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!

U.S. Consulate General – Hermosillo
Monterrey 141 Poniente Col. Esqueda
Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico 83000
http://hermosillo.usconsulate.gov
Telephone (from San Carlos): 01-662-289-3500
After Hours (from San Carlos): 045-662-256-0741
Afterhours, Weekends and Holidays 044-662-245-0741
Email: hermoacs@state.gov

Travel Alerts, Passport Information and More
http://travel.state.gov

Travel Registration
https://travelregistration.state.gov

Customs and Border Patrol
Operations Center (calling from Mexico): 001-520-375-5785

Border Wait Times
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/wait_times

Know Before You Go
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg

SENTRI Pass Information
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/sentri

Green Angels – Roadside Assistance in Mexico
http://www.gotosonora.com/green-angels.htm
If you have an emergency while driving, call the Sonora Tourism Office’s new hotline @ 078.

Hyperbaric Chamber – In Hermosillo
Centro de Medicina Hiperbárica de Hermosillo
Periférico Norte #645 casi Esq. con Olivares
Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico
Tel. (662) 217-0945 & (662) 212-0330
Resp: Sergio Girón Rosas
Cell (662) 146-0383
San Carlos – Emergency Phone Numbers

Rescate: (622) 226-0911

Rescue: (622) 226-0158

Port’s captain: (622) 222-2525

Police: (622) 226-1400

Ambulance: (622) 226-0101

The country code for Mexico is 52. If calling from the U.S. or Canada, dial 011 + 52 + area code + phone number.

Area Codes
In the three largest cities of Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey), the area code is two digits and phone numbers are eight digits, whereas in the rest of the country area codes are three digits and phone numbers are seven digits.
Mexico City 55
Guadalajara 33
Monterrey 81

Long-distance calls from within Mexico
For national long-distance calls (within Mexico) the code is 01 plus the area code and phone number.

For international long-distance calls, first dial 00, then the country code (for the U.S. and Canada the country code is 1, so you would dial 00 + 1 + area code + 7 digit number).

Country Codes
U.S. and Canada 1
United Kingdom 44
Australia 61
New Zealand 64
South Africa 27

Calling Cell Phones
If you’re within the area code of the Mexican cell phone number you wish to call, you should dial 044, then the area code, then the phone number. Mexican cell phones are under a plan called “el que llama paga,” which means that the person who makes the call pays for it, so calls to cell phones cost more than calls to regular phone numbers.

Outside of the area code (but still within Mexico) you would first dial 045 and then the 10 digit phone number.

To call a Mexican cell phone from outside the country you would dial as if to a land line: 011-52-1 then the area code and number.

Phone cards
Phone cards (“tarjetas telefonicas”) for use in pay phones can be bought at newstands and in pharmacies in denominations of 30, 50 and 100 pesos. Pay phones do not accept coins. When buying a phone card for pay phone use, specify that you would like a “tarjeta LADA,” because pre-paid cell phone cards are also sold in the same establishments.
Calling from a pay phone is the most economical way to call, though all long-distance phone calls are more expensive from Mexico than from most other countries. Other options include calling from your hotel, or calling from a “caseta telefonica,” a business that has telephone and fax service.

Emergency and Useful Phone Numbers
Keep these phone numbers close at hand for any emergencies that might occur. You do not need a phone card to call 3-digit emergency numbers from a pay phone.

•Emergency 066
•Red Cross 065
•Police 060
•Directory assistance 040
•Tourist protection and information 01-800-903-9200 or 01-800-987-8224, from the U.S. and Canada 1-800-482-9232 or 1-800-401-3880

Passport Book

Passport Card

Mexican Visa Requirements

Mexico has a tourist fee they charge visitors. If you are either staying in Mexico longer than 72 hours or traveling past the Border Zone you will need to pay the 190 peso Tourist Card fee (roughly $20 US dollars). The card, known as the Migratory Tourist Form (FMT) is valid for six months (180 days) with multiple entries. Make sure you ask for the full 180 days even is you plan to stay only a short time. You never know if you may return in those 180 days.

According to the law you must have the Tourist Card on you while traveling (make a copy if possible in case original is lost). You can pick up a card at the border, just stop at immigration as you cross into Mexico, parking is available. You must have either a current passport or original birth certificate with current ID.

Some insurance companies and travel clubs are allowed to issue Tourist Cards in the U.S. Please check with them first.

Immigration will not take money for the card, you must go to a bank (there is usually one next to Customs). You can also pay the fee at any bank in Mexico, where upon they will stamp your Tourist Card paid. You must then go back to immigration, or the next immigration office in the next town you visit, and have them stamp your card as valid. Make sure you do this right away, do not wait until your trip is half over. Your best bet is to take care of all of this at the border.

NOTE: If you are arriving by airline or cruise, your Tourist Card fee will be charged in the cost of your package or fare, and they will give you your tourist card to fill out for Customs when you land.