Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

Dan

Aug 28, 2002, 12:04 PM

Post #1 of 7 (297 views)

Shortcut

Santa Fe, NM to Zacatecas

Can't Post |

We plan to travel from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Zacatecas.
What would be the best route, border crossing, places to stay along the way and places to stay in Zacatecas.
If possible how long will this drive take?Thanks dan

Elliott Moore

Aug 30, 2002, 7:37 AM

Post #2 of 7 (295 views)

Shortcut

Santa Fe, NM to Zacatecas

Can't Post |

I drove this route often when I lived in Santa Fe.
My preference would be directly south along I25
to Juarez, about 4 1/2 hours. Cross there if you
need to get your vehicle permit and/or tourist
visa(s). If you already have your permit and visas you
might consider crossing at Santa Teresa NM
instead - but they have very recently stopped
issuing these for tourists at this crossing.
This allowed for a fast crossing and direct route
south without going thru the urban mess of El Paso
/Juarez. Follow the obvious signs to the toll road (45)
south to Chihuahua, more toll road to Torreon,
then the free road 49 to Rio Grande (unless the
tollway through here is finished) then tollway
thru Fresnillo to Zacatecas.Driving conservatively, this will take roughly
24 hours of driving. We usually stopped for one
night along the way, wherever it was easiest.This assumes you simply want to get there fast,
and not see any of the wonderful sights/detours
along the way (ruins of Paquime, Copper Canyon,
etc., etc.). We could rarely resist a few side
trips.I know you have been counselled on another board
to go in through Monterrrey. RESIST!Hope you have a great trip.Elliott Moore

Dan

Aug 30, 2002, 2:14 PM

Post #3 of 7 (294 views)

Shortcut

Santa Fe, NM to Zacatecas

Can't Post |

Thanks Elliot, I was hoping you might answer. I copied your earlier posts about the Santa Theresa crossing. I was hoping to use this crossing but I need to get a permit for my car. I can get an FMT at the Mexican Consulate here in Montreal but I will still need to get the Car Permit unless I can get it elsewere. Where else is the permit available.At the consulate they gave me a brochure called "Mexico siempre te reciira con los brazos abierto" on the back it lists all the offices that issue licences. In the state of Chihuahua they list 3. one is Palomas, 2 is Pte. Intnal. Ojinaga and 3 Carretera Panamericana KM. 30 Cd. Juarez. Is this last one just outside Cd. Juarez and could I bypass the city this way.Any advice would be appreciated.Where is Paquime?
We plan to visit some places along the way but plan to visit Copper Canyon when we can devote more time to it.We are driving to Playa del Carmen on the Caribean coast and will do this every year for the near future. Mexico is a big country to discover and we really love it.Thanks againDan

Elliott Moore

Aug 30, 2002, 4:43 PM

Post #4 of 7 (293 views)

Shortcut

Santa Fe, NM to Zacatecas

Can't Post |

The closest thing to having your permit when you
cross I know about is to print out the form
available at the Banjercito site, no more than
15 days before you cross. Site:
https://www.banjercito.com.mx/iitv/index_en.htmThey issue you a "leaf number" you present as
part of your documentation when you cross, no
more than 15 days later. Then you supposedly
need only to pay your fee and proceed.I have not personally tried this system, and have
no idea how much or how little time is saved by
filling out the documentation before you get to
the border. Santa Teresa was a great time saver-
but not enough tourists used it to continue the
service, apparently.I have heard bad reports of enormous multi-hour
backups south of Juarez at the checkpoint for
those starting their vehicle permit process there.Paquime is the ancient ruins of a Pueblo already
abandoned before the Spanish came to Mexico, near
the modern town of Nuevo Casas Grandes. If you
chose the Columbus/Palomas crossing in southern
NM, went south to Highway 2 then southwest you
would pass very close to Paquime. The ruins are
interesting, but not nearly as spectacular as you
will see in southern Mexico; they can be seen
leisurely in an hour or two, or hurriedly in
perhaps 30-45 minutes. Afterward you would
need to continue southeast on highway 10 as far
as BuenaVentura, then cut due east back to the
tollway rejoing it at El Sueco. This side trip
will probably add a couple of hours to the length
of your driving trip plus any time spent at
Paquime. Most likely this would be a wash.Your best tactic: Juarez is 24/7, best hit really
early on a weekday morning. If you crossed at the
Americas entrance to Mexico, then made a sharp
left at the first highway (a four lane street)
just over the Rio Grande you will bypass most of
the downtown traffic. Your road just becomes
the tollway if you stay on it. If you have your
filled out permit in hand, your delay at the 30
km checkpoint MIGHT be short.Some other posters may have other suggestions,
but that is what I would try.Elliott Moore

Dan

Aug 31, 2002, 5:49 AM

Post #5 of 7 (293 views)

Shortcut

Santa Fe, NM to Zacatecas

Can't Post |

Thanks again Eliott,
Can I get my permit in Juarez and not have to deal with the 30KM checkpoint.Dan

Elliott Moore

Aug 31, 2002, 3:35 PM

Post #6 of 7 (297 views)

Shortcut

Santa Fe, NM to Zacatecas

Can't Post |

The sordid details have not varied much over the
last couple of years, so perhaps a full recitative
may help you some if you just want to blast thru
the Juarez route:Get a last gas fill-up on the U.S. side of the
border. Prices nearly double as you cross.Go south on I10, past downtown El Paso.Come to Highway 54, left to Ruidoso, right to
Juarez. Turn right to Juarez, following large
directional signs. You will see the Rio Grande river (or sandbank,
depending on the season) ahead. You will then
pass the U.S. Customs & Immigration building on
the left. Do not stop (unless you need
info on returning later into the U.S.).Go up and over the Rio Grande bridge, coming
down in Mexico-slowly! Pull up to what looks
like a U.S. style toll-booth, with a Mexican
guard inside. Tell the guard "Chihuahua", or
if you're Spanish is good, tell him you want
a vehicle import permit.You will then be told or shown where to park
your vehicle, either in a stall over on the
left or in front of the building adjacent to
that toll-booth.Leave your car and enter the building. Go first
to "Migracion" either to obtain your tourist
card (formally the FM-T) OR to have it validated
if you already have it.Next get in line for "Banjercito" to get your
vehicle permit. Be sure to have your documents
with you, including car title, passport, driver's
licence,... You may be able to save some time
here if you already have a photocopy of all the
documents. Make copies (I made two of each) of:
Vehicle title
Vehicle registration
Passport of vehicle owner
Valid credit card (yes, a copy of your VISA,
MasterCard, or American Express card with the
SAME name as on the title - some people have
gotten away with a debit card, others have not)You will then either hand them the pre-filled out
form you got on-line, with the "leaf number"
which supposedly expedites matters, or fill out
the paper forms they give you. One of these will
be your affidavit of promise to return the
vehicle back across this border (any crossing will
do).After leaving the building your vehicle MAY be
searched for contraband.Proceed ahead on your original path into Juarez.If you want to get thru as quickly as possible,
turn left onto a four lane highway nearly on the
bank of the Rio Grande - Mexico 45. You will
simply follow this route, which will gradually
curve away from the Rio Grande over the first
half-mile or so. You will cross the main East-West Mexico highway
2 when you cross Av. de la Raza. As you continue
south you will see the Juarez airport on your
left.At 30 km (about 18 miles) inland, you will be
forced to pull over to the right, stopping
first at "Migracion" to have your tourist cards
checked, then onward to customs "Aduana" to have
your vehicle permit checked. If all is in order,
and the lines are short, you may get through here
in less than an hour. If you failed to dot any
i's or cross any t's earlier, three to five hours
here is not at all unusual-even if it is 3 AM!This inspection post is the most likely place
they may really go through your vehicle for any
contraband in Mexico. About half the time they do
a cursory peek through the window of my car, half
the time they want me to open up and they go
rummaging through it all - opening suitcases, the
whole nine yards. Be sure to know what you can
legally bring into Mexico - a gun will put you
in jail pronto, some other items will cause you
to pay duty, etc. There are other police posts
farther south where this routine MAY be repeated.After clearance, go on south. You will have a
choice a couple of hours later of toll (CUOTA)road to Chihuahua (left lane, US$13? last year) or right lane the free (LIBRE) road. Your choice, but I prefer the toll road here.Hope this level of detail will help you some in
those first few hours in a new country. Don't be
at all surprised if some of the details have
changed a little since my last visit to Mexico
last month.Elliott Moore

Dan

Sep 1, 2002, 8:42 AM

Post #7 of 7 (294 views)

Shortcut

Santa Fe, NM to Zacatecas

Can't Post |

Elliott,
Thank you again
your help has been invaluable, if you are ever in the Riviera Maya let me know I would like to buy you a beer or two.Dan