DRIVING IN MEXICO/BUS/AIRPORT Traveling in Mexico can be interesting but fun. I would highly recommend driving during the daylight hours due to the lack of yellow dividers on the road, poor lighting, huge potholes, and loose livestock can make driving at night very dangerous. Random acts have occured at night when a vehicle has broken down. Vehicles with hazard lights flashing means to use caution a wreck most likley has occured up ahead. For vehicles in front of you with a blinker flashing can indicate they are turning or an invitation to pass them, use caution. From Hidalgo to Colombia Bridge-Destination U.S.A From the split on Hwy 53 located at the Pemex station in Hidalgo, drive for approx 12 miles till you see the Hwy 40 bridge, continue under the bridge and turn left onto Hwy 40 pay approx 10-12 pesos at the toll booth. Continue for about 3.5 miles, you will see a sign that reads NVO. Laredo 187 KM take that exit and make a right hand loop onto HWY 85. You will see signs up ahead that read Libre (free) and Cuota (charge) I would suggest the Cuota, this road will ver to your left for appox 50 miles till you have to pay $167.00 pesos-$17.00 U.S dollars, charges can vary from time to time (charges will be listed) At this location you can eat and refuel if needed. I always make an effort to eat at El Rancho the food is excellent as well as the atmosphere. From the toll way to the Aduana De Nuevo Laredo check point is approx 60 miles. I would have all occupants of the vehicle prepare to show their visa, the driver will need the paper which had the hologram on hand. From the Aduana Migration check point to the turn off is 1 mile. Continue past the check point till you see the red radio towers on the right hand side of the road and a sign by the bridge-exit that reads Puente inter INT.III Colombia, at this point exit and ver left onto the loop of the bridge heading west and then south for approx 20 miles. At the end of the 20 miles you will see signs that read Piederas Negras 2 and signs that will direct you to the Colombia bridge, from the left hand turn to the colombia bridge is 14 miles. Make sure you have $20.00 pesos for the Mexican bridge fee. U.S.A BUS TRANSPORTATION: A one way trip from Austin, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico will cost $41.00 Grey Hound 512-458-4463 916 E. Koenig Ln. Austin, Texas AIRPORT The Monterrey Airport is loctaed approx 30-40 min from El Potrero Chico. Most of the camping and cabana services have Airport pick ups. You can also get a taxi ride to Hidalgo cost ranges between $45-$50 U.S dollars. Take Hwy 53 west to Abasolo-"Hidalgo"-Mina-Monclova, in the state of Nuevo Leon-Parque El Potrero Chico. PRINT FOR THE TAXI DRIVER Como llego al parque , El Potrero Chico en Hidalgo Mexico? Vaya hacia la careterra norte 85 para Laredo, despues coja hacia la carretera este 53 para Abasolo-("Hidalgo")-Mina-Monclova en el Estado de Nuevo Leon.	Colombia Solidary Bridge Customs Open Monday-Sunday 8AM-11PM ENTERING MEXICO If you are going across the Laredo border for a day of shopping and not driving your vehicle, you will need a driver's license or ID. To enter the interior with a vehicle you will need. *Keep in mind that all this info has to be in your name. 1) Driver's License, and one of these passport is (Best) original birth certificate, or voters registration card 2) Vehicle insurance card 3) Registration renewal receipt 4) Original vehicle title or duplicate of original title. the driver MUST own the car or have written permission to enter Mexico from lien holder 5) A major credit card with (owner of the Vehicle) on card 6)*Mexican insurance from AAA www.aaa.com FEES These fees apply at the Colombia Solidary Bridge $23.00 U.S dollars for a 6 month tourist visa. If your stay is 7 days or less the tourist visa is free. $2.00 for copies of the information above $24.00 U.S dollars will be charged to you credit card for a vehicle import permit. You will have to pay this fee by credit card. You will receive a Hologram that will be placed on the inside window of your vehicle this allows entry for six months. When the six months expires you will need to keep the hologram and the green paper that says ADMINISTRATION GENERAL DE ADUANAS PERMISO DE IMPORTACION TEMPORAL DE VEHICULOS. It is very !!!! important that you keep these two pieces of documentation together when returning back to Mexico with or without the same vehicle. *MEXICAN INSURANCE is not mandatory but if you get into a wreck in Mexico it can become mandatory quick!!! Not having insurance could result in many problemas with the possiblity of going to jail. It's worth having the (AAA Mexican insurance) it gives you security. The insurance pays for collisions, theft, medical, and bail. If your vehicle breaks down the insurance will pay for towing and hotel for up to three nights. The cost of the vehicle insurance will depend on the blue book price of your truck or car. If your vehicle is worth $20,000 opposed to $5,000 then your insurance will be less, plus the more days you get, less the cost per day. Most large cities that border Mexico have triple AAA insurance WWW.AAA.COM
Autopista (Toll Road) Cuota-to Charge vs Libre-Free Driving in Mexico can be fun or stressful. It's nothing like the states, in most large cities the flow of traffic is always at a constant flow. "Mexicans love their horns and jalapenos" I have found the libre (free) to be ruff on the vehicle due to potholes and 18-wheelers trying to pass each other. The Autopista Hwy 85 cuota (to charge) can be costly $17.00-$22.00 U.S dollars, it's worth every penny. The toll road will save you time, wear and tear on your vehicle. The autopista provides clean roads and road side assistance we needed.
DRIVING FROM AUSTIN, TX TO MEXICO-VIA TOLL ROAD (Best Route) Take I-35 south through San Antonio heading to Laredo,TX. The toll road will keep you out of Laredo, Texas. At mile marker 133 outside of San Antonio you can get some last minute items at a large HEB grocery store. From HEB get back onto I-35 south heading towards Encinal. You will see a LOVES gas station on the east side of I-35 at mile marker (40) this will be your last stop for food and fuel before the border. They have a Subway sandwich shop and Fried chicken. From the LOVES it's 15 miles to a large sign that reads Colombia Solidary International Bridge-toll road (Opens at 8AM) Take Exit 24 to the stop sign, take a right and go straight for 18 miles till you get to the toll booth where you will pay $3.00 for Cars. From there head straight for another 3 miles to a four way stop, go across drive up to the U.S border station and pay a $2.00 border fee and proceed to the photo above. (UPDATE: IF TOLL ROAD IS CLOSED READ BELOW FOR ALTERNATE INFO) LAREDO MEXICAN VEHICLE INSURANCE-ALTERNATE WAY TO SOLIDARY BRIDGE Website: www.aaa.com Also has Mexican Insurance Sanborns Insurance 2212 Santa Ursula (IH-35,EXIT 1-B) Laredo, TX 78040-3122 Ph. (956) 723-3657 FAX (956) 723-0000 M-F: 8:00-5:30; SAT: 8:00-2:00 www.sanbornsinsurance.com Website: www.bravoinsurance.biz E-mail: info@bravoinsurance.biz THE LAREDO BRIDGE IS OPEN 24/7. Cross bridge #2 as you cross the bridge you will see the permit station on the right, it's white and very large. Take a writing pen in with you. If you head back to mile marker 7 and look for (exit 4) while exiting you will see a white water tower that says Laredo gateway to Mexico on the right hand access of I-35. From the water tower, cross the railroad tracks and head west for about 20 miles. THIS ROAD WILL TAKE YOU to the SOLIDARY BRIDGE (Bridge opens at 8AM) This will be your last stop for gas, drink, and food. U.S toll road cost Cars $3.00 2 Axle Trucks $4.00 Each add'l Axle $4.00 U.S Bridge fee is $2.00 Mexican bridge fee $20.00 pesos on return to U.S.A	Mex 2 Monterrey take a left I MADE IT ACROSS THE BORDER WHICH WAY Once you get all of you paper work done, drive on through the check point at the customs center. A guard will ask you some questions you have guns or ammo. You will then proceed through, if you get a red light you will be searched. You will encounter another check point on Hwy 85, same thing goes. To get to Hwy 85 proceed to the Pemex station just past customs, take Mex 2 east for approx 15 miles till you see a sign Mex 2 Monterrey. From this point it's 20 miles till you see a sign with an arrow Monterrey 85, turn right go for 1 mile to a check point. From the check point to the toll station is approx 60 miles. At the toll station you will pay between $17.00-$22.00 U.S. Just past the toll way is a resturant El Rancho "excellent food" and clean restrooms. A Pemex station is also located next to the restaurant. From the toll way station to the airport is 51 miles, from the edge of the airport to your turn off is another 2 miles, follow the center block wall next to the airport stay in your right hand lane till you see a sign Saltillo 40 turn right. Go for about 3.5 miles and exit at Monclova 53 pay 15 pesos at the small toll booth proceed to the stop sign take a right go for another 13 miles till you see a sign pop 21,476 you will see a Pemex station up ahead, the road splits, ver left of the Pemex station past some speed bumps. The road will circle around to your left past the Bital bank, I would suggest exchanging your money here. Take the road up a small hill past some railroad tracks. Follow the main road to the cemet factory, the road will tee take a left then a quick right, at the stop sign take a left go straight for about 1.5 miles up hill ver to your right for about 80 ft then back left. Head straight till you see a large cement sign on your right with a climber, take a right then left to Homeros ranch house La Quinta Graciela.
Hwy 85 towards Saltillo 40 As you approach the end of the airport on Hwy 85 stay in your right hand lane follow the center block wall till you get to this location and turn right. Drive for approx 3.5 miles until you see a sign that reads Monterrey Monclova 53-ver right to the toll booth for a fee of $10-$15.00 pesos-$1.50 U.S From the toll booth you will see a stop sign turn right and drive for approx 12 miles. See photo below (Pemex)
At this point ver left of the Pemex station, proceed over the speed bumps till you make a loop to your left in front of the Bital bank. You can exchange your money into pesos at the Bital. You will see green signs that guide you to El Potrero Chico.	From this point ver right and then left for about 1 mile you will see a sign on your right La Quinta Graciela-Homeros, camp 4 of El Potrero Chico. Bital Bank Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00-19:00 Sat-8:00-15:00