Toll Road (Magdalena Cuota)
Passing through Magdalena (Magdalena Libre)
Highway 2 to Santa Ana
Santa Ana, Sonora
Altar, Sonora
Pitiquito, Sonora
Arriving in Caborca
About a mile after the twisting, turning road from Imuris straightens out, you'll be presented with the option of taking a turnoff to the right (Magdalena Libre) and driving through Magdalena, or continuing straight on a toll road that bypasses the town.
Toll Road (Magdalena Cuota)
If you've opted to take the toll road, you will
arrive at a toll booth that charges 20 pesos for
autos (about $1.80, depending on currency
conversion, and note that this is just for general informational purposes, tolls are subject to change).
And, after you've gone through the toll booth
the skies clear up and the sun begins to
shine (not really, the pictures were taken on
different days)
You'll then travel for a few miles past beautiful
desert scenery with abundant Saguaros, and
will be able to see parts of Magdalena to your
right. The road will curve sharply to the left,
and as you come out of the curve angling to the right, and will be
in one of the lanes of highway 15 heading toward Santa Ana, with the left
lane merging traffic coming from Magdalena.
Passing Through Magdalena (Magdalena Libre)
The road to Magdalena first passes through the pueblo of
Tacicuri before winding into town. Magdalena is a pretty
village nestled in desert hills by a running stream. It has
interesting local history and stores that offer traditional
Mexican goods, and is definitely worth stopping to see.
Highway 2 Libre passes through the downtown district, and
there is a variety of services (hotels, supermarket,
pharmacies, etc.) along the main drag. To reach the plaza
and shops, take a right turn at the intersection where the
"Plaza Monumental" sign is displayed. The road ends at the
plaza, in just a few blocks. There are also ATM machines
(cajeros automaticos) at banks in the area if you want to get
some local currency.
Continue on the road as it passes the high school (Cobach)
and technical college (Conalep) on the left before passing
over a bridge and curving to the right. You'll pass by the new
city auditorium (auditorio municipal) before driving under a
railroad underpass and the one lane road will be joined with
the traffic coming from the toll road, on your way to Santa Ana.
Highway 2 to Santa Ana
The road from where the highways merge outside
Magdalena to Santa Ana is about 11km (about seven miles) between the towns. Technically you are still on Mexico highway 15, although the road is marked as highway 2 because it is a connector in Santa Ana with that highway that goes westward to the Pacific coast.
About a mile ahead on the left after the roads merge you'll see a marvelous painting
of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint, on the side
of a butte. An artist painted the work while suspended from
lines hanging from the top of the rocky structure. Be alert if you want to
stop and take pictures, because there isn't any shoulder on
the right where you can park - you'll need to find a place in the
highway median where you can park and then walk to where
you can take pictures.
The road is in pretty good shape (see the photo below),
although be alert for the occasional pothole. Also, watch your
speed, because the highway is patrolled by Federal Highway
Police, and it also has a sharp curve to the left that will
require you to slow down.
As you near Santa Ana you will ascend into some hills, with
the road winding back and forth for a mile or so. The scenery
is nice, but stay focused on the road, as drivers who are more
familiar with the area tend to drive more quickly than they
should. I've passed an overturned truck more than once on that stretch of road.
Santa Ana, Sonora
You'll know you're in Santa Ana when you
cross over another big tope (it's clearly
marked - take it slow, because it's a big one).
Shortly after crossing the tope you should be
in the right lane. As you pass the Pemex
station on your right, take the right turn just
past the station (see the photo below). You'll
come to a stop sign, where you will need to
yield for traffic coming from the south on
Highway 15. Take the right turn and you're on
Highway 2, headed for Caborca.
Note: if it's late or you want to stop and rest, instead of turning right on highway 2, continue driving south on 15 and after passing a curve (about 1/2 mile ahead) there are a couple of good hotels on the right. Click here to get more information about lodging in Santa Ana Sonora.
Highway 2 goes straight through the rest of
town and continues west to Altar and Caborca. However, if you would like to see the
plaza, get pesos at an ATM (cajero
automatico) or pick something up at the
pharmacy or grocery store, take a left turn at
the second street after you pass the railroad
tracks. Continue for a few blocks (a half-mile
or so) and you'll find the plaza and central
shopping district.
Just as you get to the outskirts of town, you'll
see a Pemex station on the right and an Oxxo
convenience store to your left. The Pemex
station has clean restrooms (in a building
separate from the station, in the rear area of
the lot) and is a good place to take a pit stop.
Also, you may want to fill your tank if it's low,
and stock up on munchies and water at the
Oxxo store. After passing over the yellow
bridge, you're on the last leg to Caborca.
The remainder of the trip on Highway 2 is a 100-kilometer
drive (about 60) miles through the desert. You can gauge
progress by the kilometer number signs at the side of the
road, which begin at zero in Santa Ana and increase as you
approach Caborca.
Leaving Santa Ana, the highway is in good condition, as it has
been recently re-paved. The road used to be the only
highway, with only one lane for each direction of traffic (which
also explains the painted-over dividing lines).
About 25 miles west of Santa Ana you'll come to a set of toll
booths. The toll for autos is 65 pesos (about $5.00, although rates are subject to change), with larger vehicles costing
more. The highway continues with two lanes of traffic each
way to the town
of Altar.
Altar, Sonora
The pueblo of Altar is a
small town about 20 miles
east of Caborca. Altar is
best known as a staging
point for migrants who plan
to cross the border into the
United States - as you drive
past the church you may
see "tourist" buses that
have brought them from the
south of Mexico, and vans
parked along the street
waiting to take them to the
border.
After passing through Altar, continue west on Highway 2. The highway has only two lanes (although it was recently repaved and broadened to include a passing lane),
so keep your headlights on and be alert to oncoming traffic.
Soon you'll come to a sweeping right curve in the road, followed a half mile later by a
left-turning curve. After that curve is a railroad crossing, and depending on the time of day
you may also see Red Cross or Emergency Services personnel soliciting money
(consider giving them some change, as this is a primary means of support for these
important services). This is also a popular location for vendors to park and sell their
goods.
After crossing the railroad tracks you'll see that the road is going to pass through some
hills ahead. There is a road that is a right turn from the highway just before its ascent up
the hill - that road will also take you to Caborca, past some agricultural land (although the
road isn't in the best condition).
Pitiquito, Sonora
Continuing ahead, the road goes up and over the hill, and the first left turn will take you to
the town of Pitiquito. The easier route of access is just ahead though, after going around
a curve to the right, you'll see a Pemex station. Take a left at that intersection to enter
Pitiquito.
Arriving in Caborca
Going straight, you'll be on the last stretch of highway toward Caborca. Rounding the
curve at the Motel Toxa (the local no-tell motel) you will see the welcoming signs. A left
turn on the first major street will put you on Avenida Obregon. If you miss that turn, the next
street is Calle 8 (8th Street).
Continuing on, you will pass the bus stations along the highway, cross the railroad tracks, pass the city cemetery on your left, and will come to the overpass at Quiroz y Mora, where a left turn will take you to downtown Caborca.
