Climbing in Mexico?

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Messages 1 - 20 of total 20 in this topic
Tacul1

Sport climber
Weingarten, Germany
Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 7, 2014 - 11:51am PT
2 years ago we (wife + me, from Germany) had 2 great months climbing and sightseeing in California, and the info from the forum members helped us a lot. Now we are planning a trip to Mexico, roughly from mid-February to the end of April. I have ordered the 2 Mexico climbing guide books, but 1st I have to sort out some basic travelling problems. In CA we travelled in a small RV,so I tried to find sth. like this to hire in Mexico. No success in the internet or travel agencies. They only have normal cars or jeeps. Now I read that many US American climbers often travel to Mexico,so maybe you can help me with some advice; e.g is it possible to rent a small RV in LA or Houston and travel to Mexico with it? Or does anyone know a company in Mexico where we can hire a small RV? Any info about climbing, security, etc. is also very welcome, of course.
Thank you for your help.
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Sep 7, 2014 - 12:05pm PT
I do not think any rental agency would want an RV going to Mexico. I would not travel in Mexico in anything that draws attention as a tourist. RVs scream "Rob me". You are at risk in an RV especially at night unless you are in a developed campground. My advice is to go incognito, nothing flashy. Best to spend nights in hotels in larger towns. Hotels in Mexico are going to be much cheaper than an RV
Tacul1

Sport climber
Weingarten, Germany
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 7, 2014 - 12:31pm PT
Jon, thank you for your advice. I've read about the security problems, but I was not aware that the situation is so serious. I appreciate your advice to spend the nights in hotels of larger towns or in developed campgrounds, but will this be possible if we want to be close to the climbing areas? My travel agency has made me a good offer for renting a Chrysler Voyager or a Jeep Patriot - do you think that is still too flashy?
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Sep 7, 2014 - 12:43pm PT
Try contacting supertopo user "Manny".
Tacul1

Sport climber
Weingarten, Germany
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 7, 2014 - 01:12pm PT
Hello Manny,
Can you help me?
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Sep 7, 2014 - 01:19pm PT
I have never been climbing in Mexico, but I am a caver, and cavers LOVE Mexico. I have been to Mexico many times for cave diving and scuba diving.

Caver's travel advice for Mexico goes something like this:

1. Don't drive across the border.

2. If you do drive across the border, DO NOT drive a large, black SUV that could be mistaken for a DEA vehicle.

3. If you drive across the border, drive as far south of the border for as long and as fast as you can.

4. Better to fly to your destination, and rent a local vehicle.

5. Always drive a generic vehicle that does not attract attention, and does not shout "I'm a tourist!"

6. There are certain high-crime region of the country to avoid. Be sure that avoid those areas!

7. Do not venture off the beaten path into the wilderness without a local guide. You may wander into someone's ganja garden and meet up with the wrong end of an AK-47.

I will add the following:

8. Cops are all on the take.

9. Cops will stop you and demand a bribe.

10. Keep the majority of your cash hidden somewhere.

11. Do not carry a lot of cash in your wallets. Look and act poor.

12. If a cop stops you for a bribe, you can give them everything in your wallet. $40 to $60 total should get you off the hook.

13. Stay low key and out of sight. Be invisible.

14. Stay away from drugs.
Tacul1

Sport climber
Weingarten, Germany
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 7, 2014 - 02:02pm PT
Sierra Ledge Rat, thanks a lot for your advice. After reading yours and Jon's posts I am not sure if my Mexico plans are such a good idea. What is a generic vehicle in your opinion? Do I have to get off the "beaten track" if I want to get to the climbing areas?
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Sep 7, 2014 - 05:05pm PT
Generic vehicle would be a small sedan that is typically rented in Mexico, like these:

I've never been climbing in Mexico, but if you start heading down dirt roads, I would definitely make sure that you have a local guide who will keep you from getting your heads chopped off by the drug cartel.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Sep 7, 2014 - 05:17pm PT
With all the great climbing available elsewhere in the USA why would you risk driving around Mexico?
Other than Portrero and El Trono what else is there worth the risk?
Yafer

Trad climber
Chatsworth, California
Sep 7, 2014 - 05:37pm PT
http://www.elpotrerochicoguides.com/

Contact Mark ...great guide that also works in Yosemite.
fgw

climber
portland, or
Sep 7, 2014 - 10:20pm PT
My wife & I did a 2 wk road trip through Mexico this past winter. We flew to Mexico City, rented a small car and hit 3 multi-pitch areas: Parque el Chico in Hidalgo (conglomerate towers), Pena de Bernal in Queretaro and El Potrero Chico. Reasonably cheap motels can be found all around of course. We'd do it again. Here's a trip report from our blog: http://chossclimbers.com/testing/mexico/mexico-road-trip/
Contact me if you want more info. Also google "Magic Ed El Potrero" (who also posts here) for all things El Potrero and all around Mexico know-how.
nah000

climber
canuckistan
Sep 7, 2014 - 10:30pm PT
don't let the naysayers paint too bleak a picture.

here's a good lonely planet blog post summarizing objective and comparitive risk levels for [specifically] americans travelling in mexico.

point being if you follow basic precautions that you'd follow in any foreign and in part less developed country [SLR covered most of the bases, the only addition i'd make is to not drive at night] the risk really isn't as significant for tourists as it is for the mexican people themselves... if you avoid a few key cities/areas it is far riskier to visit new orleans than most of mexico...

that said, Reilly has a good question... with so much sweet and highly developed climbing in the u.s. [and canada!] why do you want to go to mexico to climb? the major destination, potrero chico, is close enough to the border that you can either include this in another u.s. road trip or just fly to monterey...

otoh, if your main goal is to see/experience an incredibly diverse and beautiful physical and cultural landscape, then by all means mexico as a whole can blow minds...

i know it did mine...
rick d

climber
ol pueblo, az
Sep 8, 2014 - 07:16am PT
I am a real estate broker and have worked with ranch, farm, and investment property sales in Sonora, Mexico since 1998.

I have traveled most of Sonora and some of Chihuahua doing the land gig.

Drove multiple different cars down with clients. Never once, came upon a situation with a bribe. Many times entered military checkpoints with 18 year old kids with HK or FAL rifles slung under an arm and they just waived us through or stopped to talk about my right hand drive truck.

We stayed and ate in small towns, drank with the locals, and enjoyed the space.

My advice,
take US dollars and spend the pesos you get in change (either way you will pay a non local rate unless posted). You need a permit for vehicle that you own, so no rentals except in free trade zones. Stay away from known narco areas and states.

Go climbing and enjoy the fun. Manny (a phoenix fireman) is a great source of climbing info.
rick d

climber
ol pueblo, az
Sep 8, 2014 - 07:19am PT
also, night driving.

people drink and drive, and you get tossed in drunk tank overnight if you get caught. Accidents happen, so night + alcohol = scary. Sunday afternoons are also bad but there is light.
Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Aurora Colorado
Sep 8, 2014 - 08:28am PT
Just invite these girls along and you'll be fine:

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/2481183/Central-Asia-Video
Gunkie

Trad climber
East Coast US
Sep 8, 2014 - 11:03am PT
5. Always drive a generic vehicle that does not attract attention, and does not shout "I'm a tourist!"

Magic Ed

Trad climber
Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Sep 8, 2014 - 11:22am PT
It is possible to rent a vehicle in Texas with permission to travel to Mexico, but I'm not sure about RV's.
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Sep 8, 2014 - 11:28am PT
I was robbed at gunpoint just after topping out on El Gran Trono Blanco in 1996. I grew up in the San Diego area, and had been to Baja & Mexico many times prior to this.

Shots were fired into the ground, inches away from our heads as we lay face-down, spread-eagled. After taking a small amount of cash, they left us in the dirt (with our haulbag). We high-tailed it of there, and I haven't crossed that border since.
bergbryce

climber
East Bay, CA
Sep 8, 2014 - 11:41am PT
El Potrero Chico is a great option, with amenities for climbers minutes from the crags. You can camp or get a small room at a number of places. That's the only place I've climbed in MX and it was great.

I was there for my honeymoon too recently and areas where there are tourists are very different from non-tourist areas which is where you need to be careful. I like the concept of look poor and stay low key. I wore shirts with holes in them, stained shorts and a ratty baseball cap and I was actually stopped by a cop on my bike and he never mentioned money once he saw me.
FRUMY

Trad climber
Bishop,CA
May 6, 2015 - 09:54pm PT
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