"John195123's Mexico Page" a Mexico Travel Page by John195123

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Well, been here now!!!!! One more down, many more to go...I have a TON of info to write down, so check back soon!....update here, much info down, more to come... Please, if you have graced my page with your time, take a second to rate it! Thanks.
There were two main areas of focus for this trip, Creel and Batapilas, both located in the state of Chihuahua, and around the Copper Canyon area. I want to start out by saying that we did a lot of research for this trip, and for the most part, it was all wrong. I dislike guidebooks generally, and would not recommend the Rough Guide for this area. It struck out on basically all counts. So, in these following pages will be the most correct and up-to-date information possible on entry into Mexico, and travel to Creel and Batopilas. That is not to say that the trip was not enjoyable...I have much to write... so enjoy...

By bus to Mexico, through El Paso, Texas, to Ciudad Juarez. First and foremost, before you go, contact the Mexican consulate closest to you for a tourist card. They are necessary if you plan to travel farther than 15-20 miles from the border area for three or more days. It will be much easier to get these before you go. If you can't get them before you go, they are attainable once you cross the border. More on tourist cards below.
The Greyhound (T,N,M&O) terminates at the El Paso station on Overland and Santa Fe streets. There, you can buy tickets for $5 USD/$45 pesos to cross into Mexico, to Ciudad Juarez. The bus takes you to a border crossing where you get out and show your passport, and may have you bags looked at. No big deal. Follow the pale yellow arrows on the ground, or any locals to know where you go. Basically you go to a small glass building to be checked... anyway, not a big deal. You get back on the bus and drive across the bridge (NAME) where you come to a second place, which basically is another customs (aduana) checkpoint.*** Here, I highly advise you ask the driver to stop for a few minutes... in line with this line of toll-booth-like checkpoint, on the right side of the road, is a yellowish building with glass doors. Go inside the doors and turn right, where you'll see a desk. Someone behind the desk should be able to help when you ask for the tourist cards (folletos de migracion touristica). Tell them you need the permits to travel farther than the border area, or something until they give you that little form (I'll try to get a copy online) that asks about where you live, purpose of travel, etc. Fill that out, give it back to the person behind the desk, who will stamp it and tell you to go to any bank and pay the entry fee, which is $22 USD, or
about 200 pesos, depending on the exchange rate (herein the exchange rate is about $1USD=$9pesos). At this point, you can either hit some other bank, or, if your driver is nice, he may wait for you to walk a bit farther into Mexico (about 200 yards) where there is an entry, generally meant for cars. You'll know it is the right one because there are the spikes that only allow a car to go one way. Go into the front doors of the larger, taller yellowish building and go to the teller farthest from the door, on the right side. Pay the entry fee there, and then, if you want you can change money at the window behind and across the lobby from you. Then, go out, get in the bus (or car) and ride on*** through Juarez (or Cd. Juarez) to a large bus terminal, where you'll have your pick of bus lines to where ever you are going. They have food and bathrooms that are decently clean. Buses from El Paso to Cd. Juarez run about every hour and are pretty much on time. (The only thing you'll have to watch out for is the return trip-when returning to the US-where you'll hit about two hours worth of traffic into the US...plan for that as it seems that goes on pretty much all day.

If you arrive to Mexico by car... ...read between the *** in bus travel section. There is an information bureau a little farther into Mexico, if you want to stop and find out any other information.

I will write here, as it is most important, the info on entry to Mexico by bus. I must thank Ben-UK, for without his guidance, we would have been totally blind on this one!
If you arrive to Mexico by plane, you should have already filled out one of these cards enroute, and it will be stamped as you cross through customs. It seems so much easier this way.