Plan to ride down the Pacific Mexican coast, Nogales to Acapulco, then Mexico 200 towards Guatamala. Keep hearing the "tolls are expensive", but what do they actually run and how often? I need to make some time, so will probably use the better roads even if they cost.

Hi,
You will love mexico! it is fantastic, but yes there are some tolls and some are a little expensive, but not too bad. You can actually avoid alot of them by adding only an extra 1hr to your route and this usually better as you get to see more. i will have to go back and see my reciepts as i did the trip 2 yrs ago now, so i will update you when i find them. My advice would be to avoid them and if you can't take them, it really is not that much more when you consider the fuel costs in mexico! i think mexico was my highlight, i loved it and yes it is a bloody long way through mexico, you don't realise till you do a long days riding, pull out your map that night to mark it out and it is like dotting the map.

thanks
Troy

How does paying 35 dollars for travelling 150km on a toll road strike you ? How many tanks of gas do you burn in that distance? This is not an untypical fee for ceretain toll routes, bu t they do vary.
For a more actual set of figures you can buy one of the GUIA ROJI Roadatlases of Mexico and in the back (of my2004 edition ) there is a schematic layout of all the major toll routes with markers for all the toll booths , PEMEX stations and other stuff along the way and the toll prices for cars , same as a bike ,as well as for trucks and buses.You can also find a website for the toll highways of Mexico with this data.
If you study this road schematic you may be able to dodge the toll booths by getting off the toll road just before and rejoining a short distance later. Keep your eyes peeled for signs that tell a toll booth is coming up, i.e. they will indicate the LIBRE route splitting off, usually before a town or city. Also watch for points where a lot of trucks and cars suddenly peel off the toll route and note where they are going. This is a good way to find the roads that the locals use to avoid the toll booths .For example at Guaymas the toll route Mex15D splits off onto a well signed new route to the east to bypass the city about 15km north of the actual town. Just by taking the Libre through the city you miss the toll station , save the cost of a tankfull of feul or more and it doesn't add significantly to your travel time.

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They're damn expensive, some of the highest in the world.
I did a breakdown on this not too long ago, but don´t remember right now.
Something like an average of $.11 per mile ??, some higher, some lower. And some as high as $.30 per mile.

Somebody correct me, if I´m way off base.

The one I do recommend is from TJ to Ensadada in Baja. It´s a beautiful road with great scenery.

I just drove from Nogales to Aculpulco in a very round about way. The tolls struck me as being pretty steep. If I remember right, it was $40 or so from Aculpulco to the turnoff to Taxco. The tunnel was like $5 and the hiway was very expensive for such a short distance. This was supposed to be the most expensive road in Mexico. The road from El Fuerte to MZT was also expensive. It was about $20/day when I was on the Cuotas doing about 5 hours of riding a day. An important side note is that while on some of the Cuotas, there is no gas station for 180 miles at a stretch at times. Plan your gas accordingly and don't run out and walk like I did. I actually preferred to use the libre because of the local flavor. Some of the toll roads seemed really unecessary as the libres were great. -Mark

I forgot- once you are south of MZT and not near PV, 200 is not a toll road. As you get past PV towards Aculpulco and P. Esc., be really careful on 200. I loved it but there is A LOT to watch out for when driving. No shoulders and lots of animals and odd things jump out of the bushes. When I was driving from IXT to Aculpulco some poor people had put a string of shoe laces across the road with hankerchiefs to stop cars for a "local toll". Bad for the neck. -Mark

Checked my GUIA ROJI last night and it is like Lonerider sugests about 11cents /mi as on the route from Tijuana all the way to Mexico DF via Mex 2 D and Mex15D , 2675km , $136US total in tolls at 30 toll plazas, or about 6 centsUS per km. But the kicker is that not all the route is toll, they just have a number of new purposebuilt toll sections then the othe r toll gates are on the bypasses around towns or in the middle of a section of what appeared to be the old road as you get near a big urban area.
Mex95D from DF to Acapulco 391km for $43 US,.
If you are unlucky enough to get on the toll section just before a booth you pay full price for whatever segment it covers , no matter if you only rode it 10km and then got off again. Next toll.....

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If you look for SCT Mexico on Google and then go to Carreteras and then Traz tu Ruta you can find the price of the tolls and distances. It is a bit tricky to use but will give you current prices.
The price is about a peso per kilomter as has been mentioned.
If you have problems with the SCT site please tell me.

I took 2 days of toll roads in Mex a few weeks ago. Never again. Count on US$80-100 PER DAY.

I don't know if the couta or the topes are worse.

Took the 200 for awhile, great road, got lost in the bush for a couple days and crossed into Guatemala via Corozal. (You will need 400-650 pesos for the boat to Bethal, G) They took me and my bike for 400, after I bargained a little.

If your heading to Tikal, I recommend staying in El Remate. Flores, near Tikal has several bike shops if you need (generic) parts.

Lone Rider is right on (Bob I'm the one with my buddy who helped you with your flat near PV) concerning the costs of Tolls in Mexico. The Northern tolls were the most expensive as well as the tolls leading to and from Mexico City. I just wrapped up a 6000 miles run and found many of the tolls to be ridiculous. There were times where we would pay about $10 US travel 15 miles and pay another $10! The only time we choose toll roads was when we had no other choice or if we had to make time.

I travelled from Port Angel to San Blas along Mexico 200 which was toll free.

Hope that helps, be safe. Vampyremp

:thumb

I'm redoing my repair kit due to those problems. Live and learn.

I still owe you guys a few brews....

PS Great blog you did - well written and a fun read.

Mexican ?
Make mine a Pacifico please.
My drink of choice in PV

WHY do they automatically give you Corona?

At home in Australia we only had Corona, now Sol is breaking through, but Pacifico wins hands down.

Its like bloody Fosters. Its the only Australian you can find overseas, and no one drinks it in Australia.

I'm in Abu Dhabi now......my kingdom for a VB.

I rode from the south to the north and I did not pay one cent (or peso) toll. Always stayed on the "libre" roads and they are just as good and a lot more scenic.
There are better uses for that big bag of pesos.

Maarten

Sorry... Just remembered I did have to pay once to cross a bridge, but that was a few peso.

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Nautla?
.........

I am very impartial to Tecate myself. With lime. I guess its a border thing!