Guadalajara bypass

[RonYVickie]

Since we want to be cautious of the Michoacán coast, and since we have gone past Guad., and into Guad only via the southern route to Chapala, the east-west bypass is still a mystery to us. We're in Zipolite, and going north eventually is not optional, I was hoping someone with experience in coming west from Morelia could do a walk- through for us. I see by the Guad map that there seems to be a pretty clear path around the north, but would like to know what the turns are signed for and whether there is a need to take laterals ? Thanks for any and all help ! RYV

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Same here Talleyho69. Those two idiots are being hunted by Los Caballeros Templarios for "Bringing The Heat Down On Their Turf" The military and the federal police onto Mex 200, and finally by los rurales the correct name for "vigilantes".

Want the names of the two perps who took that Jeep?

MUD

[Talleyho69]

Our directions are for approaching from the south. Last I knew, the north wasn't complete, and you ended up dragging your butt through the main street in Tonala. Not fun.
Good idea looking for others in El Manglar, don't forget to check at Costa Bella, Los Arcos and Real de la Palma, too. When we left Monday, there were still a number of people, and at least one other vehicle in Costa Bella that really wants to go up 200, but not by themselves, towing a jeep! Safe travels. We are off to Mazatlan tomorrow.

[RonYVickie]

Thanks very much for the info -I'm assuming this is for the southern bypass route ? I'll write that down for my nagivator ! We plan to spend several days at El Manglar, but have been there numerous times. We're hoping to pick up some up-to-date info and maybe do the coast instead of the whole Guad. thing. We're just a little concerned since the incidents on the Michoacán coast a week back, but may be able to pick up some travel companions in Zihua, as we much prefer that route, having been to Patzcuaro & vicinity for a week about a month back. RYV

[Talleyho69]

Again, Patz to Tepic, where we are tonight, took us a total of 8 hours, 340 miles, around both Morelia and Guad.
The road from Morelia to Guad is terrific. We made a point of pulling off at the Pemex just before the last toll booth to service ourselves and the dogs.
Guad is easy, once you have done it a time or two. The road is in fine shape, but there are a few spots that are rough, but nothing really bad. From the south, follow the signs and the trucks. Just as you relax and think this will be fabulous, you'll see a sign that says heavy traffic on the lateral. Follow everyone else for a mile+ and a couple of stop lights. Hang in the right lane of the two, because you'll do a right loop up and over onto the road to Chapala/Aeropuerto. Follow the leader, and do it. After a bouncy up and over the hill, you'll follow the trucks, exit, and follow the signs to Nogales. Then two stop lights, and if you are headed to PV, in your case, take the turn off to Colima, and down the mountain. It's marked Zapopan/Colima. If you decide to continue to almost Tepic to head down, keep going, and when you see the sign for Nogales, take the right loop and go down that road. There are two overpasses you can take and not take the laterals.
How easy is it really? We call it the "right turn, right turn, two lights, right turn" road. Make lunch when we turn off onto the cuota to Tequila.
We are back on line, so it you need more, don't hesitate.
If you want to spend a couple of days in Zihua, El Manglar has space, and we can give you the easy way to get in there.

[Talleyho69]

It's super easy. We did it today. Before I post that leg, I'd like to give you better instructions from Zihuatanejo to Patzcuaro.
Near El Manglar to El Pozo in Patzcuaro, with one gas stop took us 4.75 hours. We don't drive like maniacs, but don't go too slowly, either. The leg to the base of the toll road is finally all paved, except for the onto and off of a missing piece of over a drainage pipe, and total all of maybe 10 feet. That's a real treat! Took us 1.25 hours to go the 40 miles to the toll road.
Except for the first toll booth, all of them had a police presence checking people, but not us. The road is in better shape that it has been in recent years.
We stay at El Poza, as stated in an earlier post, for our dogs, ease of entry/exit and we love trains. I gave bad directions in the last post.
As you are headed up the hill, pass the exit for Patzcuaro. The toll road ends at K48. Keep going, and when you think all is wrong, you'll see a terrific retorno that will take you the 5K back to El Pozo.
To get back headed toward Morelia, just retrace your tracks. There is a great Pemex maybe 10K after you leave El Pozo, headed toward Morelia, that is not crowded, has lots of space, and a nice OXXO.
Morelia is easy to go around. We did it this morning. A few hundred yards after you hit the first stop light, you'll go under an overpass and immediately see a right loop for Quiroga/Salamanca. Take that. Stay in the right lane, through lots of stop lights, and you'll go under a nice underpass/tunnel arrangement. At that point, you pick up the white line that delineates where you want to be. Stay in that right lane. It's wider, and will thread you through one little weird spot. When it ends, after about 7 miles, and 25 minutes, there is a ramp on the right, two lanes, marked Salamanka. Take that, turn left with everyone else, and in 12 miles, you'll hit the toll road. Super easy, just watch for the white line ending and the ramp. We watch the trucks!
Next post will cover through Guad.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Guadalajara has a population of around 3 million souls.

The issue is, it's twin neighbor ZAPOPAN is far more populous.

Take advice of the viability of using a bypass with seven or eight grains of salt.

The last time I used the "bypass" it took me a tad over seven hours from eastern city limits to western city limits. It may have been a holiday - it was mid week.

I write this as an advisory. You might want to plan on extra time.

IMHO the chances of you getting into a collision a bad one, are about 10,000 times greater than inadvertently seeing a bad guy pass by on Mex 200. To each his own.

Que le Vaya Bien