I still remember the time we were looking for all the information to relocate in Mexico. I used to spend a lot of time on line searching for all kind of information that could be helpful for us to have a safe trip. We decided to drive and take some stuff with us, so I was very concern about getting stop and robbed. I shouldn't felt this way because I'm Mexican right? :O), but the truth is I was very scare that something bad could happen to us, specially to my husband who's an American guy.
It's amazing how much information we can find on line, but I learned not to believe all what I found because a lot of the comments can be very disturbing.
The reality is that we had a very smooth drive from Las Vegas to our destination, San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico. All the fears I had became a nice experience, and I want to share it for those who might have in mind moving and starting a new life in Mexico or just for a fun road trip.
There are different crossing points into Mexico along the border line, the most popular are Tijuana which crosses through California, Nogales which crosses through Arizona and Nuevo Laredo which crosses through Texas. If you're going to the center of Mexico or all the way down south, I will recommend to cross through Nuevo Laredo. We took this way when we drove down to San Miguel de Allende which is in the center of Mexico, and it took only 8 hrs to get there from the border. Cross the border through Tijuana if you're driving to Baja (Rosarito, Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Loretto, La Paz, etc) and take the Nogales crossing line if you're driving to the cities of Mazatlan, Tepic, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, etc. All these crossing points have toll roads which makes the drive to your destination faster, safe and fun. Make sure to carry some cash in pesos to pay the toll roads, some of them take dollars as well. Use a credit card for gas, hotels and other expenses, specially if you have one that doesn't charge international fees.
It is very important to be at the crossing line early morning, specially if you're moving to Mexico and you have something to declare. It would take about an hour or so to process your tourist visa and car permit so don't forget to bring all your personal and car documents with you.
We processed our car permit on line and it was sent to us couple of days before our departure, visit this website for more info: https://www.banjercito.com.mx/registroVehiculos/
You can also obtain your tourist visa by visiting a Mexican consulate office in or near your city. Having your car permit and your tourist visa in advance will get you through customs a lot faster. It's very important to remember to obtain an international car insurance. You can buy it on line when you apply for the car permit or you can visit other websites like costco and Baja Insurance, we have used both of them and didn't have any problems at all.
Always check the distance from the border line to your final destination in Mexico. If is going to take more than one day to get there it is important that you spend the night in a major city or a big town, it would be easier to find a hotel and other amenities. Avoid to drive at night, specially if you're not familiar with the area. You and your love once would feel more safe and the road trip would be more fun.
Keep in mind that you would find military check points along the way, don't panic! They're just keeping you safe by making sure no body carries drugs or guns. They usually ask where you coming from and your final destination, sometimes you might have to step out of the car for a quick check then you would be good to go!
Don't let all the bad news stopping you from traveling to Mexico, there are many places you can visit and feel totally safe. In a year and a half we've been living here, we haven't had an issue at all. We have our home base by the Pacific Ocean, but we have been exploring the country by staying in different cities for at less a month so we can get to experience each of them. It's amazing how much culture, history and beauty you can find in this country.
Mexico is a great destination for those who are looking to relocate. It offers a great quality of life with a very low cost of living, and the best is that you can choose from a small charming beach town, a modern city by the ocean or a beautiful colonial city. Check this website for more information about places in Mexico: www.visitmexico.com
I wish you safe travels and fun adventures!
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