How do you get from San Miguel de Allende to the Gulf side

Thanks to all for your suggestions. They are very much appreciated.

I like Mexicowander's route if not in a hurry and can get along in Spanish, may do that this year as we are also going south from Cd Valles to Barrancas de Topolopanco north of Pachuca this year on the Hwy 85 mountain road. Arco Norte is a very fast/easy/low traffic and EXPENSIVE drive. Take off either toward Poza Rica on another toll road or toward Xalapa, one of our favorite areas(no campgrounds)and then Veracruz or Emerald Coast. The anthropological museum in Xalapa is outstanding and the the town of Coatepec a hidden gem.

Coming back from Xpu-Ha on the Yucatan to Laredo the fast, easy with a dually and a toad cost almost $600 in tolls. That was quotas from Villahermosa or so to Puebla and Arco Norte to 57 then around Monterrey to Laredo. We had a deadline to get to Phoenix.

I still like turning off Mex 57 at San Juan del Rio, jogging over to Pachuca, then south to Puebla. It's a nice drive, and c-a-l-m. No freakin' tolls. Real de Catorce is worth seeing using your toad. And I like the city of Queretaro. Wait, I forgot about Guanajuato. Many folks like San Miguel de Allende.

On 57 watch for individuals standing on the side of the hwy surrounded by bottles. They are selling Agua de Miel and I love it - the precursor to pulque. You can also find superb honey for sale.

Although I've never been to Agua Dulce, I'm sure that you would be able to find a panga skipper that would take you out. However, the tarpon season is normally from April to July. This is because, like salmon, the tarpon is a migratory fish and there just isn't any out there in the other months.

Of course you can always fish for some of the non-migratory fish. Just ask the panga skippers what they are fishing for.

Below are webaddresses for the MX Gov't website where their official maps can be found. These are the latest and where companies like Guia Roji get their maps. They are large .pdf files that can be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Once in you computer you can zoom in and move all around the maps. The first is a list of all the maps state by state. The second is the map of the whole country. At 100% size these maps are the size of folded road maps - about 3 feet square. But if you use them in your computer you can zoom in further and if you have one of the more recent MS PC OSs you can use the Snipping Tool to print sections of the map if you want. BUT these still will not give anywhere near the detail you get with MS Streets & Trips. I should mention that these maps seem to be more detailed than Guia Roji.
And they download for FREE!

http://www.sct.gob.mx/informacion-general/planeacion/atlas-cartograficos/listado-de-atlas/

http://www.sct.gob.mx/informacion-general/planeacion/atlas-cartograficos/mapa-nacional/

We have the Guia Roji atlas with a 2008 copy date. So we probably need a new map. And we want to end up at Poza Rica and then on around to the Yucatan and Bacalar. Is there tarpin fishing at Agua Dulce?

Turtle-Toad wrote:
Sure, just take 111 out of SmA to 57D to 40D to 150D (stop at Puebla?) to 145D (side trip to the Emerald Coast?) to 180D (side trip to Catemaco?) to 180 (Great zoo/outdoor museum at Villahermosa) to 186 to 307 to Majahual and voila! you are on the Caribbean!!

Why would you want to go to the Gulf when you can have the Caribbean?

X2 Esp the Zoo.museum at Villahermosa.

While at SMA, be sure to also visit Guanajuato (which we prefer over SMA), Leon and Dolores Hidalgo...all within 1/2 hour drive.

briansue wrote:
How old are your maps? The new Arco Norte around Mexico City will not show on older maps. New roads are being built every year and map makers are behind. If you have a PC (not Apple) you can download Microsoft Streets & Trips 2013 from Amazon for $20 to see some fairly recent maps - which show Arco Norte. That is what Turtle Toad outlined in his post. Arco Norte has its own website showing the route and the tolls. But you do not say where you want to go on the Gulf? From Puebla you can take 150 and head toward Vera Cruz or the Yucatan. Or you can split off the Arco Norte to head up toward Poza - I heard there is a good new road that way but have not taken it. If you want good maps you need to get off the paper and get digital - much more detailed and up to date.

I heard the new(from Arco Norte) autopista to Poza Rica is an amazing fast drive, from there HWY 180 south to Veracruz city and beyond.

How old are your maps? The new Arco Norte around Mexico City will not show on older maps. New roads are being built every year and map makers are behind. If you have a PC (not Apple) you can download Microsoft Streets & Trips 2013 from Amazon for $20 to see some fairly recent maps - which show Arco Norte. That is what Turtle Toad outlined in his post. Arco Norte has its own website showing the route and the tolls. But you do not say where you want to go on the Gulf? From Puebla you can take 150 and head toward Vera Cruz or the Yucatan. Or you can split off the Arco Norte to head up toward Poza - I heard there is a good new road that way but have not taken it. If you want good maps you need to get off the paper and get digital - much more detailed and up to date.