Travel Pager The Sol, the English Language source of News for the Riviera Nayarit Mexico, La Penita de Jaltemba, Rincon de Guayabitos, Lo de Marcos. Los Ayala, Lo de Marcos, and San Pancho

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From Facebook On The Road in Mexico

Dorothy Bell makes recommendations on Facebook for those that want to fast track Nogales to PV

Nogales to PV - Zipping Down the Coast

We don’t like to do this. Normally we like to smell the roses. However if you are quickly zipping down to PV or Riviera Nayarit, I suggest the following:

Preparation

1) Have all your papers and correct documents ready for immigration and vehicle permits.

2) Get your insurance online. Get a quote from us click here We offer great quality insurance at a reasonable price. You can buy it just before you leave.

3) Buy a Guia Roji Road atlas before you cross over the border. It is the best map for Mexico.

4) Have pesos for the trip down. You need gas, tolls, hotel and food,

5) Have a cooler on hand so you can buy drinks and snacks for travel. While we love eating in restaurants along the way, but if you do not know the town or city you could spend a lot of time searching for a restaurant. It will also take up valuable daylight time to get served. You will want to have a breakfast and lunch for your first day and purchase breakfast and lunch for day 2 in Navojoa or Mochis.

6) Be ready to cross the border early. Take the truck crossing - Mariposa crossing – as it is easy - takes RVs and has way less confusing traffic. It is open at 6 am.

For more go to the complete article on Page 3 Travel and Travel Buddies

You must drive through here and at KM 21 you will have to present your documents and get your permits. The army bank, Banacerito is open 24 hours a day to process vehicle permits.
When in doubt, drive on the “D” roads or toll roads. Stay on HWY 15 or 15D.

Once you have left the Immigration office you will bypass Magdalena, then drive through Santa Ana where you will continue down highway 15 towards Hermosillo. Hermosillo is 277 kms from Nogales.

There is some construction in Hermosillo so watch carefully and head towards Guaymas and HWY 15 and 15D.

When you approach San Carlos/Guayamas continue and take the bypass toll around the cities. San Carlos/Guaymas is a good place to stop if you have difficulties or need something desparately. It takes about an hour to enter and then exit to purchase something so move on and bypass if at all possible.
Continue 132 more kms to CD Obregon. There is a Walmart to the right just as you enter the city where you can get supplies (ie sandwich fixings) beverages, and use the ATM if needed. We suggest you stock up for a breakfast and lunch for the following day.
You must drive through CD Obregon. It is not too congested but be cautious as there is a turn.
Continue to Navojoa. This is a congested town. If you are driving an RV or big truck you must watch carefully for a detour to the left for truck traffic. Make your way through the small city. At the other end there is a large supermarket that you can purchase stuff or load up with supplies.
Continue to Los Mochis. You will cross a state border and usually at borders there will be a military stop….
Continue to Los Mochis. Many of our readers recommend the Zar Hotel – right on the Highway. Apparently they have a good restaurant for your dinner.They do NOT take pets.

If you have an RV there is an RV Park – such as it is – to the right as you enter town.

This trip will likely have taken 11 hours – nearly 500 miles or so after you left immigration. Rest as tomorrow you are getting up early.
Day 2

Preparation: have your breakfast in your cooler. Also lunch as there is No supermarkets enroute that will be open until Mazatlan.
Get up early.
It is often foggy in this farming area and there is often tractors and farm equipment just south of Mochis.

Drive Hwy 15 through farmland etc and prepare to turn to HWY 15D just before Ciullican. Get on the toll and zip down towards Mazatlan.
Be cautious. Mazatlan is having some construction so there may be detours. Head for Tepic and Puerto Vallarta. You will pass supermarkets for supplies and cash.
Head south and stay on the toll highway towards Tepic. Do not pass go.

Once you have crossed the state line into Nayarit there is a choice. Stay on the Highway to Tepic OR head towards San Blas and take a different route. I suggest that if you have a car – take the San Blas route. If you have an RV and are driving from July to December, take the Tepic Route. (The San Blas Route gets overgrown after rainy season and can scratch your RV).
If you go through the San Blas Route, take the Hwy 54 towards San Blas but turn off when you see the signs for PV. Head towards Las Varas.

(If you take the Tepic route drive straight to the city and then turn when signed to go to Puerto Vallarta. Beware that RV’s and trucks must drive in the laterals when you see them. Laterals are the slow frontage roads on some city streets.

The stretch of Highway from Tepic to Compostela to Las Varas is windy and narrow and sometimes steep.. There are not many places to pull over.

From las Varas to PV is easy peasey. You will be passing through town after town, pueblo after pueblo of the Riviera Nayarit. Like pearls on a necklace, each one is beautiful and distinctive. Drive carefully and defensively.

From Los Mochis to PV will take another 10 or 11 hours.

If you are interested in breaking this up so you have one other stop we suggest driving day one to Navajoa. Stay in the Best Western (it does Take Pets.) If an RV stay in San Carlos. Day two drive to Mazatlan. Day 3 to PV.

If you want a much much more detailed set of instructions go here

Advice to the Traveler going to Mexico Via the US

Question: Hi we are heading to Puerto Vallarta from Vancouver Canada, first time driving. How safe is it to drive? and which highway is best to take?

Answer: Safe. We think it is pretty safe driving through the US. But here are a few tips.

1. Ensure you have medical insurance. It is really not that safe to travel through the US without it. Medical situations can destroy you financially. Be prepared and carry some extra insurance to ensure your are protected.

2. Big Cities and dangerous Hot Spots.
Depending on where you drive in the US, there are different areas that are worse than others for crime. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. Know which part of the country has a very high crime rate and avoid those areas.

3. Boondocking. Boondocking or camping outside of RV Parks can be dangerous unless you know the territory. Do not boondock unless you know the area or you see others doing so. While many sleep at rest stops there have been problems with this in the past. Hijackings etc.

4. Be aware that average Americans are allowed to have guns not just the police.

5) Do not flash your money. Don't wear expensive jewelry. Lock your motel doors.

6) Know the currency. Do not take out a fist full of dollars and tell the gas station attendant to take what is owed and expect complete honesty.

7) Do not get stinking drunk and behave in a manner that you wouldn't back home. I.e. walk down the street with a beer in your hand. Expect that the police will pick you up. What happens in the US does not stay in the US.

8) Be careful of the food. Too much fast food is not good for you.

9) Do not get too much sun too quickly. Many tourists get very sick from too much sun, too much rich food and too much partying too quickly and then blame the food or water for their stomach problems. Try to ease into your vacation.

10) America has its own laws. Be respectful of that and do not complain that it is not like back home. They are not ignorant, less sophisticated or backward. Abide by the speed limits for example and do not complain if you get a ticket for speeding if you are speeding.

11) Generally speaking Americans are kind, honest and generous people. Have fun.

These are just of the few of my safety tips for travel from Canada to Puerto Vallarta. If I were you I would travel to Nogales and avoid LA. Drive down Highway 15 south of Mazatlan and veer off at San Blas and then south to PV.

Follow the rules above for the US while in Mexico and you should have a fun time.

Puerto Vallarta Malecon

Mayan Wooden Masks: Historical Beauty

Mexico’s creative traditional folk art is a true celebration of rich color and vibrant beauty. Each of Mexico’s 31 states offers unique talented artists producing a seemingly limitless collection of stunning and whimsical hand crafted art. Of all the different art forms, the hand carved wooden masks best reflect the Mexican culture and pride of the indigenous people. Carved wooden masks that portray the devil, ancient deities, jungle animals, or immortalize deceased individuals were regularly used in religious and cultural dances, as well as during war. The left photo is an example of a Mayan ceremonial mask. Mayan masks had a wide variety of uses, and the importance of the masks dictated how intricate the designs on various masks were. The abundant availability of carved masks at the tiaguis-open markets- make these a great collector’s item.

Ancient Tradition: The Mayan people inhabited the Yucatan Peninsula from 2500 BC to 1550 AD. The basic principles of the Mayan religion were adapted from the Olmec and Teotihuacan people, prior to the seventh century AD. The Mayans viewed the natural world, along with all that was a part of it, as a continuation of the sky-world above and the underworld below. The jaguar was believed to be a gatekeeper to the afterlife. According to Jeeni Criscenzo, “The ancient Maya had a complex pantheon of deities whom they worshipped and offered human sacrifices. Rulers were believed to be descendants of the gods and their blood was the ideal sacrifice, either through personal bloodletting or the sacrifice of captives of royal blood.” The deities are common figures on the wooded masks, particularly the warrior masks.

The antique masks also contain the faces of people. We know that some masks were used in wedding ceremonies, and there were masks made to commemorate many births and deaths. Not all Mayan masks were for such profound purposes, however. The Mayan's also used masks for entertainment as well. The uses of masks by the Mayan people were as varied as the style of the masks themselves.

Click here to read the entire story

Santo Domingo Museum is filled with the history of Oaxaca and Mexico Click here to look inside

DO NOT BRING EITHER GUNS OR DRUGS INTO MEXICO. Mucho problema! Don't try it - think about it or even toy with the idea. If caught you most likely will end up in prison for a very long time.

If traveling by air you are allowed a $300 customs allowance in addition to the above. If traveling by land you are only allowed $50.

Be reasonable and don't bring in quantities of anything that might look like you are planning to resell them. You really don't have to load up on food anymore as there are enough Supermercados with a good supply and variety of food.

When you cross most borders you will be asked to push a button or your car will automatically trigger one. If your light is green you will continue to pass through. If you hit a red signal your luggage and vehicle will be searched. Additionally if you look suspicious or a guard has the desire - you can be searched regardless of the light.

a) after 24 hours $50 CAN in purchases duty free; after 48 hours - $300 CAN duty free; or after 7 days - $750 duty free.