Hi

We are about to set off from Anchorage to ride down to Panama - the questions is there seems to be a lot of problems in Mexico at the moment can any one give us advice about riding safe through Mexico. We are planning to cross in at Noagles and continue on down the central west.

Any help, hints, advice would be gratefully received.

Ride safe

Graham

My advice would be to first read the current threads which address precisely your question. If you still have unaddressed issues after that, return here and ask away....but try to be specific.

The wording which was suggested to me in another context was "Have you tried a search?"

Hope that helps.

Mark

I just crossed into mexico at nogales today . There is no evidence of anything to be troubled about. All the people were very helpful. The ride south to Guamus was a furnace but the road was fine and again no sign of anything to be concerened about ANYWHERE at any stop. Buy your mexican insurance at the border not in nogales and change some money into pesos at the border also if you have not already got some.
Bill

We are in Ensenada at the moment and only been in Mexico for a day and a half; so my comments are based on that. There is hardly a tourist in sight. The other people we have met were other bikers also headed south. We have wondered around after dark (on foot) and haven't felt threatened or unsafe.

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Central America, South America & Africa on DR650's - BLOG

According to the TV 28,000 people have been killed in the war on drugs in the last 4 years. I don't have specific information but from what I can see probably 30% of those are military and police, 69.5% are drug dealers and .5% are innocent bystanders. So if you are not in the army etc nor a drug dealer the chances of something happening to you are very very slim. You are at a much bigger risk of being involved in a traffic accident so if you are not worried about that why worry about the drug war.
If you come through Mexico City (and why wouldn't you as it is an amazing city with a ot to see) you are welcome to stay with us. We can put you up and show you around and will even give you breakfast if you wash the dishes.

Garry

GarryHostel.com

By all means read up on the posts re: Mexico security here and on ADV site.Put your mind at rest. GO.
As to the suggestion about changing dollars to pesos, only do that if you want to dispose of your US cash ,but I suggest hang onto a stash of US $$. You will need US dollars Panama which has always been that way and in El Salvador where it is now the legal currency ,as is the case in Ecuador also.
Rather you should just take your bank card into an automated bank machine (Cajero Atomatico) in Nogales, MEXICO These ABMs are easy to spot since EVERY bank in town has one. Take out the maximum daily allowance, around $500 and you will be set for a week or more.Do not use credit cards for this purpose, you will be hit with high interest rates .
Another pointer for Nogales entrants- no matter if you use either of the two border crossings you do not have to worry about getting your paperwork done there. All this can be done down the highway.
There used to be a customs terminal about 25km south of the city where the tourist cards and import permits were done up but a recent AAA notice stated that a NEW terminal was now put into use this year much farther south nearer Hermosillo or the state line with Sinaloa.Can anybody confirm that ?
Whatever the case , you will have no great problems. Relax and enjoy the ride.

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93

Yes, take up Garry Dymond's offer and always slow down at the 'topes' (speed bumps) otherwise you might blow your forkseals of you hit them too quick.

If you're bothered about the mainland part, why not ust go down Baja for the beaches then get the ferry from La Paz? There's also a great off road section from Los Mochis all the way to Creel.

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Mike


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The place we got the paperwork done was 21 kilometers south of nogales on highway 15. I am calling that point the border crossing since there were no others.
Bill