Entering thru Colombia

We will be driving to Ajijic the 1st week of November for our 1st extended stay (6 months). It has been suggested to us that crossing the border at Colombia is much easier than crossing at Laredo. It appears that only adds about 20 miles to a 2,000 mile trip anyway but does anyone have any thoughts on this. We are Newbies!!!

I have gone through Columbia in both directions over the last year. Getting through the crossing is extremely easy and both times there were fewer than 5 cars.

On my northbound trip I found it hard to find the crossing, but now that I have found it there will be no problem next time. If you have a GPS save the location as you come into Mexico and you can just plug it in on your way back out.

Northbound I did get shaken down for 5,000p just off the turn from the main highway toward Columbia so be careful with your speed.

Also note that the crossing doesn't open until 8:00am so plan accordingly.

Thanks so much!!!!!

You are welcome. I will be crossing myself southbound on October 30.

I'm now being told that there is no way to pay a toll on the road to the Columbia border crossing and that you need a special pass to drive on the road that takes you to this bridge(Route 255). Did you have any trouble driving on Rt 255?

Nope, I am Canadian so they don't send me a bill.

skurvish wrote:

Northbound I did get shaken down for 5,000p just off the turn from the main highway toward Columbia so be careful with your speed.

5000 pesos?That seems kinda steep,who shook you down?

Cop. Was a fair hike away from Laredo and he claimed if I wanted to pay I had to go back there right away. I could have tried calling his bluff but too chicken s**t I guess.

skurvish wrote:Cop. Was a fair hike away from Laredo and he claimed if I wanted to pay I had to go back there right away. I could have tried calling his bluff but too chicken s**t I guess.

This is just my opinion and I don't mean any offense, but when gringos fork over outrageous bribes like that it makes it makes tougher on all of us because the cops look at all of us as suckers,you can bargain with these guys,if they ask for 5000 just laugh and make a counter-offer of say,400 and go from there.
I've driven a NoB plated vehicle in Guadalajara every day for the last ten years and the only time I'm concerned about getting shaken down for a mordida is when I go to Lakeside because the transitos there have expats pegged as suckers.

^What he said.

I've even had Mexicans compliment me for how cheap I am with la mordida.

FYI: Columbia bridge GPS coordinates: N27 41.698 W099 44.952