Travel from Manzanillo to Playa Azul on the coast route

[Dlc65]

Hi guys Im doing research going from Manzanillo to Playa Azul Im in a small rig and would like any more information on where to stay, any services offered, and security going down. Any advice is welcome Thanks

[Tequila]

More than one person has had their vehicle hijacked on that stretch of Hwy, I would not travel it unless in a group. Cartels very active along that coastline.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

• The open air Sunday market in La Mira is called tianguis (tee-ann-geeze)it's best to get there around nine AM
• Lazaro Cardenas has a Wal-Mart and Sams Club
• Bodega Aurrera, Soriana and a downtown mercado municipal every day
• Lazaro (deep downtown) streets are way too narrow for rigs
• Between Playa and Lazaro there is a paved concrete multi-lane highway along the coast an alternate to Mex 200
• Good for a sightseeing side trip. Drive across first bridge then park
• Look toward ocean
• Crocodiles! My granddaughters love it!
• Lazaro is an industrial city with few attractions -- but great shopping
• To orient you. When you first arrived you got to the "T" intersection at Acalpican and made a right turn for Playa Azul. Tun left at this intersection and La Mira (la-MEER-ah) is 4 Km the other side of a small hill
• Beware of waves in Playa
• Back up Mexico 200 toward Manzanillo is LAS PENAS. Rock spires (sea stacks) sticking out of the ocean
• The rocks provide a break and swimming is possible but watch younger folks
• Enramada BETY is the last one on the beach
• Come say hello
• Brenda is a fabulous chef
• Swimming hole (no crocs 🙂 )continue past LAS PENAS for 16 Km to RIO CHUTA a long curving bridge crosses it. Entrance is on ocean side nearest La Mira. When you get to bottom turn right and follow dirt road for about a mile. Safe during the day but it's not a place for anything larger than a camper rig
• Small parrots in the trees here. Bring bug juice
• Speaking of which, try and get organic PENNYROYAL OIL in the USA as a bug repellent. Works better than 100% DEET
• On area beaches no-see-ums are not flesh-eaters but Pennyroyal oil from the knees down prevents nuisance tickling.

[Wm_Elliot]

We did it on a motorcycle a few years ago - an amazingly beautiful road. Not much for gas stations and folks were selling gas roadside in towns.

[Talleyho69]

It's an absolutely beautiful drive, we call it the Big Sur coast of Mexico.
The bypass around Tecoman is a gift-his directions got us onto it when it opened, and we were so grateful! There are/were great sculptures in the center of both traffic circles.
The comment about a flashy tow, is unfortunately true. Although I haven't heard about anything actually happening on this route for 3 years, we still aren't taking it, sigh.
We LOVE Parador Ecoturistico Zapote de Tizupan beach. Absolutely beautiful, actual hookups, and a wonderful beach. I just looked it up and like you said, it's also called Maruata.
Do take at least 2 days for the drive, if you don't stop to play. If you do, take a long time!

[MEXICOWANDERER]

[MEXICOWANDERER]

• Not advisable if you have an expensive looking flashy anything in tow. A motorhome would be OK. There are places to stay enroute
• Maruata has an RV parking area, with no problems reported about halfway down 4.5 hours
• Take the TECOMAN exit off the freeway you'll be on a wide boulevard. A couple of miles later you'll see a huge monument traffic circle with a sign CERRO de ORTEGA left turn
• You will turn left on the other side of the traffic circle
• Follow this boulevard and then a cyclone fence for the state fairgrounds will appear on your right
• At the end of the fence there is a street to the right. Take it. This is a very low traffic area
• Follow the street for about two miles, straight, with potholes
• Then you will come upon another impossible to miss traffic circle. You will be making a left here
• Immediately after the left you will be on Mex 200 again
• You need to make up your mind quick about getting fuel as the last gasolinera for 150 miles will be on your right side
• South of Cerro, the highway starts a serpentine path along the coastline. Winding up to headlands then descending down to short bridges
• All the small villages have giant green highway signs now. No guesswork
• When you encounter houses along this rural stretch beware of speed bumps -- they are usually in tree shadows
• Two polite puestos de controles, operated by marinas
• There is now a libramiento a bypass around my turf, Las Penas
• Wave as you go by
• Mex 200 comes to a "T" intersection in Acalpican, a wide spot. Here you will make a right and in a few short miles you will arrive in Playa Azu Sunday morning there is an excellent outdoor market in nearby LA MIRA. When you get to Playa ask about it