DanteNXS Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 I was just wondering if anyone has driven from the US to Lake Chapala, and how safe it is? I am considering driving from Laredo, TX to Lake Chapala in June. Also, if anyone has a reliable contact for rental property in the area, please provide me their information. Thank you, Dante Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 Dante many thousands of folks make that drive monthly with no adverse consequences. You'll be fine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bowie Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 1 hour ago, DanteNXS said: I was just wondering if anyone has driven from the US to Lake Chapala, and how safe it is? I am considering driving from Laredo, TX to Lake Chapala in June. Also, if anyone has a reliable contact for rental property in the area, please provide me their information. Thank you, Dante What is your idea of safe? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVGRINGO Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 Be careful, as some of those drivers are old expats with poor vision, slow reactions, and a fear of hills and curves. Some are even afraid to stop to explore small towns, or visit a roadside restaurant, as they might be expected to be able to read a menu in Spanish, or even say 'hola', as etiquette requires in Mexico. Enjoy your trip, and stop to smell the roses. 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostlylost Posted March 13, 2022 Report Share Posted March 13, 2022 Stick to the toll roads, drive during daylight hours. Have Pesos for gas & tolls, plus any food stops. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgates Posted March 14, 2022 Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 Suggest crossing border at Columbia Bridge. Opens at 8 am. If you have a good GPS, you should make it to Ajijic in under 12 hrs. The route thru SLP and Lagos de Mareno is preferable to the route thru Zacatecas and Aguscaliente. There is an exit off the cuota on the north side of Monterrey to direct you to SLP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvanparys Posted March 14, 2022 Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 Agree on the Columbia crossing... Much faster and easier than Laredo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeser Posted March 14, 2022 Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 You will need about $100USD in MXN pesos for the toll roads Laredo to Chapala. There is a nice hotel HSP Hotel San Pedro in the center of the toll road with secure parking 5-6 hours south of Laredo. Do not drive at night on Mexico's highways. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostlylost Posted March 14, 2022 Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 9 hours ago, tomgates said: Suggest crossing border at Columbia Bridge. Opens at 8 am. If you have a good GPS, you should make it to Ajijic in under 12 hrs. The route thru SLP and Lagos de Mareno is preferable to the route thru Zacatecas and Aguscaliente. There is an exit off the cuota on the north side of Monterrey to direct you to SLP. That would assume one is overnighting north of Laredo. Crossing in Laredo going south takes the same amount of time as Columbia. From my hotel in Laredo to Chapala usually takes 11 hours. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostlylost Posted March 14, 2022 Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 Just now, geeser said: You will need about $100 in MXN pesos for the toll roads Laredo to Chapala. There is a nice hotel HSP Hotel San Pedro in the center of the toll road with secure parking 5-6 hours south of Laredo. Do not drive at night on Mexico's highways. Last trip my toll pass registered $1519 and rates have gone up since then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted March 14, 2022 Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 I agree. Going north is when the Colombia crossing makes a positive difference. South, not so much and for me not worth the extra driving out to the Colombia crossing. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostlylost Posted March 14, 2022 Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 3 minutes ago, RickS said: I agree. Going north is when the Colombia crossing makes a positive difference. South, not so much and for me not worth the extra driving out to the Colombia crossing. And the baches on the highway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyBee Posted March 15, 2022 Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 Check out the informador this morning. There is a video showing cars and trucks burning on the main road Laredo-Monterey. Also gun shots can be heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanteNXS Posted March 15, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 I am not sure what really happened, it looks like it was related to the crime boss that was captured. CJNG: Susana atestigua bloqueos en Colima durante cuatro horas (informador.mx) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeser Posted March 15, 2022 Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 This video is from State of Colima, not Nuevo Leon or Coahuila. Is there another video showing the Laredo/Monterrey highway. Generally these are on Hwy 57 the free road, not the toll road 57D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanteNXS Posted March 15, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 I searched the entire Informador website, but didn't see anything else related to traffic issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostlylost Posted March 15, 2022 Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 It was on the toll road. It happened in the middle of the night. Daytime traffic was not affected. Videos were on all the news casts. There was a similar occurrence on the toll road near Colima. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad_Max Posted March 16, 2022 Report Share Posted March 16, 2022 Here is a reasonable writeup on the recent Laredo incident https://www.borderreport.com/hot-topics/border-crime/violence-erupts-in-nuevo-laredo-mexico-after-drug-cartel-leaders-arrest/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanteNXS Posted March 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2022 Yes, that is pretty much the same information that I read. It appears to be an isolated incident 🤞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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