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kittythegm

Apr 24, 2006, 7:20 AM

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Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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We are planning to drive from Albuquerque, NM to Lake Chapala. Plan to hit the border crossing in Santa Teresa shortly after it opens (we believe 6:30AM). In looking at the map, the logical first night stop appears to be Torreon. Then on the second day, we would drive into Guadalajara and the Lake area.

If anyone has made this particular trip, we would appreciate any hints, observations and suggestions for a place to stay in Torreon or any other suggested stop.

We did make this trip in the other direction last August but had to make it a two and a half day trip because we did not get out of the Lake area until after mid-day. We did not stop in Torreon - so we know nothing about it.

Rolly

Apr 24, 2006, 7:41 AM

Post #2 of 15 (1615 views)

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Re: [kittythegm] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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The map you are looking at does not tell the whole story. Highway 49, which you will be on, does not go to Torreón; it meets highway 40 at Gomez Palacio. The toll road ends several miles north of Gomez, and you'll end up on a 4-lane surface road full of pot holes. Along the way you will see the entrance to the toll road going west toward Durango. Remember that location because you will need it in the morning.

There are several nice hotels in Gomez, but they are very hard to find, so you are better off turning left onto highway 40 and driving a few extra miles out of your way to Torreón. You will find a couple of nice, large hotels on the highway in Torreón. One is a Days End and I forget the name of the other located in a large shopping center and clearly visible from the highway.

The next morning you will need to backtrack to the entrance to the toll road headed toward Durango.

Rolly Pirate

sfmacaws

Apr 24, 2006, 10:30 AM

Post #3 of 15 (1597 views)

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Re: [kittythegm] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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We came down that way last fall and stopped in Nuevo Casas Grandes and took a side trip out to Mata Ortiz. It's a good road out to a small town known for making the finest pottery in all of Mexico. I would agree, it is spectacular stuff. Not cheap, but distinctive and incredibly beautiful. Google Mata Ortiz for more info.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

jose

Apr 24, 2006, 10:55 PM

Post #4 of 15 (1557 views)

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Re: [kittythegm] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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Hello everybody. I have traveled numerous times down that road. I live in California and make my yearly treck to Guadalajara down that road. I have tried Nogales but have found that it is the same timewise going through Santa Teresa/Chihuahua. Because of Recent Improvements in road conditions and signage, I have shortened my travel time. I used to go through Juarez and then when Santa Teresa became available, that shortened the trip a couple of hours. When the bypass was completed and you could get the vehicle permit before leaving, that shortened the timeline even more by at least another hour. Ten years ago, I got as far as Chihuahua city before stopping in for the evening. Then slowly Delicias, Camargo and for the last 3 years, Jimenez at Hotel Las Pampas. Last year I got to Jimenez by 4 o'clock. I also need to look at other alternatives. Unfortunately after Jimenez, there are no Hotels that I have seen on the Main Highway until you get to Gomez Palacio. That is approx 2 hours and you actually head into the city of Gomez Palacio. A friend of mine who last year travelled this route suggested a Best Western Hotel located in Gomez Palacio. He told me it was 15 min ( I am paraphrasing, I have not been to this hotel myself) after you leave the the Highway that goes to Durango. It is supposedly downtown but service is good and there is a restaurant on site. I am hoping to try this hotel this year and when I do I will post an Update.

Rolly

Apr 25, 2006, 7:08 AM

Post #5 of 15 (1536 views)

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Re: [jose] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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The Best Western Hotel in downtown Gomez is very nice and has a good restaurant. BUT it is really hard to find from the highway. You are better off going to Torreón as I posted above. If you are really determined to stay at the Best Western, you should hire a taxi at the edge of town to lead you to the hotel. In the morning you could hire another one to lead you out of town. I have lived next door in Lerdo for 6 years, and I still get lost in Gomez.

Rolly Pirate

kittythegm

Apr 25, 2006, 9:24 AM

Post #6 of 15 (1517 views)

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Re: [jose] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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Am I reading or interpreting the previous posts that it may be too agressive of a plan to attempt the drive to Gomez/Torreon in one day? We were trying to remember our drive times in reverse from our trip in August. We had stayed overnight in Zacatecas and left there about 8:30AM or so. Seems that we went through Gomez about noon or one o'clock and were in Chihuhua about 5:00PM. Chihuhua to the border seemed like three or three and a half hours.

Assuming that we do make Gomez/Torreon the first night - any suggestions on the route to the Lake? Last time, we went through Zacatecas & Aguacaliente(sp?). We were driving a different and older car that had some mechanical problems and we wanted to be cautious. This trip we are driving our van and it does not have problems.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Rolly

Apr 25, 2006, 11:12 AM

Post #7 of 15 (1510 views)

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Re: [kittythegm] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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I'd go the same way you did last time.

Rolly Pirate

RickS

Apr 25, 2006, 5:41 PM

Post #8 of 15 (1486 views)

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Re: [kittythegm] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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Assuming you actually do cross the border around the time you mentioned, I don't think that your goal of reaching Torreon is at all unrealistic. It is about 525 miles I believe and all 4-lane. If you don't get started as soon as you plan, there are hotels on the road below Chihuahua in Delicias, (just south of) Cuidad Camargo and my favorite in Jimenez, Las Pampas. Past there, take Rolly's recommendation and stay in Torreon (then backtrack a few miles to the bypass going around west of Gomez and Lerdo).

With respect to the route from Fresnillo to Lakeside I would personally again take Rolly's advice and go through Aguascalientes. I have been 'both' ways (actually there are three). Most folks warn to never take the 'direct' routes off of 45 down into Guadalajara, either route 23 from Fresnillo or 54 from Zacetecas. The reasons being is that 1) they are two lane roads through a bunch of towns and 2) as one approaches Guadalajara from the north on either route you drop down through twisting/winding roads through canyons and the driving is 'perilous'. I came down 23 last December because I wanted to visit the town of Jerez first (liked it!). I didn't find the road on into Guad THAT bad (but I drive in Colorado a lot) but it is slow and otherwise un-rewarding. Previously I have driven from Zac to Aquascalientas (great road), and then on down to Guad via the toll road coming from the Lagos de Moreno area. I'll take that route again as it is non-stressful and, although you travel farther, it is as short timewise.

jerezano

Apr 25, 2006, 6:55 PM

Post #9 of 15 (1479 views)

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Re: [RickS] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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Hello,

There is a new Zacatecas city bypass from Fresnillo to Aguascalientes. Cuota. Take it by all means. Well marked. It takes off on the Fresnillo-Zacaatecas highway just about at the airport in Calera, goes to Morelos where there is a toll booth, goes directly from there to Las Palomitas where it continues across the Zacatecas-Aguascalientes libre to join the Palomitas to Aguascalientes cuota. Entirely a breeze. The only problem is the periferico around Aguascalientes to pick up the cuota into Guadalajara. But you would have that problem no matter how go on the Fresnillo, Aguascalientes, Guadalajara route.

Good luck. Cuotas on the two new Fresnillo, Las Palomitaa-Aguascaaientes cuotas are only $60 pesos total for the two. There will be a $25 or $30 pesos toll at Caleraa and perhaps another on the Fresnillo periferico. I'm not sure since I haven't driven the Fresnillo periferico for years.

Adios. jerezano.

jsandrock

Jun 14, 2006, 5:14 AM

Post #10 of 15 (1407 views)

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Re: [jose] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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RickS

Jun 14, 2006, 9:48 AM

Post #11 of 15 (1384 views)

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Re: [jsandrock] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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Las Pampas Motel, Jimenez By telephone (011-52-629) 542-1041 probably Spanish only.

Rolly

Jun 14, 2006, 9:57 AM

Post #12 of 15 (1381 views)

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Re: [RickS] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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Rick, do you know if Las Pampas allows dogs?

Rolly Pirate

RickS

Jun 14, 2006, 10:04 AM

Post #13 of 15 (1377 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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Rolly, I don't know for sure (never travel with pets), but I THINK I remember that they do NOT. However, I also THINK I remember someone saying before that they took some pets in anyway (didn't mention them at the front desk). The motel is very spread out and you drive your car (after checking in at the front 'gate') around to your room without any escort so one could possibly pull off a deception if that were their intent.

Maybe someone else knows for certain......

esperanza

Jun 14, 2006, 10:26 AM

Post #14 of 15 (1372 views)

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Re: [jsandrock] Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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In Reply To

Hola all --- Sounds like Jose and others posting really like the Hotel Las Pampas in Cd. Jimenez and as I work out our route (from Santa Fe NM) to Ajijic, it's looking like that might be the perfect stopping place. By any chance does anyone have contact information for them? They don't seem to have a website -- given that it seems to be the last logical stop before a LONG haul without any apparent places to stop, I surely would like to have reservations there -- and does everyone still like it? Sounds like it's convenient and easy to spot from the highway, too.

Mil gracias!

Jillian

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My partner and I recently drove from Albuquerque to Guadalajara. We were traveling with three cats and a dog. Rather than cross at Santa Teresa, NM, we drove to Eagle Pass, TX, because we knew that La Quinta Inns on the US side allow pets and were uncertain about finding lodging for all of us on the northern Mexico side.

Crossing at Eagle Pass took approximately two minutes; there was one car in front of us at the border. My partner needed to have her FM-3 stamped upon entry; there was no one other than us in the immigration office. Had she needed an FM-T, she would have obtained it at the same office, just feet from the border.

From Eagle Pass (Piedras Negras on the Mexican side), we took Rte. 57, bypassing Monterrey and Saltillo. We stayed the night at Las Palmas in Matehuala. As other posters have reported, they do not allow pets but we parked around the back and took ours into the room. We noticed other motel guests who also were walking animals in the evening. From Matehuala it was just a few hours to Guadalajara; you'd have to tack on an extra hour from Guadalajara to Ajijic.

The slow point of the trip was the area under construction around San Luis Potosí. The delay was approximately an hour. There is also construction along the highway coming into Guadalajara.

That entire route follows the same route you've been given for Laredo/Ajijic.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

kittythegm

Jun 26, 2006, 6:00 AM

Post #15 of 15 (1305 views)

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Re: Santa Teresa, NM to Lake Chapala

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We just completed the trip. Crossed the border at Santa Teresa on 6/2. Arrived for the border opening at 6:00AM (actually about 6:15AM) - no matter as the Mexican authorities do not follow opening time. They were finally ready to go about 6:45AM. Actually crossed border itself at 7:00AM.

Relatively easy drive to Torreon (at Rolly's suggestion stayed at the Best Western) - arrived about 5:30PM. Missed a turn and had a tour of Gomez Palacio before getting to Torreon. Best Western Express was nice but limited. No restaurant but ate at Tony Romas next door.

Left Torreon at 8:15AM next day and arrived at the Lake about 5:30PM to a real live rainstorm.

Did the reverse on the way back but stayed at the Best Western in Gomez Palacio. More amenities including bar and restaurant. Regular style Best Western - a little older. Woke up to a horrible smell throughout the downtown area. No idea what it was but it really stunk. 15 hour drive back to Albuquerque withoput subtracting time for lunch, checkpoints, gas stops, etc.

Approx. $98USD in tolls each way. Driving was very easy on the toll roads. Usually drove between 80 and 90 MPH. Would estimate 22 to 25 hours driving time each way - again without subtracting time for stops each day.