Mexico - Tourist Card required for Ensenada?

I have been getting mixed signals from various Internet sites while searching on this topic. Some state that Ensenada is part of the "border region" while others say 100 Km south of the border is the limit (which would exclude Ensenada).

Also, is the maximum stay without a Tourist Card 72 hours or 7 days (getting mixed signals here as well)?

Finally, if anyone has comments on the Estero Beach Resort, I would appreciate it. Looks good from tripadvisor.com so we are planning to take the kids there for a few days next month.

Thanks! :)

Last time I checked when crossing at Tecate last year was no tourist card required unless going past Maneadero (just south of Ensenada) on the west coast of Baja or staying longer than 72 hours in the border region.

Ensenada is in the "Zona Fronteriza" and tourist corridor - the first checkpoint you will come to seems now to be at Colonia Guerrero, south of Ensenada but north of San Quintín. This is south of the old checkpoint at Maneadero, which is occasionally manned now by military or PJF (Federal Judicial Police) as a drug checkpoint.

If you plan on traveing further south than Ensenada or for longer than 72 hours, you need a FM-T (tourist permit.)

Perfect ^
The Estero Beach Resort is north of Maneadero, as is La Bufadora - one place we would like to sight see. And, we should be back to the US approx. 65 hours from entering Mexico, if all goes according to plan. Otherwise, we will purchase an FM-T at the crossing.

Thank you, everyone for your comments.

Defintely don't need a tourist card for Ensenada (unless, FYI, you arrive by air, in which case everyone needs a FM-T even for Tijuana)

I've been to the Estero several times. The rooms are of 2* quality, but the facilities are the only resort-style in the area. If you're willing to stay farther from the city, check out Bajamar (a country club development). if you're ever looking for romance, definitely choose the Punta Morro - and eat at their restaurant (the Estero restaurant is average quality and overpriced, IMO)

its suprising Baja's "gold coast" doesn't have a first-quality resort. Its one example of Mexico squandering opportunities to capitalize on its proximity to the US. The toll road to Ensenada is filled with poorly planned developments that, although being sold 98% to people with US citizenship, don't create nearly the value that more rigorous central planning would.

one last thing - fill up your car at Pemex in ensenada and pay in pesos. Its about $2.15/gallon. In the last 6 weeks, all Tijuana stations have changed to a system that indexes the price of gas to the San Diego average (about $2.80)

Many of those folks are living on property that is actually in a fideicomiso (trust) for them by a bank, and enough of that land may be encumbered in funny ways that may make one think twice of serious investment - they might get their land repossessed, like the funky but nice colony at La Bufadora. The folks there who purported to own the land and facilitated the fideicomiso did not have clear title to do so legitimately, and the actual owners moved against the tenants- and title insurance is a dream in Mexico. (I've seen political shennigans that resulted in people losing what appeared to be clear title as well.)

Mexico is a chancy place to "own" property, and I say this as one who has legaly owned (not had in trust) property there (and had no troubles myself.) Napoleonic code and ultimate government possession of all subsoil rights in perpetuity are other issues. But IMO it will take more than planning to make land secure ownership and safe investment in Mexico.

...its suprising Baja's "gold coast" doesn't have a first-quality resort. Its one example of Mexico squandering opportunities to capitalize on its proximity to the US. The toll road to Ensenada is filled with poorly planned developments that, although being sold 98% to people with US citizenship, don't create nearly the value that more rigorous central planning would.

Exactly what is this "tourist card" and will I need one going to CUN, PVR, and MEX?
Where do you get it if needed?

Thanks