Driving to Mexico through Laredo with a Camper Van

Starting a new chapter of van life in El Potrero Chico, Mexico...but getting there was no easy feat. Lots of preparation, anxiety, and planning.

A few changes: you no longer get a holographic sticker, the tolls have gone up (be prepared with pesos), and the booths in the CIITEV have been renovated. Take the toll roads as we did, but keep your eyes on the road!

—Moritz + Sachiko

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Our truck is a 2009 GMC Savana G3500 cut-away with a 12 ft box. We converted it into our tiny home on wheels and moved in May 2021 to travel North America for rock climbing, hiking, and outdoor adventures.

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[RoadtoPitches]

We've adopted to the Mexican lifestyle and this video is going live late 😂. The rock climbing here is fantastic, we eat the national average of 6 tortillas per day, and we can't wait to share more of our lives here with you! Now, if only the dogs would stop barking by midnight, and if the roosters would start crowing after 5 am...

[belle]

You are an adorable couple. I know this is an old video. But, I hope you are still happy and thriving!

[raymundolopez]

I’m from San Antonio that’s how we drive no signal and fast the no signal is because we put it on and nobody will let you in so you have to cut in without the other knowing (:

[juliecase]

Kudos to Moritz for doing all the hard hours of driving.

[keargee]

Talking about it not seeming sketchy. If I could offer some advice. Most places don't seem sketchy or dangers, until they are. Trusting your self and the feelings you have moment to moment is importation. Keeping a low profile will always serve you well in any new unfamiliar location.
An example when I am off camping exploring on my long distance trips, I keep in mind I am alone and should always make sure I have my own back.

One time in an extremely remote area that had little or no cell service I struck up a conversation with someone else who was loading up camping supplies, ( I am pretty out going ) at a grocery store. They seemed nice as I was asking for information on good camping locations in the area. They said they were locals. As the conversation went on, about places they thought I would like. It became clear they wanted me to come to the place they were camping. I kept telling them I was trying to stay on the opposite side of the area, about 70 miles away and near the coast. They kept on about it and they started asking what I was doing for dinner and other questions hinting for me coming to their camp, or asking if I was meeting anyone. It felt strange I thanked them for the info and left. But before I did I found out they were living out there in the woods in their car and, it was a little strange that the man was probably way older than the woman who had a young son.

Now I don't know if they were good people or not. I don't know if they were eyeing up my Cadillac escalade and the fact I was alone as an easy target. I don't know if they were living out in the woods doing drugs and alcohol. They may have been really great people. Just wanting some other adult company. I would have been more then happy to meet up with them for a hick the next day. The point is I just didn't know them and going out deep into the woods alone with strangers, I just meet at the grocery store was not smart. Add to that, the fact some gut feeling awkwardness and I think I made the smart choice to not tell them where I was camping, or to fallow them back to their camp in the dark, even for dinner. Even if I kind of wanted to. I kept a low profile and had my own back.
P.S. I enjoyed the video.

[Shadows-rl]

We always go to Queretaro Mexico to visit family for week, and we drive through Nuevo Laredo all the way to Queretaro we love the route but we do take precaution as we do live in Laredo we know it can be dangerous. Always drive during the day and when there is a lot of traffic. Stick to the toll highways (cuotas) as they are less dangerous (not 100%) and better interstate quality compared to the free long routes (libres). We going again very soon!

[livingworkingoutsidebox]

Congratulations. Remember stay on right lane unless passing. Then watch out for Topas speed bumps. The Mexican people have hearts of gold. The food is incredible. Tacos de pastor is my favorite. It's the slice of pineapple, cilantro, onion, and great sauces over the seasoned meat. My wife's parents live in Tula. Big refinery there. If you need a place to hold up shoot me an email.

[thuukies]

I plan on doing this…
prob not wise to do it alone and young.
But thats why I seek documentation from ppl who have! THANKS YALL :D

[sabinoluevano]

actually the sketchy truck was not sketchy at all: millions of Mexicans that travel back south buy a bunch of stuff to resell in Mexico, like tools, clothes, bikes, etc. In the summer and winter, you see thousands of fully loaded trucks crossing the border to Mexico.

[rodladd]

Still watchin yall good people like yourself hard to come by thank you

[alohatvn]

I think 🤔 we might visit Baja Mexico 🇲🇽 o e day.

[livinb]

From Nuevo Laredo thru Monterrey and to Mexico city, the main toll route is as safe as Mexico gets.

[robertrodz]

Man, I'm sorry I hadn't seen this video before, imma a retired American dude living in Nvo Laredo, I've been living here for yrs now and believe me, don't believe what they say on the news or what's they post online, believe me., I've been living full time down here for almost 7 yrs now and I swear on my momma's ashes, I'm way more scared when I go back to the good old USA to visit my family and simply go to a park or just walk down the street And thanks for telling the truth about how the media lies to yall my brothers and sisters !! .... the facts about the so called violence down here, it's all total BS !! ✌🏻💙😚💨💙✌🏻

[aareylmcintosh-hamlin]

Hey do you know why most people go through cali versus texas borders?

[carfatico]

I disliked the video due to the following reasons:

- There is a travel warning advising people to avoid certain states rather than the entire country, mainly because the government has limited or no control over these regions. In states like Tamaulipas, where you traveled through Nuevo Laredo, the violence is extreme due to conflicts between various cartels like CDN, CDG factions, Old Zetas, and CJNG.

- Nuevo Laredo is controlled by the CDN cartel, known for its extreme violence. They are a faction of the infamous Los Zetas.

- While I'm glad you crossed safely, many travelers are forced to pay a "tax, " and with a truck like yours, you could have lost valuable belongings.

All the best, and I hope you stay safe while enjoying one of the most beautiful countries in the world, despite the unfortunate violence.

[danpoczynek]

In 2000 I went to Mexico, to Scuba dive all the big dive sites. I cut my trip short by 4 days it was disgusting, had my dive gear stolen. I spent 2 years traveling camping and backpacking all over Aisa and the Middle East, I felt safer in the middle East then I ever did in Mexico. I have never gone back to Mexico, and I will never go back.

[marcomacias]

Hello..thanking about crossing the laredo border Sunday morning, i will be legalizing my car. Would you know if the ofices are open Sunday morning to do the necessary paperwork. ?

[vlamb]

Hello what is the problem with going straight instead of left on that one part?

[exploreimagine]

Was there a lot of inspection check point after the border?

[Germanontheway]

In the video, you advised people to take a left and then make a U-turn into oncoming traffic. That U-turn spot is precisely where cartels often set up blockades. If you’re a noticeable foreigner (Gringo), expect to pay around $1, 000 per person. And if you're driving a truck or anything else they fancy, say goodbye to it. The biggest issue is that the **Cartel del Noreste (CDN)** is the most violent cartel in the region. They are notorious for ambushing military forces in Mexico, and this cartel was responsible for the attack that killed DEA agent **Jaime Zapata** and seriously injured another agent, **Victor Avila**. Due to Nuevo Laredo’s strategic importance as a trafficking route, other cartels constantly attempt to take it over, though without success so far.

However, the CDN, along with other cartels, often abduct innocent people off the streets, flay them alive, dismember them, and eventually behead them. They force victims to falsely claim they're members of rival cartels and post videos of these brutal acts online to instill fear and terror. The **Gulf Cartel (CDG)**, particularly the **Los Metros** faction that controls Reynosa and Matamoros, operates similarly. Recently, they ambushed and kidnapped four Americans, killing two and releasing the other two after realizing they weren't Haitians.

The U.S. government has issued strict travel advisories against visiting Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Sinaloa, Colima, and several other states. Tamaulipas, in particular, is notorious for armed robbery. I was relieved to see you both safely reach immigration, but most people are stopped exactly where you made that U-turn. Also, if I’m not mistaken, the road to Monterrey is often referred to as the 'Road of Death' due to cartel patrols constantly looking to shake down Americans for money or even kidnap them.