Pátzcuaro to Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass Part 2

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Pátzcuaro to Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass Part 2 Note 1: Northbound trip departure May 9, 2011. Approximate drive time 15 hours with overnight stop in Matehuala.

1 Pátzcuaro to Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass Part 2 Note 1: Northbound trip departure May 9, Approximate drive time 15 hours with overnight stop in Matehuala. Mileage is approximate and will vary based on odometer accuracy, tire inflation, and small detours (like to go birding at San Rafael or to Wal-Mart in Matehuala). Numbers below are in miles, not kilometers. Note 2: Some of the times, mileages, and photos are incomplete or possibly misaligned because we were not precise in our note taking. At San Rafael we stopped for breakfast and did about 8 miles of birding, but forgot to record the start/stop times and mileage, so there s a discrepancy there. Part 2 Matehuala to Piedras Negras 8 hours driving For simplicity, this guide starts on the north side of Matehuala, at the Villas de Real sex motel, at the intersection of Mex 62 to Real de Catorce. If you took the Mex 57D cuota bypass around Matehuala, it rejoins Mex 57 Libre about 1 km north of this intersection. This leg of the trip is done entirely on Mex 57 (Libre) or Mex 57D (Cuota). Here the big picture of today s route from Matehuala to Eagle Pass. The blue marker is the Villas de Real motel, green is a convenient Pemex in the middle of nowhere, burgundy is the aduana/immigration/car permit complex, and yellow is International Bridge II. A live version of this map is at and shows alternatives around Monclova and a free road alternative (brown) to the cuota between Nueva Rosita and Aduana. A detailed map of circumnavigating Piedras Negras is below. You can use the live URL links to change map scale, go to satellite view, or even see a street view along much of the route. OK, let s get started. Coming out of the motel Villas de Real, zero your tripmeter at the Mex 62 intersection with Mex 57, and head north on Mex 57. Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 1 of 9 Version 1.1

Mileage Time Description Photo 0.0 7:00 am Depart Villas de Real motel northbound on Mex 57 toward SALTILLO. Sorry for the bad photo, but it was early in the morning.

Unfortunately, we didn t write down the mileage or time when we arrived. I m guessing we drove around about 8 miles and killed about 1 hour and 40 minutes. 129.2 (0.

2 Mileage Time Description Photo 0.0 7:00 am Depart Villas de Real motel northbound on Mex 57 toward SALTILLO. Sorry for the bad photo, but it was early in the morning. 7:10 am Good road heading north from Matehuala. ~106 ~9:00 am We did a bunch of birding west of San Rafael, and then had breakfast near the Pemex. Unfortunately, we didn t write down the mileage or time when we arrived. I m guessing we drove around about 8 miles and killed about 1 hour and 40 minutes (0.0) 10:54 am Bear right at sign saying SALTILLO / MONTERREY / CUOTA Mex 57. Despite the sign, we re not going to end up in Monterrey. If you subtract whatever the time and odometer difference is from the rest of the log, you should be back in sync (1.4) (21.8) (29.3) (Mileages in parentheses are what you ll see if you re-zero your tripmeter here.) Toll booth, pay $53 pesos. Bear right at sign MONTERREY / NUEVO LAREDO Mex 57D You don t want to turn left into Saltillo. Toll booth pay $32 pesos. Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 2 of 9 Version 1.1

MONCLOVA / Mex 57D SALTILLO 166.4 (37.2) 166.

6) Construction 11:36 am Sign to MONCLOVA.

4) 11:53 am Continue straight at sign to Mex

3 163.3 (34.1) 11:32 am Get in left lane at MONCLOVA / MONTERREY signs. 11:33 am Straight to follow sign to Mex 57 MONCLOVA / Mex 57D SALTILLO (37.2) (37.6) Construction 11:36 am Sign to MONCLOVA (56.4) 11:53 am Continue straight at sign to Mex 57 MONCLOVA / PIEDRAS NEGRAS (77.5) (129.7) Pemex 3878 in the middle of nowhere 1:03 pm Continue straight at sign to Mex 57 MONCLOVA. Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 3 of 9 Version 1.1

269.0 (139.8) 269.1 (139.9) 1;19 pm South approach into Monclova.

RVs need to take the truck route to the west to avoid getting ticketed, although there were reports a year ago

1:19 pm Turn left here if taking bypass, otherwise continue straight.

9) 1:45 pm It takes awhile to drive through Monclova, but eventually the bypass and direct roads rejoin at the

4 269.0 (139.8) (139.9) 1;19 pm South approach into Monclova. Cars can go straight through town (MONCLOVA CENTRO ). RVs need to take the truck route to the west to avoid getting ticketed, although there were reports a year ago of crooked cops on the bypass. Get in the left lane here if you re taking the bypass. 1:19 pm Turn left here if taking bypass, otherwise continue straight. Bypass is signed LIBRAMIENTO CARLOS SALINAS DE GORTARI (149.2) (215.9) 1:45 pm It takes awhile to drive through Monclova, but eventually the bypass and direct roads rejoin at the north end of town by a large, ugly blue sculpture. Sorry, no picture. Just follow signs for Mex 57, Piedras Negras or Sabinas. 2:45 pm Straight at sign for PIEDRAS NEGRAS (218.5) 2:49 pm Stay in left lane at sign for Mex 57 NVA. ROSITA / P. NEGRAS. Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 4 of 9 Version 1.1

347.8 (218.6) 2:49 pm Turn left onto Paseo de los Leones at sign for Mex 57 NVA. ROSITA / P. NEGRAS. 353.5 (224.

354.0 (224.8) Note: This $83 peso toll road is divided 4- lane with very little traffic each time we ve taken it.

3:00 pm Exit right for Mex 57D toll road at sign for ALLENDE CUOTA / P. NEGRAS / CD.

0) 3:30 pm Toll booth - $84 pesos After rejoining free road, you ll see an upcoming overpass at the Customs & Immigration complex on the left, and a

5 347.8 (218.6) 2:49 pm Turn left onto Paseo de los Leones at sign for Mex 57 NVA. ROSITA / P. NEGRAS (224.3) 2:58 pm Straight at sign for ALLENDE Cuota / PIEDRAS NEGRAS Mex 57D Stay in far right lane for upcoming exit for Cuota to Allende and Piedras Negras (224.8) Note: This $83 peso toll road is divided 4- lane with very little traffic each time we ve taken it. Most traffic was heading for the parallel 2-lane free road, so that s an alternative to consider. 3:00 pm Exit right for Mex 57D toll road at sign for ALLENDE CUOTA / P. NEGRAS / CD. ACUNA (Continue straight if you want to try the ALLENDE LIBRE Mex 57 free road.) (256.8) (257.9) (258.0) 3:30 pm Toll booth - $84 pesos After rejoining free road, you ll see an upcoming overpass at the Customs & Immigration complex on the left, and a military checkpoint on your side. Since we put the camera away at military checkpoints, we don t have a photo approaching the complex. After clearing the military checkpoint, immediately get in far left lane and turn left where the median ends to enter the parking lot for immigration and to return your car permit if necessary. Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 5 of 9 Version 1.1

This is the little building where they remove your car permit and photograph your vehicle s VIN. Remember, it s on the southbound side of Mex 57!

The immigration building in the same parking lot is where you turn in your visa and get your passport stamped.

Don t know if we d have to pay a second time if we didn t have receipts. The second photo is of the customs lanes if you were southbound.

6 This is the little building where they remove your car permit and photograph your vehicle s VIN. Remember, it s on the southbound side of Mex 57! Make sure you get a receipt for returning your sticker, and keep it with you the next time you re-enter Mexico in case a computer glitch still shows it charged to your name. The immigration building in the same parking lot is where you turn in your visa and get your passport stamped. They asked us for the Banjercito receipts from when we paid for our tourist visas on entry last December. Fortunately, I had saved them in a folder of receipts. Don t know if we d have to pay a second time if we didn t have receipts. The second photo is of the customs lanes if you were southbound. Since this is a northbound description, I ve just tossed it in here for completeness. You d see the other side of the overpass when northbound (258.7) Just go back out of the parking lot where you came in, and turn LEFT to continue northeast on Mex 57 toward Piedras Negras. Keep left to Piedras Negras (don t go into Allende). Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 6 of 9 Version 1.1

Here s an overview map of the remaining directions of how to get through Piedras Negras to International Bridge II.

We haven t tried the red route alternative which is shorter and looks very good in Google Street View.

The red marker is a large bronze statue of a man on a horse. A live version of this map is at http://tinyurl.com/6y28c8p.

7 Here s an overview map of the remaining directions of how to get through Piedras Negras to International Bridge II. We like to take the Periférico and Libramiento around the edge of town; this route is shown in blue. We haven t tried the red route alternative which is shorter and looks very good in Google Street View. Northbound, you enter this map at the lower left, make a sharp right turn at Pemex 4280 (blue marker), then turn north at the International Bridge II sign. The red marker is a large bronze statue of a man on a horse. A live version of this map is at (Google shows the distance from Eagle Pass to Aduana as 68.5 miles, which is wrong. It s more like 41 miles.) (291.6) 4:19 pm Approaching Piedras Negras and the key landmark, Pemex station (291.6) 4:19 pm Take a sharp right around Pemex 4280 to head southeast on Mex 2 toward Nuevo Laredo. Stay on Mex 2 for about a mile. We stopped for gas so the times will slip a bit from here down. Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 7 of 9 Version 1.1

421.8 (292.6) Look for sign to the international bridge: PTE.

You re headed north now on the López Periférico.

toward the bridge. Eventually the road will parallel the railroad tracks.

8 421.8 (292.6) Look for sign to the international bridge: PTE. INTERNACIONAL II and turn left at the intersection. You re headed north now on the López Periférico. 4:34 pm You ll go beneath an overpass and merge into Libramiento Sur heading toward the bridge. Eventually the road will parallel the railroad tracks. Just keep following signs for PUENTE INTERNACIONAL / EAGLE PASS. 4:35 pm Straight ahead following sign to PUERTO FRONTERIZO. Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 8 of 9 Version 1.1

4:35 pm Follow sign to toll booth for international bridge, CASETA DE COBRO / CAPUFE 427.4 (298.2) Bear right at sign for EAGLE PASS / PUENTE INTERNACIONAL.

We ve typically had to wait only 5 minutes or so to clear immigration. Once in Eagle Pass, we take U.S.

9 4:35 pm Follow sign to toll booth for international bridge, CASETA DE COBRO / CAPUFE (298.2) Bear right at sign for EAGLE PASS / PUENTE INTERNACIONAL. Pay $24 peso toll and cross the bridge. Welcome to the U.S. Lock your car doors; you re in a dangerous country now. 4:45 pm Clear U.S. Immigration and Customs on the other side of the bridge. We ve typically had to wait only 5 minutes or so to clear immigration. Once in Eagle Pass, we take U.S. 277 north to Del Rio, get some BBQ at Rudy s in Del Rio, and then head up Hwy 277 to Sonora, Texas and I-10. Version 1.0, May 24, Version 1.1 June 12, 2011 minor edits, added Google map overviews and links. Send corrections to mark.emmer0101 at gmail dot com. Matehuala to Piedras Negras Page 9 of 9 Version 1.1

Pátzcuaro to Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass Part 1

Pátzcuaro to Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass Part 1 Note 1: Northbound trip departure May 9, 2011. Approximate drive time 15 hours with overnight stop in Matehuala. Mileage is approximate and will vary based