Latitude 38 ‘First Timer’s Guide to Mexico’ Available Now

Everyone remembers their first time. Though memory can be fuzzy, we know it’s always nice to have a guide to help you get started with anything new. Latitude 38 has been producing and updating the First Timer’s Guide to Mexico for a couple of decades, and, as always, it’s just in time for the Baja Ha-Ha. There are four ways you can get the 2026 edition. Three of them are free! You can read it online here. You can also sign up to attend our annual Fall Crew List Party, where we’ll be handing them out free to attendees at the Mexico Cruising Seminar (along with the September issue). One is included in the entry packet when you sign up for the Baja Ha-Ha, and lastly, we’ll mail one to your home when you purchase a printed edition from our store here. Grab a hat while you’re at it!

The guide is packed with helpful information from the Grand Poobah’s 31 years with the Baja Ha-Ha. It’s a simple and excellent resource to help you through your first time, or for those who’ve been before, there are good reminders. One important piece of information we emphasize as often as possible is to make sure anyone cruising south ensures their boat does not have an unexpired TIP (Temporary Import Permit).

We recently heard of a situation in which an owner sold their boat to a cruiser who subsequently found out they couldn’t go to Mexico because of an unexpired TIP. Upset, they contacted the former owner, who had no idea that the boat they sold had a prior TIP. Upon digging into it they found out the owner’s son had raced the boat in the Ensenada Race once, so it had a prior TIP. We’ve heard many stories over the years and bring this up to help minimize the number of people who get surprised. It has caused many boats to miss the Ha-Ha or to have to postpone their cruising plans. Not fun.

On our Heading South page we also have a PDF copy of Carole and Pat McIntosh’s very helpful Things To Know Before You Go, which covers many good ideas on preparing your boat for Mexico. Whatever advice you read anywhere, Lin and Larry Pardey’s advice still stands: “Go Small, Go Simple, but Go Now.”

The Baja Ha-Ha now has a great fleet of 52 boats signed up, ranging in size from 28- to 60-ft. Whether you’re going this year or next, Latitude 38’s First Timer’s Guide will help you on your way. It was written by real people with real experience, not by AI, though nothing written by anyone can be guaranteed to be free of mistakes. Laws change, typos happen, and details can get complicated. Regardless, this is the latest information we have at present, and a year or more of cruising Mexico is just as delicious as always.

We have to share a photo of the fleet because although the paperwork is necessary, it’s always worth it to join a fleet of fellow cruisers heading south.

Thanks to all the Baja Ha-Ha sponsors for making this guide possible: Baja Sur Tourism Board, Cabrales Boatyard, Commanders’ Weather, Cruiser Services, Ensenada Cruiseport Village, FlopStopper, Harbor Island West Marina, Hydrovane, Hylas Yachts, author Julia Shovein, Keenan Filters, KTI Systems, La Paz Tourism Board, Marina de La Paz, Marina El Cid/Marina de Sábalo, Marina Puerto de la Navidad, Marina Riviera Nayarit, Mexico Marina Association, Novamar Insurance, Paradise Village Marina, Sevenstar Yacht Transport and Ullman Sails.