Picking a destination for next year?
Hey Everyone, It has been a bit of torture following folks Mexico travels on this forum knowing that we couldn't go this year. So here I am looking towards Winter of 2016 and our chance to head ...
Forum Discussion
OP, we did PV to Tenacatita road, Highway Mexico 200, several times in our 30 foot gasser, quite a hill out of PV which we did while we unhooked our towed car and drove separately, and times when we were not towing. You would have no trouble on the hills, with your diesel power. Yes, the roads are narrow with little or no shoulder (unless they have been made wider since our trips). In November the rainy season would be just ending, made for the odd branch being able to brush to side of the MH, but no damage ever resulted. At the end of our winter visit, there would never be such a problem, the countryside would be brown and dry. By then many types of trees would lose their leaves, to conserve moisture. Take your time, don't drive too long, plan on where you will stay overnight and get there in lots of time.
The thousand miles or more would require 5 days driving for us, not more than 250 miles travelled, per day. But there were always other areas to check out and stay a few days between the days earmarked for making time south. The roads and traffic require a lot more close attention than the roads north of the border. Getting through cities is often a problem, signage is hit and miss. If you're ever lost you might hire a taxi to lead you.
We once did a car trip to Zhautenejo; we had never gone farther in that direction than a few miles south of Manzanillo, with a motor home. There are some amazing beaches along this stretch of the highway that often is elevated enough that one can get a good look at miles of beach, beautiful, and mostly empty. These views alone are worth the trip. But visit the small area of Marauata and be amazed at what you see. The approximately thirty miles of roadway that follows the terrain of the mountains very closely, well aloft and away from any seaside, is one of the trickiest sections of road you'll ever likely drive. A few miles farther south, you'll come to Costa Azul. If you winter in Ixtapa, or Zehaut, and wish to go inland when on your return, a better highway branches off there, near Costa Azul, to get you into the heart of Michoacan. We always spent time seeing the multitude of Mexican towns all of which seemed to have something very special about them. Check your guides.
I know nothing for sure, now, about the state of Tenacatita that we once visited. Dressed in riot gear, complete with shields and automatic rifles, Jalisco State Police drove everyone off the beach who were there on August 4th, 2010, and blocked access for the next four years. Many, many properties were bulldozed. Dozens of people lost properties signed off by the President of Mexico. The courts finally allowed people back in, but with a new set of rules, and with police looking over their shoulders. 800 people were said to have made a living from that beach. The surrounding area had become very poor very fast.
There is another beach and RV Park, farther south, past the turn off to Tenacatita by about ten kilomometers or so. This is the same, large Bay of Tenacatita. A bit farther on is the small town of La Manzanilla.
The thousand miles or more would require 5 days driving for us, not more than 250 miles travelled, per day. But there were always other areas to check out and stay a few days between the days earmarked for making time south. The roads and traffic require a lot more close attention than the roads north of the border. Getting through cities is often a problem, signage is hit and miss. If you're ever lost you might hire a taxi to lead you.
We once did a car trip to Zhautenejo; we had never gone farther in that direction than a few miles south of Manzanillo, with a motor home. There are some amazing beaches along this stretch of the highway that often is elevated enough that one can get a good look at miles of beach, beautiful, and mostly empty. These views alone are worth the trip. But visit the small area of Marauata and be amazed at what you see. The approximately thirty miles of roadway that follows the terrain of the mountains very closely, well aloft and away from any seaside, is one of the trickiest sections of road you'll ever likely drive. A few miles farther south, you'll come to Costa Azul. If you winter in Ixtapa, or Zehaut, and wish to go inland when on your return, a better highway branches off there, near Costa Azul, to get you into the heart of Michoacan. We always spent time seeing the multitude of Mexican towns all of which seemed to have something very special about them. Check your guides.
I know nothing for sure, now, about the state of Tenacatita that we once visited. Dressed in riot gear, complete with shields and automatic rifles, Jalisco State Police drove everyone off the beach who were there on August 4th, 2010, and blocked access for the next four years. Many, many properties were bulldozed. Dozens of people lost properties signed off by the President of Mexico. The courts finally allowed people back in, but with a new set of rules, and with police looking over their shoulders. 800 people were said to have made a living from that beach. The surrounding area had become very poor very fast.
There is another beach and RV Park, farther south, past the turn off to Tenacatita by about ten kilomometers or so. This is the same, large Bay of Tenacatita. A bit farther on is the small town of La Manzanilla.
