Street Journeys in Mexico: The Greatest Routes

Serious about taking a number of roads journey in Mexico? There’s no higher approach to fall in love with a spot than heading on a highway journey and driving the route your self.

Should you’ve by no means been to Mexico earlier than, it’s possible you’ll be questioning if it’s protected to drive in Mexico. We spent six months touring throughout all of Mexico from Baja California to the Yucatán Peninsula and had an exquisite time on our journey!

It’s a lot safer to journey in Mexico than most individuals anticipate, however there are some issues to bear in mind to have a protected and pleasant time.

In terms of planning out your excellent Mexico highway journey itinerary, now we have you coated! On this publish, we share a few of the finest routes for highway journeys in Mexico.

See additionally: Ideas for Planning the Final Journey to Mexico

Street journeys in Mexico: The most effective routes to discover

Baja California

The Baja California Peninsula spans 760 miles from Tijuana all the way down to Cabo San Lucas. Dwelling in Southern California, I’ve traveled to Baja California on a number of events, together with spending a number of weeks driving throughout all the peninsula.

Baja California is a well-liked area to go to within the winter when the climate begins getting colder within the US and Canada.

There may be loads of floor to cowl in Baja California so I like to recommend setting apart two weeks in the event you plan to drive all the route. Should you’re quick on time, focus your journey planning on sure areas like northern Baja or southern Baja.

See additionally: The place to Cease Alongside a California Coast Street Journey

Listed here are a few of the high locations to go to at Baja California:

Valle De Guadalupe

Valle De Guadalupe is commonly referred to as the ‘Napa’ of Mexico. This area produces 90% of the wine bought in all of Mexico and is finest recognized for upscale, boutique resorts and wine-tasting.

See additionally: Guadalupe Canyon: A Sizzling Spring Oasis in Mexico

Ensenada

Ensenada is a well-liked getaway vacation spot for Southern California locals. That is additionally a stopover on the 3-day cruise from Lengthy Seashore that I’ve taken a number of occasions. Prime points of interest in Ensenada embrace the oceanfront La Bufadora, off-roading adventures, and native markets the place you may get superb offers on handcrafted items.

Todos Santos

Todos Santos is a hidden little gem that many individuals don’t learn about. On this small, however welcoming city guests can get pleasure from browsing, yoga retreats, galleries, and rest at laid-back boutique resorts.

La Paz

La Paz was certainly one of my favourite stops alongside our Baja California highway journey. Right here guests can spend the day lounging at Playa Balandra which is known for its blue, clear water.

Cabo San Lucas

Whereas Cabo San Lucas has a popularity for being a ‘Celebration City’, there’s a lot extra to this metropolis than nightclubs and bars! Cabo is house to distinctive pure rock formations comparable to The Arch of Cabo San Lucas, together with beautiful white sand seashores and enjoyable outside adventures.

Learn the full Baja California itinerary on FunLifeCrisis.com!

Yucatán Peninsula

For a relaxed Mexico highway journey, begin with Cancún after which head south alongside the 200-mile shoreline towards Bacalar. Your entire Yucatán coast is so attractive that you just’re certain to have a good time!

Try the ruins in Tulum, discover underground cenotes, and keep in top-rated resorts alongside the best way.

See additionally: The place to Keep in Tulum: Funds Beachfront Lodging

Listed here are a few of the finest areas to go to on the Yucatán Peninsula:

Cancún

Cancún is likely one of the hottest trip locations in Mexico and the start line for these heading on highway journeys within the Yucatán and Quintana Roo states. From Cancún, you may as well hop on a ferry over to the tropical Isla Mujeres Island which is understood for world-class snorkeling and scuba diving.

See additionally: Cancun Historic Sights and Points of interest

Playa Del Carmen

Should you’ve acquired time, I like to recommend stopping at Playa Del Carmen whereas driving between Cancún and Tulum. Playa Del Carmen is a relaxed coastal resort city that has a popularity for having world-class seashores and superb coral reefs full of colourful fish.

Tulum

In terms of Tulum, individuals both adore it or hate it. We spent a number of days visiting Tulum on our Yucatan highway journey and actually loved our time right here. However this metropolis is a bit commercialized so it’s not as genuine as visiting different locations in Mexico.

Tulum is finest recognized for boutique resorts, top-rated eating places, eclectic retailers, beachfront bars, and the historic Tulum Archaeological Zone.

See additionally: Causes to Journey To Tulum, Mexico

Bacalar

Bacalar is a bit underneath the radar for worldwide guests, however it’s actually one of the vital attractive locations in Mexico. Bacalar will not be straightforward to achieve– it’s situated close to the Belize border, about 2.5 hours south of Tulum. But when you can also make it out right here, you’ll be amazed by Bacalar Lagoon which is understood for its mesmerizing turquoise hues.

Freeway 307

On the lookout for a Mexico highway journey route that’s a bit extra off the grid? Freeway 307 is likely one of the most rugged however lovely routes in Mexico that’s recognized for beautiful waterfalls, blue lakes, historic ruins, and turquoise rivers surrounded by a lush, dense jungle. The additional you’ll drive on this route, the extra you’ll fall in love with the pure surroundings right here!

Route 307 begins in San Cristobal de las Casas and travels down in direction of Guatemala in a loop earlier than ending in Palenque. Should you’re up for it, you’ll be able to even cross into Guatemala for a day or two earlier than persevering with your highway journey by way of Mexico.

Listed here are a few of the high locations to go to on the Freeway 307:

Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello

This Nationwide Park is likely one of the most lovely points of interest in Southern Mexico that’s located on the border with Guatemala. Right here you’ll be able to go to 59 lakes which can be recognized for his or her beautiful, deep blue colour.

At this location, you’ll be able to go on mountain climbing trails that overlook colourful lakes or join a ship tour that can take you to distant islands on the heart of those lakes. There are a number of essential lakes which you can go to right here with various facilities and accessibility.

Yaxchilán

Considered one of my favourite stops alongside route 307 was the Yaxchilán ruins which can be hidden deep within the jungle. You’ll be able to solely go to these historic Mayan ruins by signing up for a guided river tour that can take you to this distant location – e-book a tour here.

This complete journey will make you are feeling such as you’re in an Indiana Jones film! Throughout this tour, you’ll get to see crocodiles, howler monkeys, large lizards, and numerous hen species that reside within the jungle.

Agua Azul

The Agua Azul waterfall is likely one of the most attractive locations which you can go to in Mexico. This attraction consists of a shocking blue river, waterfalls, and swimming areas.

At this location, guests may also camp in a single day, seize meals at one of many many meals stalls and flick thru the memento stands. There are a number of breathtaking viewing platforms for having fun with views of this blue river and waterfalls.

Regularly requested questions on driving in Mexico

We hope this publish has impressed you to plan extra highway journeys in Mexico! Mexico is actually one of the vital lovely international locations in North America and an unimaginable place to go to in the event you get pleasure from distinctive outside adventures. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a seaside, jungle or mountain journey, Mexico has all of it!

Earlier than you head out in your journey, listed below are a number of often requested questions on security and driving in Mexico.

Is it protected to journey by highway in Mexico?

We spent 6 months touring in Mexico and for essentially the most half, we felt protected throughout our journey. We tried to keep away from massive cities and caught to seaside or jungle locations that have been extra laid again and lots much less crowded.

Listed here are a number of ideas for driving in Mexico:

• Don’t drive at evening. It’s a lot safer to journey through the day for a lot of causes. The roads in Mexico will not be within the biggest circumstances so driving at evening places you liable to hitting a pothole, topes (pace bumps), or getting caught within the sand (which occurred to us on a number of events).
• Make a copy of your driver’s license, passport, automotive insurance coverage, and automotive registration saved on a cloud in case they get misplaced or stolen.
• Pay for toll roads as an alternative of taking the free roads. Sure, it will likely be so price it! The toll roads are in significantly better form and are sooner than the free variations.
• Get native insurance coverage. It’s required to have native Mexico insurance coverage in the event you plan to drive there which you’ll be able to simply get on-line.

See additionally: Causes to Plan a Trip to Mexico

Is driving in Mexico tough?

Whereas driving in Mexico will not be as harmful as it’s possible you’ll assume, it’s nonetheless very tough, particularly in the event you’re overlaying loads of floor in a brief period of time.

The toughest half about driving in Mexico is that it’s essential continuously take note of the environment as a result of there’s at all times lots happening. Even in the event you observe all of the driving guidelines and legal guidelines, it doesn’t imply others will. It’s a little bit of a ‘wild west’ relating to driving so most worldwide guests really feel intimidated to drive there themselves.

Whereas driving in Mexico, others will minimize you off, honk, and pace round you. You have to to be careful for bikes, bikers, children operating on the road, individuals crossing with out discover, animals, canine, cats, chickens… you identify it. Evidently, driving in Mexico takes loads of power so we at all times choose to journey slowly and benefit from the drive whereas taking within the unimaginable highway journeys in Mexico.