Where to go in Mexico
February 6, 2011 11:26 AM Subscribe
Where should I drive to specifically, going from Atlanta to Mexico?
In a few weeks some friends (male twentysomething students) and I would like to drive from Atlanta to Mexico. Where should we go? I'd like to avoid the places that are obviously dangerous as well as resort towns. That is, I'd like to go somewhere that Mexicans go/live that American tourists can also go (for, you know, drinking, hiking, eating, surfing, whatever) with relative safety. I understand we'll probably have to penetrate the border by a few hundred miles to avoid nasty border towns. That is acceptable. Also, I would strongly prefer the beach. Any suggestions? Surely somebody on mefi is in love with a gulf-area beach town. I'd like to fall in love with a gulf-area beach town as well.
In a few weeks some friends (male twentysomething students) and I would like to drive from Atlanta to Mexico. Where should we go? I'd like to avoid the places that are obviously dangerous as well as resort towns. That is, I'd like to go somewhere that Mexicans go/live that American tourists can also go (for, you know, drinking, hiking, eating, surfing, whatever) with relative safety. I understand we'll probably have to penetrate the border by a few hundred miles to avoid nasty border towns. That is acceptable. Also, I would strongly prefer the beach. Any suggestions? Surely somebody on mefi is in love with a gulf-area beach town. I'd like to fall in love with a gulf-area beach town as well.
Knowing roughly where you are going in Mexico would help - Baja is a long way from Yucatan.
posted by maryr at 12:29 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by maryr at 12:29 PM on February 6, 2011
Nowhere in Northern Mexico is safe to drive through right now - what's going on in the border states is basically a low-intensity civil war. This isn't confined to just the border towns - there's violence on the highways too. If you want to see Mexico the only safe thing to do right now is to fly into the interior.
posted by strangely stunted trees at 12:56 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by strangely stunted trees at 12:56 PM on February 6, 2011
There really aren't beach towns along the gulf side until you get to Tampico or Veracruz. Those places are a long, long way from the Texas border, and not really worth the drive. There's a lot of estuaries and marsh-like land along the gulf coast and heading south for hundreds of kilometers. You really don't get to "resort towns" until you get to the Yucatan which is about as far away from the Texas border than Atlanta is. It is 1100 miles from Atlanta to the Texas border, several hundred more for a decent Gulf beach.
To corridor of Mexico you need to drive through is where a lot of the cartel violence takes place however it isn't instant death and if you are alert and informed you won't have that problem. But as a group of students that don't know the region, every two bit crook and dirty cop will shake you down. Once you're south of the state of Tamaulipas there's less to worry about. But like I said, there's not really a lot nearby to get to.
Also, driving 30km south of the Texas border means you have to get a permit for your car which isn't difficult just more complex than driving from Georgia to Florida (you need to have your title or letter from the bank that holds your car note, some money, and time). There are several toll roads in Mexico where you can travel at a decent clip (100km/h) but once you're heading for the water, you'll drop down to poorly maintained roads where you may be lucky to get to 40km/h
Mexicans will fly to the beach resort towns on the Yucatan or the west coast. Mexicans in NE Mexico looking to drive will go to South Padre Island, TX.
There are lots of out of the way places in Mexico, but none really accessible by car from the Texas border. I love to explore Mexico but I've been doing it for decades. I'll fly into somewhere and rent a car. The only real car friendly part of the Mexican border is Baja California (that's a 4,000 mile round trip from Atlanta)
If you're serious about visiting Mexico, I recommend reading the Lonely Planet Guide.It will give you a lot of background and help you decide where you want to go. Saying "Mexico" is saying you want to go to the United States.
posted by birdherder at 1:26 PM on February 6, 2011
To corridor of Mexico you need to drive through is where a lot of the cartel violence takes place however it isn't instant death and if you are alert and informed you won't have that problem. But as a group of students that don't know the region, every two bit crook and dirty cop will shake you down. Once you're south of the state of Tamaulipas there's less to worry about. But like I said, there's not really a lot nearby to get to.
Also, driving 30km south of the Texas border means you have to get a permit for your car which isn't difficult just more complex than driving from Georgia to Florida (you need to have your title or letter from the bank that holds your car note, some money, and time). There are several toll roads in Mexico where you can travel at a decent clip (100km/h) but once you're heading for the water, you'll drop down to poorly maintained roads where you may be lucky to get to 40km/h
Mexicans will fly to the beach resort towns on the Yucatan or the west coast. Mexicans in NE Mexico looking to drive will go to South Padre Island, TX.
There are lots of out of the way places in Mexico, but none really accessible by car from the Texas border. I love to explore Mexico but I've been doing it for decades. I'll fly into somewhere and rent a car. The only real car friendly part of the Mexican border is Baja California (that's a 4,000 mile round trip from Atlanta)
If you're serious about visiting Mexico, I recommend reading the Lonely Planet Guide.It will give you a lot of background and help you decide where you want to go. Saying "Mexico" is saying you want to go to the United States.
posted by birdherder at 1:26 PM on February 6, 2011
I used to live in Mexico as part of our diplomatic mission there. Do not drive in Mexico. I cannot overstate this enough.
posted by lockestockbarrel at 2:29 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by lockestockbarrel at 2:29 PM on February 6, 2011
Flying in to a tourist place, like a beach, or a colonial city, is quite safe.
on the other hand, driving thru any of the bordering towns with Texas is very dangerous right now. please don't do it.
posted by theKik at 4:38 PM on February 6, 2011
on the other hand, driving thru any of the bordering towns with Texas is very dangerous right now. please don't do it.
posted by theKik at 4:38 PM on February 6, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
There is less concern about flying to resort towns, but even then, one cannot be too careful.
posted by walleeguy at 12:22 PM on February 6, 2011