Benefactor
I have talked to many people, that have concerns about Overlanding in Central America. Primarily, it is the travel through Mexico that they voice the biggest concerns with. I thought some advice on my personal experience, might help to relieve some warries.
Mexico, can be a dangerous place, but the same can be said about many US inner cities. As many people that live in the US, we take reasonable processions to avoid areas that we might have problems. If this same approach is taken, when you plan a trip through Mexico, you will have a pleasant time.
Most of the problems Mexico is experiencing is heavily concentrated in the US Mexican border areas. It is advisable to travel through this area, with few stops as necessary. The safest roads, are the toll roads (CUOTA). The Mexican toll roads are patrolled by the Federal police, and are far more secure then the free roads (Libre). Once you get below Mexico City, the rest of Mexico is much safer.
I cross the border at El Paso TX. I take HWY 49 to San Luis Potosi. I take the Bypass (LIBRAMIENTO) to HWY 57. This will take me all the way to Mexico City. Once you arrive in Mexico City, you can head to Guatemala, or Belize. I tend to head to Belize. I take HWY 150, to HWY 145, to HWY 180 that takes me to Cancun. From Cancun you can take the HWY 307 to the Belize border.
My intent with this portion of my travel is to transition across Mexico, so I can get in to Belize to start my Overlanding adventure. I’m sure I bypass many wonderful sites in Mexico, staying on the larger HWY and toll roads, but This allows me to see more of the Americas.
If their is interest, I can add additional information on this thread related to traveling by vehicle across Mexico. Hopefully this is enough to start minds turning. I will be following up with another thread on my journey through Bilize.
Mexico, can be a dangerous place, but the same can be said about many US inner cities. As many people that live in the US, we take reasonable processions to avoid areas that we might have problems. If this same approach is taken, when you plan a trip through Mexico, you will have a pleasant time.
Most of the problems Mexico is experiencing is heavily concentrated in the US Mexican border areas. It is advisable to travel through this area, with few stops as necessary. The safest roads, are the toll roads (CUOTA). The Mexican toll roads are patrolled by the Federal police, and are far more secure then the free roads (Libre). Once you get below Mexico City, the rest of Mexico is much safer.
I cross the border at El Paso TX. I take HWY 49 to San Luis Potosi. I take the Bypass (LIBRAMIENTO) to HWY 57. This will take me all the way to Mexico City. Once you arrive in Mexico City, you can head to Guatemala, or Belize. I tend to head to Belize. I take HWY 150, to HWY 145, to HWY 180 that takes me to Cancun. From Cancun you can take the HWY 307 to the Belize border.
My intent with this portion of my travel is to transition across Mexico, so I can get in to Belize to start my Overlanding adventure. I’m sure I bypass many wonderful sites in Mexico, staying on the larger HWY and toll roads, but This allows me to see more of the Americas.
If their is interest, I can add additional information on this thread related to traveling by vehicle across Mexico. Hopefully this is enough to start minds turning. I will be following up with another thread on my journey through Bilize.
