Photo Baluarte Bridge - / Bill Bell

Photo Baluarte Bridge - / Bill Bell

2 "Valuable, up-to-date information that saves headaches on the road and makes sense to drivers and their navigators. Great work." Welcome - Bienvenidos Ken Stokes Thank you for purchasing our Mexico Road Logs and Driving Guides. We are confident that it will make your driving experience "This is the second year we have just that much better and easier. used Bill and Dots 'On the Road In" Regardless of whether you are driving an RV or a suburban, a bike Mexican logs for travel on the coast or a pick-up, the Mexico Road Logs and Driving Guides will assist and interior of Mexico. your journey. Even 20 year veterans of the route have benefited They are easy to use, save a lot of from the information. indecision and more than a lot of The KM markings are the markings that you will see as you drive. arguments as to where one should It doesn't matter if your vehicle reads in miles or kilometers. You turn or where there is a Pemex large just read the signs on the road to get your bearings. Sometimes enough for a large rig with a tow. one highway combines with another and old kilometer signs are We appreciate all the work they have left up. Not to worry, just continue to read the guide. done to make traveling in Mexico a Some of the best navigation points are the Pemex Station great and easy adventure." numbers clearly marked on all gas station signs. Topes (Mexican Bill and Char Wilkerson speed bumps) are marked in the in the guide just to remind you to go slow. "We were thrilled to be able to We have included Military and Agriculture check points even contemplate our next stops and fillthough we know these can change frequently. (Generally they are ups along the way. It was like we on one side of the border or another between the Mexican states.) were driving with experienced guides This is the fourth edition. We hope to continually improve the every step of the way." guides to ensure road conditions are well noted before you hit the "Bravo" border. Conditions change, new roads are built, construction Pat and John Briar starts, ends and old "landmarks" are torn down. Please write us at editor@ontheroadin.com if you have found Warning & Disclosure some new information or problems with the log. The authors have done their best to Adios and Happy Trails, ensure the accuracy of the information provided in the Mexico Road Logs and Driving Guides at the time of publishing. They do not assume and thereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damages caused by omissions or errors. Please contact the authors with any oversights or mistakes. Contact: editor@ontheroadin.com Please Don't Copy the Road Logs Any unauthorized reproduction; electronic, mechanical or otherwise will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This includes photocopying sharing via the net. Photographs by Bill & Dot Bell. All Rights Reserved. Bell & Bell 2013

3 When you see this symbol in the Road Log or a number or text highlighted in red, it mean that there is an internal link. If you click on the symbol or the highlighted area, you will automatically go to that page. 73 text link When you see this symbol, it means that there is an external link. If you are connected to the internet, this link takes you directly to a place for more information.

4 Page How to use the Pacific Coast Road Log 5 Distance Chart Kilometers & Miles 6 Documents Required 7 Highway and Traffic Signs 8 The Journey Begins Nuevo Laredo 13 Notes Table of Contents Monterrey 17 Saltillo 18 Torreon 22 Durango 26 Baluarte Bridge 29 Mazatlán Junction 31 Tepic 34 Rincon de Guayabitos 36 Puerto Vallarta 38 Colombia Immigration / Border 40 Other Border Crossings 40 Tourist Cards (FMM) 42 Mexico Vehicle Import Permit 43 Documentation for Pets 43 Cover Photo - Bill Bell - Baluarte Bridge

How to Use the Road Log 5 Southbound Pedestrian Overpass Indicates 4 lane highway with lateral lanes Indicates 4 lanes with shoulder Mexican KM Markers KM 175 Gas Station with ID Number PEMEX 5083 State Border S O N O R A S I N A L O A Indicates 2 lanes with shoulder Indicates 2 lanes Speed Bump ~~Topes~~ Various Warnings MILITARY HWY 15 NOTE: Military and Agriculture checkpoints can change often Indicates a local road RD to Tualac GPS: N20*43.733 Toll Toll. Get out your wallet! Note the latest fee and GPS W088*34.995 Car 124 Pesos Highway Sign and Number. "D" indicates a Toll or "Cuota" Highway Bridge Puente Cibuta Indicates town or city TURN LEFT TO XCOB AFTER TURN TURN TO BELLVILLE (RED Instructions means a critical direction) Overpass Northbound

Documents Required 7 6

Mexican Customs Visitors Visas Car Permits Parking TURN LEFT to Nuevo Laredo/ Monterrey KM 33 AFTER TURN HWY 2 Return Car Permits Military Inspection Cars Keep Left TURN RIGHT to Colombia Crossing 60 KMH KM 28 QUE Restaurant & NUEVO LAREDO Bush Puente Tortillos Transfer Station The area was settled by the 80 KMH OXXO Spanish in 1755 and was part of Transfer Stations Transfer Stations the New Spain /Mexico territory KM 13 known as Laredo. TURN to Monterrey AFTER TURN During the Mexico American War and the subsequent treaty, much HWY 2 to Piedras TURN Right to Colombia of the Mexican territory including Negras & Columbia Overpass HWY 2 to Piedras Laredo was divided and deeded to RD to Nuevo Laredo Negras & Columbia the US. Wanting to retain their PEMEX 6887 Mexican customs and citizenship, Nuevo seventeen Laredo families founded HWY 2 XCF Nuevo Laredo in 1848. They took Truck Trans loading all their belongings across the Rio Laredo Truck Trans loading Grande and even dug up their Flensa DON'T SPEED ancestors bones so they too would 100 KMH Hungry Police remain Mexican. PD Cargo Today Nuevo Laredo has grown to KM 13 over 650,000 people and is known RD to Nuevo Bridge Over Highway as the major transportation Laredo & Columbia RD to Nuevo Laredo gateway to the US. Over 70% of Watch for Police & Mordida all exports from Mexico exit this KM 19 port area. Truck Trans loading Bush Bush REMEMBER Straight - Few Rolling Hills Straight - Few Rolling Hills Place all of your border documents KM 8 (including the wrapper portion of Gateway Metal Recycling HWY 2 Watch for Police & Mordida your vehicle permit) in a safe dry KM 2 place as you MUST return them to immigration when leaving TURN to Monterrey (85) AFTER TURN Mexico. This includes your vehicle and your FMT or tourist visa. TURN to HWY 2 We find that a Ziploc baggie works Cars in Right Lane HWY 85 Piedras Negras & Colombia well for this purpose N Trucks in Left Heavy Traffic 14 KM 206 MIGRATION Check L ~~Topes~~ Stop S Impatient Drivers Driving on the PEMEX No 7739 (ATM) wrong side of the road to beat