Driving Instructions from Laredo to Ajijic

By Teresa A. Kendrick,
author of "Mexico's Lake Chapala and Ajijic: The Insider's Guide."
The only intensive guidebook in any language to cover this region of Mexico.

Leaving Laredo

Crossing at International Bridge #2: Follow the signs for I-35 South until you see the signs for International Bridge #2. Pull into one of the lanes and pay a $2.00 US bridge toll. Cross the short bridge that spans the Rio Grande and places you into Mexico. Set your odometer to 0.

Mile 0: You’ll immediately see a sign that says “Tourists to Mexico Must Turn Right.” Look above you and to the right for lane signs that say Nothing to Declare, Declarations, Revision, (Inspections). To the right you’ll see several inspection bays. This is the border Aduana or Customs office. Pull in if you need to pay duties. If you are bringing into Mexico anything more than $50US of new items you need to declare their total value. Next to it is Migración, (immigration), where you’ll get your visa or have your FM-2 or 3 stamped and a Bancomer office. If you need to get a car inspection sticker, and have not done so beforehand at the Colombia International Bridge, look for a sign pointing left that shows the way to that office.

Mile 2.6: After leaving the Aduana and Migración offices drive into Nuevo Laredo. Turn right at the first sign that says Monterrey. Turn left at the next Monterrey sign. This puts you onto Reforma. Continue to follow signs that say Monterrey, Reynosa (Mex 85) until you are on a divided, two-lane highway. You’ll see a sign that says Monterrey 213 K.

Mile 16: Move to the right lanes as you approach the checkpoint for cars and pick-up trucks. Have your vehicle importation papers and your immigration papers ready to present to Aduana officials.

Mile 46.9: Move left to take the cuota (toll road) to Monterrey.

Mile 74.3: Toll booth.

Mile 100: Begin to watch for large, green and white highways signs for Mexico and Saltillo. Saltillo is the next big city as you head south. “Mexico” is shorthand for Mexico City. You won’t be going all the way there, but you will share those highways until you reach the outskirts of Guadalajara.

Mile 125.3: Exit right toward Mexico and Saltillo on 40D. This is a bypass around Monterrey.

Mile 135.3: Toll booth.

Mile 144.2: Keep right to bypass Saltillo.

Mile 161.1: Begin to watch for signs to Matehuala. You want to take the Matehuala Cuota, 57D, the new bypass that skirts the city. You’ll soon see a mileage sign that says Matehuala 257 K.

Mile 170: Exit left to Matehuala via the cuota (toll road).

Mile 174.8: Toll booth.

Mile 186.3: Look left for a glimpse of the recently completed Tunel del Chorro.

Mile 191.4: Continue to follow signs to Mexico-Matehuala.

Mile 205.5: Toll booth.

Mile 248.3: See sign that says Matehuala 128 K. and another that says San Luís Potosí 315 K. San Luís Potosí is sometimes abbreviated as S.L.P.

Mile 316.0: See sign for “Mex 57D, San Luís Potosí via Corta.” You are approaching the bypass around Matehuala.

Mile 326.4: Toll booth. Begin following signs to San Luís Potosí, Mex 57.

*If you plan to stay in Matehuala you have two chances to exit the bypass after the toll booth. You can clearly see the main drag of Matehuala to your right.

Editor’s Note: You may be tempted, if you are navigating this trip and looking at a map of this area, to follow a different route. Route 54 appears to be a straight shot from Matehuala to Guadalajara. What the map doesn’t show you is that Route 54 is a two lane road without shoulders which becomes very mountainous about 250 miles north of Guadalajara. It is loaded with switchbacks and double-long tractor-trailer trucks. It dumps you on the periferico on the far northeast side of Guadalajara. Not recommended.

Mile 378.9: Slow down. The two-lane road you are on takes you over a dozen speed bumps and smack dab into the village of Huizache. Speed limit is 60 kph. This is the land of snake oil vendors.

Mile 387: Look for a mileage sign that says San Luís Potosí, 80 K.

Mile 408.5: Begin watching for signs for Mexico, San Luís Potosí, and Querétero.

Mile 425: See sign that says it is 5 K to the Guadalajara cuota.

Mile 427.6: Stay in the left lane to take Mex 57D/80 to Mexico and Guadalajara.

Mile 442.8: Toll booth. Follow signs that say Mex 80 to Lagos de Moreno. Highway signs will say Mex 57 Querétero, Mex 57 Mexico, Mex 80 Guadalajara, Mex 80 Lagos de Moreno. Enter an area of intense construction. Watch closely for signs.

Mile 449: Be sure to go straight in the lane marked Mex 57 Mexico-Mex 80 Guadalajara.

Mile 468.9: Toll booth. This routes you onto highway Mex 80 to Lagos de Moreno and Guadalajara.

Mile 497.9: Veer right under Guadalajara sign.

Mile 498.1: Stay in left lane under signs that say Mex 80 to Mexico and Lagos de Moreno. You are coming into more intense construction and areas of short detours (desviaciones). Dust kicked up by the gravel road creates near white-out conditions.

Mile 499: See first mileage sign to Guadalajara that says 291 K.

Mile 506.1: The road takes you into Ojuelos and is marked by a dozen or so speed bumps. This is the one of the trickiest parts of the trip.

Mile 509.9: See sign for turn off to Mex 80 to Guadalajara. Almost immediately turn right. You’ll see an Esso gas station sign as you turn right. This puts you onto another 2-lane road, Mex 80. You’ll see a mileage sign that says Guadalajara 260 K.

Mile 511.6: Toll booth. Go straight out of those toll booths under signs that say Lagos de Moreno and Guadalajara.

Mile 513.5: Trickiest part of trip! Stop sign. Don’t miss this turn to the right to Guadalajara. After turning you’ll see a mileage sign that says Guadalajara 262 K.

Mile 555.9: See sign for Mex 80 to Guadalajara.

Mile 560.1: Railroad tracks. You are required to stop.

Mile 562.5: Turn right again onto Mex 80 again to Guadalajara. Breathe a sigh of relief. The road becomes a 4-lane divided highway.

Mile 565.9: Stay in the left lane under sign that says San Juan de los Lagos.

Mile 575.7: See sign for Guadalajara cuota, 7 K. Stay in right lane to pick up cuota.

Mile 570.3: Toll booth. Be in right lane under sign for Guadalajara-San Juan de los Lagos.

Mile 598.0: Toll booth at Jalostotitlan. Smile, you’re on prime toll road from here on out.

Mile 627.7: Toll booth at Zapotlenejo. See mileage sign afterwards that says Guadalajara 63 K. Highway signage becomes 15D to Guadalajara.

Mile 651: Last toll booth. Stay in the right-hand lane and begin to watch for highway signs for Chapala.

Mile 656: Exit to the right to Chapala onto the service road. Stay in the far left lane of the service road and follow Chapala signs to Lakeside.

Continue south on the Guadalajara/Chapala highway for approximately 40 minutes. You will soon pass through a small range of mountains and be rewarded with a spectacular view of Lake Chapala. Then you come to a highway exit sign reading AJIJIC JOCOTEPEC. If your destination is Ajijic, San Antonio Tlayacapán, or any of the villages west of Ajijic, take that exit and continue on the libramiento (bypass) road until you come to a stop light. Turn right at the light and continue approximately one half mile to Ajijic.

If your destination is the town of Chapala itself, do not take the AJIJIC JOCOTEPEC turnoff. Instead, continue south approximately one half mile until you come to the village of Chapala.

(These detailed notes were made in March 2006.)

The Trip North to Laredo from Ajijic

If you are reading this but want to make the trip north first to Laredo, reverse the instructions above. Normally I follow signs through Nuevo Laredo to cross via the International Bridge #2. (Just before you cross the bridge from Nuevo Laredo you have to pay a $2.00 US toll.) But taking Bridge #2 in late afternoon can mean excruciatingly long, hot waits in lines on the bridge.

Instead of crossing the border at International Bridge #2 in late afternoon, I highly suggest you use the Columbia Bridge. It’s a few more miles to travel but there is absolutely no one on the road, and no waiting, and no trip through the Mexican town of Nuevo Laredo.

Crossing the US Border via the Colombia Solidarity Bridge

Just outside Nuevo Laredo I saw the first sign for the Columbia bridge. I took the exit, curious to finally see the finished south side of the bridge. I’d been using the northern bridge for more than 7 years, but the south roadways had taken much longer to complete.

The sign to the crossing said 38 K. It was almost 3:00 p.m. I’d made the border in 12 hours. I took a long, lonely road to the bridge feeling the exhaustion of the day piling up. I finally turned right from the approach road to the well-marked bridge, paid a $2.00 US toll and approached the U.S. immigration and customs booth. Two officers asked me what my nationality was, where I lived and where I was going. I answered and they waved me on. There were no other cars and absolutely no wait, whatsoever.

If you need to turn in your sticker and or have your FM-2 stamped ask the US officers where you should do that.

It will be 20 miles or so back to Laredo and onto I-35.

Need to Spend the Night in Laredo?

There are several hotel chains in Laredo but my favorite is the Red Roof Inn. A room for one person runs $69.00 US plus tax. I always book a room online by going to http://www.redroof.com and putting Laredo, Texas in the destination window. The Red Rood Inns have recently upgraded their facilites and are clean, well-managed and offer internet connections in the rooms.

Planning to Do Business in Laredo?

If you need to register your car, buy U.S. car insurance, and get a current inspection sticker, plan that you arrive in Laredo during the week. If you roll in on a Saturday, you’ll have an extra day in a hotel before Monday morning arrives. One good strategy is to come in Sunday night and then be ready to do business on Monday.

Getting U.S. Auto Insurance

Direct Auto Insurance is a half block north of the Red Roof Inn on San Bernardo. If you did not buy U.S. insurance before you left, you’ll find Direct Auto to be a quick and cheap way to get liability insurance. They’ll sign you up on the spot for one month. I have a 2001 Jeep Cherokee and I paid a mere $45.00 US for a month policy. They are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Turn left from Red Roof’s parking lot onto Calton, left on San Bernardo and right a half block down the road where you see Direct Auto Insurance and the River City Donut House.

Updating Car Registration

If your car is registered in Texas and the registration has lapsed, first get car insurance and then head to Webb County Justice Center on Victoria to get a temporary registration plate for the back window. In this handsome building you’ll find the county clerk’s office toward the back of the building and a well-oiled, courteous bilingual staff ready to help you get what you want. I needed a month’s grace plate (you can get one for shorter amounts of time) until I could renew my registration in Travis county, where my car is officially registered. The plate cost $28.00 US and they needed to see my car insurance.

To get there: turn right out of the Red Roof Inn on Calton, left on Santa Maria heading south. Pass through lights at Lafayette, Jefferson, Garden, Gonzalez, Park, Sanchez, Scott, (go over railroad tracks) and Washington. At the next street, Victoria, turn left. You’ll see several blocks down on your left a large white building and just beyond that a large red brick building. The large red brick building is the Webb Country Justice Center. Park across the street in the City Hall parking area and enter the Justice Center. Walk to the back of the building and on your right you’ll see the door leading to the country clerk’s office.

Texas Vehicle Inspections

To drive a Texas-plated car legally in Texas, you’ll need the holy triumvirate of paperwork: U.S. Insurance, Registration, and a Current Inspection Sticker. The fastest inspection station is Rodriguez Auto Service. It displays a sign showing it as an Official State of Texas Auto Inspection station. The inspection and sticker cost $18.00 US.

With no other cars in front of me at 10 a.m. Monday morning, the attendant was finished in 5 minutes and a new sticker was plastered onto the window. Invariably someone will tell you that you can get inspections at Walmart, but they no longer do them.

Vehicle inspections can also be done at Pep Boys on the east side of I-35 but they are hopelessly slow and inefficient. How to get there: Go left out of Red Roof Inn parking lot, make a right on San Bernardo (also known as Business 35) to 804 San Bernardino. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Laredo in Your Rear View Mirror

Once you’ve completed your tasks in Laredo hop up onto the I-35 interstate and head north. Entrances are well marked and simple. About 28 miles north of Laredo you’ll be reminded that you are in border territory; a communications tower will herald a commercial truck inspection station on your right and all northbound commercial truck carriers are required to stop. Across the interstate in the southbound lanes you’ll see four roadside cameras that presumably record the license plates of all the traffic heading south.

US Immigration Checkpoint

Roughly 18 miles north of Laredo is the US immigration station. This humble looking metal government building is staffed by Immigration officers and drug- and gunpowder-sniffing dogs who efficiently circle your car while the officer asks about your nationality. You may be asked to show your passports and your animal’s health records, and asked if you are carrying any fruit. If you are asked to pull over into one of the inspection bays for a search, do so.

Texas Travel Information Center

Signs announcing the Texas Travel Information Center, Exit 18, will appear in the next several miles. This good-looking roadside facility is a great place to stop for restrooms, vending machine sodas, and heaps of brochures and maps about the Lone Star State.