Xmas In Sonora?

khalidthesoljah · 11-03-2009, 09:22 AM

Hey guys! Been lurking for a while here and after extensive use of the search function i have some questions that i still need answers for, and any help or wisdom would be much appreciated.

Tenatively my friend and i are planning on leaving denver around dec. 25 and driving to lukeville az with our bikes in the truck. In lukeville or somewhere nearby we want to park the truck and go on bikes down towards puerto penasco, then along the coast area for 5 or so days...

So first question: Anyone know anywhere to park down in that area that would be relatively safe?

2) What do we need to have on our bikes to be perfectly legal in mexico? DOT approved tires? blinkers? horn? we will both be riding KTM 2 stroke trail bikes(300xcw, 250xcw)?

3) Do you need to have a motorcycle endorsement to ride the roads in mexico?

4) What should we watch out for?

5) Anyone know of any cant miss spots we should try to hit up?

6) How safe is camping down there and can we camp on the beaches or off the road without being hassled? Also any tips on nice spots to camp?

Thanks so much guys!

I am eager to hear what you have to say...

:)

Sjoerd Bakker · 11-03-2009, 05:46 PM

2 you need to have the ownership and registration in YOUR name , same as on your driver's license and credit card and passport. A license plate on the bike. This will get you the temporary import permits you need. The passport will get you back into the USA

3 I don't quite nderstand this question - do you mean if you need to have a mc rated driver's license ? If you are driving legally on road in the US you will be legal for Mexico

4 same hazards you will avoid in the US, but more emphasis on loose livestock on or near roads.

5 somebody else answer

6 camping can be safe IF you pick your spots well out of view of roads, in isolated spots, it is all up to you to judge as to likelihood of if some ne'er do wells are going to surprise you at night.Read the tire tracks- fresh means a regularly used route by locals or drug smuglers or ...?? You might consider camping in some of the small hotels, at beach front campgrounds or trailer parks operated by regular folks.

Lone Rider · 11-03-2009, 06:27 PM

Sonora, like a few other States in MX, tourist oriented and near the border, has different requirements than most down in mainland Mexico. They have a Sonora-Only permit that extends their tourist zone down to Guaymas.

Google Pto Penasco (known as Rocky Point to many gringos) and you'll learn their few requirements. If you cross at Lukeville, stop at the first OXXO store (like 7/11) and get a free newspaper for Ptp Penasco. Their tourist promotion is well developed, and informative.

Rocky Point isn't very cheap, but many other places in Sonora are. Look for cheap motels and enjoy the people, and where they live. Camping will seclude you. If you have time, I suggest visiting Alamos, but it's much further south.

Last, but not least, get good maps.
Have fun.

khalidthesoljah · 11-04-2009, 11:54 AM

Cool thanks for the replies.

I am gonna work on getting my motorcycle endorsement this week, i am an off road rider so i dont have one, i usually just drive my bike(in a truck) to the trails...

So i dont need blinkers or a horn down there? in colorado we dont need blinkers so those i dont have... And they arent gonna check and see if my tires are rated for the road?

Im just trying to make sure all my equipment is in order before i go, would hate to get turned around at the border :(

ManitouMike · 11-07-2009, 09:14 AM

For parking google rv sites, most will have parking space for a buck or two a night. Last time I went to Copper Canyon parked trailer in Douglas at an RV park for $1.50 a night.

As said before Sonora has a rapid pass good only for that state. I have crossed into Mexico several times and never needed a title just registration and insurance, which can be had online very reasonably.

I am in Manitou Springs (Colo Springs) and planning another xmas jaunt into Mexico but probably for 2 weeks, possible west coast beaches south of Mazatlin. As far as camping no problem, but splitting a room should be very affordable; however, you are venturing into a very Americanized area and prices will reflect that. San Carlos/Bahia Kino is less touresty and will be less expensive with lots of dirt riding to be found, also in the state of Sonora.

Be humble, say please and thank you a lot, and you will have a great trip, the people of Mexico are fantastic.

Sjoerd Bakker · 11-08-2009, 10:47 AM

Last time I was in Puerto Penasco in 2001 the cheapest hotel I could find and stayed at was El Ranchito Motel ,well away from the waterfront ,and it was $20 US with a fan. A room with ac would have been $30 ,but not needed ..Prices now may be a bit higher.Waterfront hotels started around $35 and UP, and would cost a lot more on long US weekends when everyone and his cousin hauling trailers full of watercraft races down from Phoenix and Tucson.The highway to PP is built to the same wide standard as the Arizona state highway that feeds it.
In the small towns of Sonora there are still plenty of low cost small hotels,certainly less expensive than equivalents in the US, but somewhat higher price than deep in Mexico

11-03-2009, 09:22 AM	#1
khalidthesoljah n00b Joined: Oct 2009 Oddometer: 5	Xmas In Sonora? Hey guys! Been lurking for a while here and after extensive use of the search function i have some questions that i still need answers for, and any help or wisdom would be much appreciated. Tenatively my friend and i are planning on leaving denver around dec. 25 and driving to lukeville az with our bikes in the truck. In lukeville or somewhere nearby we want to park the truck and go on bikes down towards puerto penasco, then along the coast area for 5 or so days... So first question: Anyone know anywhere to park down in that area that would be relatively safe? 2) What do we need to have on our bikes to be perfectly legal in mexico? DOT approved tires? blinkers? horn? we will both be riding KTM 2 stroke trail bikes(300xcw, 250xcw)? 3) Do you need to have a motorcycle endorsement to ride the roads in mexico? 4) What should we watch out for? 5) Anyone know of any cant miss spots we should try to hit up? 6) How safe is camping down there and can we camp on the beaches or off the road without being hassled? Also any tips on nice spots to camp? Thanks so much guys! I am eager to hear what you have to say... :)

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11-03-2009, 05:46 PM	#2
Sjoerd Bakker Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Oddometer: 299	2 you need to have the ownership and registration in YOUR name , same as on your driver's license and credit card and passport. A license plate on the bike. This will get you the temporary import permits you need. The passport will get you back into the USA 3 I don't quite nderstand this question - do you mean if you need to have a mc rated driver's license ? If you are driving legally on road in the US you will be legal for Mexico 4 same hazards you will avoid in the US, but more emphasis on loose livestock on or near roads. 5 somebody else answer 6 camping can be safe IF you pick your spots well out of view of roads, in isolated spots, it is all up to you to judge as to likelihood of if some ne'er do wells are going to surprise you at night.Read the tire tracks- fresh means a regularly used route by locals or drug smuglers or ...?? You might consider camping in some of the small hotels, at beach front campgrounds or trailer parks operated by regular folks.

11-03-2009, 06:27 PM	#3
Lone Rider Registered User Joined: Jan 2002 Location: Houston Area Oddometer: 23,024	Sonora, like a few other States in MX, tourist oriented and near the border, has different requirements than most down in mainland Mexico. They have a Sonora-Only permit that extends their tourist zone down to Guaymas. Google Pto Penasco (known as Rocky Point to many gringos) and you'll learn their few requirements. If you cross at Lukeville, stop at the first OXXO store (like 7/11) and get a free newspaper for Ptp Penasco. Their tourist promotion is well developed, and informative. Rocky Point isn't very cheap, but many other places in Sonora are. Look for cheap motels and enjoy the people, and where they live. Camping will seclude you. If you have time, I suggest visiting Alamos, but it's much further south. Last, but not least, get good maps. Have fun.

11-04-2009, 11:54 AM	#4
khalidthesoljah n00b Joined: Oct 2009 Oddometer: 5	Cool thanks for the replies. I am gonna work on getting my motorcycle endorsement this week, i am an off road rider so i dont have one, i usually just drive my bike(in a truck) to the trails... So i dont need blinkers or a horn down there? in colorado we dont need blinkers so those i dont have... And they arent gonna check and see if my tires are rated for the road? Im just trying to make sure all my equipment is in order before i go, would hate to get turned around at the border :(

11-07-2009, 09:14 AM	#5
ManitouMike Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Oddometer: 222	For parking google rv sites, most will have parking space for a buck or two a night. Last time I went to Copper Canyon parked trailer in Douglas at an RV park for $1.50 a night. As said before Sonora has a rapid pass good only for that state. I have crossed into Mexico several times and never needed a title just registration and insurance, which can be had online very reasonably. I am in Manitou Springs (Colo Springs) and planning another xmas jaunt into Mexico but probably for 2 weeks, possible west coast beaches south of Mazatlin. As far as camping no problem, but splitting a room should be very affordable; however, you are venturing into a very Americanized area and prices will reflect that. San Carlos/Bahia Kino is less touresty and will be less expensive with lots of dirt riding to be found, also in the state of Sonora. Be humble, say please and thank you a lot, and you will have a great trip, the people of Mexico are fantastic.

11-08-2009, 10:47 AM	#6
Sjoerd Bakker Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Oddometer: 299	Last time I was in Puerto Penasco in 2001 the cheapest hotel I could find and stayed at was El Ranchito Motel ,well away from the waterfront ,and it was $20 US with a fan. A room with ac would have been $30 ,but not needed ..Prices now may be a bit higher.Waterfront hotels started around $35 and UP, and would cost a lot more on long US weekends when everyone and his cousin hauling trailers full of watercraft races down from Phoenix and Tucson.The highway to PP is built to the same wide standard as the Arizona state highway that feeds it. In the small towns of Sonora there are still plenty of low cost small hotels,certainly less expensive than equivalents in the US, but somewhat higher price than deep in Mexico