Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

Vallarta Bound

Jun 5, 2002, 8:59 PM

Post #1 of 20 (3014 views)

Shortcut

It is realistic to travel from Nogales to Mazatlan in 12 hours?

Can't Post |

I would like to know if it is realistic to travel from Nogales to Mazatlan in 12 hours. I already have all of the required paperwork and doing my best not to bring anything that may be construed as me bringing "mercancia" to Mexico to avoid any kind of "aduana" hasles on my way down as I am not planning for "mordidas" or a hard time.I have also made sure that each one of my passengers bring only a small carry on size piece of luggage. You don't need that much clothing in PV during the middle of summer. Lots of shorts and t-shirts and one change of clothes to go out on the town. Also I am taking toilet paper and paper towels. I am not bringing food or water, as you can get this on your way down to P.V.Any pointers are welcome. Thanks

Rolly

Jun 5, 2002, 9:48 PM

Post #2 of 20 (3010 views)

Shortcut

It is realistic to travel from Nogales to Mazatlan in 12 hours?

Can't Post |

Hi VB,According to my map, it is approximately 1200 KM from Nog to Maz. That is 720 miles. To do that in 12 hours you would have to average 60 mph. Not possible without really tearing it up on the toll roads. It’s going to take at least 14 hours if you don’t get lost. With the load of people you have, 2 days would sure be easier on the nerves.The TP is a good idea because you don’t always (often?) find it in public restrooms. The restrooms along the toll roads are usually clean and well kept and often out of TP. There are plenty of gas stations, rest stops, 7-11 type stores along the toll roads. Of course, when you are on the surface streets, you’ll find anything you want – except maybe English. There are two grades of gasoline. I call then Red and Green because those are the colors of the nozzles. Green is the lower octane. It works fine in my 1997 Dodge Ram pickup.Hope you enjoy your visit. I know you will go home with a new appreciation of Mexico. Rolly

Vallarta Bound

Jun 5, 2002, 10:07 PM

Post #3 of 20 (3011 views)

Shortcut

It is realistic to travel from Nogales to Mazatlan in 12 hours?

Can't Post |

Thanks for your info. I am asking because I traveled from Pasadena, CA to Omaha, Nebraska in 24 hours and 1600 miles, I drove 20 hours, only stopped for gas and some chow.I am driving a 2002 Ford Expedition XLT w/2400 miles on it. God willing, I am expecting no major delays.My itinerary should be as follows:July 4, 2002 Leaving Pasadena, CA 1:00 a.m. Arriving in Nogales at 6:30 a.m. or 7:00 a.m..July 4, 2002 Leaving Nogales, AZ at 7:00 a.m. and arriving in Mazatlan at 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m.July 5, 2002 Leaving Mazatlan at 7:00 a.m. and arriving Puerto Vallarta at 1:00 p.m.That's my plan and I am hoping to keep it as the amount of time available for this trip is limited. I am returning on July 18 and arriving in Pasadena on July 19.Hopefully, it should work out.
: Hi VB,: According to my map, it is approximately 1200 KM from Nog to Maz. That is 720 miles. To do that in 12 hours you would have to average 60 mph. Not possible without really tearing it up on the toll roads. It’s going to take at least 14 hours if you don’t get lost. With the load of people you have, 2 days would sure be easier on the nerves.: The TP is a good idea because you don’t always (often?) find it in public restrooms. The restrooms along the toll roads are usually clean and well kept and often out of TP. There are plenty of gas stations, rest stops, 7-11 type stores along the toll roads. Of course, when you are on the surface streets, you’ll find anything you want – except maybe English. : There are two grades of gasoline. I call then Red and Green because those are the colors of the nozzles. Green is the lower octane. It works fine in my 1997 Dodge Ram pickup.: Hope you enjoy your visit. I know you will go home with a new appreciation of Mexico. : Rolly

Rolly

Jun 5, 2002, 10:22 PM

Post #4 of 20 (3009 views)

Shortcut

It is realistic to travel from Nogales to Mazatlan in 12 hours?

Can't Post |

Ugh, I'm glad I'm not on the killer trip with you. If you hold to that schedule, I'll buy you a beer next time I come to LA. Come back here and tells us about the trip.Good Luck, Rolly

Esteban

Jun 5, 2002, 11:20 PM

Post #5 of 20 (3015 views)

Shortcut

It is realistic to travel from Nogales to Mazatlan in 12 hours?

Can't Post |

I have made that trip, from Nogales to Mazatlan several times in the last two years. The earlier you get started in the morning like 2 or 3 AM in the morning will make your trip faster. Usually, because of having to stop for visas and the car permit, your travel time is more going south as opposed to going north. Crossing very early in the morning will make sure there aren't many people at the border. You won't have to wait. If you do cross before six AM, you'll have to go through the town of Nogales as opposed to the bypass which doesn't open till six AM. Have photocopies of your drivers license, your passport, your visa, the title to your car and sometimes they require a photocopy of your Visa credit card. With that paperwork in hand, you'll bypass all the bullsheet at the 21K checkpoint and be able to go directly to the "temporal importacion" window and receive your paperwork for the car. Take a small cooler with food you so you don't have to stop. Also, I've done mileage tests and the Premium gas is cheaper in the long run though it costs more per gallon. You'll get better gas mileage that will make up the difference in price. I've made Nogales from Mazatlan in 12 hours but have never made it from Nogales to Mazatlan in less than 14hrs. It's one of those trips that's too long for one day but too short for two days. In my youth, I could have done it drunk and stoned but my body has changed and that kind of driving is out of my league. You can always stop at a Pemex and take a catnap for 15 minutes or so, rejuvenate and carry on.

Ernie Gorrie

Jun 6, 2002, 7:15 AM

Post #6 of 20 (3008 views)

Shortcut

Another Itinerary

Can't Post |

I've driven Nogales-Zihuatanejo twice, via Mazatlan.I'd suggest Nogales to Culiacan the first day. This has been about 12 hours for me, with two drivers, stopping only for gas. Mazatlan adds a couple of hours.I suggest staying in Culiacan the first night, then down to Vallarta the second day. On one trip we left Culiacan about 06:00, arriving in Guadalajara at about 15:00 (local time). The other trip we left about the same time, arriving in Tequila around 13:30 (local time).Don't forget, there is a one hour time advance when you enter Jalisco, so you can knock one hour of "real" time off of these arrival times.

Fish

Jun 6, 2002, 9:19 AM

Post #7 of 20 (3009 views)

Shortcut

Border crossing at Sonoyta instead of Nogales

Can't Post |

I'm going to Puerto Pensaco in Oct and wondered if going through the border crossing is any different at Sonoyta as opposed to Nogales?

Vallarta Bound

Jun 6, 2002, 10:46 AM

Post #8 of 20 (3008 views)

Shortcut

It is realistic to travel from Nogales to Mazatlan in 12 hours?

Can't Post |

I am a resiliant SOB when it comes to driving. I have done long distance driving in the past and have been able to do it, no problem, but in the U.S.. Mexico is a different story.The good thing is that I have all my paperwork done and my SUV gives about 450 miles per tank, so that will limit my gas stop considerably, but at a considerable expense, as the gas is expensive south of the border. Here in the So. Cal area is about 1.58 per gal.
:
: Ugh, I'm glad I'm not on the killer trip with you. If you hold to that schedule, I'll buy you a beer next time I come to LA. : Come back here and tells us about the trip.: Good Luck, Rolly

Rolly

Jun 6, 2002, 11:20 AM

Post #9 of 20 (3008 views)

Shortcut

There is another thing...

Can't Post |

Hi Nameless One,On reading back over these posts, it occurs to me that you may not understand how the toll roads work. They do not go through the cities along the way. The toll road stops at the edge of the city and dumps you off onto the free road through the city to the other side where the toll road resumes. This what I was referring to, perhaps a bit too casually, when I said you might make to Maz in 14 hours if you don’t get lost. It also slows you down a lot!Ernie Gorrie gives you good advice about where to break the drive with an over-night.One more plea and I'll shut up: You have a bunch of guys who know the territory trying to tell you that your travel plans are flawed. Your posts have shown a general lack of knowledge about traveling in Mexico. I sure hope your determination to bull right on doesn’t spoil the trip for the other 5 people traveling with you.I wish you good luck, you’re going to need it.Rolly

Ernie Gorrie

Jun 6, 2002, 3:30 PM

Post #10 of 20 (3012 views)

Shortcut

Hermosillo and Accidents and Other Delays

Can't Post |

I'm not afraid of a long drive either. We started our drives in Vancouver. The first trip, we stopped after 16 hours in Stockton, California (1600 km). The second trip we did a longer first day (to Sonora, California - 1700+ km) then from Stockton to Nogales (06:00 to 21:00). But driving in Mexico, even on the cuotas, is not the same.Hermosillo is a particularly good example of this. On the map it looks like both options (driving through town or taking the bypass) are equally good. In reality, I think that they are equally bad. I found that southbound the downtown route was slow due to traffic lights. The bypass was slow due to traffic congestion and difficulty getting around very large diesel trucks that had difficulty with acceleration. (Northbound, the bypass seemed much better.)There is also the issue of accidents that can cause significant delays. On one drive we came across a recent accident in which the remains of a semi were strewn about, having been driven off the cuota and through a brick house at the side of the road. Needless to say it was a bit of a mess.On another drive, there was an accident south of Los Mochis. It was bad enough that the cuota was closed. Some people were driving back to Los Mochis for the night. We were fortunate to find someone who knew the agricultural roads and spent a good 45 minutes following them drive along farmers' roads to get around the accident scene. But we could have easily ended up being delayed by another couple of hours, or even a half day.Finally, don't forget about the numerous stops to pay tolls and the numerous stops for agricultural and police/military checks. We were driving in a pickup truck, so everything was pretty visible. But we saw SUVs that were being emptied by the police/military as they did their checks. I suspect some of those people spent at least 30 minutes per search.

manuel

Jun 6, 2002, 9:22 PM

Post #11 of 20 (3009 views)

Shortcut

Another Itinerary

Can't Post |

: I've driven Nogales-Zihuatanejo twice, via Mazatlan.: I'd suggest Nogales to Culiacan the first day. This has been about 12 hours for me, with two drivers, stopping only for gas. Mazatlan adds a couple of hours.: I suggest staying in Culiacan the first night, then down to Vallarta the second day. On one trip we left Culiacan about 06:00, arriving in Guadalajara at about 15:00 (local time). The other trip we left about the same time, arriving in Tequila around 13:30 (local time).: Don't forget, there is a one hour time advance when you enter Jalisco, so you can knock one hour of "real" time off of these arrival times.

manuel

Jun 6, 2002, 9:26 PM

Post #12 of 20 (3007 views)

Shortcut

another suggestion

Can't Post |

If you plan to do that at least leave one to two hours before so that you know you will be at 6:00 am in the alternate bypass of Nogales. Just a thought.

Vallarta Bound

Jun 6, 2002, 9:50 PM

Post #13 of 20 (3008 views)

Shortcut

There is another thing...

Can't Post |

I have driven in Mexico before, but not long distance and never used the tolls. All of the time I have been flying to Pto. Vallarta and renting an SUV there. Nonetheless, I have driven on the old roads from Pto. Vallarta to Tomatlan Jalisco about 80 miles in about an hour and 1/2, potholes and all. At one time did 40 miles on dirt roads from Tomatlan to "Rancho Puentecillas" and beyond. So I am not that new driving in MX.I only wanted to get a realistic view of the toll roads. To many people think they are a very easy and won't get lost. You say that you have to get into town to continue on the tolls and probably get lost. I am confused now as to what is the reality of the toll roads, can you elaborate? Maybe someone else can.If I may say, I speak spanish fluently and without an accent. : Hi Nameless One,: On reading back over these posts, it occurs to me that you may not understand how the toll roads work. They do not go through the cities along the way. The toll road stops at the edge of the city and dumps you off onto the free road through the city to the other side where the toll road resumes. This what I was referring to, perhaps a bit too casually, when I said you might make to Maz in 14 hours if you don’t get lost. It also slows you down a lot!: Ernie Gorrie gives you good advice about where to break the drive with an over-night.: One more plea and I'll shut up: You have a bunch of guys who know the territory trying to tell you that your travel plans are flawed. Your posts have shown a general lack of knowledge about traveling in Mexico. I sure hope your determination to bull right on doesn’t spoil the trip for the other 5 people traveling with you.: I wish you good luck, you’re going to need it.: Rolly

Rolly

Jun 6, 2002, 10:39 PM

Post #14 of 20 (3008 views)

Shortcut

Toll Roads

Can't Post |

The toll roads are great for getting you between cities, but they usually don't go through or around the city, so there is a gap in the system where you must drive on the free highway to the other side of town. Sometimes these highways through town are poorly marked (like where I live), and it is easy to get lost from the highway. And because they are also often infrequently marked in town, you can be on the right path and still be unsure. I have had all these experiences more than once -- even close to home. On the other hand, some places are easy to navigate. One observation about highway numbers: Often the destination city is more important to the in-town sign maker than the highway number, so it is useful to keep in mind the next couple of city/towns that the signs might plug. The toll roads have good signage.

Kimpatsu Hekigan

Jun 6, 2002, 11:19 PM

Post #15 of 20 (3013 views)

Shortcut

Confusion at Hermosillo and Culiacan

Can't Post |

An earlier poster has mentioned the thoroughly confusing transit through or around Hermosillo. I'd like to second this notion, and emphasize the importance of paying really careful attention once the toll road ends and you enter the city from the north. The signage is quite poor. Also watch out for the "windshield washing" boys at red lights. Another confusing place is the toll road interchange west and south of Culiacan. The goal is stay on the toll road and skirt around the city itself, ending up heading south in the direction toward Villa de Costa Rica. Again, very poor signage here, too. Pay attention...Good luck! -- K.H.

Esteban

Jun 7, 2002, 4:18 PM

Post #16 of 20 (3009 views)

Shortcut

Confusion at Hermosillo and Culiacan

Can't Post |

In Hermosillo, since the sixties, they have had the bypass road and it's a little worse than it was in the sixties which isn't saying much. Now, I prefer to drive straight through town which I've found to be just as fast, smoother roads and has several places to eat if you so desire. So basically, you can't go wrong. If you do take the bypass road, usually the ratero window washers hang right on the medium next to the left turn lane. That's another reason to go through town. The best place to gas up is on the south side of Hermosillo about 3 miles outside of town. As far as the overpass bypassing Culiacan, I totally agree with you, it's confusing. Take it slow, watch behind you so you don't get rear-ended and follow the signs. It's also bad signage there coming north.

Ernie Gorrie

Jun 7, 2002, 10:11 PM

Post #17 of 20 (3008 views)

Shortcut

Confusion at Hermosillo and Culiacan

Can't Post |

My experience has been the opposite with regard to window washers. I've had then on the through route, but never on the bypass.

mexicodan

Jun 23, 2002, 9:19 AM

Post #18 of 20 (3009 views)

Shortcut

Try Nogales to Los Mochis!

Can't Post |

Cross the border early and beat the crowd to the 21 kilometer check point, Stay at Hotel Oscar's 9I think that's the name) (next to the Pemex just at the bottom of a long hill just before you tot he turnoff into Los Mochis. Hard to spot it the dark! Has tall brick wall around it

rachel

Sep 8, 2002, 4:11 PM

Post #19 of 20 (3007 views)

Shortcut

Another Itinerary

Can't Post |

you seem on top of this stuffare there any good online maps? - msn mapoint is sort of okay, but no detail as you mention going through townswhat maps do you recommend buying, come to that?also, we're considering stopping in ciudad obregon since we won't get out of tucson int'l airport until about 1pm - is that fairly reasonable, considering a 7.30 sunset?we're two drivers in an suv, both capable of long drives, keeping our heads & following sketchy directions, both good driversany recommendations where to stay?thanksrachel

rachel

Sep 8, 2002, 4:11 PM

Post #20 of 20 (3006 views)

Shortcut

Another Itinerary

Can't Post |