Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

jfriesen1

Feb 14, 2007, 2:52 AM

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MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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I've managed to follow Hwy 57D south past San Luis Potosi. It then, at La Pila, seems to head south-east and goes to Arriaga. (This is not properly indicated on the map.) Some sort of Hwy seems to go on from there to Ojuelos and on to Aguascalientes. But I can't seem to find that area in the Roji atlas. Almost as if the area has been left out, although I find that hard to imagine. It must be me!!
Does anyone know the details of the route from SLP to Aguasccalientes >> Guadalajara?
John

sparks

Feb 14, 2007, 7:32 AM

Post #2 of 19 (2273 views)

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Re: [jfriesen1] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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Don't rely on Guia Roji maps when it comes to back roads. I've found myself on heavyly rutted dirt that I could not distinguish from other smaller roads on their maps

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

jerezano

Feb 14, 2007, 1:13 PM

Post #3 of 19 (2248 views)

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Re: [jfriesen1] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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Hello jfriesen1;

The problem is that the grid of the maps breaks right there.

If you are coming south on Mex 57 take the north or south periferico around San Luis Potosí and pick up the combination of Mex 70 & Mex 80 heading Southwest to Ojueles de Jalisco. If I remember rightly 57D is a cuota bypass that rejoins 57 south of the city and is the fastest route to Mexico. DO NOT take that bypass although it may have an exit for Aguascalientes. It should have but I doubt it.

You pick up the combination of Mex 70 & 80 almost directly across the city from where you enter the periferico on the Northeast. DO NOT continue on Mex 57 south which you will see from the map is almost 90* to the left and shoots off Southeasterly to Querétaro.

At Ojuelos continue Northwesterly on Mex 70 to Matancillas and then westerly on Mex 70 the 87 km-54 miles to Aguascalientes.

I haven't driven this route but this is what my maps show as the direct and principal route. At Aguascalientes the signage to San Luis Potosí is very good. I would expect the same at Lan Luis Potosí since Mex 70 is a principal trucking route.

At Aguascalientes look for the Airport, Mexico, Lagos de Moreno signs and follow them to the cuota to Guadalajara. The exit is well marked but not much in advance and it's busy. . On the cuota do Not miss the Guadalajara exit (about 10 minutes past the San Juan de los Lagos exit and toll booths). It's a surprise exit. If you miss that take the Lagos de Moreno exit and then head back to Guadalajara.

If you can get to Ojuelos and Mex 70 you will have no trouble the rest of the way.

I just checked the maps on google against my rather old PEMEX maps and that Mex 57 bypass around San Luis Potosí doesn't seem to have a connection to Aguascalientes. Maybe somebody who has driven this route will respond with better information.

Adiós. jerezano.

(This post was edited by jerezano on Feb 14, 2007, 1:42 PM)

jfriesen1

Feb 14, 2007, 3:31 PM

Post #4 of 19 (2225 views)

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Re: [jfriesen1] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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Thanks for that info - very helpful. Since My destination will likely be the Guadaljara airport and I don't need to go to Aguascalientes I guess I could also take Hwy 80 southwest from Ojuelos, which would take me straight to Guadaljara. Would that route be okay as well?
I just got an informative email from a map dealer in the U.S. (Treaty Oak Map Distributor) explaining how the updates to the Roji maps are made. I just purchased the Tourist Atlas from a Canadian dealer. According to Treaty Oak, it depends on when the retailer received the map from Roji as Roji does their own printing. The road map portion of the tourist map is updated when an update occurs for the Spanish version. The latest road update for the Spanish Por Las carreteras de Mexico Atlas was updated/printed in late 2006/early 2007. So this update was also included in the most recent printings of the tourist version. So although the date at the inside front of the atlas states 2005, it could well be the 2007 version. Or maybe NOT, if the map has been on the retailers shelf for a few months or longer. Very conmplicated.
John

jwander

Feb 14, 2007, 6:02 PM

Post #5 of 19 (2207 views)

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Re: [jfriesen1] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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I have a Gia Roja map book for Mexico. Believe it or not , the better map is one I got from my local AAA. If you are not a member, the cost of the map is $4.95. It is really much more detailed.

Jeff

P.S. Had 18 inches of snow in last 24 hours and the winds are now gusting to 30mph here in Northeast Pa. (Crap)

jfriesen1

Feb 14, 2007, 9:15 PM

Post #6 of 19 (2183 views)

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Re: [jfriesen1] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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Well, if you're in north-east Pennsylvania I'm just a bit north of you - in Toronto. Just yesterday we got about 10 cm of snow. It's unbelievable but it was the first real snow we've had this winter!! And in the last few days the temp has dropped to 10 and 15 degrees minus. I guess this cold snap makes me think more about my motorcycle trip to Mexico this April. I realize I"m overdoing the planning but it gives me some warmth and comfort to do it.
I will check out the Canadian version (CAA) as I am a member and can get those maps from their office here in Toronto.
I would be concerned if there really was a highway between Ciudad Victoria and SLP in existence for 5 years and still not indicated on the most recent Roji tourist map.
It does show a principal road going south to Hwy 80 (?) and then one would have to backtrack a bit north-west to try to get across to Hwy 57 at Entronque, and then go south to SLP. Looks like a connection, but no indication of a super-highway from Victoria to SLP.
Does anyone know of such a highway?
John

Bloviator

Feb 15, 2007, 6:07 AM

Post #7 of 19 (2163 views)

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Re: [jwander] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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Although I find the auto club map of Mexico to be excellent for most trips - especially for all major roads, I deeply regretted following it without checking the Guia Roji last year in Vera Cruz.

I ended out in the middle of nowhere unable to get onto the nearby cuota. Luckily a young Mexican jumped in his car and escorted us to a spot where the toll road fence was broken and we were able to get back on track. The Guia Roji would have kept me from making the mistake.

Sparks is probably right that it is not reliable for some back country roads, but it definitely is better than anything else I have seen.

(This post was edited by dlyman6500 on Feb 15, 2007, 6:08 AM)

sfmacaws

Feb 15, 2007, 11:15 AM

Post #8 of 19 (2142 views)

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Re: [dlyman6500] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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I agree, the Guia Roji has been much more accurate than AAA or other fold out maps we have. While you may see more roads on one of those maps, don't trust them.

It was a Helvag map I believe, that showed us a nice highway called CA 5 that went across the mountains in Guatemala and dropped down on the side of Guatemala City we wanted to be at. It turned out to be a single lane dirt road that crossed three mountain ranges up to 6000' and it took us 2 days to go under 50 miles. It did come out where the map said it would though.

I carry several maps and recently bought another gps program as well. I occasionally check them all but so far the Guia Roji has been the most accurate. Not that it is always accurate, sometimes it is more wishful thinking but usually it is fairly good. The GPS program seems to be fairly accurate as well but it doesn't give me much info on how big the road is, some but not much.

It is one of the rules of traveling in Mexico that wherever you want to go or wherever an important turn is... it will be in the crack of the map.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

hopalog

Feb 15, 2007, 7:19 PM

Post #9 of 19 (2114 views)

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I agree with Sparks. Use the guia as a GUIDE or SUGGESTION only. Sometimes the Guia is simply a representation of what might be nice to have. :)

But also agree that the AAA maps are much less reliable and honestly, the Guia is pretty good. It is NOT, however, what you're used to in the US or Canada. Take the maps with a grain of salt and enjoy the journey. If and when you hit your destination, consider yourself lucky. :)

Hell's Half Acre

Flickrlicious

(This post was edited by hopalog on Feb 15, 2007, 7:23 PM)

Judy in Ags

Feb 16, 2007, 9:29 AM

Post #10 of 19 (2088 views)

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As Sparks said, "Don't rely on Guia Roji maps when it comes to back roads" I'd subtract from that and say, " Don't rely on Guia Roji maps!"

Papirex

Feb 16, 2007, 9:49 AM

Post #11 of 19 (2085 views)

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Re: [Judy in Ags] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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I have been using Guia Roji maps for 20 or 30 years. I have found them to be reasonably accurate for main highways, but in almost every other way they are the pits. Most of their city street maps are a bitter joke.

Here in Cuernavaca there are blank areas on their city map that have grown into colonias or fraccionimientos in the last 40 years or so. I’m guessing that they get their local city street maps from local city authorities. Anybody ever heard of a Mexican government agency that was efficient?

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

jfriesen1

Feb 16, 2007, 12:52 PM

Post #12 of 19 (2063 views)

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Re: [jfriesen1] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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I will never look at a page of my Roji the same way again...
Jonna you mentioned GPS. I've installed a Garmin GPS on my motorcycle and was at one point toying with the idea of buying a GPS Mexico map for it. But I've heard quite a lot of negative stuff about these Mexico GPS maps (shades of Roji?) so I'm backing off from that purchase. Also VERY expensive compared to maps of Canada or U.S. What's your experience with the GPS in Mexico?
John

jerezano

Feb 16, 2007, 3:01 PM

Post #13 of 19 (2049 views)

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Re: [jfriesen1] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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Hello all,

Hey wait! The Guia Roji atlas is a very good compendium of maps. In 80 to 90% of what you want to find out they work just fine. And I have never found a good alternative. True, for off main highway sites you can do better googling the map for the area you are interested in, which will give you detail to the smaller villages which can be helpful.

Also if you are lucky enough to have one of the old PEMEX atlases from 20 years back they also tend to show mule paths between backwoods hideaways. But then of course they don't show the new cuotas etc., while Guia Roji does.

Sometime you will be lucky enough to find a State or area map which is reasonably detailed but it will be pure luck.

So hang on to that Guia Roji, google for more details, ask the locals, and pray. What else can you do since the air mapping of Mexico has never been updated since way back in the 1980's? INEGI has never been given the funds to do it.

Adiós. jerezano.

jfriesen1

Feb 16, 2007, 3:14 PM

Post #14 of 19 (2045 views)

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My earlier post indicates Roji does update fiarly well. Does anyone know how a trip planner can tell how far cuota construction has proceeded - in other word is there an internet site that gives you that sort of highway information that is up-to-date?
My Roji map says 2 parallel red lines with yellow filler indicates a DIVIDED HIGHWARY. Two parallel red lines with no filler indicates a Toll highway. A soldi red line indicates a PRINCIPAL ROAD.
Still doesn't tell my everything I need to know. Should I presume that every DIVIDED HIGHWAY is also a Cuota?

bournemouth

Feb 16, 2007, 3:20 PM

Post #15 of 19 (2044 views)

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Re: [jfriesen1] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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Check here for a list of cuotas and other useful information.

http://tinyurl.com/yoty6b

yucatandreamer

Feb 16, 2007, 8:22 PM

Post #16 of 19 (2028 views)

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I can certainly understand sitting in Toronto(particularly lately) and trying to plan out your trip down to the minute, but I promise you that the best part of your trip will come from the day you take the wrong road. That is when your adventure turns into a love affair. It will give you the funniest stories and the most wonderful memories once you are home . Get the best map you can find but if you get a little lost don't worry.

esperanza

Feb 16, 2007, 9:11 PM

Post #17 of 19 (2023 views)

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Amen to what yucatandreamer said. Don't micro-manage all the adventure out of your trip.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

hopalog

Feb 16, 2007, 10:25 PM

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Re: [RexC] MIssing pieces on Roji Atlas map??? Can't be...

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Oh My Goodness! I will NEVER forget coming into Cuernavaca from some yellow road, down through pine forests, and relying on the GUIA to get us over to the balnearios. After going in circles (in a van plus trailer - some 17 meters/52 feet (I know it isn't exact)) we hired a taxi to take us through town. Incredibly bad map for Cuernavaca. Bad bad map! :)

Hell's Half Acre

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jfriesen1

Feb 17, 2007, 2:57 PM

Post #19 of 19 (1986 views)

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I agree about the joys of surprises and unexpected discoveries along the road. Sometimes it't difficult to resist heading down that road that's not in the plan but looks tempting. And the best adventures do come along with the road taken, willingly or mistakenly, from the planned path. And lots of good stories...