Mexico and Central America Ride Planning and Road Wisdom

[AK Smitty]

Seattle Jan 1!!!! Good luck with that!! I rode from Portland last year in Nov and it was tough. I also got to ride thru the every ten year storm and cold snap all the way to Death Valley. Oh well all part of the experience haha

I cross into Mex on Oct 30 and spend a couple of days in Hermosillo to visit a friend. Then off to PV.

I will PM you my spot later

CA is skinny I am think there is a good chance we may run into each other

Originally Posted by donnh

Hi, it looks like I'll be a little behind you. We're leaving Seattle around Jan 1 and plan on crossing into Mexico on January 14 or 15th. Down Baja and the ferry across then south to Panama. Then somehow (TBD) from Panama to Cartagana and Sur. We are a group of 6 on various BMW's. Shouldn't be too hard to miss if you see us. Bookmark my SPOT link in my sig. I'll have it on while travelling. When will you cross into Mexico?

[Two Moto Kiwis]

Hi guys, we are crossing Nov 2nd into Mexico then slowly zig zagging our way south, stopping in Guate for a month on Spanish etc.

Look forward to bumping into you guys if we can.

Cheers Andi & Ellen

[buls4evr]

Just some quick questions for you frequent Mexico travellers...

1. How much currency should I expect to convert for 2 riders (self and wife) to motel it ,food , gas for a 10 day trip to the Copper Canyon/ Batopilas from Palomas via Creel? NOT LUXURY......

2. Is it still a $400 bond on your bike (2007) this year? Can you still use a Visa chg. card for the bond?

3. Is there any charge for a 10 day entry tourist visa or is there a shorter period of time that would avoid a charge?


Thank you..... ahhh muchas gracias.

[jimmex]

Originally Posted by buls4evr

Just some quick questions for you frequent Mexico travellers...

1. How much currency should I expect to convert for 2 riders (self and wife) to motel it ,food , gas for a 10 day trip to the Copper Canyon/ Batopilas from Palomas via Creel? NOT LUXURY......

2. Is it still a $400 bond on your bike (2007) this year? Can you still use a Visa chg. card for the bond?

3. Is there any charge for a 10 day entry tourist visa or is there a shorter period of time that would avoid a charge?


Thank you..... ahhh muchas gracias.

1) I would show up with about $1000(~$85USD) pesos just to avoid having to worry about it while at the border. The best way to get cash is through ATM. You won't be making it to Batopilas on the regular route unless you ride through the construction zone. (they let me through but it was too muddy) Beemer67 spent 2 days trying to get up the canyon and ended up paying a guy $100 to haul his bike out.
2) They charge you the $400 on your credit card and you get it back when you cancel your TVIP within the permitted time period. You need a credit card for the fees I believe. (I've never used cash, why would you want to)
3) Tourist Visa carries nominal charge ($30 USD I think). No way around that or TVIP.
PM for route info.

[buls4evr]

Originally Posted by jimmex

1) I would show up with about $1000(~$85USD) pesos just to avoid having to worry about it while at the border. The best way to get cash is through ATM. You won't be making it to Batopilas on the regular route unless you ride through the construction zone. (they let me through but it was too muddy) Beemer67 spent 2 days trying to get up the canyon and ended up paying a guy $100 to haul his bike out.
2) They charge you the $400 on your credit card and you get it back when you cancel your TVIP within the permitted time period. You need a credit card for the fees I believe. (I've never used cash, why would you want to)
3) Tourist Visa carries nominal charge ($30 USD I think). No way around that or TVIP.
PM for route info.

On #1 Jimmex.......... You mean 2 people for 10 days would only be about $85 US? Seems a little small. I was going to do a border dollars to pesos conversion at exchange at the border. Then when I came back through, convert back to USDollars.

In regard to the road itself from Creel to Batopilas.... We are going in 2013 in April and know that some of this is paved. At what point is it impassable, right at the canyon lip? Avoid for 2013 until construction is done or just go into Batopilas from a different road altogether? What is your recommendation? We have a 650 WeeStrom and for all I care we can ride all blacktop if that exists. We are leaving from Palomas and want to get to Bato the best way to see it. Thanks for your comments.

[jimmex]

http://http://advrider.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=827769[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by buls4evr

On #1 Jimmex.......... You mean 2 people for 10 days would only be about $85 US? Seems a little small. I was going to do a border dollars to pesos conversion at exchange at the border. Then when I came back through, convert back to USDollars.

In regard to the road itself from Creel to Batopilas.... We are going in 2013 in April and know that some of this is paved. At what point is it impassable, right at the canyon lip? Avoid for 2013 until construction is done or just go into Batopilas from a different road altogether? What is your recommendation? We have a 650 WeeStrom and for all I care we can ride all blacktop if that exists. We are leaving from Palomas and want to get to Bato the best way to see it. Thanks for your comments.

Obviously 1000 pesos is just to get you into the interior where you can use an ATM to get more cash. Refer to this for latest on road to Batopilas: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=827769
I wouldn't plan on getting there unless you're on a dirt bike but there are two routes into the canyon, one through Guachochi and Yoquivo, the other is the detour route from Samachique. The latter is too rough for Wee 2-up. What I would do is just forget about Batopilas or inquire at Guachochi the condition of that road. Unless your wife is the tough a intrepid, I probably would not attempt this. What I did was go to the end of the pavement just past Kirare and through the road closure signs to show my GF the overlook. That is exactly where the construction zone begins right now. We looked then rode bak out to Guachochi and out to the Sinforoasa overlook which is breathtaking. The road on to Parral is very nice as well. Suerte, Jim

[buls4evr]

Thank you jimmex...........

[SchizzMan]

I'll second Jimmex's ATM advice. Better, IMO, to use one at a bank than an OXXO, etc. But I've made discreet use of OXXO ATM's as well.

Enjoy México!

[acejones]

I agree with Schizzman. I avoid "freestanding" atms. Find a bank atm.

[beemer67]

Originally Posted by jimmex

1) I would show up with about $1000(~$85USD) pesos just to avoid having to worry about it while at the border. The best way to get cash is through ATM. You won't be making it to Batopilas on the regular route unless you ride through the construction zone. (they let me through but it was too muddy) Beemer67 spent 2 days trying to get up the canyon and ended up paying a guy $100 to haul his bike out.
2) They charge you the $400 on your credit card and you get it back when you cancel your TVIP within the permitted time period. You need a credit card for the fees I believe. (I've never used cash, why would you want to)
3) Tourist Visa carries nominal charge ($30 USD I think). No way around that or TVIP.
PM for route info.

Hi Jim,
I have now made it back home. Damn sight colder and wetter up here in the 'great white north'. Amazing bumping into you and your girlfriend in Guachochic!
Adding to your comments for Buls4evr:

My Visa just showed Tourist Visa at $23
TVIP after bond returned, import charge was $60
Insurance (3rd party only ) $5 a day
Just use credit card for bond, they credit it back within a couple of days when you leave. Real simple.

According to locals in Batopilas it will be up to 4 years to complete road into canyon. Now they are paved to the top of the downhill, where it is really only a two track all the way down , I can see them leaving this road closed to public.

The road via Guachochic and Yoquivo could be done two-up as long as there hasn't been any recent rains. The trucks just chew up the track into mud ruts making it tricky even for 4 x 4's.

The road out via Samachique is even worst, and impossible if wet. I spent 5 hours to cover 28km before giving up.

[jimmex]

Hey Chris,
I'm glad you made it home okay. That was was so cool running into you in Gauchochi. I knew it was you the moment we passed. You are the intrepid man.
Why don't we plan on running into each other next year. Saludos, Jim

[eakins]

Originally Posted by jimmex

1) I would show up with about $1000(~$85USD) pesos just to avoid having to worry about it while at the border. The best way to get cash is through ATM. You won't be making it to Batopilas on the regular route unless you ride through the construction zone. (they let me through but it was too muddy) Beemer67 spent 2 days trying to get up the canyon and ended up paying a guy $100 to haul his bike out.
2) They charge you the $400 on your credit card and you get it back when you cancel your TVIP within the permitted time period. You need a credit card for the fees I believe. (I've never used cash, why would you want to)
3) Tourist Visa carries nominal charge ($30 USD I think). No way around that or TVIP.
PM for route info.

you can pay your deposit in US cash and you'll get it back that way (on the north side of the country atleast).

[Aventeren]

Howdy--

I'm leaving on early next week for a 2-3 month Mexico and Central America trip. I was planning on following IdahoSam and Radioman's route to the bottom of the Copper Canyon, but it looks like it may be difficult to get to Batopilas at this time? Does anyone have a Google Map route link, Google Earth KMZ file or GPS route that they could post to this thread that would outline where the construction is happening and which roads are out of commission? Also, if there is a back way in to the bottom, does anyone know what the status is?

At this point, I was planning on riding from Creel to Cusarare to Samachique to La Bufa and then to Batopilas. I was then planning on coming out through La Bufa and then to Samachique and then to Bajisochi to Rocheachic and then south to Guachochi and then to San Pablo Balleza, etc. Does anyone know the status of these roads? If they are out of commission, can someone please give me a linked together route using cities as waypoints? As a sidenote, I'm pulling the towns from the latest Guia Roji...which is rad by the way.

Thanks!

[kobukan]

Originally Posted by Aventeren

Howdy--

I'm leaving on early next week for a 2-3 month Mexico and Central America trip. I was planning on following IdahoSam and Radioman's route to the bottom of the Copper Canyon, but it looks like it may be difficult to get to Batopilas at this time? Does anyone have a Google Map route link, Google Earth KMZ file or GPS route that they could post to this thread that would outline where the construction is happening and which roads are out of commission? Also, if there is a back way in to the bottom, does anyone know what the status is?

At this point, I was planning on riding from Creel to Cusarare to Samachique to La Bufa and then to Batopilas. I was then planning on coming out through La Bufa and then to Samachique and then to Bajisochi to Rocheachic and then south to Guachochi and then to San Pablo Balleza, etc. Does anyone know the status of these roads? If they are out of commission, can someone please give me a linked together route using cities as waypoints? As a sidenote, I'm pulling the towns from the latest Guia Roji...which is rad by the way.

Thanks!

I was there last week. Main route to Batopilas was not passable - see here or here.

The best way to Batopilas currently seems to be the route from Guachochi through Yoquivo to Batopilas. I didn't ride it, but others have said this is a good route, and I spoke with a Copper Canyon tour van driver at Villa Mexicana in Creel who said it's a good dirt road that they use to get to Batopilas in their tour vans. He said this route takes them about eight hours from Creel in the van - probably faster on a bike. I think it's close to 100 miles of dirt road from Guachochi - I'm sure others have ridden it recently and have better info. Hope that helps.

[jimmex]

+1 on this; you just don't want to attempt it if its muddy.