Safest route through Mexico

[2foilheads]

My fiance and I will be leaving in about 1 week to start our overland trip through Central and South America. Of course, we have heard from everyone how "dangerous" Mexico is and we have been doing a lot of research as to how best to get through the northern and central portions of the country.
At this point, it seems the best bet is the crossing at Eagle Pass in Texas, and once in Mexico, taking highway 57 south.
Does anyone have any further information regarding the safety of this route and if so, how long should we stay on the 57 for? We aren't sure about the region between San Luis Potosi and Puebla.
By the way, we are traveling in a Ural sidecar rig.
Any advice with this would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!

[TravellingStrom]

Once you are about 100km from ANY border, it is safe as houses, the Mexicans are fun and freindly, just watch out for the chilli.

Cheers
TS

[Hammer1]

I am currently in Mexico and have been for six weeks and haven't had any problems. Sure there are some places to be avoided which is the same in any country, for instance I wouldn't be hanging around in Juarez or TJ. My experience with mexico and the people has been fantastic, Mexicans are very friendly and helpful. I wouldn't believe all the sensationalised garbage you hear while in the USA. Everyone you talk to has a horror story that they have heard from a friends sisters aunties brother that they have never met that has never been to Mexico. The American media has a lot to answer for as well, they never report on all the good things that happen in mexico of which there are many as this doesn't sell news papers. Choose your route according to what you want to see and exercise the same degree of caution as you would while travelling to any foreign country with one added exception, NEVER travel at night.

Have fun and enjoy,

Charlie

[easyg]

I recently (March/April 2011) rode through Mexico crossing into the U.S. at Rio Grande City and concur with sentiment of others. Mexico has genuine issues regarding drug violence but they rarely affect tourists if you avoid the obvious hotspots. The last map on this website will give you a few pointers.

Borderland Beat: Maps of the Mexico Cartels

Having traveled to all countries in North & South America I rate Mexico as one of the safer places. In 2009 nearly 1/4 million Brits visited Mexico, I'm unaware of any of them being caught up in drug violence, and I've not heard of any bikers being caught up in it either.

All of us that have traveled through Mexico understandably worry about the increased levels of violence but I'm certain you will be charmed by the culture and the people and will soon forget about your security concerns once passed the border areas. The previous post sums it up nicely by simply stating that you should plan you route according to what you want to see and exercise the same caution that you would in any country.

The real risks are very different to what sells news papers and maintain TV ratings:

• the standard of roads and especially those damn "topes"
• animals wandering into roads
• the standard of driving

I should add that I never travel on toll roads in Mexico, very expensive and dull, mainly because I want to see what Mexico has to offer; in the same way I stay off inter-states in the U.S.

Enjoy, and if you want a taster of what's out there here's my moment of self promotion as I link you neatly to my Mexican video blog.

Safe travels and enjoy :-)

YouTube - Brainrotting Episode 21 - Mexico Mezcal & Mole BMW F650 Overland Adventure Motorcycling

[garrydymond]

All of the above. Take sensible precautions but don't be paranoid. I always feel safer when I cross the board back into Mexico than I do in the States but maybe because Mexico is home for me.
If you want to come Mexico City we can put you up and show you around. Surprisingly Mex City is now considered very safe compared to the rest of the country. I normally meet people just outside the city and guide them in.
If youare on a Ural rig couldn't you just mount the machine gun and then have no worries.

Garry

[zundapp]

I crossed over in november 2011 in Baja and that was easy as pie, I agree with other posts, the reputation of Mexico is greatly exagerated in the U.S., the media there only reports negatives. I found the Mexican police to be exemplary, the people amazingly friendly and the whole country amazingly safe.

As others have stated just be sensible, don't deviate from the highways and be courteous and friendly to the people and they will give you double that back...

PS LOVE IT... a Ural with sidecar, I rode that exact setup of a friends in Australia, good luck with the cornering... hahaha

[red87runnerATX]

2foilheads, I don't suppose you have a website or blog for your triP?

I haven't heard much about crossing thru Eagle Pass, but I've been curious if that's a good place to cross thru...i have family on both sides there and we've been thinking about starting there for our overland trip in January.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Eagle Pass is a peachy crossing intoMexico. For all the worry warts you will be happy to hear that you need not linger one minute in this border town . After the cursory customs non-check by the Mexican authorities as you cross the bridge you are free to motor on immediately down the highway .No need to do any paperwork here.
The km51 checkpoint just otside Allende Coah is where they issue tourist cards and TVIP .And this same is true for those enteing at Piedras Negras which feeds trafic into the same highway and the km 51 post.
BUT no need to be paranoidiacalistic. Have a nice exploratory ride around downtown of either of these two towns and get the flavour of Mexico.Even consider spending a night here if it is late.I have, no problema.

[MikeMike]

Originally Posted by zundapp

I found the Mexican police to be exemplary,

You likely found the only one that could be called exemplary unless you mean experts in corruption.
I've lived here for nearly 2 decades and have yet to find one that could be termed "exemplary".
Lucky you!

[martinef]

Hello,
My wife and I just spend 5 months in Mexico riding our sidecar. We crossed in Tecate with no problem. Then we had a wonderful time visiting lots of places around this country. If you cross in Baja just make sure to get your passport stamped and pay for your tourist card at the border, otherwise you would have to pay extra in La Paz.

We felt really safe while in Mexico, even in the big cities. In some places you can feel the tension of the drug war but just focus on your ride. If you know Spanish it will help you even more. A sidecar is a really attractive vehicle in these countries (in a good way), people is going to ask you lost of questions about it because for them that kind of ride is like a spaceship.

A few tips:
1. Use the LIBRES: more fun and interesting than the CUOTAS.
2. You will find lots and lost of TOPES (Speed bumps): Be prepared
3. If you go slow: Let everyone pass you, do not try to keep up with fast drivers. turn your left signal on, slow down, and give some room to allow vehicles pass you, drivers are going to be really thankful and may say bye to you. Blow the horn to say back!!!
4. We have found really easy to find Hotels, Hostels, Camping with safe parking for our sidecar.
5. If you can speak Spanish: Contact MOTOVIAJEROS.COM, they are a fantastic group of moto riders willing to help travelers like us. Go on their website and make a post about your trip, you may get lots of invitations like we did.

We are now in Guatemala, will fly to US in the next couple of weeks and will be back on the route by August. If you need any other advise just let us know. We may be able to ride the sidecars together at some point.

Take Care and have fun!!!!

[2foilheads]

Thanks for the offer, Garry. I tried to PM you, but since we are new users (under 5 posts), we can't send a PM. Can you please message us?
Thank you!

Tyler and Kat

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by garrydymond

All of the above. Take sensible precautions but don't be paranoid. I always feel safer when I cross the board back into Mexico than I do in the States but maybe because Mexico is home for me.
If you want to come Mexico City we can put you up and show you around. Surprisingly Mex City is now considered very safe compared to the rest of the country. I normally meet people just outside the city and guide them in.
If youare on a Ural rig couldn't you just mount the machine gun and then have no worries.

Garry

I'll vouch for Mexico City, and Garry :-)

Just don't offer to carry the bonfire/thanks giving lunch in your panniers :-)

[2foilheads]

First of all, thanks to everyone who responded to our thread.
As everyone pretty much said, we crossed the border and have traveled through Mexico with no problems at all. We crossed at Nogales and did the long, boring ride through the desert. Cut inland at Mazatlan and checked out some of the nicer areas in Michoacan (another "dangerous" state). Mexico City was great (thanks again Garry for having us over!) and over to the Yucatan Peninsula.
Overall, we've had no major problems at all. The people we've come across were a couple of dodgy Pemex guys trying to rip us off.
So yeah, as we had expected, most of the danger is due to US media hype.

[Flys Lo]

Glad to hear you had a pleasant time. My experience has mirrored yours.

[rsquared333]

Originally Posted by Flys Lo

Glad to hear you had a pleasant time. My experience has mirrored yours.

+1

Just got back to the states, gone since May. Entered Mexico at Reynosa and exited through Nogales, no issues.