Asheville to Argentina

US Consulates in Mexico

http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/edirectory.html 

Entrance / Exit

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: For the latest entry requirements, contact the Embassy of Mexico web site at http://portal.sre.gob.mx/usa/ or contact the Embassy of Mexico at 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC  20006, telephone (202) 736-1000 or any Mexican consulate in the United States for the most current information.

All Americans traveling by air outside the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States .  This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed loop cruises), including ferry service, by the summer of 2009.  Until then, U.S. citizens traveling by sea must have government-issued photo identification and a document showing their U.S. citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or certificate of nationalization), or other WHTI compliant document such as a passport card for entry or re-entry to the U.S.   Sea travelers should also check with their cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements.

Vehicle Permits: Tourists wishing to travel beyond the border zone with their vehicle must obtain a temporary import permit or risk having their vehicle confiscated by Mexican customs officials.  At present the only exceptions to the requirement are travel in the Baja Peninsula and in the state of Sonora only for vehicles entering through the Nogales port of entry.  Travelers are advised that the “Sonora Only” exception through the Nogales port of entry will expire at the end of 2007.  To acquire a permit, one must submit evidence of citizenship, title for the vehicle, a vehicle registration certificate, a driver’s license, and a processing fee to either a Banjercito (Mexican Army Bank) branch located at a Mexican Customs (Aduanas) office at the port of entry, or at one of the Mexican Consulates located in the U.S.  Mexican law also requires the posting of a bond at a Banjercito office to guarantee the export of the car from Mexico within a time period determined at the time of the application.  For this purpose, American Express, Visa or MasterCard credit card holders will be asked to provide credit card information; others will need to make a cash deposit of between $200 and $400, depending on the make/model/year of the vehicle.  In order to recover this bond or avoid credit card charges, travelers must go to any Mexican Customs office immediately prior to departing Mexico.  Despite any advice, official or unofficial, to the contrary, vehicle permits cannot be obtained at checkpoints in the interior of Mexico.

Travelers should avoid individuals outside vehicle permit offices offering to obtain the permits without waiting in line, even if they appear to be government officials.  There have been reports of fraudulent or counterfeit permits being issued adjacent to the vehicle import permit office in Nuevo Laredo and other border areas.  If the proper permit is not obtained before entering Mexico and cannot be obtained at the Banjercito branch at the port of entry, do not proceed to the interior.  Travelers without the proper permit may be incarcerated, fined and/or have their vehicle seized at immigration/customs checkpoints.  For further information, contact Mexican Customs about appropriate vehicle permits.

Chichen (u already know of it)
Uxmal and the “Ruta Puuc” (this is a must do)
“Ruta de los Conventos” (Route that passes along many ancient big churches of the franciscan order back in 1600´s)
Celestun (awesome beach with lots of flamingos at the west of the yucatan peninsula)
Rio Lagartos and Holbox (amazing beach towns barely touched by progress of civilization)
Many awesome Haciendas (Temozon Sur, Xcanatun)
You can always go south from tulum then you get to this amazing towns in the middle of the bahias called Punta Allen and Punta Herrero.

Anyway…there is this website that have many options too… www.carmentravelservices.com…

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/trave…/mrtulum1.html

Mahahual and Xcalak–two beachtowns really off the beaten track!

Calakmul in southern campeche (take two days) is a major archaeological site, not yet explored (think chichen before mass tourism) and in a huge biosphere reserve…

Valladolid, two nice cenotes there, One in town with a nice restaraunt , and one a little west called dzinup which is in a cave with a hole in the ceiling making a beautiful scene. I also highly recommend the town of Izamal, the yellow city. Mayan ruins there, and a large convent, few tourists. Many other ruins that are not highly exploited by tour busses, such as Mayapan, Ek Balam. The city of Merida is my favorite destination for a home base.
This is a good source for Yucatan activities;
http://www.yucatantoday.com/index.php

In mexico we stop in Acapulco and slept for about 15$ in a youth hostel with olympic size pool, tennis court and a lot of surprise like it. They have a minibus and can ride you in the acapulco attraction for free in english ! The kingdom hostel is a little bit hard too find but when you get it it worth it. You can put the moto inside the gate at night !
Kingdomhostel Carratera a puerto marquez #104
casi esq. con glorieta de puerto acapulco, mesico tel: +52 (744) 4 66 37 36   www.kingdom.hostel.com
They can give you the name of all youth hostel on your way and call for you to make sure you will have a place.
the following internet adresse is good to keep in your contact: www.hihostels.com and www.hostellingmexico.com
 
Hostel are a great place to meet other travelers but it is not really quiet. It depend of how you feel. At a certain moment in the trip we choose to pay a little bit more to have our bathroom and a room for us only ! But for sure is the place too have fun!
We slept at the mayflower in Puerto Escondido… you can not miss Puerto Escondido if we are looking for town where people want to meet people from around the world and have fun with them on the beach !