When you take a vehicle into Mexico beyond a few miles of the border you have to get a permit. Evidentially one of the biggest fears Mexico has about US visitors is that they might bring in less polluting, more efficient, safer vehicles and leave them in the country.

To prevent this atrocity from happening they will charge you a large fee to import a car. If you say that you are only going to be in the country for 6 months they will give you a temporary permit, but they will take a large deposit or a credit card so they will get the fee if you don’t take your car back out with you.

Getting the permit is fairly straight forward. At Laredo Bridge II where we crossed into the country, you follow the blue signs to a large building where you get your visa and automobile permit.

When we were leaving Laredo, we accidentally ended up at Bridge I. We saw a sign for the auto permits, but the road it pointed to was situated where it seemed to only be available to people coming into the country. We didn’t return the permit, but it didn’t seem like a big deal because we were coming back anyway.

When we decided not to return to Mexico, we still had to return the permit. I called the consulate to see if it could be returned there instead, but was told that I could not. I have heard some people say that they were able to return the permit to the consulate and the lady I spoke to on the phone wasn’t particularly friendly, so you may get different results with other consulates.

Anyway to return the permit, you have to go back to the area where the permits are given. Technically you should be able to do it from any border crossing, but I have heard that people sometimes have problems when trying to return it to a place that is different than where it was issued. I don’t think all the computer systems fully talk to each other.

At the Laredo Bridge II, you cross over into Mexico and turn left. Their is a blue sign pointing the way down what looks like a back alley. This small street will dump you out on a much larger road that goes to Monterey. Soon after you get on this road, you will see a stop light where you have to basically do a U turn and head back under the bridge right along the border.

If you try to do this in the day time there will be people there trying to wash your windshield and trying to help you by doing things like telling you the color of the stop lights, waving their hands in the air and speaking very rapid Spanish.

After the U turn you’ll head back under the bridge and there is a large building on the left. Usually there will be some security guards in front of it and a parking lot with vehicles. The left side of the building is normal, but as you go to the right the roof continues, but there is no building. It is a large open area under a roof. Near the open area in the parking lot is a small building like a guard shack that you can pull a car up next to. It has some odd reflector antenna devices that face your car when you pull up next to it. The antennas appear to be able to read the electronic device in your vehicle permit.

If you pull up to this guard shack, they give you a razor blade to remove the permit. Don’t remove the permit until they tell you to. Definitely don’t remove it before you get there. They will also want the paper that the permit came on originally.

Once you give them the permit, they will give you a receipt showing that the permit was returned. This is what you will use to prove that you have taken your car out of Mexico if they balk at letting you bring another one in at a later date. Do not lose this receipt.

The left hand side of the building (the part that isn’t just open under a roof), is where you get your visa. You are supposed to return your visa when you leave the country. I have heard that they can fine you for every day that it isn’t returned (when you try to come back into the country). When we returned our visas we were not given a receipt of any type and I’ve heard of many people who didn’t return them.

Back in the 1960’s and 70’s, the Mexican government sought out ways to bring tourists in to see the many natural wonders that lay hidden and largely unknown within it’s borders. Because these many historically and ecologically rich locations were largely unavailable to the public, the Mexican government created a master plan to bring people in to see and learn about Mexican history and wildlife. The project that created Ixtapa was part of the same master planning that also brought Cancun out of obscurity. The Federal Bureau for Tourist Development was the entity behind the development of the resort city that is know known as Ixtapa.

Before this large and beautiful city was constructed, the small town of Zihuatanejo was already in existence. This small fishing village has developed into a wonderful place for visitors to explore and discover the many historical structures and sites in the area.

The current site of the city of Ixtapa was originally a coconut tree plantation. One of the main features of this city is its natural beauty. Because it was once a plantation, the surroundings provide a gorgeous tropical aura for visitors to enjoy during their stay.

Ixtapa is unique in that it is located next to the small, historic fishing village of Zihuatanejo. This scenic and tranquil village offers visitors a destination of the beaten track. The laws governing the vicinity have prevented contractors from building any sort of high-rise structures in the city, which has allowed Zihuatanejo to keep its charming, picturesque qualities. However, that does not mean that the town is backward. The construction of Ixtapa brought electricitiy to the village, and residents have created intricate pedestrian-only roads from decorative brick.

In conclusion, the historically rich area and the beautiful surroundings of the city of Ixtapa make it a wonderful destination for anyone that is looking for an interesting vacation spot.

Though many people often look only at the glittering, large cities in Mexico when planning a vacation, there are also many small villages that are waiting to be explored by those that are interested in learning of the history of the country of Mexico and that wish to get away from the city. One of these villages is the small town of Zihuatanejo. Though it is located just 6 kilometers away from the large and bustling city of Ixtapa, this small jewel situated on the Mexican coast is indeed a wonderful place to visit.

Many of us have heard of the incredible natural beauty of the area surrounding Ixtapa. That same natural beauty surrounds the town of Zihuatanejo. Although this small town has been developed slightly, it still retains that small town flavor that sets it apart from other destinations in Mexico.

Even before Zihuatanejo established itself as a fishing village, it was a haven for the Spanish fleet, privateers and even pirates! From the late 1800’s throughout the years until the 1970’s, Zihuatanejo stayed a small, sleepy fishing village. But after the Mexican government began its development of Ixtapa, Cancun and several other large cities, Zihuatanejo’s proximity to Ixtapa brought more traffic through this small place. Because of the increased traffic through the town, about 1,000 hotel rooms are now available for those that are looking for accommodations in the town.

Zihuatenejo also possesses a historic downtown area that, at one time, was marked only by three distinct features: the pier, the basketball court and an open-air theatre.

Mexico has been known throughout history for its port cities and the culture and architecture contained therein. One of these cities is the thriving and beautiful city of Mazatlan.

Mazatlan literally means, “place of the deer.” Though deer are rarely seen now because of the large population, the name remains as a reminder to the citizens of the city of their heritage. The name Mazatlan came from an Aztec language that was not originally native to the area. Historians believe that a translator that came with an explorer brought the language with him and gave the city its name. Though Mazatlan was not officially a city until the 1820’s, it was inhabited by an indigenous Indian tribe known as the Totarames. This culture left behind beautiful artifacts in the way of polychrome pottery. The pottery contains intricate designs and colors that are indicitive of a highly developed society.

Another interesting facet of Mazatlan’s history is that it has been occupied many different times by various different countries. Even the Confederate government at the time of the American Civil War tried to bring Mexico over to the rebel side by occupying the city. History tells us, however, that this plan did not succeed. The city also bears the title of being the first city on the American continent, and the second in the world, to be bombed. Tripoli, Libya is the first. The bomb was a crude piece of construction that was filled with nails and dynamite and wrapped in leather. This rather unpleasant surprise was intended by General Carranza to be dropped on a specific target. Tragically for the citizens of Mazatlan, the bomb was as crudely dropped as it was made. The explosive landed in the middle of the busy city streets of the city and killed several citizens and soldiers. This, however, is only a reflection of Mexico’s war-torn past.

In addition to all of these fascinating events that took place in Mazatlan, it also has the distinction of being one of Mexico’s premier coastal ports, historically. Until the Mexican government put armaments on the coast surrounding the harbor, pirates preying on Spanish ships often took up residence in the sheltered harbor. Mazatlan’s harbor is very unique because of the hills surrounding it, thus giving it a naturally protected port. Eventually, the Mexican goverment became tired of the unlawful intruders and reinforced the area. Though the pirates vanished near the 1800’s, the stories of gold-laden Spanish galleons and lost treasure continue to cause speculation about the possible location of pirated Spanish treasure in the caves along the coast.

Today, Mazatlan is one of the key tourist destinations in the Northwestern part of Mexico. The colorful and rich history and culture preserved by the people has made the city a wonderful place to visit. The city has many interesting sites to see, and has a rich history of being visited by digintaries such as Gregory Peck, a famous actor, David Starr Jordan, president of Stanford University and Andrew Greyson, the noted ornithologist, among many others. The wonderful white sand beaches, historical architecture and colorful population make this city a premier destination for anyone that is looking for a fun and interesting way to spend their vacation.