Are You Paying Too Much for Health Care? Not if you live at Lake Chapala Ajijic You’re Not!

Hi Again Terry,

I’ve found a great route for your trip here from Nogales.

My brother in law who lives in LAs Vegas put me on to this route. He says it’s easy driving on toll roads and easy to follow.

He says the tolls run around the $90 USD (pay in pesos)

Entering Mexico at Nogales you continue South on Mexican Highway 15 which appears to be a Toll Road on my map.

It appears that you will stay with Mex. 15 all the way to Guadalajara.

You’ll pass by or through the Mexican towns/cities in this order:

Santa Anna, Magdalena, Hermosillo, Guaymas, Ciudad Obregon. Navojoa, Los Mochis. Guasave, Culican (by passit) and soon you’ll see the Pacific Ocean on your right and on to Mazatlan.

Stay with Mex. Highway 15 to Tepic and on to Guadalajara.

I think it will be at least a two day drive and possibly two and a half or three. Best to not hurry. The mileage chart I found shows that it’s 1,053 miles from Nogales to Guadalajara and about another 30 miles to Chapala.

I found these notes on another blog:

“Southbound, you can get your temporary vehicle importation permit either at the Km 21 checkpoint just south of Nogales, or at the Km 98 checkpoint south of Empalme on Hwy 15.”

Also this quote about turning in your car import sticker on the way out of Mexico. This is important. YOU MUST TURN IT IN or face big problemes if you ever drive back into Mexico.

“At Nogales, the temporary vehicle importation permit can only be turned in at a small office directly opposite the Km 21 checkpoint south of Nogales. The diversion from the northbound lanes of Hwy 15 is well signed, so it’s hard to miss.

The facility at the Km 98 checkpoint south of Empalme only issues the vehicle permits. You cannot return the permit there. In fact, there is no way to (legally) drive your vehicle across the median to get to the checkpoint facility from the northbound lanes of Hwy 15. This facility is operated by Banjercito who processes the paperwork, takes your money, and issues the permits on behalf of Aduana Mexico (Mexican Customs). There is no actual Aduana office at the Km 98 checkpoint.”

Dogs and Hotels in Mexico:

I’ve helped clients bring in a total of 10 dogs. Here’s the rule we followed with success. Don’t ask… Don’t tell.

Why, because the clerk may not know what the hotel owner’s policy is. He will be afraid to OK it since Mexicans have very strict chains of authority and push decision making up the chain.

We always park off to one side out of site, enter the hotel, secure a room asking for one in the back away from the noise.

Then, we drive the route to the rear room hoping the clerk doesn’t spot us.

The hotel is likely to have a tile floor and it’s hard for a pet to do any real damage.

If you’re challenged (never has happened to me) offer to pay a pet deposit. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Terry, Give me a shout when you arrive at Lake Chapala.
You can pick my brain all about life here at LAke Chapala and I can pick your’s about you trip.

I’ll be taking the same route in March en route to Vegas.

All for now, Siempre tu amigo, Sid