David K - 5-24-2011 at 06:05 PM
Asking for an amigo:
If any Nomads have some recent road comments, please share them. Is it 'better' to use the Vizacino to Tortugas roadway (paved or partly paved?) or
take the more direct route from Asuncion to San Jose de Castro? Why? Thanks!
tiotomasbcs - 5-24-2011 at 07:36 PM
Good question. I think Diana posted her preference for the Castro/shortcut but others may have recent knowledge. I hope to be in this area this
summer. Shari & Doc just posted of new potholes on Vizcaino/ BA road. Slow as we go! Tio ps stop for the Tamale Girl!
Roads question
John M - 5-24-2011 at 08:58 PM
The paved road at Vizciano has some filled in potholes for the first 6 or 7 miles once you leave town, then the surface improves greatly with blow
sand encroaching in just a few places onto the roadway. We turned at the road to Asuncion where, at the intersection, we encountered what appears to
be a semi-permanent military check point. Quite intrusive on our return but there was almost no traffic and perhaps the guys were trying to stay
occupied.
The pavement to Asuncion is new, and fast. We did not continue toward Bahia Tortugas but inquired and were told that it's pretty good all the way. No
idea of the next part to punta Eugenia. The dirt road route from Asuncion to San Jose del Castro looks interesting although for much of the area near
all the roads it appears that the sand could be soft and deep.
John
David K - 5-24-2011 at 09:02 PM
35 miles vs. 52 miles... If it was me, I would take the shortcut... see that country... However, if the pavement was near complete from the Asuncion
junction to Tortugas, that would at least be an option for the return trip...?
Bajaboy - 5-24-2011 at 09:09 PM
Our neighbors often fish out of Tortugas and the longer route. I've driven both routes but not recently. I'd guess that the longer route is quicker
but the shorter route is scenic.
surfdoc - 5-24-2011 at 09:21 PM
Thanks for the maps David.. just what I needed.
I think after reading the replys I will spend a weekend traveling both ways.. before trailering my panga.
Again my thanks........ and will post up a current report of the roads once I travel them!
DianaT - 5-24-2011 at 09:36 PM
It has been several months since we drove out to Tortugas, but we do prefer the "shortcut". We have driven it when it was newly worked on and great,
and when it was not so great. Our friends warn us to be careful in the mountain parts of this road where the road is narrow and the locals drive it
fast. We saw what that was like after the baseball game between BA and Tortugas! That was a good time to pull over and take a nap.
We do not know the current progress on the pavement of the main road---it was paved from Tortugas to the turn off at San Jose Castro and then dirt to
the turn off to BA. But they were working on the pavement from the turn-off end. At that time, we really wished we had returned to BA by the back
road as the main road was so washboardy----really bad.
But that was several months ago and things change--
Also, some have said the road from Tortugas out to Punta Eugenia is not good and we found it to be GREAT and in great shape.
Best advice, IMHO, is try both ways and see what they like.
[Edited on 5-25-2011 by DianaT]
David K - 5-24-2011 at 09:54 PM
Wonderful Diana, thanks... and as he admits here, it was surfdoc I was asking for! 
