyhow. Sure, they may be far apart, but we'll be there 2 weeks, and it would be nice to add some caching to our sightseeing.