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Old 01-16-2016, 07:13 AM   #85
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Originally Posted by 1bigmess View Post
Twenty + year old stories are direct evidence?

People from England don't want to visit the US because they believe it's dangerous. What would you say to them? What direct evidence could they show you to convince you it's dangerous for them to visit the US?
I am not sure it is safe for them to visit the U.S.
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Old 04-14-2021, 09:10 AM   #86
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Hi guys. Going through some of my old posts and I noticed this thread has not had any new comments in a LONG time so I thought I would update.

My original post was from my first trip with a couple updates.

So this year was the 6th year in a row I made this trek. I will be honest, I don't know a lot about other RV travel in Mexico except for the people who pass through the park I stay in.

The VERY FIRST THING is have some peso's in hand before you cross the border. There is one toll and you may need to pay a few peso's at the first checkpoint where they verify your vehicle titles and vin#s. You don't need more than a a thousand pesos.


In 6 years I have never had a problem. As I posted in my first season, I left highway 15D to go to a park about 10 miles off the main highway. I was the only one there and while it was fenced it was dark and I was the only one there. It was in back of a motel so not completely isolated.

Here is some better details from trips 2-6. The first year, I spent the night in the rest stop south of Tucson. A much better stop, if you don't want an RV park is The Desert Diamond Casino on the north edge of Green Valley. This year it was closed due to Covid, but normally there are a lot of RV's there and the Casino has a back lot just for truckers and RVs. It's just a blacktop parking lot but better than a Walmart.

Always get your TIP permits online before going. We used to get a Hologram sticker to put in the windshield but they have even done away with that. Now you just get an e-mail to your phone with a bar code oar QR code that they can just scan if you get checked. (in six trips I think my permits have been checked twice)

DO not follow I-19 into Nogales. I did that accidentally once and winding a big rig through the US streets is tough enough, but wait until you get to the Mexican side. If by chance you did not get your permits online, or had trouble getting them like I did 2 years ago (long story about a lost permit) you can do everything you need to do at the Immigration, Banjercito office at the 21 kilometer marker.

There is a small RV park right on 15 D in Santa Ana. It only has 15 amp but does have water and sewer. I've not stayed there but can see it from the road. It is only 1 1/2 hours south of the border so unless you are really running late don't stop.

Most people using this route top at an RV park in San Carlos. It is a beautiful park right on the beach. There is not much in San Carlos but usually quite a few RV's from the US and Canada. Also right on 15D at Guaymas there is a truck stop with a fenced yard and security for $50 pesos. ($2.50 US) If I don't want to set up and tear down that is where I stop. Another option is there is a large Pemex truckstop North of Los Mochis. It is almost exactly 1/2 way between the border and Mazatlan. It is safe and a security guard will be around to collect from you.

No matter what you do. stay on the toll road. It is 15D. You will find a couple places where it is not toll road (Cuota) but stay on 15. A little about the roads since my first trip. I noted that 300 miles were under construction and more needed to be. Almost all of it has been completed and this year there was probably only 100 miles that have not been upgraded. Also 15D now bypasses many of the cities we used to have to go through.

Enough about the trip. I have NEVER had a problem with the police. Times are tough in parts of Mexico and in some towns groups pull ropes across the highway to get you to stop and pay. These are in town, large groups and safe. Just give them 50 pesos and you can pass. Also may of the toll booths are closed or on strike. You will find people holding out donation cans as you pas through. again 50 pesos in their can. It's cheaper than the toll which can be 200 -600 pesos.

As for the police. You will see a huge presence of 5 different agencies. Federal, State, Local, Traffic and the newest is National Guard. Don't be alarmed that they have thier flashing lights on and 6 guys in the back of a pickup with automatic weapons. THEY ARE NOT AFTER YOU.

Safety? I feel safer there than I did driving truck in LA, Chicago or Newark. Corruption? Yes. Driving a US plated car especially in a tourist zone you might get stopped for a traffic infraction. Mostly bogus. There is a variety of opinions on if you should just pay the "fine" or ask to go to the police station. Depends on what your time is worth. Sometimes if you ask to go to the police station they will just drop it, sometimes not. They usually don't want the hassle. If you end up going to the police station (I never have but have had friends that have) plan on spending the day. You will see the judge, who will talk to the cops and be found guilty and asked to pay a fine. Usually if you ask the cops if you can just pay the fine on the spot they will give you a number. Usually 500 pesos. I always keep a 200 peso bill in my pocket, pull it out and say all I have, do you have a 200 peso ticket? It's always yes.

As far as gun violence. It is almost strictly drug/cartel related and rarely in town or anywhere near the tourist/expat areas. They do not want the heat.

Pickpockets and robberies. Not any different than any other big city or country. A couple Facebook groups I follow warn when this type of activity is happening in a certain area.

Bottom line. RV travel is safe in Mexico, if you follow the basic safety rules and don't break the law. Only travel during daytime. IF you have a mechanical problem you will have tons of help. The mexican people are the most friendly and helpful anywhere. Don't be alarmed if you see police that have a Mexican car stopped. It is routine. And by the way, I have never heard of Mexican cops killing someone at a traffic stop unless they were shooting at the cops first.

I'd like to hear of others who travel in different parts than I do. I'm just a creature of habit and return each year to what I know, and that includes the people who have become family in the RV park I go to.
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Old 04-15-2021, 10:11 AM   #87
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Thank you Amosnandy we travel in the Yucatan extensively and never had a problem. This year we bought a house in Merida and will be retiring there this fall to make the move we will be driving from Vermont to the Yucatan with our truck camper. I recently started to watch Eat See RV on Youtube and they have turned me on to Ioverlander to find campsites near Cenotes and Beaches.
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Old 06-15-2021, 08:25 PM   #88
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Originally Posted by amosnandy View Post
Hi guys. Going through some of my old posts and I noticed this thread has not had any new comments in a LONG time so I thought I would update.

My original post was from my first trip with a couple updates.

So this year was the 6th year in a row I made this trek. I will be honest, I don't know a lot about other RV travel in Mexico except for the people who pass through the park I stay in.

The VERY FIRST THING is have some peso's in hand before you cross the border. There is one toll and you may need to pay a few peso's at the first checkpoint where they verify your vehicle titles and vin#s. You don't need more than a a thousand pesos.

In 6 years I have never had a problem. As I posted in my first season, I left highway 15D to go to a park about 10 miles off the main highway. I was the only one there and while it was fenced it was dark and I was the only one there. It was in back of a motel so not completely isolated.

Here is some better details from trips 2-6. The first year, I spent the night in the rest stop south of Tucson. A much better stop, if you don't want an RV park is The Desert Diamond Casino on the north edge of Green Valley. This year it was closed due to Covid, but normally there are a lot of RV's there and the Casino has a back lot just for truckers and RVs. It's just a blacktop parking lot but better than a Walmart.

Always get your TIP permits online before going. We used to get a Hologram sticker to put in the windshield but they have even done away with that. Now you just get an e-mail to your phone with a bar code oar QR code that they can just scan if you get checked. (in six trips I think my permits have been checked twice)

DO not follow I-19 into Nogales. I did that accidentally once and winding a big rig through the US streets is tough enough, but wait until you get to the Mexican side. If by chance you did not get your permits online, or had trouble getting them like I did 2 years ago (long story about a lost permit) you can do everything you need to do at the Immigration, Banjercito office at the 21 kilometer marker.

There is a small RV park right on 15 D in Santa Ana. It only has 15 amp but does have water and sewer. I've not stayed there but can see it from the road. It is only 1 1/2 hours south of the border so unless you are really running late don't stop.

Most people using this route top at an RV park in San Carlos. It is a beautiful park right on the beach. There is not much in San Carlos but usually quite a few RV's from the US and Canada. Also right on 15D at Guaymas there is a truck stop with a fenced yard and security for $50 pesos. ($2.50 US) If I don't want to set up and tear down that is where I stop. Another option is there is a large Pemex truckstop North of Los Mochis. It is almost exactly 1/2 way between the border and Mazatlan. It is safe and a security guard will be around to collect from you.

No matter what you do. stay on the toll road. It is 15D. You will find a couple places where it is not toll road (Cuota) but stay on 15. A little about the roads since my first trip. I noted that 300 miles were under construction and more needed to be. Almost all of it has been completed and this year there was probably only 100 miles that have not been upgraded. Also 15D now bypasses many of the cities we used to have to go through.

Enough about the trip. I have NEVER had a problem with the police. Times are tough in parts of Mexico and in some towns groups pull ropes across the highway to get you to stop and pay. These are in town, large groups and safe. Just give them 50 pesos and you can pass. Also may of the toll booths are closed or on strike. You will find people holding out donation cans as you pas through. again 50 pesos in their can. It's cheaper than the toll which can be 200 -600 pesos.

As for the police. You will see a huge presence of 5 different agencies. Federal, State, Local, Traffic and the newest is National Guard. Don't be alarmed that they have thier flashing lights on and 6 guys in the back of a pickup with automatic weapons. THEY ARE NOT AFTER YOU.

Safety? I feel safer there than I did driving truck in LA, Chicago or Newark. Corruption? Yes. Driving a US plated car especially in a tourist zone you might get stopped for a traffic infraction. Mostly bogus. There is a variety of opinions on if you should just pay the "fine" or ask to go to the police station. Depends on what your time is worth. Sometimes if you ask to go to the police station they will just drop it, sometimes not. They usually don't want the hassle. If you end up going to the police station (I never have but have had friends that have) plan on spending the day. You will see the judge, who will talk to the cops and be found guilty and asked to pay a fine. Usually if you ask the cops if you can just pay the fine on the spot they will give you a number. Usually 500 pesos. I always keep a 200 peso bill in my pocket, pull it out and say all I have, do you have a 200 peso ticket? It's always yes.

As far as gun violence. It is almost strictly drug/cartel related and rarely in town or anywhere near the tourist/expat areas. They do not want the heat.

Pickpockets and robberies. Not any different than any other big city or country. A couple Facebook groups I follow warn when this type of activity is happening in a certain area.

Bottom line. RV travel is safe in Mexico, if you follow the basic safety rules and don't break the law. Only travel during daytime. IF you have a mechanical problem you will have tons of help. The mexican people are the most friendly and helpful anywhere. Don't be alarmed if you see police that have a Mexican car stopped. It is routine. And by the way, I have never heard of Mexican cops killing someone at a traffic stop unless they were shooting at the cops first.

I'd like to hear of others who travel in different parts than I do. I'm just a creature of habit and return each year to what I know, and that includes the people who have become family in the RV park I go to.
Thanks for writing this, some things i knew from my experience, some things are new for me and i will definitely keep those in mind. We are traveling in Yucatan peninsula at the moment and all the advices are very useful. I just want to add a little thing, if you have a long drive in one day don't forget to fill up your tank, cause sometimes it is difficult to find a petrol station. We where driving from Tulum to Bacalar lately and had to turn back after 30km cause locals told us the next petrol station will be in more 100km. And second thing, i would highly recommend to learn few basic Spanish words, it is always a good way to melt people's hearts and if you go to some small villages there is no guarantee you will find someone who speaks english.
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Old 06-22-2021, 10:53 PM   #89
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Getting in to Mexico is hassle free. The problem from what I have heard is being stopped on the highway by what looks like a police car, only to find out that the "officers" are part of criminal gangs, who will take your vehicle and kidnap you to try and get ransom. I plan to go to Mexico in an RV caravan for safety, but would never go alone. Now that you are there, be very careful with whoever you meet up with.

Are you forgetting all the mass shootings in the US?
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Old 06-23-2021, 08:50 AM   #90
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Are you forgetting all the mass shootings in the US?
Or Civil Forfeiture
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Old 06-23-2021, 01:42 PM   #91
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Although this is an old thread I will add my 2 cents from over 35,maybe 40 years of travelling Mexico. First in a van and then in an rv.
Presently we have a home in Bahia de Kino. We have many Mexican friends, attend weddings,funerals baptisms, quincianeros and more.Until about 10 years ago travelling in Mexico was always an adventure and crime against tourists were rare. But things have changed
The cartels are running the country. The present President preaches hugs not bullets. The Cartels love that attitude . But still they do not bother tourists. But one could be in say Mazatlan and get caught up on a shootout in broad daylight. There are more places where the crime is out of control. There are a lot of wannabee criminals
They emulate the cartels. Random kidnapping,car jacking and more. Many of our Mexican friends would never drive south of Guaymas. They fly. A lot of the rv parks have closed. Most are next to empty. Lots of political unrest. Until this change I would not recommend rv travel.
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Old 06-23-2021, 01:49 PM   #92
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Sure, Its great down there ! Millions are flocking down there 24 hrs a day.. O wait, sorry :(.. I used to go down there 4 or 5 times a year.. Not any more . After personally knowing people who were robed at gun point and forced to walk 12 miles back to town after being relieved of there money, truck, and most of there clothes i will pass... Remember everything is just fine as long as it doesn't happen to...You ...
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Old 02-28-2022, 12:47 AM   #93
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Another update. Everything I said last year is still true. Safe to travel the toll roads. Only thing that has changed is visa’s. You do not automatically get 180 days as before. I have not heard any RVs getting less, I would suppose because you have a place to stay and do not want the penalty for overstaying. Just make sure you get 180 days on your FMN, that you stop and turn it in when you leave, and if you have temporary or permanent residency you let them know when you leave the country. Also have all your paperwork ready as they are checking both vehicles and visa status much more regularly.

This is year #8 and all is still well.
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Old 06-12-2022, 07:09 AM   #94
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Thanks for the info folks. I am contemplating a trip through Mexico and part of central america. Once I get more details I'll create a new thread.
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