Typical Directioal Street Sign

This is a typical direction sign in the Yucatan just outside Merida. Notice "Centro" on the top sign indicating that is the way to the center of Merida.

Driving in the USA for most of us is by instinct and inbred from birth by watching our parents and peers drive us around for our first 16 years, granted it still takes some common sense even to drive there. In Mexico the fulcrum point slides a lot more towards common sense and a lot less toward instinct. Be consciously aware of everything around you and never stop for anything in remote or unfamiliar areas unless there are official emergency vehicles directing you to do so. There are many stretches of road that are unpatrolled and are simply ruled by the law of the land which means you are in their land so you will abide by their laws, legal or not. There have been reports of staged accidents with bodies on the side of the road, knowing you will stop…DON’T!!! Continue on your normal way and then contact legal authorities when you feel safe. These incidents are few and far between, I have been driving in Mexico for 50+years and have friends who have been driving here for over 50 years as well and none of us have ever seen one. Mexican newspapers have a tendency to sensationalize all the stories and they love to print graphically violent photos.   

How to get to your particular destination and the route you should take, entirely your choice, if you feel a little uncomfortable in a foreign country I would suggest staying on major Federal highways if your funds can stand the exorbitant tolls. I will not direct you to take any specific route,  you may want to take a coastal route, you may want to go through the mountains, you may want to drive down Baja and take a ferry across the Sea of Cortez, you may want to avoid major cities and congestion, you may want to stop in all major cities, you may want to visit archeological sites and ruins, you may want to hit resorts all the way down, you may want to make a two week trip out of getting here or you may want to drive 16 hours a day and get here as fast as possible. Each of you has your own agenda and travel desires and to all I wish you a wonderful trip. What I strongly suggest is, don’t miss anything, stop and visit with locals, give the road hounds your table scraps, eat at roadside stands, drink local beer, be polite, respect others, don’t criticize local customs and guys, don’t stop and pee on the side of the road thinking because you saw 84 others doing it in three days that it is legal, it is not. You can be cited for indecent exposure, especially if a local cop sees you…the Gringo breaking the law!!! He probably will have a child with a birthday coming up soon and he will need an extra 50 dollars. Go into the jungle and pee on a Python it will be more exciting. The lack of roadside rest areas is evident all over Mexico, oh excuse me, did I say lack of, I’m sorry, I meant to say nonexistent rest areas.!