alternate routes through PV

No, sorry Paul, but the only way to miss the buses on the PV laterals is to turn north at Melaque and come through the outskirts of Guadalajara. Makes the buses seem not much of a problem, eh ? We're leaving Mesa AZ in the morning for Tucson, then Wed over the border. Hoping to do San Carlos-Maz-Tequila-Patzcuaro if all goes well. Wish us luck ! RYV

RonYVickie wrote:
Paul - if you are coming from the south, there is a light right after the Pemex on the left as you enter the town - that is Basilio Badillo St. Turn right at that light and you'll go up the street and enter the first tunnel. Stay on this road as it winds along the hills over town. Eventually you'll pass through another, longer tunnel and begin descending. No turns until you can see that you're approaching the main street with hotels, then keep in the right lane and take the curve that merges with the main street with laterals. Keep right to get on the lateral which you have to use with dual wheels or trailers. The lateral will take you right out past the airport and merges back with the highway. If you're overnighting and want Tachos, you'll need to turn right at the casino tower and go down past Sam's Club, through the first light, then get in the left lane and into the first left turn bay - that's Tachos. I don't know if you have internet, but I usually go to Google Earth for a place I haven't been - you can see this route if you just go to "PV" and zoom on the south side. Any questions - phoenyxx2(at)gmail.com

That is the route I take, just wondering if there was any way to bypass those laterisls full if city buses.

Thanks ! It helps when you spend a couple months a year there for 9 years and enter the town from both ends with a trailer ! RYV

They are good! Those are the exact instructions to get through town, and to both parks. Yes, it's an uncomfortable place to drive through, but there are no other options.
Great descriptions, both of you, and correct! You MUST use the laterals.

Paul - I just checked the street-level view on Google Earth and as I figured, the right turn just past the Pemex is signed for "libramiento and Tepic"

We see the odd one. There is no bypass. Most of the M 200 through PV requires that Trafico Pesado use the laterals. Trafico Pesado includes ANY vehicle with duals and any vehicle towing.

The part of the 200 that requires using the lateral is from (South bound) where as you approach PV the laterals begin (well north of the airpoar) to where the 200 turns left to head through the tunnels (Should be signed TEPIC and TUNEL) and the main road appears to go straight. DON'T GO STRAIGHT AHEAD here as you will end up in the very narrow streets into centro and the old town. Get off the lateral as you pass Plaza Las Glorias. Once you make this turn do not take the lateral unless you know where you are heading for as they stop without warning mid block!

Northbound, after the tunnels, watch for where the dual lanes merge with the dual lane road out of centro (on your left). Here you will for a few feet be back on 2 main lanes and you must immediately move right onto the laterals. There is a Pemex here on the right. The merge is almost always busy as all the buses and many taxis are trying to do the same. This is a 2 lane lateral; stay in the left through lane(--not the left turn lane!) at least for the first block or two as this is a very busy bus stop in the right lane.

(At the first light, right at the bus stop, the right turn there is to Calle Francia, where the Puerto Vallarta Trailer Park in located. (NOT Tacho's). IF you are going to PV Trailer park, make your turn from the Left lane in front of the busses as this intersection is very narrow and often crowded with traffic. We have done it several times in a 32' DP towing a car, it just needs slow and easy, care and patience.)

If you are continuing north either through PV or to Tacho's, just stay on the lateral. There are two lanes for most of it but they are very narrow here, watch the buses; one took our mirror off a couple of years ago.

For Tacho's turn right at Walmart; other wise carry on. Soon after Walmart the lateral becomes one lane then shortly after the end in a merge back to the highway. Yhe last block of lateral is pretty bad. If you see buses and heavy trucks leaving the lateral for the main lanes, follow them.

Paul - if you are coming from the south, there is a light right after the Pemex on the left as you enter the town - that is Basilio Badillo St. Turn right at that light and you'll go up the street and enter the first tunnel. Stay on this road as it winds along the hills over town. Eventually you'll pass through another, longer tunnel and begin descending. No turns until you can see that you're approaching the main street with hotels, then keep in the right lane and take the curve that merges with the main street with laterals. Keep right to get on the lateral which you have to use with dual wheels or trailers. The lateral will take you right out past the airport and merges back with the highway. If you're overnighting and want Tachos, you'll need to turn right at the casino tower and go down past Sam's Club, through the first light, then get in the left lane and into the first left turn bay - that's Tachos. I don't know if you have internet, but I usually go to Google Earth for a place I haven't been - you can see this route if you just go to "PV" and zoom on the south side. Any questions - phoenyxx2(at)gmail.com