Exerpt from Baja Pony Express July 2008 -
BAJA FERRY TO AND FROM THE MAINLAND Taking the Baja Ferry from the mainland to La Paz is pretty safe, and cuts off the whole of northern Baja.  It is roughly a 500 mile ride from Nogales to the ferry. There is certain documentation that you need to prepare to take to the ferry from Topolobampo to La Paz, and La Paz to Topolobampo (this is the port city on the mainland where the ferry takes off from to sail to La Paz). The ferry leaves Topolobampo at about 11PM and arrives La Paz (an overnight cruise) at about 6:00AM, disembarking about 7:00AM in La Paz. The ferry leaves La Paz at 3PM, and arrives at Topolobampo at about 9PM. These hours are all approximates as it sometimes leaves a bit late.

IF you travel with  pets, they have to stay in your vehicle, they do not allow pets in the guest quarters on board the ferry. There are accommodations for pets on board that consist of a wired kennel, (different sizes for large/small pets), with water and someone in the area to keep an eye on the animals. You can leave your pets in your vehicles.  Once you arrive at either port you MUST tell the attendant who measures your vehicle that you have a pet in your car/truck, and they will put your vehicle on the very next level below the passenger deck with plenty of 'air'. If you do no tell the attendant that you have a pet on board, (they are not mind readers, and they are busy) then there is a good chance that your vehicle with your pet inside could end up in the belly of the ship, where there is lack of air. So, with these thoughts in mind, please for your pets sake and for your peace of mind tell the attendant who measures the trucks/vehicles that you have a pet in your vehicle. Once you leave your pet in your vehicle and you are on the passenger decks of the ship, you cannot return to your vehicle until it is time to disembark.

Documentation for your ride on the ferry and to obtain an auto permit:

I make several copies as each time I go on the ferry its a different amount of copies needed, so to be on the safe side, and to not have to pay for copies there, I make 5 copies (before I get to the border):  drivers license, registration, (if you are towing boat, quad, etc, copies of those, too),  pet medical certificates, copy of US/Canadian or whatever country you are originally from passport, FM2 or FM3, Insurance from US/Canada or wherever your vehicle is insured, copies of your Mexican Auto Insurance. You will also need the ORIGINALS of all these documents, so put them in a folder and keep them close by when you buy your auto permit to board the ferry. (The auto permits are purchased at that check point which is about 20-25 miles into the country on your right hand side of Mexico 15 as you travel south.

So, be prepared with copies of all this documentation, as you will need it to get your auto permit to get your vehicle and yourself on the ferry. When you cross over the border through Nogales (or wherever you cross into mainland Mexico) heading to La Paz, this documentation is needed at the 20-25 mile check point, which is on your right hand side of Mexico 15, you MUST stop to get your auto permits there, and present all the documents listed above.  You also need to have a credit card handy as they do not accept CASH. This is how they ensure that the vehicle you are riding in and obtaining a permit for, and you are driving on the mainland heading to the ferry returns with you when you make your return trip. You cannot board your vehicle on the ferry without an auto permit. For those of you who take the ferry to Baja, but do not return via the ferry, I suggest you call/visit the Baja Ferries office in La Paz, corner of Rubio and Allende (they speak English) and find out what is necessary for you to return the permit if you are NOT returning via the ferry. It changes year to year; I can't keep up with all information/misinformation, and I do return via the ferry, so I just drop it off at the DROP OFF check point that is clearly visible on left side of Mexico 15 on my return back up the mainland towards Nogales.

If your auto permit runs out while you are in Baja and plan on returning via the ferry, then you take your old permit, and get a new one issued in La Paz. at Pichelingue the port of departure, or at the Baja Ferries office. But hold onto that old permit, as you need to return it at aforementioned check point. If you plan on returning to Baja before your current permit expires, then you don't need to get a re issue, again when you head to the ferry via the mainland, but you need to turn in that old one that expired before you do leave the country or you may have trouble making the ferry trip in the future.

Once you are at the port of Topolobampo, on your way to the Baja this is where you inform the attendant who measures your vehicle about your pet inside. Same deal, when you are Pichelingue leaving Baja taking the ferry to go to the mainland arriving at Topolobamp and points north to Nogales or south to Mazatlan. So, this is quite a bit of information, and I would be more than happy to help anyone out who is traveling via the Baja Ferries, but I have covered quite a bit here, so take your time and read it all. You will be able to access this information on BPE Archives for future reference. Some useful phone numbers and the address of Baja Ferries Headquarters in La Paz.

PHONE NUMBER PERTINENT TO THE BAJA FERRIES:

Baja Ferries Office in La Paz, huge building in big blue letters, lots of parking. On corner of Allende and Rubio in La Paz. If you are out of Mexico and you want to call the Baja Ferries Headquarters in La Paz, you are going to have call the local phone number as the toll free numbers are not accessible from the US or out of Mexico. The phone number is: 612-125-7443 or 612-123-1313, the toll free number inside Mexico is: 01-800-122-1414.

Hotel Marina in Topolobampo, the ferry from La Paz arrives quite late sometimes, and maybe you want to secure a room with your pets, and that number is: 52-668-862-0100, you can usually make a reservation at the Hotel Marina without a credit card, you just tell them when you will be arriving, and that you are arriving late on the Baja Ferries and they will save a room. They do have dog rooms, practically no where to walk the dogs, but at least you can have your pets in the motel room with you. I ended up walking my dogs across from the hotel in an empty field.

The phone numbers in Los Mochis, which is the headquarters for Baja Ferries on the mainland, and services the port of Topolobampo is: 52-668-817-3752 or 668-817-3864, and their toll free number for inside Mexico is: 01-800-012-8770. If you take the ferry either way, do yourself a favor and pick up a Baja Ferries little blue flyer, with all these phone numbers I just gave you.  I do believe this is the phone number for those who want to travel via the ferry to Mazatlan. Their web site is: www.bajaferries.com

The California Star is the only ferry that I have ever been on going to and from La Paz, if there is another ferry, I believe it goes to Mazatlan, and I don't have any info on that ferry, but there is a phone number on the Baja Ferries flyer, and that number is: (Mazatlan #) 669-985-0470

Another question I have heard asked. Is there any particular day that is better than another to travel on the ferry? I will tell you what I do, and you can make up your own minds according to your schedules of travel. I usually cross the border on a Sunday around 10:00AM, and when I arrive at the check point where I need to get my auto permit, its Sunday, and for whatever reason there are no waiting in lines and I zip through. I am traveling with my dogs, and don't want to leave them in my truck for too long. I drive as far as San Carols about 250 miles into mainland Mexico, and I stay at the Best Western Tetakawi, on the main road into San Carlos, nice, clean, a bit pricey, I deserve the best, and I am not in any hurry, they have a RV park on premises, and nice restaurant, TV, a place to walk the dogs, a swimming pool (I go in December so too cold to swim).  San Carlos is beautiful and about half way between Nogales and Topolobampo. The next day, I have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, and leave about 9:00AM, and I am at the ferry dock about 5ish. Way a head of time. I get my ticket, inform the attendant measuring my truck that I have dogs on board, and I am one of the last to load onto the ferry, I usually park my truck right by one of the door ways to the upstairs entry to the ferry, lots of air for my dogs, crack a window and leave my moon roof cracked open a bit, kiss the dogs on the lips, leave minimal water, put the parking brake on, lock the doors and I am off to my cabin(prepaid when I buy my ticket, for $70, comfortable for two people and your own bathroom) to relax before dinner (cafeteria style hot meal) which is gratis with a purchase of a ticket on the ferry. The great part of parking your vehicle with your dogs on the upper decks of the ferry, is that if you are one of the last to load on board, you are then the first off the ship and down the road to Los Barriles before noon day of arrival.

(Sylvia, thank you so much for taking the time to write up this information.  After reading it, great search words will be: Nogales,  Topolobampo and Los. Mochis. Easy for anyone to find this article in the BPE archives.  Thanks again, Cheryl)