Driving From The United States to Guatemala

This is a great trip if you have the opportunity and the time! Here are some suggestions based on 4 trips that I have made.

I definitely recommend going by the Pacific Coast of Mexico, not the Gulf Coast. I did the latter once, and swore that I would never do it again. The Pacific route is obviously much longer, but far more enjoyable. You should get car insurance on line for Mexico before you go. It is quite easy – I used Sanborns (sanbornsinsurance.com), and it cost just over $100 for 8-10 days of coverage. The best guide book to take on the trip is the Moon’s Guide to the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

 You will want to cross at Nogales, Mexico (directly south of Tuscon). The crossing is pretty easy. Make sure that you have copies and originals of your passport, vehicle title, and driver’s license. You also need to have an international credit card. You cross at the border, and then have to make sure you stop at both Immigration and Customs to get your car permit. Immigration you can either do right at the border (which is quicker – less people, but kind of hard to find) or near the customs office, which is about 15 miles inside of Mexico. Just start heading south out of Nogales and you can’t miss the customs office.

There are lots of snowbirds who go through this office on their way to Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta – so it goes quite easily as they just want to push you through. They will give you a sticker to put on your window and your permit. It costs something like $20.

From Nogales head toward Hermosillo then Guaymas. ALWAYS take the toll road when given the chance. Crossing the desert are long distances but are covered very quickly on these Highways with very little traffic. If you spend the night in Tuscon, then an hour or so for the border crossing, you should be able to make Guaymas quite easily for your first night in Mexico. If you can make it to Los Mochis, even better. The roads are great until Mazatlan. Last year when I was there, they were extending the toll highway southward from Mazatlan opening it one section at a time. Take it for as long as you can. If not, the road from Mazatlan to Puerto Vallarta is the worst of the whole trip (2 lane, lots of trucks), but it is only about 4-5 hours.

The second night (and an additional day if possible) I always stay at Sayulita. It is not on a lot of maps, but it is a great little surfer town about 40 minutes N. of Puerto Vallarta (turn right off of the highway). There is a camp ground right on the beach (just ask once you get into town, and anyone will tell you where it is). I love this town, and highly recommend it.

From Sayulita you drive through Puerto Vallarta and then head on south on Hwy 200, the Pacific Coast Highway you will follow for the rest of the way. This is where the fun begins (beautiful vistas, lots of hidden beaches). The road is still 2 lane, but very little traffic. Still, if you want to cover ground fast you should take the toll roads if you see that they get you to the same place. I used to stay my third night in Playa Azul, (a small fishing village). Last trip, though, I went right on past Playa Azul and about 2 hours past found a great spot for camping on the beach.

The fourth night I head for Acapulco, which you can get to around 2 in the afternoon if you leave Playa Azul around 7 am. From Acapulco you can make it all the way to Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca. It is kind of a long day, though. I think you arrive around 5 in the afternoon if you leave at 7. I also enjoy Puerto Escondido a lot. Make sure to go for a walk on the boardwalk at sunset!

From Puerto Escondido I usually go as far as Arriaga (nothing special, just clean and cheap hotels). You can make it as far as the border, but it is a real long haul.

YOU MUST STOP, on your way into Tapachula at “Viva Mexico” (yes, they really call it that). This is the customs office where they verify that you are leaving the country with the car and they remove the sticker from your window. If you don’t do this, you will never be able to enter Mexico with the car (or probably any car) again! The office closes at 6 pm, I think.

From there you head to either border.  I usually cross at El Carmen (once in Tapachula, you will see signs directing you either to El Carmen or Tecun Uman. They are both fine. I usually cross at El Carmen since all of the truck traffic crosses at Tecun Uman. El Carmen also is open 24 hours, Tecun Uman is not. Again, you will need photocopies of passport, title, etc. (it is a good idea to just have several copies of everything before you go so that you don’t need to be running around looking for copies).

At the Guatemalan border, go to Immigration, fumigation, then customs. At customs they will give you your permission for the car for 90 days or something like that. If you are importing the car, you can do that once you are in the city.

I love the trip, especially if I can stay a couple of nights or longer in at least two stops (usually Sayulita and Puerto Escondido).