BajaNomad

Driving down through the mainland

jeremias - 3-4-2011 at 12:38 AM

Not exactly a "Baja" question per se, but I'm planning on possibly driving to Zihautenejo with a local friend soon. He's was in the Mexican Military, so I'm not concerned much with the drive down, but the catch is that he is going to stay longer, so I'd end up driving back to Ensenada myself. Driving the mainland by myself through Michoacan sounds just a liiiiitle bit sketchy to me, and is more than likely a deal breaker, but wondered what everybody's thoughts on the drive might be. :wow:

Bajafun777 - 3-4-2011 at 01:12 AM

Get online and go to ontheroadin.com to get a map that has arrows with the roadways all the way down and back. The map will tell you where the Premex stations are coming up on your trip, places to see, places to eat and yes where Walmarts are too!!
My wife loves the maps on this site as great information for your trip and no getting upset because of missed turns. This map goes km by km so you can not get lost you know where you all the way all the time. Each city it has information about the city and what makes its economy run, special places and people that were important to Mexican history also noted if from the town your entering. Check it out and the toll roads going down and back the only way to travel. Safe, Green Angles on these toll roads, enough military, oh yea the map tells you where the military checks are, agriculitural checks are, Federal Police radar sections are, where the topes are and how many, dang we really like the maps from this site. Take Care & Travel Safe ------ " No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN!!" bajafun777

woody with a view - 3-4-2011 at 06:28 AM

i have a gringo friend with a mexican family in colima near pascuales. he drives it 2 times a year. take the toll road.

Dave - 3-4-2011 at 10:26 AM

Be prepared to get tolled to death. Not unlike the Jersey pike. :lol:

toneart - 3-4-2011 at 10:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jeremias
Not exactly a "Baja" question per se, but I'm planning on possibly driving to Zihautenejo with a local friend soon. He's was in the Mexican Military, so I'm not concerned much with the drive down, but the catch is that he is going to stay longer, so I'd end up driving back to Ensenada myself. Driving the mainland by myself through Michoacan sounds just a liiiiitle bit sketchy to me, and is more than likely a deal breaker, but wondered what everybody's thoughts on the drive might be. :wow:


How are you going to get "back to Ensenada" by yourself if you are driving in the mainland, by ferry?

Bajablanca and her husband Les are having a ball driving all around the mainland. See their posts.

As to the aspect of driving through areas that are "sketchy", that is really a personal choice. Yes, the danger element is real, but you are not likely to encounter any. Driving alone or with one other person does not make any difference if your time has come.

The decision is yours alone to make, depending on your reasonable precautions and your capacity for emotionally handling risk.

bill erhardt - 3-4-2011 at 11:37 AM

jeremias......I drove alone back to Florida a couple of years ago to pick up a boat and traveled across the Mexican mainland. I didn't go south as far as Michoacan, but did drive south down the Pacific coast to Puerto Vallarta after crossing the ferry from Santa Rosalia to Guaymas. After checking out possible accommodations for a fishing trip in the PV area I traveled on to Guadalajara, Monterey and into the States at Brownsville, Texas. As somebody else mentioned, there were a lot of tolls. Also, the signage on the roads is not as good as in the US. But, all in all, the trip through Mexico was much more interesting, and enjoyable, than on across the southern tier of the US and back on US 10. Go for it......

chippy - 3-4-2011 at 01:25 PM

I live down here (mainland Mex) and drive that coast a few times a year. I would be more concened driving from TJ to Ensenada than the Michoacan coast. Just donŽt drive at night and youŽll be fine. There are only a few places to overnight on that coast San Juan de Alima, La Ticla and Caleta de Campos. Its one of the most beautifull coastlines in all of Mexico. Saludos c
ps There is no toll road on the Michoacan coast.

[Edited on 3-4-2011 by chippy]

[Edited on 3-4-2011 by chippy]

Bugman - 3-4-2011 at 06:06 PM

It has been a few years since I did that drive but the toll roads were no problem (but frequent tolls as mentioned) and when I did it there were good toll roads almost all the way to Tepic. After that the toll roads were kind of spotty. Those tolls add up though so prepare to fork over some $$. There were only a couple spots that I recall where it was a bit confusing but really no big deal and I would not hesitate to do it again.
:cool:

woody with a view - 3-4-2011 at 06:10 PM

i'd rather take the tollroad for 1000 miles and pay WHATEVER they ask.

the free road sucks!

if you want another opinion......

THE FREE ROAD SUCKS! think tj to ensenada, times 100....

Bajatripper - 3-10-2011 at 08:04 AM

We drove down that coast on our way to Cancun two summers ago and had no problems. As someone said above, there are no toll roads down that coast, and the road is quite curvy, but was in excellent shape. And it is a spectacularly beautiful drive. Unlike some areas of Mexico, where the free road can be challenging because of all of the slow truck traffic one must negotiate, there was very little traffic on the Michoacan Coast. I'm with Toneart, when your time comes, it won't matter if you are with an ex-Mexican military person or not. In fact, the presence of a military man could get you killed in some parts of Mexico. Just don't do any nighttime driving and you should be OK.

bent-rim - 3-10-2011 at 12:27 PM

I think you need a car permit to drive in certain sections of the mainland and it has to be turned in when you cross the border. A friend of mine found the 24/7 office closed in Tiajuana where he was supposed to in the permit. He tried to resolve the situation NOB with no luck. He ended up selling the bike because it wouldn't be allowed into Mexico again.

BajaBlanca - 3-10-2011 at 09:47 PM

hi Jeremias, we just did that very same drive and here are my thoguhts:

1. only take toll roads or add about 2 hours to the drive on a non toll, plus add zillions of speed bumps and mucho but I mean mucho traffic, whereas on the toll road, there is almost no traffic at all. My notes show about 700 pesos in tolls.

2. not a good idea to travel in a super clean super new attention calling vehicle. Make it dirty and older but safe.

3. the road is very very slow going (about 25 mph) as part of the drive in though very mountainous terrain - very narrow - winds around and around.

4. stop in a mountain town called TUITO and have a meal with Felipe and Esperanza - they just opened the place a year ago in April. He was so attentive and the food was really good.

5. not many hotels ... not many restaurants ....

6. www.marvelousmainlandmexico.blogspot.com for more details. we just returned 2 days ago. Have a great trip and maybe take a 3rd person so you are not alone on the return !!