FAQ
Questions riders ask
Registration, money, hotels and the border. Questions from families and first-timers are on their own page.
First time in Baja? Questions families ask →
Registering
How do I sign up?
Fill in the registration form for everyone in your party, then send the registration by Venmo or PayPal to Luis. Your spot is held once Luis approves the registration and the payment arrives.
How much is it, and what does it pay for?
$150 per person, or $50 for group leaders and the chase team. It holds your room guarantees and pays for the ride jersey and hat, UTMA support, and the service projects. Hotels, fuel and food are on you.
Can I get a refund?
No. Registration is a non-refundable donation to UTMA, including when a rider or group is turned down. If you can’t go, a replacement rider is the easy fix.
How do the ride groups work?
The ride splits into groups of about a dozen, each with its own leader and its own hotels on the trail. On the form you can join an existing group or start a new one. New groups need Luis’s approval, and whoever starts one leads it.
Can I bring a UTV, a passenger or a chase truck?
Yes. The form has a role for each person: bike, UTV driver, UTV passenger or chase team. There’s no ride-wide support truck, but some groups bring their own.
Can riders under 18 come?
Yes, if a parent or guardian rides too. Tick the under-18 box for them on the form.
Who the ride is for
What does “not for novices” mean?
Long days of rocky, sandy single-track and two-track, often 150 miles or more, far from help. You should be comfortable riding all day on rough trail, and able to do basic trailside repairs.
What does my machine need?
It must hold 55–60 mph on the highway. Dirt bikes run mousse inserts, not tubes. See Machine prep for the fuel chart, spares and tools.
Money, hotels and the border
How much cash should I bring?
At least $500 in cash per person, for emergencies. Hotels mostly take cards; carry pesos for fuel, ranches and barrel stops.
Who books the hotels?
You book your own room in Calexico on Friday and at Hotel El Cortez in San Felipe. Your group leader books the trail hotels and sends you the list. We guarantee every room, so if you cancel you settle up with each hotel we booked for you.
What do I need at the border?
A passport or passport card, the FMM tourist permit, Mexican insurance, and the original registration for every bike, UTV and trailer. The border guide walks through it in order.
Can I bring a firearm?
No. No firearms or ammunition, without exception.
Do I pay duty on spare parts?
Mexico charges about 19% on new parts, so take new parts out of their packaging.
Maps and updates
Still stuck? Send Luis a question.