Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

Minerva909

Sep 26, 2011, 10:22 AM

Post #1 of 21 (1512 views)

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driving to Chetumal?

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I know driving in Mexico is dangerous nowadays, but I have a dilemma: I have been offered a part time consulting assignment in Belize, because of which (and because I really love Placencia :I worked/enjoyed myself there last year) I will have to spend at least 3-4 months there annually - likely over a period of the next 4-5 years.

Last year I had no car there, so whenever I wanted to explore more of that very underpopulated country, I either had to take puddle jumper flights to larger places in Belize (puddle jumpers are plentiful and relatively inexpensive there ...that is for a gringo or a European, like me) or beg, bribe and cajole local colleagues to take me deeper into the jungle (hate organized group tours for gringo turists) to see Maya ruins.

Now, I just moved to Texas (Padre Island) and have an old, inconspicuous car, running well though, and am thinking of buying myself a new one in the USA without trading - and taking my old, cheap car to Belize, driving through Mexico - through Tampico, Vera Cruz, Villahermosa to Chetumal and from there down through Belize. The last part - Belize - I know to be safe, but the rest of the journey?

Amazingly, it is only about 1200 miles and I think of dpoing it over a week or so, to see the sights I haven't yet seen along the way.

Just how dangerous could it be?

I am single, retired (a little old lady, blond -now from the bottle- and blue eyed). Speak enough Spanish to get by (I have worked in Spain and several Spanish speaking countries in Central America) and even learned some Maya last year - Q'eqchi' Maya, to be true, spoken in Belize and eastern Guatemala, but I should be able to understand some Yucatecan Maya as well, I think, if it were helpful.

Would not take any wads of cash with me, or even credit cards - save for one debit card from a bank in another Latin American country where I only have some leftover funds - enough cash for the trip, but not much else, since I get paid and have a banc account in Belize. And my old car - according to Blue Book - is worth not much more than 2k - and it does not guzzle gas.

So, having said that... just how crazy is this idea??? (I wish there was a ferry from Corpus Christi to Veracruz as was planned before the crash, alas...)

(This post was edited by Minerva909 on Sep 26, 2011, 11:52 AM)

RickS

Sep 26, 2011, 11:37 AM

Post #2 of 21 (1486 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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Well, here's my 2 pesos's worth Minerva. You'll get plenty of other takers I'll bet.

The only reason you are asking this question, I'll bet, is due to the current civil unrest in Mexico. It's real and it's terrible (and a shame for the Mexican people!). You otherwise seem to be willing and able to make such a solo trip without much trepidation.

My opinion is..... go for it! As I have said before here, having anything happen to any given non-Mexican driver, while driving almost anywhere in Mexico, is, mathematically speaking, a very very small chance. Probably no worse than the probability of just having a car accident without any of the rest of this mess being taken into consideration.

Thousands.... probably tens of thousands.. of people drive around, cross the border, go way into Mexico, etc. every month without incident. The one rub is your apparent route from Padre Island.... through the state of Tamaulipas in particular. That area, including the interior, has been especially bad this year. But again, mathematically, the odds are way in your favor. I'd just cross at Brownsville and stay on 180 all the way down. Maybe others here can give you some places to stay as it cannot be done in one day.

But I'd take more than 1 credit card. If an ATM machine eats your one card you are SOL. And you'll have to have some pesos because it's a cash society (but by your travels, you already know this!"). And you'll need Mexican car insurance but that is readily available on-line (ask if you need references). You'll need to have a credit card (or cash) for the visa fee and deposit on your temporary vehicle importation.... currently between $250-$400 I think.... when you cross the border. You'll get it back when you leave Mexico into Belize. I'd also suggest a good map, specifically a Guia Roji, the Por las Carreteras de Mexico (plus Belice) version.... available on Amazon for $15: http://www.amazon.com/...mp;sprefix=guia+roji

Let us know what you decide....

P.S. Welcome to Mexconnect

Vichil

Sep 26, 2011, 12:50 PM

Post #3 of 21 (1468 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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It is freeway almost all the way and if you stick to the main roads the big danger is accident. Just do not drive at night.
We are about to leave for a trip to Chiapas and Guatemala via Vera Cruz, Villa Hermosa and Palenque this time, we do this trip once or twice a year and frankly we never ran into problems because of the currant situation. We had a tire blow out and got stuck once on the Vera Cruz Highway for several hours in the sun so now we got smart, travel with cel phone , water food and a tarp to shade ourselves.
We do travel with two cards in case we lose one but we hide the cards and travel with some cash we can afford to lose.
Anything can happen but you have much greater chance of getting killed by a truck or another car than by a stray bullet.

Minerva909

Sep 26, 2011, 3:33 PM

Post #4 of 21 (1450 views)

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Re: [RickS] driving to Chetumal?

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Thanks Rick. That's the encouragement I need :-). Thanks also for reminding me that I might need more money (cash and plastic) than I thought.

The trip won't happen earlier than January, but when it happens, I shell report it here :-)

Altahabana

Sep 26, 2011, 3:36 PM

Post #5 of 21 (1450 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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If you cross at Brownsville or one of the other crossings between Brownsville and McAllen and then head south through central Tamaulipas you will be travelling through one of the most unstable areas of country. The local papers in the Valley---the McAllen Monitor and the Brownsville Herald---provide coverage of events in the lower border area that are not spectacular enough to make the national or international news. There is quite a bit of cartel v. cartel activity in and around Reynosa and Matamoros right now. Central Tamaulipas has been a type of no-man's land for the last year, although I suspect there is a heavy military and federal police presence. The problems, particularly around San Fernando, have been well documented.

If you are going to cross in the lower RGV I would recommend doing it at Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission and then get onto Hwy 40--the autopista--to Monterrey. If you stay on the autopista you should be okay. Some posters will tell you that any route through Tamaulipas is fine. It isn't possible to quantify risk to any single traveler, but if you want to travel through an area that has more documented violent public incidents than any other area of the country then that is the route you want to take.

Minerva909

Sep 26, 2011, 3:37 PM

Post #6 of 21 (1446 views)

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Re: [Vichil] driving to Chetumal?

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Thanks Vichil, I find the info of what I might need during the trip very useful (otherwise I guess I would have been more careless) .

Still, I only plan to do this car trip once and leave the car in Belize. Flying is so much easier... but then when tou are there, you need a car ... sigh.

Minerva909

Sep 26, 2011, 4:24 PM

Post #7 of 21 (1437 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] driving to Chetumal?

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Altahabana, I just read that the road between Monterrey and the Texas border is the most dangerous of them all. Whom to trust?

Altahabana

Sep 26, 2011, 5:02 PM

Post #8 of 21 (1431 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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Altahabana, I just read that the road between Monterrey and the Texas border is the most dangerous of them all. Whom to trust?

Don't know, but I wouldn't trust anyone who says Highway 40 between Monterrey and Reynosa is more dangerous than Hwy. 97 south from Reynosa or Hwy. 101 south from Brownsville. I am pretty familiar with general conditions on those roads and the situation in and around Reynosa and Matamoros (I'll be in Reynosa on business I can't avoid the day after tomorrow). It's not good and law enforcement is in the hands of the military and federal police in nearly all of the state.

As I said you can't quantify the risk for any single journey, but the situation in rural Tamaulipas is pretty well documented. I don't think even the most stubborn adherent of "En Tamaulipas no pasa nada" will deny that most of the state has had some real problems since the Zetas and the Gulf cartel split in February 2010. I believe there are some places in the country where the situation is not as bad as the news might make it seem, but Tamaulipas isn't one of those places. Do what you feel comfortable doing though.

RickS

Sep 26, 2011, 6:38 PM

Post #9 of 21 (1416 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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M, I would listen to 'anything' that Altahabana has to say. IMO he is the one source of info about Tamaulipas that I put the most credibility into. Check back a month before you are scheduled to leave and see how he feels about a route at that time. Math and statistics are one thing, stupidity is yet another.

Vichil

Sep 26, 2011, 7:21 PM

Post #10 of 21 (1410 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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I have to say that we live in the Guadalajra area and I look at the trip down south as pretty safe. I do not go north so I could not say anything about anywhere north of Guadalajara. There is a lot of people advising against driving to the border and a lot of people doing it. I would chose my route very carefully and would listen to people who live in the border states about their recommendations.

Minerva909

Sep 26, 2011, 8:31 PM

Post #11 of 21 (1397 views)

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Re: [Vichil] driving to Chetumal?

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OK, thanks all. I'll wait and check with you as Rick advised, about a month before planning to go south.

Altahabana

Sep 28, 2011, 4:41 AM

Post #12 of 21 (1332 views)

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Re: [RickS] driving to Chetumal?

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When you live in Tamaulipas and have family, friends and contacts throughout the state you hear about things that people outside the area don't hear. This is an example of what I was talking about and concerns incidents that happened after this thread started.

http://www.themonitor.com/...175-one-attacks.html

playaboy

Sep 28, 2011, 5:29 AM

Post #13 of 21 (1326 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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Here is my thoughts. I have done the drive over a dozen times from Brownsville to Chetumal. I would not drive through Tamp. at all right now. Instead of a 1 in a 10 million chance of having trouble that it was 3 years ago, it is now maybe 1 in 100,000. That is a big change. I wouldn't want that extra stress, driving is hard enough.

Drive west in Texas and cross at Eagles Pass, take hwy 57 to the Arco Norte around to hwy 150 in Puebla, then toward Veracruz and then head east. Stay on the Autopistas as much as you can. Be careful where you plan to stop and "smell the roses".

There is a special " temporary import permit, (TIP)" to drive south through to Belize or Guatemala. I think it is good for 10 days. I have seen caravans of cars pulling cars heading to Central America starting at the free trade bridge in Harlingen. If you really want to drive through Tamp. you might be able to join up and caravan with some of them as there is safety in numbers.

You might check into the costs of importing your car into Belize. I believe there is a hefty import tax. When I take my truck/camper into Belize they write it down in a book and put the car stamp in my passport. They might question you about the car when you fly out.

dongringo_catemaco

Sep 28, 2011, 6:27 AM

Post #14 of 21 (1324 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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From Padre Island, cross at Brownsville and head south on 180. So far not a single tourist has been affected in who knows how many years.

Check the road conditions south of Veracruz. Frequently they are a mess and it may be advisable to take the toll road to Villahermosa.

Between there and Chetumal you'll be essentially travelling through no-man's land. Do carry emergency supplies, and basic spare parts. Your cellular will be useless.

Unless you detoured to Palenque, the drive is a monotonous 400 miles along a mostly 2 lane highway. Near Chetumal, try the detour to Kalakmul, an unforgettable experience.
Visit Catemaco News

(This post was edited by dongringo_catemaco on Sep 28, 2011, 6:28 AM)

Altahabana

Sep 28, 2011, 10:40 AM

Post #15 of 21 (1294 views)

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Re: [dongringo_catemaco] driving to Chetumal?

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"So far not a single tourist has been affected in who knows how many years."

I don't know if the missionary counts or if tourist is limited to gringos, but that is not accurate. When the war between the Gulf and the Zetas began there were many reports on various ex-pat and Mexican forums about people being stopped at retenes and robbed. Periodically incidents are still reported.

http://articles.latimes.com/...ry-shooting-20110128

http://amigosdetamaulipas2.mforos.com/...eros-en-narco-reten/

A better point in my opinion is that cartel groups are active in central and south Tamaulipas. Their activities are not necessarily directed against travelers, but sometimes they are. Ask people locally for their opinions.

dongringo_catemaco

Sep 28, 2011, 11:11 AM

Post #16 of 21 (1285 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] driving to Chetumal?

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Dozens or perhaps hundreds of tourists have been affected in border states. Yet, I repeat, I know of no record on Mex 180, the fastest way to Veracruz from the border.
Visit Catemaco News

Minerva909

Sep 28, 2011, 12:41 PM

Post #17 of 21 (1269 views)

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Re: [dongringo_catemaco] driving to Chetumal?

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Thanks, again, everybody who cared to express an opinion.

My friends on Padre Island advise me to pay some Guatemalan or yucatan Mexican, who lives and works in the USA but goes to Mexico for Christmas to take the car down for me (to his own village, where I can pick it up), but I am not sure about Mexican regulations on Mexicans driving gringo cars.

And, yes, I know the custom duty in Belize is heavy and dependent on Blue Book value - thus taking a car that runs well, but has a low blue book value due to his age appeals to me - especially when it is my own car, so I know who drove it and how. Renting a car -or rather a wreck of a car - in Belize is so prohibitively expensive that $1000 -$1500 in custom duties would be well worth it... if not for the lack of safe passage through Mexico nowadays.

I might think consider going with a caravan, if I take a spare driver to keep the pace. Some 10 years ago I was driving in Mexico and had to ask a Mexican lorry driver to let me hang after him, as it was already dark, but even then I could not keep the pace, especially in the mountains, so that poor - but nice - guy, who was in an awful hurry led me to a first motel for lorry drivers, high, high up in the mountains, without electricity and running water, but clean as a whistle, with fresh linens and a big barrel of water to wash up, good food, provided without even my asking by very friendly keepers, no matter that it was already very late.... and a fantastic view over the village and the mountains next morning. Just the kind of an adventure I like. Grenade attacks or shoot outs I'd rather miss.

(This post was edited by Minerva909 on Sep 28, 2011, 12:45 PM)

Rolly

Sep 28, 2011, 12:57 PM

Post #18 of 21 (1260 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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My friends on Padre Island advise me to pay some Guatemalan or yucatan Mexican, who lives and works in the USA but goes to Mexico for Christmas to take the car down for me (to his own village, where I can pick it up), but I am not sure about Mexican regulations on Mexicans driving gringo cars.

Very bad advice and illegal. Don't try it!!!!!

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Minerva909

Sep 29, 2011, 5:45 AM

Post #19 of 21 (1203 views)

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Re: [Rolly] driving to Chetumal?

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Thanks Rolly, I had a feeling it was not quite legal, but did not - and do not - remember why.

RickS

Sep 29, 2011, 5:25 PM

Post #20 of 21 (1155 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] driving to Chetumal?

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"....... but did not - and do not - remember why."

Compliments of Mr. Rolly Brook and his website.....

Article 106 Importation Law

2004 law regarding the registration and driving of foreign cars in Mexico.

ARTICLE 106. Temporary importation means the entry into the country of merchandise which will remain for a limited time and with a specific purpose, provided that it be returned to the exterior unaltered; for the following periods.

SECTION IV. For the period which coincides with the period granted for the immigration category of the owner, including any extensions.

The vehicles can be driven in Mexico by the importer, his or her spouse, their parents and grandparents, etc, their decedents, their brothers or sisters, even when those relatives are not foreigners [see note below], or by a foreigner who has the same immigration category as one of those herein referenced, or by a Mexican citizen, provided in this latter case, that a person authorized to drive the vehicle is within the vehicle. Such vehicle is authorized to make multiple exits and returns from and to Mexico.

Minerva909

Sep 29, 2011, 6:40 PM

Post #21 of 21 (1141 views)

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Re: [RickS] driving to Chetumal?

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Thanks Rick and Rolly. Thus if I let a Mexican driver drive my car, I myself must be in it as wellm to be legal. Got it!