robt65
Oct 24, 2010, 2:11 PM
Post #11 of 13
(3748 views)
Shortcut
|
Re: [hapicampr] Traveling from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas to Brownville border, Texas
|
Can't Post | Private Reply
|
Hello hapicamper,
Both posters are correct in their descriptions of the "black bean" although "Altahabana" is technically and historically correct in the origin of the term. It really makes no difference as if you are unlucky enough to draw the "black bean" it is usually a very bad day at any rate! (smiling)
As MX 101 is neither an autopista nor a cuota, there are no tolls.
As far as an air medical evacuation company goes and excellent one (rated by several different organizations as excellent) is Sky Med out of Arizona. They have planes based all over the country, as well as bilingual crews. http://www.skymed.com/about-us.aspx
From San Juan del Rio I go north on MX 57 until the bypass (a cuota) to San Luis Potosi. During the day it is an excellent cuota. A little pricey but excellent highway and you miss all the traffic around the city of Queretaro as well as Guanajuato. It is a great time and nerve saver. It is also very safe to drive this road at night (I have done so many times up until about midnight, without any problems many times). At night it is not very well lit at the entry or exits coming from the south of MX 57 or headed back onto MX 57 Southbound. It is very easy to miss the pavement because of that. Be careful for that reason. Once on that by X 57 headed north and San Luis Potosi. Just north of the San Luis Potosi turnoff headed to Matamoros, is the turnoff to the east to the small city of Tula.
That is a two lane (without any shoulders to speak of) highway that is for the most part very straight but with somewhat rough surface shape (potholes) a few curvy sections as you go through the low hills and onto the cutoff (very well marked) to Tula. Tula has a great selection of clean hotels at very reasonable prices. This is a good place to make sure to gas up as the next stations are in C. D. Victoria about 2.5 hours to 3 ours East. That road between Tula to C. D. Victoria is a fairly new section of four lane highway (without any services to speak of) to C.D. Victoria. About an hour West of C.D. Victoria you will probably run into a big check point manned by the army, if you are East bound. None on the West bound side. Very serious souls and they do a good job. There is no need to drive directly into C. D. Victoria. If you gassed in Tula or before reaching Victoria from the North, you should have plenty of gas to get you t the next fuel stops in Tula or past Victoria a few miles towards Matamoros. I, personally would not stop in C. D. Victoria under any circumstances for any reason. Coming from Matamoros that means that you will have to leave the border headed south before 10:00 AM to make Tula wit plenty of Daylight to spare.
You can get your vehicle permit and tourist visa and pass customs all at the same point at the Matamoros border crossing using the Veterans Bridge from Brownsville. I have never had any problems there and they are all very good and helpful.
Be very careful to not exceed any speed limits going through Matamoros. Just follow the signs to C.D. Victoria and San Fernando and you should do alright. There is bridge with a curve in it that goes over some other street as you head south from the border that takes you directly into Matamoros. Be very careful to obey the speed limits on that bridge. It is a favorite of the local Transito to make a few extra dollars from mordita. Make a left at the large Soriana on your left, watch for the signs C. D. Victoria and San Fernando. That will be MX 101.
I use a company out of Arizona called http://mexicaninsurancestore.com/ . Their phone number is on the internet site. I think his name is Hal but not sure. Ask him to tell you the story about the Gringo tourist at the restaurant asking about the special of the day. He loves that joke. His prices are average. He handles several different companies. I get my insurance from ACE Insurance. They have a very high rating and I have had a claim one time in the four years I have been using them. They were quick to have my car (a VW Turbo New Beetle) repaired very quickly and very good. A hit and run when my wife was driving. Remember if you do have an accident call the number and do not move your car, no matter if it is the middle of a freeway! If you do your insurance may not cover you. They will immediately send out a local adjuster. Get as much information from the other car and driver as you can. Take a few photos for your own records including a photo of the other car and driver if possible. Also get a photo of the other cars license. I always get my insurance for a week or so before I plan to cross and the rest for after your trip in case of any unforeseen delays, then I am still covered.
From San Juan del Rio I go north on MX 57 until the bypass (a cuota) to San Luis Potosi. During the day it is an excellent cuota. A little pricey but excellent highway and you miss all the traffic around the city of Queretaro as well as Guanajuato. It is a great time and nerve saver. It is also very safe to drive this road at night (I have done so many times up until about midnight, without any problems many times). At night it is not very well lit at the entry or exits coming from the south of MX 57 or headed back onto MX 57 Southbound. It is very easy to miss the pavement because of that. Be careful for that reason. Once on that by X 57 headed north and San Luis Potosi. Just north of the San Luis Potosi, turnoff headed (east) to Matamoros, this is the turnoff to the east to the small city of Tula.
That is a two lane (without any shoulders to speak of) highway that is for the most part very straight but with somewhat rough surface shape (potholes) a few curvy sections as you go through the low hills and onto the cutoff (very well marked) to Tula. Tula has a great selection of clean hotels at very reasonable prices. This is a good place to make sure to gas up as the next stations are in C. D. Victoria about 2.5 hours to 3 ours East. That road between Tula to C. D. Victoria is a fairly new section of four lane highway (without any services to speak of) to C.D. Victoria. About an hour West of C.D. Victoria you will probably run into a big check point manned by the army, if you are East bound. None on the West bound side. Very serious souls and they do a good job. There is no need to drive directly into C. D. Victoria. If you gassed in Tula or before reaching Victoria from the North, you should have plenty of gas to get you t the next fuel stops in Tula or past Victoria a few miles towards Matamoros. I, personally would not stop in C. D. Victoria under any circumstances for any reason. Coming from Matamoros that means that you will have to leave the border headed south before 10:00 AM to make Tula wit plenty of Daylight to spare.
You can get your vehicle permit and tourist visa and pass customs all at the same point at the Matamoros border crossing using the Veterans Bridge from Brownsville. I have never had any problems there and they are all very good and helpful.
Be very careful to not exceed any speed limits going through Matamoros. Just follow the signs to C.D. Victoria and San Fernando and you should do alright. There is a bridge with a curve in it, that goes over some other street as you head south from the border that takes you directly into Matamoros. Be very careful to obey the speed limits on that bridge. It is a favorite of the local Transito to make a few extra dollars from mordita.
There is a Soriana shopping Center on your left at this point and that is actually the beginning of MX 101. Turn left here. You will be again careful to not exceed any speed limits until you clear the "Thanks for coming to Matamoros" sign about 45 minutes south of the city. from that point on there really are no more Transito to worry about. The road is good and traffic flows freely. About an hour or 1.5 hours South of Matamoros is an Federal Aduana check point to see your car permit and visa. Keep them handy. It is a new station (fixed) and they ask the usual questions.
Be very careful to not exceed any speed limits going through Matamoros. Just follow the signs to C.D. Victoria and San Fernando and you should do alright. There is a bridge with a curve in it that goes over some other street as you head south from the border that takes you directly into Matamoros. Be very careful to obey the speed limits on that bridge. It is a favorite of the local Transito to make a few extra dollars from mordita.
From there to C.D. Victoria is a good road with speeds approaching 100 kph. Heading into Victoria take the roads with the signs to San Luis Potosi. As for me I would not go to the Yucatan via Tampico, Tamaulipas and into Veracruz. For one thing, all those roads have many, many potholes and for another today it shows that a new hurricane will have recently passed through that area about the time you will reach there. You would for sure expect flooded out and probably impassable roads and highways. Also this is not a safe area because of the Zetas and the Transito in both Tamaulipas and Veracruz. They are really mordita hungry in those states.
Heading past the points I have spoken about in this posting, I would defer to Sunnyvmx. She keeps pretty well informed about the roads leading to your destination. I would trust her wisdom, except maybe after a few Margaritas! (Only teasing!!!)
She knows that area much better than I. "It is a wise man who knows what he doesn't know".
Hope this all helped out a bit. Have a good trip and just stray away from any bean jars! Then you don‘t have to pick one! (Smiling) Remember the only thing for sure in Mexico . . . . . . is that nothing is for sure.
Robt65
(This post was edited by robt65 on Oct 24, 2010, 2:23 PM)
|
Forums Index
Search Posts
Who's Online
Log In or Sign Up
