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Hi -

I am planning a trip down to Cabo San Lucas from the US to begin after Christmas and end around the middle of January. I would expect to be in Baja for about 15 - 17 days. I have researched the question of acceptance of US credit/debit cards at Pemex stations and I'm getting conflicting results. Can anybody give me the current situation? Should I expect most Pemex stations to accept a card or would this be likely only in larger cities such as La Paz? Thanks.

Chris in Arizona

"Most" PEMEX stations do not accept credit or debit cards. YMMV*

Suggest that you deposit funds or transfer funds as needed into a checking account, then use ATM's along your route to get Pesos......Spend Pesos in Baja, the exchange rate favors you.

*YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary

I agree with Teniente. Get cash from an ATM. Even if Pemex's did accept credit cards, I'd use cash. Although there are a lot of very honest employees at Pemex gas stations, there are also a few who aren't. I wouldn't risk having my credit card information stolen and ruining your trip because someone got your number.

^^^ What Teniente (& BigWooo, who snuck his post in as I was typing) said!

This is primarily a cash society....with the exception of higher end hotels & other higher end type businesses. I personally would not use a credit card for gas purchase (if you read the Baja or Mexico forums with any frequency, there are too many stories about credit card fraud occurring after one use of a credit card). I've been in La Paz over 12 years & got used to this being a cash society really fast. In the past, bank cards were just ATM cards, it's only been the past 2-3 years that banks started issuing ATM/Debit Cards...so just within the past year, I've begun using my Mexican bank debit card for larger purchases.

Depending on what U.S. bank you use, it may or may not have an affiliation with a Mexican bank & may waive international ATM fees if you use an affiliated bank ATM. Ask your bank & also advise your bank that you plan to be using your card in Baja for the time period of your trip.

Most in-bank ATM's allow $5,000 peso withdrawals....the majority of ATM's at non-bank locations only allow $3,000 - 3,500 peso withdrawals. All but the smallest of villages will have a bank or ATM machine at some location, it's just a matter of finding it! The larger the town, the more ATM's.

Personally, I think the smartest & safest option is to use ATM's for cash as needed & forget the riskier option of being dependent on finding a place that would accept a credit card.

Welcome to Talk Baja & have a great trip!!

Thank you Teniente, BigWooo, and longlegsinlapaz for your very thoughtful responses. And the winner is ..... CASH!! I am exploring what arrangements my current bank may have with Mexican banks such as Banamex and the use of their ATMs. Thanks again.

Chris in Arizona

Cash in the form of pesos is ALWAYS the best form of payment at Pemex IMHO. It's straight up with no possibility of exchange miscalculations...

Always carried a "pouch" for pesos in both vehicles ... and a lot of "US ones and change" for the tolls... and they are still in the cars now... it's been since Dec of 2010 ... since we have been back down and the money is still in the cars...

Maybe we can make a cigar run one of these days....

I'm going to decent slightly from the above stated opinions and say that I have used US credit cards at Pemex stations in Baja. I have found that now, most of the larger/newer stations do accept credit cards. I generally pay cash, but I will use a card if filling up my SUV (30 gals or so) or boat (>100 gals) so I don't have to carry a wheelbarrow full of cash around. Even our small/old station in Loreto takes cards. It does take a little longer for them to process the card, but I don't think using a card at Pemex is any more risky than any other place where you have to physically give your card to someone, there are crooks everywhere. Many of the restaurants and even our "supermarket" the Pescador takes credit cards and I use them regularly, with no problems. Actually the CC companies have pretty good fraud detection methods and they pick up on anything fast and cover any loss. All that being said, I do use cash the vast majority of the time.

NC......I would be interested in knowing which PEMEX stations accept cards (either credit or ATM/Debit). Would make trip planning easier. Are these pay at the pump or inside the office/store???

I believe that only one station in Ensenada accepts debit cards (the one across from the Navy base an Grl Sangines at the Costero).....

Once coming back to Punta Banda from Bay of LA pulling a 5th wheel I used to have I wad really low on Cash in pocket. I was trying for San Quinten and realised I wouldnt make it we rolled into David K's favorite Pemex and Lo and Behold there was a sign they took Credit Cards. It saved my bacon that day. It was the first and only place in Baja that I ever saw taking credit cards.

You have me wondering now>

I was at a Pemex last week in Downtown La Paz and noticed the person pull out one of those handheld units that you plug the "chip card into" and hand it to the driver.

It did not dawn on me until now> I will have to inquire now. :)

Originally Posted by Teniente

NC......I would be interested in knowing which PEMEX stations accept cards (either credit or ATM/Debit). Would make trip planning easier. Are these pay at the pump or inside the office/store???

I believe that only one station in Ensenada accepts debit cards (the one across from the Navy base an Grl Sangines at the Costero).....

Can't say that I have tried many stations, but I do know that the Pemex in El Rosario takes cards, and at least two stations in Loreto take cards. I beleive that the new station in Loreto also takes them but I haven't tried yet. I also used a card a the station South of La Paz and one in San Quientin. They generally take the card into the office to process it, but I have seen the hand-held, wireless units as well.

Originally Posted by CDN_JOHNNY

You have me wondering now>

I was at a Pemex last week in Downtown La Paz and noticed the person pull out one of those handheld units that you plug the "chip card into" and hand it to the driver.

It did not dawn on me until now> I will have to inquire now. :)

Hahahaha........probably a card skimmer....just kidding!!!!!....but I would check my on-line account carefully!!!!

Originally Posted by J.P.

Once coming back to Punta Banda from Bay of LA pulling a 5th wheel I used to have I wad really low on Cash in pocket. I was trying for San Quinten and realised I wouldnt make it we rolled into David K's favorite Pemex and Lo and Behold there was a sign they took Credit Cards. It saved my bacon that day. It was the first and only place in Baja that I ever saw taking credit cards.

Maybe we should give the LOCATION of this Pemex that takes cards (and is honest)?:

EL ROSARIO (BAJA CACTUS TOURIST SERVICES, MOTEL and PEMEX)

Originally Posted by David K

Maybe we should give the LOCATION of this Pemex that takes cards (and is honest)?:

EL ROSARIO (BAJA CACTUS TOURIST SERVICES, MOTEL and PEMEX)

AS much and often you rant about the place how could anyone not know about it