Mexico Expat Forum

hrlee7804
Joined 2014
Posts: 1292

6 years ago

Back home from driving trip to Mexico and Belize

6 years ago

My first mistake was thinking that crossing the border with my personal vehicle would trigger Mexico to force me to a stall or area that would MAKE me get a TIP.....Wrong! I thought I was just lucky and got the green light to pass thru. After my 4th or 5th couta stop past Monterrey I got pulled over by a Federale. His English was no better than my Spanish but we got it figured out that I must have the TIP attached to the inside of my window. The best way he could explain this to me was to pull over the next vehicle passing that has a TIP and let me look at their paperwork. His conversion from Km to miles was off a bit because he told me the next 'returno' was 4 miles away.....it was more than 40 miles before I could turn around. 147 miles later I was back in Reynosa/McAllen to spend the night and try again. US border thought that was pretty funny and knew NOTHING of the process going the other direction....or even their hours of operation. This time I got the TIP and was on my way. $400 US dollars lighter but was returned upon departure of Mexico to US. I thought maybe it would come to play when I left Mexico to enter Belize but it did not. I am sure I got this information to make sure I got the TIP from someone on this site but I failed to remember it when I crossed.....(I knew it was too easy!). Anyone crossing with your own vehicle and going to drive into Mexico don't forget to get this permit. I was a bit upset about having to drive an extra 147 miles twice until I realized it was better than 947 miles in.

My almost fatal mistake was not buying a GPS with Mexico maps installed because without it I would have been LOST hundreds of times....literally. In the big cities you get shoved off to some side street and 15 minutes later you can pull over and assess your situation. I was told without a GPS you have to find a taxi and pay him to take you to the main highway. Lots of construction makes you get off the main roads to 'no mans land'... I am a small town boy and being in the 'centro' of a 4 million population city is no fun for me when I can read the signs. Half the time for me I did not know if the name on the sign was the city or the state......just saying. And don't be confused and think that a specific highway number is only attached to one highway. For example 57d is attached to more than one highway and so is 15d and 140. Without a GPS I would have turned around and gone back to The States. You city folk may not have my issues but it saved my trip.
I had a great trip. Saw a lot, learned a lot. I have been to Mexico and Belize many times but only flown in and rented a car and stayed in one specific area. This was a whole new ball game for me.

I am going to tally up my couta receipts and see how much the toll roads cost for the trip. I know it was a lot. I think there is about 75 toll/couta tickets to add up. They range from 26 pesos to 250 pesos approx.
I never really felt unsafe except my last night in Mexico. I stayed in Saltillo. I stayed in an upper end motel in centro and was going to walk to find someplace to eat. I made it a block or so and got way too many looks. I ordered a pizza in when I got back to my room. The next morning I watched on the news and gangs/Los Zetas killed a few that night. Saltillo is not a safe place to be. I only drove in daylight hours and on toll/couta roads when possible when on the Pacific side and middle Mexico. East of Villahermosa has a whole different feel to it. As much as I liked the Chapala area it is pretty close to Guadalajara and the known gangs there.
I tried to couple Johns driving directions (actually US to Belize and back) with my GPS and only got more confused. His directions to the tenth of the mile was too confusing for me. Basically Hwy 40 to 57 to 150 to 145 to 180 (put a d on the end or those numbers and you will get the toll version) will get you past what I call the dangerous parts of Mexico and near Campeche City. If I was to try to drive again I would try a Mexico data service for my phone and tablet it may work as well as a GPS. Having internet as I traveled may have been a great navigation tool also. I had it turned off my hand held devices as not to incur massive roaming charges. I am sure next time would be much easier. Ron

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