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riven1950's avatar
riven1950
Explorer
Feb 22, 2015

Mexico newbie questions

My GF and I are on the coast of NC. We have spent a month or so in South Florida the last two winters.

I have done some reading in the Mexico posts. Problem is I am not familiar with the locations, town names, CG's etc. We are interested in traveling to Mexico some. Not interested in the West coast but only in the Gulf coast area South of Corpus Christi Texas, or at least that general area of Mexico. ( closest to home base in NC )

If someone could give me some hints on Town / area / CG names to search or google for that will give me a place to start.

We have a 2013 F150 eco with a 2014 Coachmen Apex 214rb. No pets. No children.

Ideas / comments are all appreciated.
  • MM49's avatar
    MM49
    Explorer
    Feb 28, 2015
    riven1950 wrote:
    My GF and I are on the coast of NC. We have spent a month or so in South Florida the last two winters.

    I have done some reading in the Mexico posts. Problem is I am not familiar with the locations, town names, CG's etc. We are interested in traveling to Mexico some. Not interested in the West coast but only in the Gulf coast area South of Corpus Christi Texas, or at least that general area of Mexico. ( closest to home base in NC )

    If someone could give me some hints on Town / area / CG names to search or google for that will give me a place to start.

    We have a 2013 F150 eco with a 2014 Coachmen Apex 214rb. No pets. No children.


    You should try Baja first before the mainland. Baja is much safer. Less need to keep your head down compared to the mainland.
    MM49

    Ideas / comments are all appreciated.
  • Turtle-Toad's avatar
    Turtle-Toad
    Explorer
    Feb 24, 2015
    Thanks for the update John, I may have to try the coast route again. I had a 'no bite' sign on the back of my coach on my first trip down the east coast and it seemed to help. Several times I could see the traffic cops in my side mirror pointing at the sign and talking about it. Then they normally would pull away. Once, while driving straight through Tampico, they stopped me and warned me that I was supposed to take the bypass. No mention of any mordida or ticket, just advice.
  • keelhauler1's avatar
    keelhauler1
    Explorer
    Feb 24, 2015
    Turtle Toad -- Actually a lot of new paving has gone on over the last 3 years. From Cerro Azul south it is good. The Alamo route has been paved and bridge repaired, there is a cuota to bypass around Poza Rica, MX180 from south of the Emerald coast to Vera Cruz is still narrow but repaved and now no slanty pavement.

    They are actually working on a new road from Tampico south. However the Tampico cops are still a pain but see my "No Bite" sign and walk away.

    As Brian says, lots of other stuff to do & see, depending on your interest.

    The one feature I like is no mountain driving and very few tolls.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Feb 24, 2015
    The East Coast south to Villahermosa does not rank high as an RV destination for several dozen reasons.
  • Turtle-Toad's avatar
    Turtle-Toad
    Explorer
    Feb 23, 2015
    One of the things John doesn't mention is why most people take the interior route south. Road condition! Unless things have changed in recent years, the 80, 180 route down the east coast is a real bummer! It was by far the worst road I've ever been on! We had to get past the city of Veracruz in Veracruz State before it got better. I swore if I survived the trip I'd never take the coast route again; and I haven't. So John probably has more current info on that.

    And look out for the cops around Tampico. Almost all of them are looking to shake you down for some mordida (Spanish for 'bite', but in this context it means bribes). See my website for a complete run-down of our east coast trip (or at least most of it, I'm still working on the Caribbean end of it).
  • briansue's avatar
    briansue
    Explorer
    Feb 23, 2015
    As John says we did not find any nice beaches until we got to the Caribbean side of the Yucatan. But it depends on what you are looking for. There are some interesting ruins along that east coast - Tajin near Poza Rica comes mind. Finding a place to park a rig on the Riviera Maya can be tough as more and more spaces are taken by permanent rigs. Keep researching and ask lots of questions.
  • keelhauler1's avatar
    keelhauler1
    Explorer
    Feb 23, 2015
    I go up and down the east coast but I am in a small minority that travel that way. First of all if you are looking for warm weather all winter long you should go at least as far south as Mazatlan on the west coast and Tampico on the east coast. Elevation makes a big difference in weather, if you go to any mountain towns.
    The problem on the east coast is there are not very nice beaches until you get to the Yucatan. Even the Emerald Coast between Veracruz and Tampico is not good.
    So buy the Church book, get a Mexico map and see where these towns are that people discuss. Google them, do some research and enjoy your trip.
  • Belgique's avatar
    Belgique
    Explorer
    Feb 23, 2015
    John has traveled the east coast extensively for years. His blog tells you everything. We used it a lot on our trip. CLICKY
  • tepetapan's avatar
    tepetapan
    Explorer
    Feb 23, 2015
    Google " RV park in Catemaco Veracruz." About a 2 day drive from Brownsville, Texas and offers good prices and great times.

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