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bajaboolie
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 9-24-2007
Location: Aptos, CA/Mulege
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Mainland travel experts?
My family and I (husband and 7-year-old daughter) drive down to Mulege every year, and this year we're thinking about spending a couple of weeks doing
a road trip through the Mainland, down probably as far as Oaxaca.
Despite the bad press Mexico gets, I feel safe making the Baja trip because we're so familiar with it. I'm not so familiar with the Mainland and am
curious to hear from people who've done road trips there. Do you feel safe? Any advice other than what I'd hear about when driving through Baja?
My apologies--I know it's not Baja specific, but I trust the overall consensus of Baja lovers!!
Thanks.
Bajaboolie
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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We drove to Playa Azul which is at the far end of Michoacan on the coast. No problems, no special safety concerns.
We were there last year in April and May, it started getting pretty hot and humid towards the end fo May.
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bajaboolie
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Location: Aptos, CA/Mulege
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Thanks, k-rico.
I forgot to mention we'd be traveling during the winter break, after Christmas. Your post confirms my suspicion that given the usual safety
precautions, it would be just as safe as it is in Baja.
Anyone else? Anything we shouldn't miss while we're there?
Bajaboolie
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
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Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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bb- It seems to me that a couple of weeks and getting all the way to Oaxaca puts you on the road much of the time. Not sure what your priorities are.
I assume you will drive down through Nogales and through Hermasillo. That assumed, when you get to Tepic, you have to make a choice whether you wish
to hit the colonial highlands by driving up to Guadalajara and heading through San Miguel de Allende and Queretero, or doing the coastal thing through
PV, Manzanillo and Acapulco. One option gives you the colonial and European flavor, while the other gives access to the beach and the resorts. I
personally can't see you being able to do both in two week, lest you miss so much.
As for the safety thing- There have been random reports of violence in many cities and towns along either itinerary. But, taking precautions as any
sane traveler would, should minimize any risk.
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chippy
Super Nomad
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Registered: 2-2-2010
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You don´t have anything to worry about. My wife daughter and I regularly travel through out mainland Mexico. My only concern would be the massive
migration of Pochos during the Holidays. They are really bad (as in lots of them)on the main corridors. Highway hotels tend to fill up at that time of
year. I just make sure to get my driving done by 4 or 5 pm. Most of the Pochos get in well after dark.
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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had to look it up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocho
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Bugman
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Location: Escondido
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It has been a few years since my last trip down the mainland but I have driven and camped my way down the east coast to Oaxaca as well as along the
west coast to Michoacan. I never had a problem and got well off the beaten path on most of my trips. Same common sense rules apply on the mainland
as in Baja. You just have to go through the pain of getting the car permit and remembering to turn it in upon exiting the country. Also be prepared
to show that car permit and any other papers each time you pass into a new state. I am hoping to go back to Nayarit in 2011 if time permits. If you
are starting from the western USA two weeks is not much time to get to Oaxaca and back. I took 3 weeks to do it last time (started from San Diego and
crossed into Mexico at Del Rio, TX) and felt somewhat rushed to complete the trip. Whatever you decide it should be a fun trip.
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CasaManzana
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Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Was Mulege:Posada Beach/now Zihuatanejo
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Just a piece 'o cake....
Just like Baja, if you survive getting through the border citys, travel is as safe as anywhere in the US. For three years we camped dozens of beaches
during January and Feburary from Mazatlan to Purto Escondido without a hitch. We always picked remote spots and never used organized camp grounds.
Our biggest problem were pigs and dogs going through our food boxes at night, and little kids from houses we never saw who had to sit and watch us all
day long. Three years ago we bought a place in Zihuatanejo, so now we make the trek from Mulege to there every winter when Mulege gets those cold
winter winds. We take the La Paz ferry over to Topo and usually stick to the coast all the way down. We have never had to rent a cop and never found
anything but friendly helpful people. I can't think of one time where we thought safety was an issue on all our trips.
Things are expensive, but at least we get a free trip around the sun once a year
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bajaboolie
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 9-24-2007
Location: Aptos, CA/Mulege
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Thank you so much everyone for this great feedback (and for the education, chippy & k-rico!). This helps me to hone in my planning. We live in
Central Coast CA & plan to drive through Nogales. I've done a bit more research about what I'd like to see, and that includes the colonial towns
(Morelia, San Miguel de Allende...) and Papantla in Vera Cruz, as well as Oaxaca. Maybe a bit ambitious, as you mention, Bajahowodd and Bugman.
We'll see how things pan out in the planning process.
If anyone else wants to chime in about their experiences, please do!
Bajaboolie
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k-rico
Super Nomad
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Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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We hugged the west coast and did not get into the colonial cities. Keep planning. I agree two weeks is not enough time unless you plan on driving a
bunch almost every day. We took 6 weeks and did not go south of Michoacan, but we spent many days camped at various beaches.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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The wife and I made a trip to central mainland several years ago. Ferry from La Paz and drove mainly backroads from Mazatlan, all the way to Queretaro
and back, visiting Durango, Freshnillo, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel/Atotonilco along the way. Never any problem. As a matter
of fact we have a flight booked to Guadalajara from La Paz next month and reserved a car for a 2 week trip to the Dolores Hidalgo/SanMiguel/Guanajuato
region, great for colonial architecture and comfortable accommodations.
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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You will have a blast!!!
I very much enjoy the Barre de Navidad/ Melaque area of the coast. Take your time and savor the richness that is the West Coast of Mexico.
You know the drill already from your Baja travels. Stay away from drugs and people who use them. Exercise caution with sanitation and water. Pacifico
Nada Mas! and aqua mineral. There is more mordida on the coast but one can handle that easily using approaches already discussed on this forum. A
small stash of 100 and 200 peso notes are helpful to carry. You can use credit/debit cards to obtain pesos and it is cheaper to use the machines than
to use the Casa de Cambio. Credit cards give you the actual rate of the day.
The major caution I would give you on the West Coast is to protect yourself from Dengue fever, a mosquito borne illness. Familiarize yourself with the
precautions. It is a very nasty bug and you will not want to get it. Dengue is prevalent along the coast and is under reported.
The most dangerous area is in the Michoacán.
If you want one can travel by Autopista much of the way and the roads are excellent.
Oaxaca is where Cortez built his palace after decimating Mexico City. Many call it "the flower of Mexico". Oaxaca is a wonderful city and the Museum
of Anthropology on the Zocolo is one of the finest in Mexico. The market is home of the world’s best mole and you will find it in abundance and it is
not to be missed. The entire area around Oaxaca is incredibly rich in terms of culture and history.
Queretaro is a sleeper, missed by many on their quest to reach San Miguel de Allende where one can definitely get a cappuccino in the morning and rub
shoulders with the rich and famous. San Miguel is loaded with Xpat Americans and Canadians as well as at least two great Art Institutes.
Queretaro is a World Heritage City, a Patrimony of Humanity City, like Kyoto, Japan and for some reason, unknown to me, bypassed by many travelers.
Queretaro is where Padre Juanipero Serra started out from on his founding of the Missions of California. The Missions of California are named after
the Cathedrals of Queretaro.
You have not mentioned Guanajuato, one of the jewels in the crown of Colonial Cities built on top of one of the richest depleted silver mines in all
of Mexico. The town is fascinating with its warren of tunnels under this charming city. Guanajuato is where Vicente Fox makes his home and is an
absolute delight.
I think that you have perhaps too ambitious of an agenda and encourage you to savor. There are many Mexico's and not enough time to visit it all in a
trip that is this short.
Iflyfish
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3894
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Don't worry - just have good maps. Also, the fastest highways are TOLL ROADS. Can get expensive for 100's of miles of toll roads. So if you want
to avoid those, you'll need the maps to figure out alternate routes.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
Don't worry - just have good maps. Also, the fastest highways are TOLL ROADS. Can get expensive for 100's of miles of toll roads. So if you want
to avoid those, you'll need the maps to figure out alternate routes. |
All kinds of great information on the net with many detailed regional maps. Even Google maps are sufficient if you enlarge and print them. And the
satellite ones are great for determining winding mountainous roads, with many pictures of local sites.
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oldjack
Nomad
Posts: 350
Registered: 1-26-2006
Location: Los Barriles
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Mood: retired
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stop at the FIRST OXXO store going south and buy the Guia Rojo(?) road atlas(8.5x11 format)... it is the best for finding your way around and has many
informational sections on points of interest and time/kilometers... I used this guide in January and had a great time following the backroads of
Nayarit and Jalisco... if you take the Pacific coastal route give yourself lots of time... there is a lot of small beaches to visit plus the road has
soooooooo many curves you may get seasick....
FYI... the OXXO stores also sell folding maps... but go for the spiral bound atlas.. about $20usd... if the first store doesn't have it wait for the
next store....
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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Or buy them online from Amazon before you go. Great maps!
Guia Roji
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bajaboolie
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 9-24-2007
Location: Aptos, CA/Mulege
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This is a wealth of information. Thanks so much Nomads!! I think we're going to hit some of the colonial towns, and well...maybe we'll have to make
another trip next year so that on this trip we can see less and savor more. :-) I spent a month with a Mexican family in Morelia and made side
trips, one of which was to Guanajuato. I absolutely loved that town. But that was 20 years ago....
Anyway, this has been very helpful. I'll keep checking to see if anyone else has more to add. Thanks again! 
Bajaboolie
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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If you have time Patzcuaro is worth the visit.
Ken
http://www.patzcuaromexico.com/
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3894
Registered: 2-9-2004
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I spent a lot of time creating an itinerary for the Morelia/Guanajuato area for monarch butterfly season, and it's also the hot springs area - lots of
resorts with hot springs and some national parks around there too. If you pass through Guanajuato again, maybe go into Acambaro and see the Julsrud
museum.
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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Interesting hotel on the beach in La Ticla, Michoacan. Lots of surfers, lots of mota. I think there is electricity, don't remember. 
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