sargentodiaz
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Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Driving to Mazatlan
My wife has been hearing reports of problems along Highway 15 in Sonora. We plan on driving to Mazatlan in November and this, of course concerns us.
We were thinking about the alternative - driving from Tijuana to La Paz and crossing on the ferry to Mazatlan.
Any thoughts?
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bajacalifornian
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Done both. For me, TJ La Paz / ferry is a fun trip. Have done the mainland when it was very dangerous. You can take care of yourself. If you go
ferry, be sure to get a room. Don´t know your plan but detour toward Durango Durango is worthwhile.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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Ken Cooke
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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From my personal experience, the 15 was heavily traveled during the day. Where you DON'T want to travel is the 32 east along the Rio Fuerte away from
El Fuerte and Choix (choice) is where it gets dangerous. Hwy 15 is a busy corridor.
My friends Ed and Michelle documented this route in their 4x4 Travel Blog:
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Ed-and-Michelle/
Happy Travels!
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805gregg
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I rode it twice in March, great road and lots of fellow travelers, we didn't travel at night, the Tecates and cheap motels were calling around 3:30.
You can avoid the tolls at Hermosillo, if you turn east at Campo Nunez (24 ktms N. of 14), turn south again at Pesqueria, follow the railroad tracks
to 14 turn right and rejoin 15 with your wallet intact and continue on south
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El Jefe
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Get on the toll road early AM after crossing at Nogales and drive to Ciudad Obregon and spend the night. Next day arrive in Maz. Easy. Thousands of
people do it every day. Just drive during the day time. Have fun. Don't worry.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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Marc
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Done it both ways no problemo. Don't forget the car permit.
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bajagrouper
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The Yaqui Indians are have a water rights depute with the government now and are blocking off highway 15 south of Hermosillo at varying days and
dates, I wouldn't think it will still be happening in November... so far just June.......
[Edited on 7-1-2013 by bajagrouper]
I hear the whales song
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rocmoc
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We live just north of Nogales which is the AZ/MX crossing at the North end of 15. I have friends that have traveled 15 in the last two months and no
problems other than Potholes. No trouble reported in the local TV News, Newspapers or Borderland Beat, http://www.borderlandbeat.com/. Where did you hear there is trouble?
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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A few dozen trips north and south --- The Yaquis have always been activists around VICAM. The chances of them continuing or stuff happening in
November are just about nil. Three cheers for gobernacion allowing them to blow off steam without violence.
Dangerous? No.
If there is one place on Mex 15 more risky than any other it would be from Los Mochis to Mazatlan (including Culiacan) on Mex 15 and not the toll road
Mex 15-D. But this is splitting hairs way too fine. There just have not been any reports of violence or robberies in quite a long time. The era of the
cell phone is on us. Any shady looking people on the cuotas brings dozens of cellular calls to 800 emergency numbers for the SSP and militar.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Griffin
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Can you get the permit at the ferry in La Paz? And if yuo take the ferry back, can you get your deposit back in La Paz?
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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NEGATIVE on the car permit surrender being easy when returning through Baja California. They won't take it anywhere except at a very hard to find
office somewhere west of the garita Tijuana. This has been a sore point with me for years and seems like no one is anxious to fix it. One can only
hope.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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bajagrouper
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I have an email from Banjercito stating I could not get the deposit back in La Paz, Otay Mesa or Tecate crossings, only Tijuana or Mexicali in
Baja.......
here is a website of highway 15 delays:
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/hermosillo/231771/PDFs/Sec...
[Edited on 7-1-2013 by bajagrouper]
I hear the whales song
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Hook
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
Dangerous? No.
If there is one place on Mex 15 more risky than any other it would be from Los Mochis to Mazatlan (including Culiacan) on Mex 15 and not the toll road
Mex 15-D. But this is splitting hairs way too fine. There just have not been any reports of violence or robberies in quite a long time.
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Just not true, Dave.
Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Increase in Reports of Highway Robberies in Northern Sinaloa
June 14, 2013
The U.S. Consulate in Hermosillo notes an increase in the number of reports of highway robberies in northern Sinaloa. Criminals patrolling Highway 15
between the toll booths located 21 and 38 kilometers north of Culiacan monitor the toll booths to identify potential targets and alert their partners
down the road.
They appear to be targeting individuals displaying valuable items, including expensive jewelry and electronics. Most criminal activity occurs between
6:00 P.M. and sunrise.
The Consulate continues to recommend deferring all non-essential travel to Sinaloa (with the exception of Mazatlan). If you choose to travel to
Sinaloa in a personal vehicle, do not travel at night and avoid displaying valuables.
Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain
a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mexico enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
(STEP) at http://www.Travel.State.Gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S.
consulate to contact you in an emergency.
If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department's website, where you can find current Travel Warnings (including the Travel Warning for Mexico), Travel Alerts,
and the Worldwide Caution.
Read the Country Specific Information for Mexico. For additional information, refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” on the State Department’s website
Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United
States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday
(except U.S. federal holidays).
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and download our freeSmart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.
The U.S. Consulate in Hermosillo is located at Calle Monterrey #141 and is open from 8:00AM-4:30PM (+52-1-662-289-3500). If you are a U.S. citizen in
need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Consulate is +52-1-662-256-0741.
U.S. Consulate General Hermosillo
American Citizen Services Office
Ave. Monterrey 141 Poniente
Ph: (662) 289-3500, ext. 3595/3522/3417
E-mail hermoACS@state.gov
Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
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DavidE
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Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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I tend to asssssssssssssssssssssume by now that most forum members know when the cops, the military and the Angeles Verdes go home, drive sixteen
penny nails through the door into the casing at sundown that it's a pretty good reason to stay off the roads.
As McMillan the racer found out several years ago there is no road, anywhere in this country that is "safe" between dusk and dawn. All it takes is a
drunk borrowing his cuñados pistola, because he blew all his lana on the loteria to make a face-to-face confrontation with a real live bandito.
When I drive on the mainland it is after the SSP and militar have finished desayuno and have begun patrolling. Same for the evening. These guys go
home after nightfall.
A few people just do not listen. They do not believe. They howl the loudest when they get wallet or car-jacked. Sure there are places where night
driving is safer heavy emphasis on the suffix, than others. But ground zero for Cartel de Sinaloa ain't one of them.
Now, does anyone really believe that on a regular day or should I say night, the number of drunk drivers remains the same. Number per hundred drivers?
People can do as they wish, it's their life.
But Mex 15-D from Nogales to Mazatlan. Playas Norte or Centro is safe to drive during the daylight. At night, I would prefer an armored personnel
carrier with standoff armor and a flame thrower.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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wilderone
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Registered: 2-9-2004
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I went by bus once - TJ to Mazatlan. Took 24 hours. Interesting, no hassels. The bus depot is within walking distance to hotels. I took a taxi 4
blocks to the hotel where I had reservations (Didn't know it was so close)! Once in town, the carts run back and forth through town. You can take a
boat out to the island for a day. You don't need a car. We then took a bus to Tepic, and then on to San Blas.
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