OK straight dopers, settle this one for me. Going to Mexico in Feb. and I want to get a rental car to drive from Cancun down the Yucatan coast. Sounds like fun, easier to access places, more freedom, etc. Significant other says it’s “foolish”. Outlaws, intentional wrecks, unscrupulous rentals, etc.
Your collective wisdom is invited, as well as really scary stories.
A friend of mine (not a friend of a friend! This is someone I’ve spoken to first-hand, and I’ve seen the pictures of her trip) drove with her fiance from Southern California to Costa Rica. No problems. I think the “dangers” of driving in Mexico are much overrated. Probably not more dangerous than driving across the USA. It probably would help if you knew some basic spanish.
I took a truck from San Diego to a tiny town about halfway down the Baja Penninsula once. It was about a 12 hour drive. It wasn’t like driving in the US, but it wasn’t miserable, either. Within about 2 hours of San Diego, everything is fine and dandy. Once you get outside the tourist area, though, the roads get increasingly bad. Very narrow, lots of potholes, and hairpin turns with large trucks bearing down on you. The potholes are immense. You really have to watch for them or you can do real damage to your car. Did I mention the potholes? They’re bad.
In the region I was in, you had to watch for gas stations, too. It was largely unpopulated, and if you missed a gas station you risked getting caught with an empty tank.
Couple of issues here. First, YOUR AMERICAN INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER YOU IN MEXICO!!!
Did I say that loudly enough? Repeat: Even if you have your very own insurance policy, it WILL NOT cover you in Mexico. Therefore MAKE CERTAIN that you purchase the insurance option from the rental car company. And/or talk to your insurance agent to get an endorsement that will be recognized in Mexico.
This is especially important because THEY ARREST YOU IF YOU HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT IN MEXICO! It’s considered some kind of a crime – I have no idea why. But it does happen all the time. Be prepared to bribe the local officials if it happens. (Geez, did I really say that??)
Other than that – have fun!
-Melin
You may be arrested in the case of an accident, with your personal freedom as a form of surety against any liabilities you may incur by reason of the accident. It is very common for people to leave the scene of an accident or to skip bond, so they keep you in custody until the claimant is satisfied that the damages will be covered.
Most auto insurance policies include a “legal assistance” rider, which basically is a lawyer who will post a bail bond or otherwise keep you out of jail by evidencing that your liabilities are covered by the policy.
I think that Mexican authorities will not recognize any policy not issued in Mexico… even if your U.S. policy has a Mexico endorsement, third-party liabilities must be covered by a local policy. There are several agencies in the U.S. that will sell you Mexican insurance. But in any case if you are renting a vehicle just make sure that any insurance you purchase covers your own personal liability in the event of an accident or force majeure.
As for the roads, the toll roads are very good, but expensive. To see the sights however, you’d want to stay on the free roads. These can be terribly treacherous, especially at night, due to potholes and unexpected turns and drops as mentioned, as well as trucks and buses that either invade oncoming traffic, can’t make the grade, or pass in what should be no-passing zones.
Highway robberies are somewhat of a concern but mostly at night in remote areas.
There may be several inspection checkpoints along the road… if you are stopped just stay calm and be respectful. And DON’T carry anything in your vehicle that would give rise to police action, such as drugs or looted archeological treasures and the like.
It is unlikely that you will be compelled to offer a bribe, unless you are actually in an accident. Let the legal assistance lawyer take care of it. He may eventually tell you that you need to buy your way out, but in general I’d say people take bribes because people give bribes. If your papers are in order, you most likely will not have any reason to enter the rent-taking economy.
I checked the official Mexican security site. Even though the gov’t. is aware of “non-official police requesting money from travelers” and is fighting it, their official line is: pay up and move on. I guess it’ll be to my advantage to look non-affluent; hey I’m VERY good at that already. :rolleyes:
Before you go, you should call the Mexican Consulate to check what documents and such you will need. Mexico passed a whole slew of laws that went into effect January 1. Some of these are on hold until they decide what economic impact they will have, but others are being enforced. Better to get it straight from the source rather than rely on my faulty memory of something I didn’t care too much about.
These are the ones I recall that you might want to ask about:
B. To cross the border you must purchase a crossing card, you must have a passport to purchace the card (On hold now, for some reason the merchants in the border towns like Tijuan and Juarez howled bloody murder, but it has not been officially repealed so they could start enforcing it at any time.)
“You can be smart or pleasant. For years I was smart.
I recommend pleasant.”
Elwood P. Dowd
My understanding is that an official copy (i.e. raised seal) of a birth cert. and picture ID (license) will suffice. Yet to be named taxes, fees, and add-ons will crop up I’m sure.
Also, I’m rentin’ the car from a US based co. (Dollar, I think) and I’ll bet they’ll let me know what’s needed to protect their investment.
In response to PUNdit’s post:
A: Persons entering Mexico by land crossing have pretty much free roam of the border area, namely 26 km in from the border and all of the Baja peninsula. There are immigration and customs checkpoints to enter the interior of Mexico beyond that point, and you will need proper immigration documentation. You also need the visa if you enter by air or sea.
2.- Since last year a tourist visa, which used to be free of charge, costs $15. I believe that you only need the document when you are entering beyond the free zone.
(Gamma) If you are driving a U.S.-registered car into Mexico, you need to obtain a temporary entry permit at the customs office at the border area of entry. You will either have to leave a cash deposit corresponding to the value of the car (value determined according to a table published by the Mexican customs authority, based on vehicle type and model year) or purchase a bond policy with a credit card charge of $15. When you exit Mexico you need to stop back in the customs office, and they will either cancel the bond or refund the deposit. The plan to require a cash deposit or credit card debit of up to $800 was scrapped.
Also note: Some rental car companies WILL NOT permit you to take their car South of the border due to the issues raised here.
Should we post bail for you now?
I would suggest that you read the book Road Fever by Tim Cahill. It cronicles a record breaking drive from Tierra Del Fuego up to Alaska. It is both funny and eye opening about what you can and should expect on the roads in Latin America.
See those stars over there? That is the Little Dipper. I’d show you the Big Dipper, but my zipper is stuck.
Yeah, Jinx, send a cashiers check for, oh about $1000 and if I don’t get in trouble I’ll return it. Promiso.
Long post ahead.
I’m assuming from the OP that you are flying into Cancun and renting the car there, so I guess you can ignore all the posts about border crossings. I have been to Cancun several times; if you’ve never been there before, you’re in for a real treat. I have never rented a car or driven in Mexico, so I can’t address the OP specifically, but there seem to be many people who do rent cars and drive, so it can’t be that big of a problem. Just use your common sense. I’d make sure you’ve got good maps before you leave The States and then ask the rental agent about any construction or road problems along the routes you’d like to drive.
Below is UncleBeer’s standard Cancun advice, presented here free of charge. There are an awful lot of things to do in Cancun and plenty of regularly scheduled side trips available; you may find no need to drive once you get there.
You will need a valid U.S. driver’s license and a certified copy of your birth certificate, however a passport is better. Some of the banks will accept only a passport when cashing traveler’s checks. Don’t let that worry you though.
Nearly all businesses will take your American dollars and there are plenty of currency exchange huts around. Keep looking until you find the best rate and then exchange a few hundred dollars at once. If you buy something with dollars, make sure you ask the exchange rate first; often this is negotiable, especially at private vendors. With the exception of bars and restaurants, almost all prices are negotiable; don’t be afraid to haggle.
The public transportation (busses) run on no set schedule, but they go by, in the Zona Hotelera, about every two minutes, no joke. They’ll stop almost anywhere; all you have to do is get near a designated bus stop, jump in the road and raise your hand. They will also let you off anywhere you want; just stand up and yell’ “Alto, Senor.” The busses are very cheap, I think they were 3 pesos last time I was there, or about 40 cents. Taxis abound, but tell the driver where you’re going and get a price before you get in the cab, cab rides are also pretty reasonable.
There are over 300 restaurants within walking distance, if you are staying in the Zona Hotelera. All kind of price ranges. Not surprisingly, seafood is plentiful. Not to mention several beautiful shopping malls and a shitload of bars, nightclubs and not a few outdoor markets. There are also dozens, maybe hundreds of tours and sightseeing packages you may purchase. Shop around and compare; it really pays to be an informed consumer in Cancun.
Nearly every native you meet in Cancun speaks several languages. I have run into waiters and bartenders that speak Spanish, obviously, English, German, Japanese and Dutch. You will have no trouble making yourself understood, at least in the city. Out in the country, should you decide to drive there will be a different story.
The sun is intense. Make sure you take plenty of sunscreen, in several different SPF’s. If you have the white, flabby fishbelly like mine and want to spend any amount of time lounging on the beach or by the pool use a number 24 or higher for the first couple of days. Take along at least one good pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap or other head covering, too.
The island itself is absolutely gorgeous and completely spotless. In addition, it is extremely safe. The authorities and business owners have great incentive to keep that way; nearly 25% of Mexico’s hard cash enters the country though Cancun. I won’t say crime doesn’t exist, but again, use your common sense, much like you would in any large crowd. The greatest annoyance you’ll find will be the evil timeshare salesmen; these guys are ubiquitous and aggressive. If anyone offers you a free sightseeing tour or breakfast or something like that, just ignore them, or give them a quick, “No thanks,” and keep moving. If you stop to talk to these guys, you’ll have a hard time getting away from them.
The water and ice from nearly any place you’d eat or drink is probably safe, but I always drink bottled water. Obviously, stay away from the street taco vendors though. I would also stay away from leafy vegetables, any fruit that doesn’t have a rind or skin you can peel off and anything that lays on the ground while growing. If you do head into the backcountry for any extended period, you’re going to have to consider what food you’ll be eating. You might want to consider getting a Lomotil prescription from your doctor before you leave The States. A good case of Montezuma’s could ruin the whole trip.
I highly recommend Cancun for anyone looking for a great and relatively cheap vacation. It’s a hedonist’s paradise. If you want some specific restaurant, bar or tour recommendations, I’d be happy to post them here. I will highly recommend one place now though, Iguana Wanna. It’s great for breakfast, lunch, an afternoon alcoholic beverage or even as a nightspot.
I guess that’s enough for now. Enjoy yourselves and smoke a Cuban cigar for me.
“Your posting style resembles a cross between a spastic squirrel and one-handed ventriloquist.”
–Mullinator, paraphrased–
Here’s a couple more little tidbits about the restaurants in Cancun.
Tipping practices are much like they are here in the states. 15% is considered standard, although the service and hospitality you will receive is exceptional. I have found very few restaurants in the U.S. where the service approaches anything like what you’ll experience in Mexico. Even the smallest and cheapest places will do everything in their power to accommodate you.
And once you receive a table, it’s your’s for the night, if you choose. When you are ready to leave you’ll have to ask for the check; unlike here, where restaurants and bars try to turn over table quickly. It just seem to be a cultural thing; everyone refuses to be intimidated by time.
Thanks for the info Uncle! I’ll begin in Cancun and motor down to Akumal. Sapphire seas, balmy temps., ceveza on la playa…mmmm. I’l have the first one in your honor!
Germ Boy
Uncle Beer summed up Cancun pretty much right on the money. I have been there myself and have driven there also (at the ripe age of 17 no less). I can say this in the town god help you. I did not find that pleasant at all. People zooming all over the place and using the horn instead of turn signals. Once you get out of town it lightens up and is an easy drive. You’ll have fun I did!