Yeah, like @JohnD I had just planned to boycott Mexico until this camera scam was resolved, but this trip opened up at a price I couldn't refuse (that is, all I had to pay for is airfare), so we will see.

Something we’ve known about for a while, but it’s going to reach a wider audience now:

PetaPixel

If You're Traveling to Mexico, Beware of the Camera Tax a...

Public Service Announcement.

I was planning to go on a WS in April to Socorro but was put off by this scam tax, replacing it with Maldives ”Sharktastic” in March instrad.

FWIW, I just got back from a trip to Cozumel. We flew directly from Charlotte, NC into Cozumel and no one batted an eye at my camera gear or even mentioned it.

On 2/3/2026 at 3:22 PM, SwiftFF5 said:

FWIW, I just got back from a trip to Cozumel. We flew directly from Charlotte, NC into Cozumel and no one batted an eye at my camera gear or even mentioned it.

One data point doesn't make a trend but it is a start. Hopefully there will be more positive ones to follow and maybe this will spread too.

18 hours ago, Cromagnon said:

One data point doesn't make a trend but it is a start. Hopefully there will be more positive ones to follow and maybe this will spread too.

Been to Cozumel many times and never paid a tax including twice last year. However, there is a report now on Scubaboard of two persons paying upwards of $500. Per this (sketchy) report one had two systems and the other had a nauticam, a GoPro and a camera with a phone!.

Here is the thing, I have been asked how many cameras I have and my answer is an honest one camera. If I start going on about a GoPro, a phone and whatnot who knows what the result might be. Also, I have not gotten the "red button" in any more recent trips. Another unknown.

Edited February 11Feb 11 by Nemrod

A fellow Swede go tomorrow. Trick he say is, if you go from far away, fly to Mexico City and then domestic to CSL. I’m boycotting until this is dealt with in a trustworthy way. There are so many other places.

On a related note, this post showed up on my social media feed today:

"Has anyone else had problems bringing camera gear into Bali? I’ve done it dozens of times but last night they pulled me aside jn customs and told me I was only allowed one personal camera below $500! They eventually let me go, but I’m still unclear on the rules, on what was going on, or what to do next time."

Let's hope this is a one-off attempt by a greedy agent and doesn't become a pattern in Indonesia as well...

40 minutes ago, bghazzal said:

On a related note, this post showed up on my social media feed today:

"Has anyone else had problems bringing camera gear into Bali? I’ve done it dozens of times but last night they pulled me aside jn customs and told me I was only allowed one personal camera below $500! They eventually let me go, but I’m still unclear on the rules, on what was going on, or what to do next time."

Let's hope this is a one-off attempt by a greedy agent and doesn't become a pattern in Indonesia as well...

If Indonesia start this shit like Mexico some location will have less en less travellers. Lembeh is a good example of location where the count of resort will decrease very fast.

I'll take no risk an go north to Philippines if I hear some other case.

2 hours ago, bghazzal said:

On a related note, this post showed up on my social media feed today:

"Has anyone else had problems bringing camera gear into Bali? I’ve done it dozens of times but last night they pulled me aside jn customs and told me I was only allowed one personal camera below $500! They eventually let me go, but I’m still unclear on the rules, on what was going on, or what to do next time."

Let's hope this is a one-off attempt by a greedy agent and doesn't become a pattern in Indonesia as well...

Like you, Beni, I’ve flown into Indo many times including Bali. Never had the slightest issue. Let’s hope, as you say, it was a one-off.