by David Eidell
The following was a reply to a reader inquiry asking about taking an RV to Cozumel, and asking whether Reynosa oe Matamoras would be the preferred port of entry. The answer provides some significant additional information we decided to pass along....and to preserve as a short article in David's series on RVing Mexico
Both entry cities that you listed above are pretty much alike in size and these days all of Mexico's border cities have huge highway signs pointing the way to (in your case) "MEXICO" which means "Mexico City"
I recommend highly that you obtain a Mexican road atlas by the name of GUIA ROJI on the internet perhaps at AMAZON DOT COM. A second and likewise almost indispensable book is Mike & Teri Church's "Traveler´s Guide to RV'ing and Camping in Mexico".
A third book is really a must: Carl Franz's THE PEOPLE'S GUIDE to MEXICO, will reveal how to get along down here. Now in it´s thirteenth printing, this book is a treasure, not to be missed.
Take it EASY the first day of driving, until you get acclimated to potential road hazards such as a TOPE. A tope is a speed bump and there must be a hundred million TOPES (maybe only a slight exaggeration) in Mexico. Some are marked, others lurk on stretches of two lane road stippled by shadows cast by nearby trees. A tiny hamlet of twenty people may have four topes standing sentry to cause speeders to slow down or else.
Your route takes you to the "less touristed by Americans" side of the mainland and prices there are markedly less than they are on the "Riviera" or West Coast. The ancient walled city of CAMPECHE is not to be missed by any means. UXMAL, TULUM, and PALENQUE are also on the list of "must see" along with Chichen Itza. The tiny island resort of ISLA MUJERES, is a must, and there is truly spectacular snorkeling on the CHINCHORRO REEF off the coast of Quintana Roo, near the border with Belize. Try camping or hoteling between the towns of "Xcalak" and "Marajual" on the peninsula west of Chetumal the capital of Quintana Roo. On a scale of one to ten, snorkling at Cozumel rates a "seven" (too many people for me) while snorkling at the remote thirty mile long Chinchorro reef, rates a "ninety seven". The reef is truly the "Great Barrier Reef" of the western hemisphere. This is a twenty some mile trip, it isn't cheap, but I'll eat my sombrero if you manage to do it and then come away unamazed and undelighted. Remember though, if you see something colored red underwater - don't touch! Fire coral is painful.
I would also like to put in a muscular plug in for the aerosol insecticide ingredient PERMETHRIN which is a semi-botannical insect killer that is very safe even around food (!), pets, birds, and a single application lasts two weeks. It will kill and keep killing fleas, mosquitoes, no-see-ums (as they crawl through mesh insect screen), ants, even scorpions and cucarachas! I like spray insecticides that contain ONLY permethrin in a percentage not exceeding one percent total. Keep looking around various stores up there, even supermarkets. I wish that I had purchased a dozen more cans at a 99 cent store when I found some last September in California. Spray a dripping band of PERMETHRIN around your water hose, and electrical hookup about a foot off of the ground. Permethrin-only spray is even safe to apply on clothing that you are wearing but spraying it on the skin "metabolizes" (changes) the chemical so that it does nothing at all -- interesting stuff. But I will not touch other insecticides that contain PERMETHRIN and anything else but the propellent used to spray it around. You can also find it in camping and outdoor stores in the states. All of the sprays containing PERMETHRIN down here seem to contain something else (darn it).
Well my foot is starting to tap. Visions of Mayan temples, smoking volcanos, and exotically dressed indians laden with crafts to be sold at market are dancing through my head. The mighty Usumacinta River winds it's way separating Mexico from Guatemala. River banks teeming with Rain Forest, screeching parrots, prowling jaguars, and cute spider monkeys. Then out of the mist appears thrusting stonework, columns, and edifices...Bonampak! This is the last trackless Rain Forest, the El Peten! "Arrawck!" The ungainly squawk of a Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, a stupendously feathered and crested bird, truly worthy of being part of the plumed costume of an ancient Mayan King.
It's time to depart this particular paradise I have determined. Others await, a score of lifetimes cannot allow me to visit all of the paradises down here.
Saludos!