Driving Down Mexico’s Pacific Coast:
Road Signs and Driving Tips

For more road signs and travel tips see Cruising Baja: Road Signs and Driving Tips.

Driving Distance

Driving distance along Toll Highway 15 (“Cuota”) between the border at Nogales (Arizona and the town of the same name in Mexico) and Guadalajara, several hours east of Puerto Vallarta, is 1694 km (1053 mi). Tolls total a little more than US$200 one way for cars and motorcycles.

Gas

Regular unleaded gas is called magna, and the pump is green (verde). Higher octane super is in the red (rojo) pump. Most attendants are honest, but a few bad apples can ruin the reputation of the whole bunch. Make sure she or he resets the pump to “0” before pumping your gas. Don’t forget to tip a few pesos for pumping the gas, more if the attendant checks your oil, fills the tires with air, cheerfully puts up with your awful Spanish, and/or washes the windshield.

Near the U.S. border you may find signs in English, but most are strictly en español. Below find a translation of the most commonly seen signs.

Road Signs in Spanish and Their English Equivalents
Spanish	English
Precaución extrema: orilla peligrosa	Extreme caution: dangerous shoulder
No se estacione en curva	Don’t park on a curve
Termina acotamiento	Shoulder ends
Carreteras limpias son mas seguras	Clean highways are safer
Precaución: maquinas trabajando	Caution: machinery working ahead
Cinturón de seguridad obligatorio	Use of seat belt mandatory
No maltrates las senales	Don’t damage road signs
Precaución: zona de derrumbes	Caution: landslides possible
No circule por acotamiento	Don’t drive on shoulder
Modere la velocidad, su familia le espera	Slow down, your family is waiting for you
Con niebla o lluvia enciende sus luces	Turn on lights when foggy or rainy
Carril izquierdo solo para rebasar	Left lane for passing only
Principia tramo de cuota	Begin toll road
No deje piedras sobre el pavamiento	Don’t leave rocks on highway
Use acotamiento para emergencia	Use shoulder for emergencies
No exceda los límites de velocidad	Don’t excede speed limits
Transito lento carril derecho	Slower traffic use right lane
No tire basura	Don’t litter