Mexico hosts some of the most interesting and beautiful roads in North America. Let’s take a look at some of the greatest roads in Mexico.La Cascada de Basaseachi – Photo by Jim Foreman
Story by Seguros Mapfre (Translated and expanded by Jim Foreman)
While vising these spectacular roads in Mexico, it’s easy to agree with the saying, “The important thing is the trip, not the destination.”
Enjoying these amazing roads is easy. The trick is to fuel up, pack light, and include some water bottles and snacks. Above all, don’t forget your camera, because the views will captivate you.
Baja California makes both Americans and Mexicans fall in love with this beautiful coastline. For those who can’t make it up to California’s Big Sur, the Scenic Road will leave you equally wowed! The Rosarito viewpoint and the Todos Los Santos Bay are worthy stops. They feature views that will amaze and inspire you. Mex-1 deserves this proud distinction and you’ll see why, as you drive safely through the North of the country.
Stretching between Mazatlan and Durango, Mex-40 (Libre) is certainly one of the greatest roads in Mexico. Be sure not to confuse this road with the new parallel cuota road (Mex-40D). Mex 40 (Libre) offers you the spectacle of the Sierra Madre Occidental range. Enjoy breathtaking canyons, mountains, slopes, and the viewpoint of the ‘Espinazo del Diablo’ (Pictured). Before you go, fill up with gas in Durango, El Salto, Villa Union, or Mazatlan. There aren’t any gas stations for a very long stretch. This road is not recommended for RVs. The narrow twists and turns will be maddening. It’s best on a motorcycle or sports car. Some even travel it by bicycle. Those exciting hours of travel that connects Durango with Mazatlán will give you incredible views and wonderful memories.
Anyone who has gone for a green or purple corn quesadilla knows exactly what we are talking about. This short-run features lush landscapes of leafy pine trees and light mist, even in summer. Both the Libre and the adjacent Cuota are very popular with motorcycles and sports cars. The roads are twisty, but the view is certainly worth it.
Of course, the most important thing is that you travel protected. In Mexico, you must have at least auto liability insurance. Unless you only travel with liability only at home, you probably want Full-Coverage Mexico insurance for cars. We offer multiple options to best suit your needs. Especially if you go out on road trips, a top pick is Mapfre Elite. This coverage includes road assistance, medical expenses for the occupants, legal assistance, and other advantages.
Whenever you go, wherever you go, travel smart and safe with Mexican Insurance Store.
Paseo de La Reforma avenue and Angel of Independence Monument – Mexico City, Mexico
Preparing for a road trip to Mexico is much more than what you’re going to pack. Your vehicle needs prep work, too. Prepping for a long road trip in Mexico is typically quite similar to preparing it for a trip within the USA or Canada.
Though there are many similarities, there are also some different realities that require some particular attention.
For regular South of the border travelers, most of this information is well known, but for new travelers or those visiting overland for the first time, the information presented can mean the difference between a great trip and a miserable one.
7 Simple Preparation Tips For Your Vehicle
1. Make sure your car, RV, or motorcycle is in excellent functioning order
If you suspect that anything is awry, take it to a Honda auto repair shop. On the road, potentially in the middle of nowhere isn’t a smart place to have a timing belt break. Unless you’re particularly mechanically inclined, it may be worth the visit to your dealership to have them run a full safety check and have a technician thoroughly look over your particular vehicle. A factory service tech is preferred as they are keenly familiar with typical problems on all models and can check those out. Taking it to a dealership will also check for any factory recalls, campaigns, and advisories free of charge to you.
2. Make sure your tires have lots of tread and not close to the wear bar
Roads in Mexico will grind down your tires much faster than typical US-based roads. If you are driving a vehicle more exotic, it may take some time to get a replacement tire or set of tires.
3. Have a basic toolkit for your vehicle
Specifically include sockets, wrenches, Allen keys, and any other specialty tools your car may likely need, for a repair. No need to go overkill and tow a Snap-On tool chest. A simple, compact toolkit will work fine. Make sure it’s SAE or Metric based on the brand of your car.
A little maintanence and preparation goes a long way on long trips.
4. If your battery is over two years old, get it load tested and possibly replaced
They don’t last forever and getting stuck with a dead one is entirely preventable. This can be done for free at many chain auto parts stores throughout the USA and Canada.5. If you are close to an oil change, get it before your trip
Also if you are close to the recommended time to replace brake pads, brake fluid, transmission fluid, or coolant, do it. Finding the correct filters, gaskets, or brake pads may delay you by a couple of days. It’s best to get it done before your journey.
6. Get your shocks and suspension evaluated
This essential element is something few consider. Proper suspension can mean the difference between confidently traveling a narrow mountain road and white-knuckling the steering wheel the entire time. If your vehicle is over four years old or has over 70,000 miles, get your suspension checked by a reliable technician. It’s relatively inexpensive to replace or rebuild shocks. The difference can be night and day. The car, RV, or motorcycle will feel like it was when brand new.7. Carry a T-handle tire plug kit and a 12v air compressor
The Slime brand repair kit with the rope-like plugs work very well. Typically, avoid the canisters with the sealant. It makes replacing the tire a mess and will likely incur an additional charge and lots of scorn from the shop. If you’ve never used a tire plug kit, ask a tire shop or your dealership if you can try it on a worn tire mounted on a rim. Usually, a tech will be delighted to instruct you on how to do it.
Summary
The key is to make sure your car is in top shape and can handle the additional stresses of high heat, altitude, heavy load, and occasional rough roads. Additionally, if something small happens, it’s best to know how to do simple repairs like check oil levels, fill coolant reservoirs, check tire pressure, and change a tire. On some cars, checking oil, coolant levels, and tire pressure is as simple as doing a systems check on your dash.
Specifically For Cars
Almost everything is covered for cars by the general checklist above. The big thing to be mindful of is if you have exotic tires. Exotic means anything for a luxury car or specialty rims. If you do, and your tires usually take a day or two to get in the USA, you may want to carry a spare, if you have the room. Tire punctures are somewhat common. If you drive a Honda, Nissan or Toyota, Ford or Chevy with standard tires, you’ll have no problems finding new tires South of the Border.
Specifically for RVs
RVs can be a bit tricky. There are a lot of parts that work independently to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience. If you transport potable water, make sure you top off in the US.
Give your RV an end-to-end shakedown to make sure all is functioning as it should. Not only does this re-familiarize you with all of the functions of the RV, but it also will help confirm everything is working correctly and within specifications.
If you have an iffy part, buy its replacement in the US and carry it. RV parts are typically hard to get as Mexicans don’t usually own RVs.
Specifically for Motorcycles
Make sure your chain and sprockets, if your bike uses them, are not worn.
Since Motorcycle tires wear much faster than car and truck tires, make sure they are at 80% tread or better. Mexican roads eat up moto tires. Expect half the typical life you get out of them in the USA.
Big bikes are quite rare in Mexico, and if you are in need of a part along the way, it may be several weeks before you will get it.
If you’re going to need an oil change along your journey, it’s probably best to buy the oil filter for your bike ahead of time. Good motorcycle oil is available in moto shops. Perhaps not your favorite brand, but it’s good, nonetheless.
Conclusion
Taking your late model vehicle is not a problem. Mexicans own new and very nice cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Don’t choose a rickety or worn-out vehicle with the false assumption it will make you less noticeable. This fools wisdom has left countless Gringos stuck and vulnerable on the roadside.
Each year over thirty-five million people visit Mexico. It’s not difficult to understand why. The beaches are some of the best in the world accompanied by spectacular warm weather during the traditional months. A vast majority of visitors choose to either fly or take a cruise ship to Mexico. Despite that, there is a growing number of people who are choosing to drive down from the US or Canada to visit Mexico. The reasons are obvious, including cost savings. Taking out the financial factor, there remains a compelling argument to make your next visit an overland visit to Mexico.
This option is not nearly as far-fetched as it may seem. Take a look at this Happiest Countries In The World’. There’s a good reason for that, but you’ll probably never discover it if you stay at a mega-resort and choose not to spend time with locals. Spanish is one of the most important languages one can learn. Being even somewhat capable in Spanish can open a tremendous world of wonderful experiences and opportunities.
4. Discover Pueblos Magicos Along The Way
This is a huge aspect that is lost when one limits themselves to a mega-resort. Pueblos Magicos are towns, cities, or villages that have unique and charming characteristics that truly deserve discovery. Many are wonderfully preserved colonial towns while others offer warmth and culture that one won’t find elsewhere. Go to Visit Pueblos Magicos to discover some Pueblos Magicos along your journey. In nearly all cases, they are worth it.
5. You Have Transportation The Entire Time
When you fly or take a cruise ship, one thing becomes immediately obvious. You are entirely dependent on expensive shuttles, taxis, or organized tours. When you drive your own vehicle, you can go anywhere, any time you wish without having to worry about departure times, bus numbers, or leaving a destination sooner than you wanted. You can also move on if you decide the place you’re staying isn’t ideal for you. Renting a car may seem like a good idea at first, especially for $10 – $15 per day, but you are forced at the counter to purchase insurance at $35 – $40 per day too and this adds up fast.
6. Street Tacos and Authentic Food
This really must not be understated. The food is something wonderful. Far beyond what most gringos equate to Mexican food, a culinary paradise is at your fingertips when you explore regions overland. Whether it’s a street vendor offering up Horchata con Coco (a delicious drink) or a vendor serving ceviche or coctels mariscos, you are guaranteed some excellent and memorable eating at a drastically reduced price over what you pay in common tourist areas.
There are many more reasons to choose an Overlanding adventure. Naturally, there are some guidelines and legal requirements you must pay mind to drive your car, motorcycle, or RV into Mexico. You can learn about them in this award-winning article detailing what’s required and how to safely and successfully travel in Mexico. Additionally, please read this important story about Safety and Mexico to better understand the realities and realistic expectations of traveling.
As you can probably guess, it’s quite fun and easy to travel in your own car in Mexico. All you need is a destination, your Passport, and a Mexican Insurance Policy By Mexican Insurance Store.
Beautiful smiling woman dancing while enjoying road trip with friendsyoung woman standing out of the sunroof and her partner driving car, couple on road trip.All Terrain Vehicle rider in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Tags: Mexican Insurance, Mexican insurance store, Mexico Road Trip, Travel Mexico
