November 16, 2008
Traveling from Albuquerque to San Miguel de Allende. Any advice?
Greyhoundgrrrl asked:
I will be driving from Albuquerque to San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico. It will be just me and another woman. I have never been to this part of Mexico and was looking for some advice on what cities we should stay in and where along the way we can fill up the gas tank. I understand there are stretches (like I-10 through western Texas) where there are little or no amenities. We are considering traveling from Albuquerque to Chihuahua in one day, Chihuahua to Aguascalientes the next day and then onto San Miguel de Allende on the 3rd day. Also it should be noted that I speak limited Spanish and my travel companion speaks no Spanish at all. We will be traveling to visit a friend in San Miguel and bringing a lot of ceramic artwork such as large vases with us. Neither of us have done a road trip through Mexico before although we have traveled by road through parts of the US. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!
To clarify, the ceramic work we’re taking is my work to be exhibited in my friends’s gallery. I juest mentioned it so that it is clear that it is two women with little knowledge of Spanish traveling with a lot of expensive artwork. Sorry I didn’t initially give more details.
I will be driving from Albuquerque to San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico. It will be just me and another woman. I have never been to this part of Mexico and was looking for some advice on what cities we should stay in and where along the way we can fill up the gas tank. I understand there are stretches (like I-10 through western Texas) where there are little or no amenities. We are considering traveling from Albuquerque to Chihuahua in one day, Chihuahua to Aguascalientes the next day and then onto San Miguel de Allende on the 3rd day. Also it should be noted that I speak limited Spanish and my travel companion speaks no Spanish at all. We will be traveling to visit a friend in San Miguel and bringing a lot of ceramic artwork such as large vases with us. Neither of us have done a road trip through Mexico before although we have traveled by road through parts of the US. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!
To clarify, the ceramic work we’re taking is my work to be exhibited in my friends’s gallery. I juest mentioned it so that it is clear that it is two women with little knowledge of Spanish traveling with a lot of expensive artwork. Sorry I didn’t initially give more details.
Filed under Other - Mexico by Administrator
Comments on Traveling from Albuquerque to San Miguel de Allende. Any advice?
Check with your car insurance provider, you probably won’t be covered in Mexico. So you’ll need Mexican car insurance–click the first link below.
To get a Mexican Vehicle Permit, you’ll need:
Proof of car ownership
Proof of American registration
An affidavit from any lien holders authorizing temporary importation
A valid American driver’s license
Proof of citizenship (like a passport)
A credit card (they’ll record the number and if you don’t take the car back to the US, you’ll be charged based on the value of the car.
At the border you’ll both need to get your Tourist Cards (unless you get them at a consulate before leaving).
To get through all this red tape, it’s sometime a good idea to spend a night on the US side of the border and get an early morning start in Mexico, because it’s not a good idea to drive at night.
There’s only one kind of gas station in Mexico–Pemex (the state run oil company). they only take pesos, so get some during your border crossing process. Start looking for the next Pemex station when your gas tanks gets below half–that should give you enough leeway. If you do run out of gas or break down, pull off to the side of the road; raise your hood and wait for a Green Angel truck (there’s a phone number in the second link below).
The toll roads are fast but expensive. It may cost you about $100 (1000 pesos) getting to SMA, depending on where your border crossing is. And the toll booths don’t take dollars either, so you’ll need pesos for them too.
When you’re off the toll roads, keep a lookout for speed bumps called TOPES. There may be a sign saying “TOPES” or a sign that looks like two bumps–they’re not fun to hit a high speed.
MY question:
Isn’t taking pottery to Mexico like taking coal to Newcastle?
Well rhino 720 has give you good tips, since he told you about all the fees and stuff, I´ll tell you about the fun part…You will be traveling along what it used to be the Camino Real to Santa Fe, So I´ll suggest you read a little about it.
First try to cross the border at Santa Teresa, avoid Juarez then make your way to Chihuahua city, make a stop at Villa Ahumada buy some Asadero Cheese is pretty good; then get to Chihuahua, about a few miles into the city you will see a Holiday Inn and a Denny´s restaurant with american menu…or if you like something else get to Ave. de la Juventud also known as Periferico de La Juventud, and you will find several hotel names that you are familiar with, (Westin, City Express, Hampton Inn, Microtel.)
while in chihuahua visit:
Quinta Gameros
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Palacio de Gobierno:
and many other museums in Down Town Area.
The next day I´ll suggest you to stay at Zacatecas not Aguascalientes.
and visit the downtown area of this old mining beautiful town.
After that you will be like 5 hours away from San Miguel A.
If you are bringing Navajo style pottery, take in cosideration that San Miguel and the State of Guanajuato is one that have a big variety of potery…but not in the same style than the navajo, however Chihuahua makes a similar kind of pottery called Mata Ortiz.