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gfarmer

Nov 15, 2003, 12:49 PM

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Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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Does anyone have experience crossing the border at Juarez and the route down to Guadalajara? We are coming down Dec 1.and we have crossed at Nogales and it can be a slower route.

Thanks in Advance Gus

nlnic

Nov 16, 2003, 2:58 PM

Post #2 of 12 (1503 views)

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Re: [gfarmer] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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I'm interested in that too! My many friends in Guadalajara use Juarez all the time, drive very fast and go often. They love the route.
Con mi corazon en Mexico!

pathall

Nov 17, 2003, 8:54 AM

Post #3 of 12 (1473 views)

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Re: [gfarmer] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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For quite a few years we have been crossing at El Paso into Juarez. It's OK, but slow and lots of traffic and therefore lots of wait time. The last time when we were crossing back into El Paso we waited a good three hours on the bridge to get across. Last year we discovered a much better crossing through Santa Teresa. Do a search on the MexicoConnect forum using the key word Santa Teresa and you should find my specific directions on how to find Santa Teresa. It's a small town in New Mexico just a few miles outside of El Paso. If you can't find the directions on the forum, email me and I will send you the directions. It's well worth it. You're across the border in about 2 minutes.

The highway from Juarez is mostly great toll roads to Zacatecas. We don't go to Guadalajara and so I can't tell you about the roads from Zac to Guad. There are good hotels along the way too. I can recommend the hotels we stay in if you want the names and cities. It takes us 2 days of driving from Juarez to Zacatecas.

mepsi

Nov 22, 2003, 8:39 AM

Post #4 of 12 (1415 views)

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Re: [gfarmer] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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I just saw this thread and thought I might add a bit to it

There is a relatively new border crossing At Santa Theresa New Mexico which will save a little time going south and a LOT of time coming back north. To reach it southbound Take the exit off I10 for Artcraft Road and continue south to the border crossing. After the crossing you will have to go through the Vehicle checkpoint at km 30 to get your papers so go south of the crossing about 10-15 km to the major intersection and turn left at the stop sign. Don't go straight here or you'll go onto the autopista and miss vehicle control. Go about 40 km toward Juarez to the glorieta and head south to the vehicle checkpoint then straight on south. All the turns are marked so watch for the signs.

When northbound after leaving the checkpoint at km 30 (and being sure to get a receipt for the holographic sticker you will have removed) go north to the glorieta and go west on the road to Janos to the majot intersection posted for Santa Theresa, turn right to the border and continue north to I10.

When we went this way last Friday afternoon the line was zero; we were the first car with NO wait. When we came back about 6 pm there was one car ahead of us. This was really great as we probably would have had a wait of at least a couple hours at either of the El Paso crossings.

As this entry is into NM rather than Texas you can bring back a quart of booze per adult as opposed to Texas where oyu will have to stop again to pay the Texas state tax on any amount you might bring in.

Monte

Monte

mepsi

Nov 22, 2003, 8:57 AM

Post #5 of 12 (1411 views)

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Re: [gfarmer] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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Hi Gus

One other thought that might be helpful if you are coming from the west on I10 is to go south at Deming to the Columbus/Palomas crossing. Continue on to the vehicle checkpoint then go on south to the road (signed) to Juarez to the left or Janos to the right. Go left to the major intersection south of Santa Theresa and, since you already have your vehicle papers, turn right and go directly onto the autopista and miss Juarez completely. Missing both Nogales and El Paso/ Juarez will make this trip a LOT easier. As earlier stated, only use this if you're coming from the west on I10.

We gave up on crossing at Nogales as the trip south down the coast is, I believe, a lot longer.

Monte

Monte

donnieboy

Nov 22, 2003, 12:41 PM

Post #6 of 12 (1391 views)

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Re: [mepsi] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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Hola:

Shirley and I are driving through Tucson and then south to Nogales. Should we reconsider and enter at El Paso? Some folks on this site are suggesting that this route is quicker and easier. According to my trusty old AAA map, this route is longer, especially since you must drive an extra 200 miles -+ west from Tucson to El Paso. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

mepsi

Nov 22, 2003, 6:13 PM

Post #7 of 12 (1382 views)

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Re: [donnieboy] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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I've driven both routes several times and IMO you'll save several hours going via either of the routes I mentioned above.

Also, the further you drive in the U.S. the less you'll spend on gas.

Monte

Monte

esperanza

Nov 22, 2003, 9:33 PM

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Re: [mepsi] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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By all means go via El Paso. The distance in the USA is nothing compared to the time and trouble of the 'shortcut' through Nogales and on south. I've driven both routes and God willing I will never have to do the Nogales trip again.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Marlene

Nov 23, 2003, 3:14 AM

Post #9 of 12 (1363 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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What sort of troubles did you encounter with crossing at Nogales, or was it just the route in general? I just did the crossing recently and it went very smoothly. I kept track of the tolls costs as far as Mazatlan, if anyone is interested in that.

esperanza

Nov 23, 2003, 7:22 AM

Post #10 of 12 (1355 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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The actual crossing at Nogales has never been a problem, and the route isn't bad either~even though it's quite a bit longer coming toward Jalisco than the route through either El Paso or Laredo~or McAllen, if you're coming from farther East.

It's the hassle along the way, particularly in Sinaloa and Nayarit...the army, the federales, etc etc etc. I have found them on every occasion to be rough, rude, pushy, extortionistic, and on one memorable occasion outside Culiacán, drunk. Six of them, drunk, abusive, and demanding money. I have never experienced this check-point attitude and behavior anywhere else in Mexico.

So...any crossing east of Nogales that leads to a good road South and East is the route for me.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Marlene

Nov 23, 2003, 7:51 AM

Post #11 of 12 (1348 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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It sounds like your experiences have not been a lot of fun. Honestly, when I made the trip a few weeks ago there was nothing like that at all. The only little thing was the old farmers group sitting under a tarp with a rope across the road. We tossed a few coins into the bucket, the rope dropped and off we went. I believe it is some sort of a land claim issue, but no harassment or anything like that. We encountered absolutely no checkpoints going south at all other than the routine Sonora/Sinaloa car permit check. (There seem to be a few going north, but that is a good thing.) I haven't heard any recent horror stories from snowbirds returning to Mazatlan either, so maybe things have improved in the last while and will continue to be uneventful.

The highway was really good until we got close to Mazatlan where it is still under construction and rather crummy, and where ironically the cuota is the most costly. Not wise to drive after dusk on this stretch or you could lose your car in a black hole!

SteveInPVR

Nov 23, 2003, 2:27 PM

Post #12 of 12 (1317 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Crossing the border at El Paso vs Nogales

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Last year we did the border crossing at Laredo to get to Puerto Vallarta. The wait was several hours, then the mountains were terrible on the van. This year we dicided to do the extra trek to Nogales to avoid the mountains, and it was fantastic. Short wait at the border, straight highway all the way, a peice of cake. If you have the extra days, go for Nogales. No stops by Federales or anybody else. Carefree.

Steve
Steve