Phil S
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 10-28-2003
Member Is Offline
Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
|
|
Is there a simular site as Baja Nomads for the mainland?
thinking of driving through the mainland to Mazatlan area next winter. Any know if there is a site like Baja Nomads that reports road conditions.
Bandito areas to beware, etc?
Would cross south of Phoenix area if we do.
Thanks you'all
[Edited on 4-6-2009 by Phil S]
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
There are of course many Mexico's. Many.
Here is a link I like: Select the area i.e. Nayarit and then follow the links to local area blogs.
http://www.tomzap.com/main.html
This is a portal and will link you to a lot of local areas that you might be interested in.
Another option is to check in with the expat blogs. You can find them on the link above and also at the link below.
http://www.expat-blog.com/en/directory/north-america/mexico/
I often will google the place I am interested in and go from there.
I would encourage you to use the autopista's (toll roads) in Mexico as much as you can and like Baja, don't drive at night. The border is the area of
most concern though if you stay around areas frequented by lots of people. Local people will tell you the safe places and places to avoid. Tourist
areas tend to be safer from narcotrafficante violence, but there are those who play on and scam tourists. As in Baja, most people in Mexico are famous
for their helpfulness and hospitality.
Dress down, don't make yourself a target. Be aware of where you are and who you are with. Avoid over indulgence in public and stay away from drugs.
The area that you are going to and the route you are taking are used by millions of people each year, safely. Be alert and don't worry, have fun!!
Viva Mexico!
Are you going to take a motor home? Hotel/Motel? There are wonderful resources for both of these options.
Iflyfish
|
|
|
Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
|
|
on the way down to Mazatlan, I'd recomend you check out the towns, Los Alamos and El Fuerte. They are both about 1/2 hour off the highway near
Navajoa. (About 1/3 to 1/2 way down to Mazatlan on the map)
Nice little towns... = More adobe...less cinder block
Have a good trip!
[Edited on 4-7-2009 by Mango]
|
|
|
Keri
Super Nomad
Posts: 1393
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: La Mision, Baja Norte
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy contento
|
|
This is the link to Bajasundog's site . He has lots of mainland message board links.. His site is great. Take a look,k http://www.bajasundog.com/bajanews.html
[Edited on 4-7-2009 by Keri]
|
|
|
Phil S
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 10-28-2003
Member Is Offline
Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
|
|
Great responses. Thank you very much. We've been driving to Loreto & Cabo (sometimes twice a year) for over l8 years now. Don't think anything
will be much different on the mainland, using all the "be aware of your surroundings" kind of things. Trip would be to San Migual de Allende, and
south to Merida, and over to Maztatlan, and south to Puebla & back a different route.
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
HOOK must have missed this inquiry. He lives over there and, I'm willing to bet, has a lot of good stuff for you.
Maybe send him a U2U.
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
If you are going to Sn. Miguel then the Loredo Truck Crossing is a good fast one that puts you on the autopista to Sn. Miguel with overnight on the
route.
Iflyfish
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks Keri, great link!
Iflyfish
|
|
|
vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Phil S
Great responses. Thank you very much. We've been driving to Loreto & Cabo (sometimes twice a year) for over l8 years now. Don't think anything
will be much different on the mainland, using all the "be aware of your surroundings" kind of things. Trip would be to San Migual de Allende, and
south to Merida, and over to Maztatlan, and south to Puebla & back a different route. |
Phil,
When you guys get ready to go drop me a line. We've done a major part of the mainland and could give you some pointers. You're kind of all over the
map, mentioning San Miguel, Merida, Mazatlan and Puebla like their nextdoor neighbors. May I suggest another look at the map and start realizing the
distances you're talking about. 
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
morgaine7
another great site! Thanks
Iflyfish
|
|
|
Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
|
|
I did see the post but I am most familiar with the San Carlos forums and they really dont talk much about the drives south of here.
Staying on the autopista is good advice..............but it is expensive. Another bit of advice that most mention is dont overnight in Culiacan. In
fact, just keep movin' through there. It's the capital of Carteloa. 
|
|
|
bajagrouper
Senior Nomad
Posts: 964
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rincon de Guayabitos, Nayarit, Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy and retired
|
|
PhilS, I live on the mainland also, I sent you a u2u...
I hear the whales song
|
|
|
Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
You're kind of all over the map, mentioning San Miguel, Merida, Mazatlan and Puebla like their nextdoor neighbors. May I suggest another look at the
map and start realizing the distances you're talking about. |
Vandenburg is right about the distances. Mexico appears smaller on the map than it really is due to the problems of scaling a spherical world onto a
flat sheet of paper.
The only areas I'd be "concerned" about bandits would be the pacific coastal highway south of Acapulco down to Huatulco, and the road between San
Cristobal de las Casas and Palenque in Chiapas.
Maybe its not your cup of tea; but, I'd consider doing that trip by plane/bus/taxi as many of the older towns (and hotels downtown) have little or no
parking - so in many cases you will be staying in hotels just outside town just for parking.
The drive from the border to about Mazatlan is really not that great. I'd look at flying into Guadalajara, and taking the bus and/or renting a car if
you really want to drive.
|
|
|
Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
|
|
Phil S., do yourself a favor and go to ontheroadin.com which gives you the maps that will prevent you from getting lost. Every Premex station has a
big number on it's sign by the road so the map lets you know where you are by these and when to turn getting through some of the bigger towns as the
toll roads do go through some of these. Every kilometer is also listed so again you know where you are on the map as you follow it. The map will
also tell you good places to stay, eat, shop, entertainment, places to see, etc. It cost me about $5 dollars two years ago and my wife said it was
the best $5 dollars we ever spent. No drama or agruments of where we were or if we did get off by me not following directions the map makes it easy
with marking to get right back on track. This only happened once and I believe in was in Conception as they had some road work that got me off track
but within 5 minutes right back on track. These maps were made by people that were pulling trailers so they give you very good advise and even which
Premexs have diesel and which ones do not. All of the toll pay stations have clear restrooms do not be afraid to stop and use them. The bigger
Premex stations I found the same clean restrooms. It cost me $72 to use the toll road from Nogales to Maztlan and most of the way good road speed was
65 and some places since 2 lanes going and coming you can do 70 and the few federal highway patrol in their black and whites are pretty easy to see in
the center dividers. Again, you cannot go wrong with this map. Oh, from Nogales to Los Mochis took me 10 hours and then to Maztlan was another 4
1/2 hours. Real nice Best Western Hotel in Los Mochis right in the center of town where they have bands playing ,other food carts, handcrafts etc.
for sale. Safe town no problems and we walked around night and day times. The train to Copper Canyon leaves out of this area.
Later---------------------------- bajafun
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
