Nogales to Magdalena
Getting to the Border

Take I-19 south from Tucson, it's about 60 miles to the border (don't get confused by
the road signs, they display distances in kilometers).  You'll pass by Sahuarita and the
retirement community of Green Valley.  About ten minutes later, if you feel like
stretching your legs and looking at some Southwestern art, the artists' colony of Tubac
provides some nice diversion.  Shortly after passing Tubac you'll see the signs for Rio
Rico, a resort community just north of Nogales.  
Map (c) Copyright 2006 Mapquest
Click on map to enlarge.
Crossing the Border to Nogales, Sonora

To get across the border you can drive to downtown Nogales,
cross through the border crossing and take the white-knuckle
ride of your life trying to negotiate the crazy, hectic traffic of
Nogales.  

Or, for a toll of 35 pesos (which is well worth it) you can bypass
Nogales by crossing at the Mariposa port of entry.  The port of
entry is only open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and if you arrive
late there’s a comfortable Holiday Inn Express on Mariposa
Road where you can rest for your journey.  It’s strongly
recommended that you don’t start the trip in the evening,
because the roads aren’t well lit and after leaving the Nogales
area there aren’t any motels for quite a stretch.  Also, there’s a
Sanborn’s Mexican Insurance office in the Holiday Inn, where
you can purchase Mexican auto insurance.
Map (c) Copyright 2006 Mapquest
Click on map to enlarge.
Mariposa Port of Entry

To get to the Mariposa port of entry, exit to the right at the
Mariposa Road exit (Exit 4, also called the Jct 189 Truck
Route), following the Grand Avenue exit).   The off-ramp
turns into a short road that ends at a stoplight on Mariposa
Road.  To get to the port of entry, take a right turn and follow
the road for about two miles.  

However, if you’re hungry for fast food (McDonald’s,
Yokohama Rice Bowl, Taco Bell, etc.) or need to stock up
on supplies at the Super Wal-Mart or groceries at Safeway,
you’ll find all of those businesses by turning left.  If you don’t
already have it, you’ll want to stock up on drinking water and
snacks, and have a first aid kit and other necessities for
desert travel.

As you drive on Mariposa Road toward the border crossing,
the road will curve to the left and you’ll see a U.S. Customs
inspection station on the right side of the road (it’s usually
closed, or when open is used for truck inspections).  Slow
down and proceed past the inspection station, then the
border station to your left, until you reach some huge topes
(speed bumps).  

Cross over the topes slowly, and stay on the road to your
left (there’s a Mexican border crossing station to the right,
but that just leads back into Nogales).  You’ll pass over a
small bridge and a covered area with seats to your left,
where the unfortunates who got caught crossing illegally
and were dropped off at the border wait for a ride.  

Continue on the two-lane highway for a few miles.  The
road is in pretty good condition, but rather than heeding to
the temptation of speeding you should stay to the right and
observe a safe traveling speed (some drivers fly through
the area, definitely not recommended).  

After stopping briefly at one of the toll booths to pay your 35
pesos (they also accept dollars, it’s about $3.25 or so for
autos, 150 peso (about $13.00) for RVs and larger vehicles,
depending on the currency conversion) you’ll see the
Mexican Customs station ahead.  Stay in the leftmost lane,
and watch out for the big tope.  If you have something to
declare (more than $50 per person in new products) then
pull over to the designated area, the duty is generally about
15 percent of the item's value.  If not, proceed ahead and
wait your turn at the lane passing the Mexican customs
inspection area.
Approaching the border crossing
Coming around the corner, stay to the left of the truck
inspection station as you proceed to the crossing.
Stay to the left after you pass under the signs, and
continue straight ahead on the highway.
As seen from the dash-cam.
The toll booths.
The friendly attendants accept dollars or pesos.
When you reach the lane that leads to the inspection
area you’ll drive over a pressure plate that randomly
activates a red or green light.  If you get the green light,
proceed on slowly past the inspection area.  If you get the
red light, a Mexican Customs inspector will indicate
where you need to park for inspection.  They are
generally very courteous and professional – be polite and
respectful and you should have no problems.
Approaching the Mexican
Customs and Inspection station.
If the red light flashes, you get
to meet a customs inspector.
Stop and wait your turn, then
advance slowly.  
After passing through the border station, the road ahead for the next half mile or so may have trucks parked along
either side of it.  Be alert to any trucks turning into the lanes of traffic as you proceed along carefully past the
trucks.  You’ll come to a bridge and a curve in the road, followed by another bridge where the two lanes will
merge into one, and it will become the left lane of Mexico highway 15, merging into traffic with the poor souls who
drove through Nogales.  Here you’ll get your first glimpse of the Mexican countryside.  

About a half mile ahead there may be a military or police checkpoint, although it is typically for traffic going the
other direction (toward Nogales).  Still, traffic is briefly reduced to one lane, proceed slowly through the area.  After
going around another curve you’ll pass a Pemex gas station on the left and will arrive at another Customs and
Inspection station, where you will need to obtain a tourist visa.
Obtain a Tourist Visa

If you are going to be traveling further than the border
of Sonora you’ll need to stop and get a Banjercito
vehicle permit.  If not, you'll just need to get a visitor
visa (which costs about $23.00 and is good for
multiple entries and exits, up to six months).  It just
takes a few minutes to fill out the form at the customs
office (you'll need a valid form of citizenship
documentation for the permit, such as a birth
certificate, military ID or passport).  For more
information, see the Sonora tourism web site.

After obtaining the needed document(s), exit the
parking lot and take a right, navigating to the lane
toward the inspection station where you’ll encounter
another red light/green light, and the inspection area
is to your right.  If you get the green light, proceed
along in the through lane until you’ve passed through
the area.  Check to your left to avoid merging truck
traffic as you resume travel on highway 15.  Once back
on the highway it’s best to stay in the right lane and
observe a safe driving speed.  Let aggressive drivers
pass and stay focused on the highway, as the
highway passes over some areas with steep drop-
offs and no safety barriers to prevent your car from
leaving the road.  
To get your Mexico tourist
visa, enter the parking lot
where you see this sign.
Then, get in line to pass
through another customs check.
Once again, red light means
stop, green light means go (as
seen from the dash-cam).
Cibuta, Sonora

Within a few miles you’ll come to the small pueblo of Cibuta.  
There’s not much there – besides the school and the few houses
of the community that you can see from the road, there’s a small
store, and a couple of expendios (beer stores).  Also, it's worth a
stop to see the Mexican artwork that's sold on the right side of the
road, just after the first set of topes.  They feature some neat tin
products, from mariachis to full-sized animals.  Some of the
products are pictured below.
Imuris, Sonora

The road from Cibuta to Imuris is in good condition,
with some pretty, tree-lined scenery along the way that
includes a beautiful drive through a verdant river valley.  
About 13 miles south of Cibuta is the small pueblo of
Estacion Cumeral, and about five miles later on the
right side of the road are immense hothouses used to
grow a variety of flowers and vegetables.  About three
miles later the road curves to the right, and after
passing a water park on the left side, the road
continues up a hill and into the pueblo of Imuris.

Imuris is a small town, although it's got a Pemex
station if you need gas, with an Oxxo convenience store
next door (there's also a Super-Val grocery store ahead
on the left).  If you want to see Imuris's plaza and
church, take a right just before passing the statue on
the right side of the road (just before the bus station,
see photo below).  After a few blocks the street splits
into a loop, take the road to the right and the plaza is a
few short blocks ahead.

After passing the bus station, the road will curve into an
area where there are three topes for traffic control.  
There are also usually some roadside vendors selling
Mexican souvenirs, and miscellaneous others
standing at the topes selling snacks or soliciting
money for a local charity.  After passing the third tope,
on the left side of the road is a tienda that sells copper
products from Michoacan.
Imuris, Sonora
Make a right turn here to see
the church and plaza.
Copper products
Entering the gauntlet of
three topes.
The church and plaza at Imuris, Sonora
The next eight miles curve through winding hills, watch
your speed, stay to the right and if traveling on an incline be
alert to slow-moving trucks negotiating the hill.  

After coming out of the last curve, you will have the option of
driving to the town of Magdalena (taking the "Magdalena
Libre" road, or bypassing it by taking the toll road
(Magdalena Cuota).  When you reach the turn-off pictured
here (click on image to enlarge), take the right turn to go to
Magdalena, or continue ahead on the highway to pay a
small toll (20 pesos for cars) and bypass Magdalena.
Next - Magdalena to Caborca
All content copyright 2006 by IS International, all rights reserved.