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Vallarta Bound

Jun 4, 2002, 10:46 AM

Post #1 of 9 (1753 views)

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Traveling from Pasadena CA to Pto. Vallarta

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Hello,I'll be traveling to Pto. Vallarta on July 4th. I am concern with the quality of gasoline in Mexico, as I have heard is gritty and I that I may have to replace the fuel filter and clean the fuel injector. I have a 2002 Ford Expedition XLT with a 5.4L Triton engine. What spare parts can I take with me without problems with "aduanas".I also will like to know if it is realistic to travel from Nogales, AZ to Mazatlan in 12 hours. I am planning to cross the border at 7:00 a.m.. I have already gotten all the required FMT's and the Temporary Importation Permit from Banjercito. How the toll roads compare with the U.S. Interstates? Have they completed the toll from Mazatlan to Tepic?Any pointers are welcome to make this trip enjoyable. I am traveling with my wife, two kids (7 and 9), my mother, and believe or not my mother in law. Fortunately, today the dealer is installing a DVD,VCR and TV tuner combo w/6 wireless headphones. Any good and safe places to stay in Mazatlan?

RexC

Jun 4, 2002, 11:05 PM

Post #2 of 9 (1747 views)

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Traveling from Pasadena CA to Pto. Vallarta

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There is no problem with the quality of the gasoline in Mexico. Don't worry about it. Most of the gasoline sold in Mexico is imported from The United States. That is one of the things that makes it so expensive here. There is a shortage of refining capacity here, there are only six refineries in the entire country. Pemex is owned by the Mexican Government, and they have seriously neglected investing in infrasructure for many years. Many of the Pemex gas stations are operated by private companies now, so any contamination of gas would probably occur at an individual station. It may have happened somewhere, but I have never heard of anyone complaining about the gas quality here. There is a pemex refinery where I live, Cuernavaca, both our cars run like champs. I wouldn't beleive any of the stories you "hear", lots of people like to accent the negatives about Mexico. Or invent the negatives. I can't give you any accurate information on your other questions.
Rex : Hello,: I'll be traveling to Pto. Vallarta on July 4th. I am concern with the quality of gasoline in Mexico, as I have heard is gritty and I that I may have to replace the fuel filter and clean the fuel injector. I have a 2002 Ford Expedition XLT with a 5.4L Triton engine. What spare parts can I take with me without problems with "aduanas".: I also will like to know if it is realistic to travel from Nogales, AZ to Mazatlan in 12 hours. I am planning to cross the border at 7:00 a.m.. I have already gotten all the required FMT's and the Temporary Importation Permit from Banjercito. How the toll roads compare with the U.S. Interstates? Have they completed the toll from Mazatlan to Tepic?: Any pointers are welcome to make this trip enjoyable. I am traveling with my wife, two kids (7 and 9), my mother, and believe or not my mother in law. Fortunately, today the dealer is installing a DVD,VCR and TV tuner combo w/6 wireless headphones. Any good and safe places to stay in Mazatlan?

Rolly

Jun 5, 2002, 7:51 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1746 views)

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Traveling from Pasadena CA to Pto. Vallarta

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I second what Rex says about the gas. No problem.The Mexican toll roads are equal to or better then the US interstate system. (The free roads are another story.) I have yet to see a Mexican toll road as bad as I5 or 101 in LAThere are plenty of good and safe places to stay in Mazatlán. It is a large, modern city with a very big tourist industry. México is not a third-world country (maybe second-world and climbing). Most of the old stories you have heard are just that -- old stories. We gringos have seen so many John Wayne movies that we have a picture of México from 100 years ago that probably wasn't true even then.For a look at life in a small Mexican city today, click below for my web page.Enjoy your visit.

Amy

Jun 5, 2002, 8:37 PM

Post #4 of 9 (1745 views)

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Traveling from Pasadena CA to Pto. Vallarta

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: Hello,: I'll be traveling to Pto. Vallarta on July 4th. I am concern with the quality of gasoline in Mexico, as I have heard is gritty and I that I may have to replace the fuel filter and clean the fuel injector. I have a 2002 Ford Expedition XLT with a 5.4L Triton engine. What spare parts can I take with me without problems with "aduanas".: I also will like to know if it is realistic to travel from Nogales, AZ to Mazatlan in 12 hours. I am planning to cross the border at 7:00 a.m.. I have already gotten all the required FMT's and the Temporary Importation Permit from Banjercito. How the toll roads compare with the U.S. Interstates? Have they completed the toll from Mazatlan to Tepic?: Any pointers are welcome to make this trip enjoyable. I am traveling with my wife, two kids (7 and 9), my mother, and believe or not my mother in law. Fortunately, today the dealer is installing a DVD,VCR and TV tuner combo w/6 wireless headphones. Any good and safe places to stay in Mazatlan?

Amy

Jun 5, 2002, 8:39 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1747 views)

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Traveling from Pasadena CA to Pto. Vallarta

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I'm doing a similiar trip in August (from the Bay Area). How did you get your FMT and car documents ahead of time?

Vallarta Bound

Jun 5, 2002, 8:49 PM

Post #6 of 9 (1749 views)

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Traveling from Pasadena CA to Pto. Vallarta

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Fortunately for me, I live in Pasadena, which is about 2 1/2 from Tijuana, B.C.. I went and requested a FMT from the immigration officer as soon as I entered the border. Paid $22.00 per FMT, took those along with the documentation and required photocopies to Banjercito, which is about 3 or 4 blocks from the Immigration office.Also, I pre-registered thru the Internet. Yes, Banjercito has a web site and it will save you some time, as the information will be on their computer. It took about 20 minutes to do this transaction. When I went, I parked the car at a parking lot on the U.S. side of the border and just walked thru.You live in the Bay Area and this may be a little difficult for you, but if you have a chance to come down to the So. Cal area, you may want to do this ahead of time. If not, then you will have to do it at the border as soon as you cross.Good luck!: I'm doing a similiar trip in August (from the Bay Area). How did you get your FMT and car documents ahead of time?

Kimpatsu Hekigan

Jun 5, 2002, 10:50 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1753 views)

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Nogales to Mazaltlan

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: I also will like to know if it is realistic to travel from Nogales, AZ to Mazatlan in 12 hours.I did this trip at the end of March (in reverse from Puerto Vallarta to Nogales). I think 12 hours from Nogales to Mazatlan is a bit unrealistic. Speeds on the good sections of the toll roads are 110-120 kph, and many folks go much faster. But making your way through unfamiliar urban centers takes a lot of time, and many stretches of the toll roads are not in pristine condition (to say the least), leading to slower speeds. I would allow 16 hours behind the wheel (excluding stops). Also, keep in mind that sunset is around 8 pm this time of year at those latitudes, and you don't want to be driving after dark if you can at all help it, even on the toll roads.:Have they completed the toll from Mazatlan to Tepic?No. There is about a 25-mile stretch of new toll road between Rosario and Escuinapa (toll: N$33.00). But it's a wide two-lane, not four-lane, road and many buses and trucks choose to use it because Hwy 15 is so narrow and twisty in that area. So while faster than Hwy 15, it can still be quite slow if there's a lot of traffic. There's also another short stretch of toll road just before arriving in Tepic, which is four-lane and quite nice.BTW, you can avoid the 3,000-ft climb to Tepic and the 3,000-ft descent to Las Varas by turning west at the El Tizate junction just south of Capomal and the long bridge over the Rio Grande, and driving the back roads through San Blas and then along the coast to re-join Hwy 15 at Las Varas. Pleasant drive, little traffic and nice views of the sea. I did this stretch in about 2.5 hours, though it was early in the morning with light traffic.Hope this helps, -- K.H.

Vallarta Bound

Jun 6, 2002, 9:58 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1751 views)

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Nogales to Mazaltlan/Thank YOU!!!

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: : I also will like to know if it is realistic to travel from Nogales, AZ to Mazatlan in 12 hours.: I did this trip at the end of March (in reverse from Puerto Vallarta to Nogales). I think 12 hours from Nogales to Mazatlan is a bit unrealistic. Speeds on the good sections of the toll roads are 110-120 kph, and many folks go much faster. But making your way through unfamiliar urban centers takes a lot of time, and many stretches of the toll roads are not in pristine condition (to say the least), leading to slower speeds. I would allow 16 hours behind the wheel (excluding stops). Also, keep in mind that sunset is around 8 pm this time of year at those latitudes, and you don't want to be driving after dark if you can at all help it, even on the toll roads.: :Have they completed the toll from Mazatlan to Tepic?: No. There is about a 25-mile stretch of new toll road between Rosario and Escuinapa (toll: N$33.00). But it's a wide two-lane, not four-lane, road and many buses and trucks choose to use it because Hwy 15 is so narrow and twisty in that area. So while faster than Hwy 15, it can still be quite slow if there's a lot of traffic. There's also another short stretch of toll road just before arriving in Tepic, which is four-lane and quite nice.: BTW, you can avoid the 3,000-ft climb to Tepic and the 3,000-ft descent to Las Varas by turning west at the El Tizate junction just south of Capomal and the long bridge over the Rio Grande, and driving the back roads through San Blas and then along the coast to re-join Hwy 15 at Las Varas. Pleasant drive, little traffic and nice views of the sea. I did this stretch in about 2.5 hours, though it was early in the morning with light traffic.: Hope this helps,: -- K.H.Thanks for the good information. I may want to leave a little earlier so, I can be in Mazatlan by sundown or 8:00 p.m.

Fish from Denver

Jun 11, 2002, 6:00 AM

Post #9 of 9 (1755 views)

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Beaches from Pto. Penasco - Puerto Vallarta

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I'm driving from Puerto Penasco to Puerto Vallarta in late October, and wondered if there are any other fun beach cities to visit. We heard that Bahia de Kino, west of Hermosillo is great. Any other suggestions?