Driving Directions to San Carlos Mexico
From Tucson:
Take Interstate 10 to Interstate 19.
Take I-19 south. You will pass Green Valley, Tubac, and Rio Rico.
Take Exit #4 “Border Truck Route 89 South” (an approx 60-minute trip).
Turn right onto Mariposa Road. Food, and bathrooms are available at Carl’s Junior. Reset your odometer to zero now.
When leaving Carl’s Jr., turn right on Mariposa Road and continue to the border – 2.5 miles.
Cross without stopping unless requested and proceed uphill on new toll road. Pay toll of 39 pesos (approx $3.70). Distance From Border = 8.0 miles
Drive through first checkpoint without stopping unless requested. A red light and buzzer means pull into parking area for inspection. They may ask you to get out of your car. Smile and be cooperative, they are nice people.
Proceed on toll road to “21K Checkpoint“. You will need to park in the parking lot go to the white building on the right and get your visa. You will need your passport to get your visa. Once you have your visa proceed to the lane with the red/green light “Nothing to declare”..
Drive to the Custom’s Inspection area where you will choose one of the following options: Declaration of merchandise to be imported OR Activation of the Fiscal Control Light. If you have no merchandise to declare, you will take the left line, where you will encounter another red light/green light. If you get a red light, you will have to stop your car and have it inspected. If you get a green light, or after the inspection, you may proceed to your destination.
This process takes about an hour. Please note that you MUST return your window sticker at the return both opposite this checkpoint (northbound) on your return trip.
Stay on main road marked “Cuota” (toll road). Pay 19 pesos (approx $1.80) toll outside the town of Magdalena. There are bathrooms and food here. This is Mexico Highway 15 to Santa Ana. Distance From Border = 43.0 miles
Continue south on Highway 15 to next toll station. Pay 58 pesos toll (approx $5.50). Distance From Border = 160.5 miles
Proceed south to Hermosillo. At the first Hermosillo stoplight turn LEFT. (There is a Pemex station on one corner and the old Sonora Motors Chevrolet dealership (now out of business) on the other.) Follow the road signs to Guaymas. Distance From Border = 160.9 miles
Follow surface streets through town. You will reach a second stoplight. Continue straight through the light. Pass a park, a dam, and prison. Shortly after the prison the road will fork. Stay right and proceed to stoplight. Distance From Border = 175.9 miles
Turn left at stoplight. (There is a Pemex station on the right corner, and San Sabastian Hotel the left corner.)You’re back on Highway 15. Proceed south to San Carlos.
Pass a large Pemex station in the center of divided highway. Distance From Border = 225.7 miles
Stay to the right. Take the San Carlos turn-off to the right. Distance From Border = 249.3 miles
Red brick road into town is lined with palm trees. The speed limit is enforced for the last 15-20 miles even if the bricks don’t slow you down. Distance From Border = 252.6 miles
You’re here!
Welcome to San Carlos – you made it! Prepare for a great vacation experience!
On another site they said that the visa and car permit are no longer required, is this true? Also we are planning a trip down there in about two weeks, whats the latest on safty on the roads down there?
Thanks
Jason