Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

NicoXampa

Jul 10, 2008, 10:42 AM

Post #1 of 7 (1993 views)

Shortcut

Reasonable travel time Texas to Chiapas ?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I will be crossing at Pharr, Tx at the end of the month on my way to San Cristobal de las Casas. I'd like to make just one stop, probably Poza Rica, for the night. I'm traveling with two fifty pound dogs, so the sooner we arrive at our destination the better. I drove this route a couple of years ago but can't remember how long it actually took. I get up early and can drive 10 -12 hours. Don't drive at night. Thanks for your suggestions. PS This is the first time I've used the Pharr crossing so if you know it, please share! xx Mary

jreboll

Jul 10, 2008, 12:15 PM

Post #2 of 7 (1985 views)

Shortcut

Re: [NicoXampa] Reasonable travel time Texas to Chiapas ?

Can't Post | Private Reply

First of all you might want to go and get your paperwork done the day before and sleep overnight NOB. That way you will not waste anytime the next day.
I will also be taking all at the end of the month but I will be going through the Los Indios bridge which is about 30 miles away.

jerezano

Jul 10, 2008, 1:43 PM

Post #3 of 7 (1973 views)

Shortcut

Re: [NicoXampa] Reasonable travel time Texas to Chiapas ?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hello,

By all means if you are going down the coast, cross at Los Indios. Suggest you Private Message jrebol (above) and work out a caravaning arrangement with him.

By continuing on to Los Indios instead of Pharr you will have an extra 50 or so miles of high velocity US 83 super highway instead of the Mexican Highway system. If you must cross at Pharr, be sure and take the new shortcut, probably not shown on your maps, to San Fernando and the coast highway.

Crossing time at Los Indios is probably the fastest on the border. Also, you will miss all major cities until you hit Cd. Victoria and you will actually by pass that and your next major city is Tampico. Ed and Fran here on the forum can tell you how to get around Tampico and on down to Poza Rica. For me, that would be a long, long day's drive but for you perhaps not. I, myself, would plan to overnight in Cd. Valle at the final exhaustion point of drive no more. If you are switching drivers, perhaps you could make Poza Rica without too much night driving. Be sure and watch your gasoline. Pemex stations can be far apart on that route.

Have fun. jerezano.

Ed and Fran

Jul 10, 2008, 6:03 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1939 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jerezano] Reasonable travel time Texas to Chiapas ?

Can't Post | Private Reply

...and on down to Poza Rica. For me, that would be a long, long day's drive but for you perhaps not.

We usually figure 10 hours from the border to Tuxpan (not counting paperwork at the crossing). That's with a minimal lunch break and a couple of gas/potty stops. But we're not real fast drivers.

Can't help with the time on the second leg to San Cristobal. It's been 8 years since we drove there, and it was just from Villahermosa.

I, myself, would plan to overnight in Cd. Valle.

To me, that would be way out of the way, as it's quite a bit to the west of Tampico. But you may use a different route.

If you are switching drivers, perhaps you could make Poza Rica without too much night driving.

I think you can make Poza in 10-1/2 hours easy. Given the current length of the days, if you get a start fairly early in the morning (past the paperwork by 09:00 latest) you should be okay. The only bad stretch of road is between Tampico and Tuxpan, and that's mainly nuisance potholes. But don't drive that stretch at night.

If you get hung up in that stretch and want to stop, there are small, not fancy, hotels in Ozuluama, Naranjos, and Cerro Azul.

If you're heading for Poza you won't go through Tuxpan anyway. You'll be taking the right fork at Alazan/Potrero de Llano and heading down Rte 127 via Alamo and Tihuatlan.

Be sure and watch your gasoline. Pemex stations can be far apart on that route.

That's not really a concern on this route anymore. New Pemex stations have been popping up like mushrooms, and you'll find them fairly frequently.

Regards

Ed

NicoXampa

Jul 11, 2008, 8:52 AM

Post #5 of 7 (1910 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Ed and Fran] Reasonable travel time Texas to Chiapas ?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks so much EVERYONE for your replies! What terrific forum this is. I'll check my maps and google Cd. Valle for pet friendly hotels. No co-pilots in this family. As well-trained as the hounds are, they never did take to "Drive the car!" Again, mil gracias.

jreboll

Jul 22, 2008, 10:46 PM

Post #6 of 7 (1838 views)

Shortcut

Re: [NicoXampa] Reasonable travel time Texas to Chiapas ?

Can't Post | Private Reply

NicoXampa might want to consider going through Monterrey instead of Cd.Victoria because of Hurricane Dolly. If anyone is traveling that route in the next week I would like to hear what they have seen.

mexicomike

Aug 6, 2008, 6:34 PM

Post #7 of 7 (1773 views)

Shortcut

Re: [NicoXampa] Reasonable travel time Texas to Chiapas ?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I agree with Ed and Fran about everything they said, especially that going through Cd. Valles is quite out-of-the-way. As far as pet-friendly hotels, you have got to be kidding. I know every hotel in Valles and most of the owners and not one would admit to being pet-friendly when I was there updating my information last year. That said, I have stayed at the Hotel Valles with my Fluffy. Don't even mention the dogs, no matter where you stay. I have a whole page on the pet-friendly situation on my site, but that is the short answer.

As far as crossing at Los Indios, I believe it depends on where you are coming from. It is way out of the way if you are coming down 281 to Pharr. A lot of people think the Matamoros (MEX-101/180) crossing is better for a Gulf trip and again, that depends on where you are coming from. The difference in miles between Reynosa or Phar/Reynosa and Matamoros is about ten miles where they intersect at Buenas Aires or La Loma Junction. I would much rather drive MEX-97 out of Reynosa than MEX-2 from Los Indios, but everybody has his/her own opinion. I've only been doing this for twenty-odd years. Back then, there was no Los Indios crossing. but both MEX-97 and MEX-180 are acceptable highways.

Why are you in such a hurry? Slow down, you will live longer. If you're interested, I do have a travel log and map for a good chunk of your route. But this isn't a commercial. One caveat that might cause some discussion -- I recently (July 08) drove and updated my road logs. I tried the bypass of Tampico and then did the route through town. I would rather be shot than try to drive the route through Tampico again. So, take the bypass. It starts north of Tampico, goes west towards Cd. Valles for a few miles then south and winds around to MEX-180. It is out of the way but worth it.

I have not heard of any damage from Dolly, but that does not mean there could not have been some. I rather doubt it though. However, if you do find out there is some, you can always take MEX-105 (Panuco turnoff from MEX-70 to Cd. Valles). I drove that in July and it is usually in decent shape.

"Mexico" Mike Nelson
www.mexicomike.com
Writing about Mexico for 40 years.
Maps, Road Logs for drivers
Author of "Live Better South of the Border."
"Spas & Hot Springs of Mexico."
Mexico is a state of mind.