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javawaveC

Oct 30, 2006, 7:16 PM

Post #1 of 14 (1386 views)

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Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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Has anyone taken this road lately--is it better alternative instead of going through Tepic to PV with an SUV and 40' boat trailer? Thanks--D & L

sparks

Oct 31, 2006, 1:11 AM

Post #2 of 14 (1369 views)

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Re: [javawaveC] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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The road is more level in that direction and much less traffic ... but it could be down to one lane with overgrowth in many places at this time of year.

There is a 2 lane cuota from Chapalilla to Compostella but you still have hyway 200 from there to Las Varas. The San Blas route bypasses all that

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

javawaveC

Oct 31, 2006, 5:39 AM

Post #3 of 14 (1353 views)

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Re: [sparks] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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What we want to do is to bring our 24' cargo trailer back to CA and tow our boat down on it's 40' trailer-- is the road paved? could we get all the way through to the toll road? We tried looking on a map but it doesn't tell us much--

sparks

Oct 31, 2006, 6:25 AM

Post #4 of 14 (1348 views)

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Re: [javawaveC] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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All 3-4 routes are paved. To get to the Chapalilla toll road you continue SE past Tepic on hyway15 (or the free road) for about 20km. It heads west to Compostela from there.

They've done a lot of work on the section of hyway 200 between Tepic and Compostela in the last year ... but that would still be my last choice with a trailer or RV

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

jerezano

Oct 31, 2006, 9:00 AM

Post #5 of 14 (1320 views)

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Re: [javawaveC] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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Hello,

If I were trailering a boat from Puerto Vallarata north I would not go through Tepic. If you look at your Guia Roji you will see a coastal road from Las Varas to Santa Cruz to San Blas back to the main North-South coastal highway to the north of Tepic. That portion from Las Varas to Ixtapan will be marked in yellow indicating a secondary road. Two years ago it was paved and in good condition. Now?

True the road will be two lane. It is paved but you will run into occasional potholes etc. But you will bypass that horrible and dangerous mountain climb from Las Varas to Compostela. That road is very dangerous for a car let alone a car trailering. The main problem is the traffic which becomes impatient and will insist on passing you on turns and on hills and any other dangerous location where common sense would say no. Too, that route often is fogged over to complicate things even more.

If you take the Las Varas turn off to the left to Zalcualpan you will bypass all that traffic. While there will be some mountain climbing it will be no worse than the Las Varas Compostela climb and will be without the large number of idiots. I would guess the hardest part of the trip would be from San Blas up the mountain back to the main coastal highway.

Is there some way you could explore the route before making the trip with the boat? You must already be familiar with the Compostela route since you got your cargo trailer to Puerto Vallarta somehow.

Adiós. jerezano.

(This post was edited by jerezano on Oct 31, 2006, 9:05 AM)

javawaveC

Oct 31, 2006, 2:10 PM

Post #6 of 14 (1300 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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We were also thinking about a trial run to check it out--that may be the best thing to do--today we were talking with neighbors who made the trip a few times--so that may be the way to go--we got the cargo trailer here through Tepic but my husband doesn't want to take that road again if he can bypass it--Thanks again everyone for the feedback! D & L

Kimpatsu Hekigan

Oct 31, 2006, 10:30 PM

Post #7 of 14 (1270 views)

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Re: [javawaveC] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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Coming from the north, there are two routes via San Blas that allow you to bypass the 3,000' climb and descent to/from Tepic.

The first turn-off from Hwy 15 is at the El Tizate junction. This is just past the long, high, narrow, yellow-painted bridge over the Rio Grande south of Capomal. The turn-off is not well marked and is easy to miss. The road leads you through the towns of El Tizate and Villa Hidalgo and eventually past shrimp ponds into San Blas. It's an agricultural secondary road, blacktop, but with numerous potholes and badly peeling pavement in many places (as of May, 2006). About 30 miles from the junction until you reach San Blas.

The second turn-off is further south at the Jumatlan junction, not too many miles before the point where 2-lane Hwy 15 turns into a 4-lane toll road for the ascent to Tepic. The turn-off to San Blas is well-marked, and the road is the main route from Tepic to San Blas, so is in fairly good condition, though it winds a lot with many twists and turns. About 25 miles to San Blas.

From San Blas, take the road south along the coast through Santa Cruz, El Llano and Zacualpan to Las Varas, where you join Hwy 200 for the run to Puerto Vallarta. This road is is in good shape except for the section from Ixtapan thru Zacualpan to the Las Varas junction, which was heavily potholed (as of May, 2006). Curvy in places with some hills to climb, but nothing horribly steep. Many unmarked topes. Some stunning views along the coast. About 40 miles from San Blas to Las Varas.

HTH,

-- K.H.

Before enlightenment: Chop wood, haul water.
After enlightenment: Chop wood, haul water.

javawaveC

Nov 4, 2006, 12:04 PM

Post #8 of 14 (1214 views)

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Re: [kimpatsu_hekigan] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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Thank you for the details--we do appreciate it! D & L

javawaveC

Nov 20, 2006, 4:34 PM

Post #9 of 14 (1135 views)

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Re: [javawaveC] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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UPDATE---Just wanted to report that my husband traveled this road pulling our 24' cargo trailer back to CA last week and made it back safely---his words of wisdom to anyone else thinking about making the trip along this route is to take it slow around the curves and watch for the unmarked topas. The potholes were mostly filled. He said given the choice it's a better alternative than 15 through Tepic. D & L

sioux4noff

Nov 22, 2006, 8:25 PM

Post #10 of 14 (1085 views)

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Re: [javawaveC] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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We went to Mazatlan from Puerto Vallarta last week. Went the coast road one way and through Tepic the other. Tepic was faster.

jerezano

Nov 23, 2006, 7:19 AM

Post #11 of 14 (1064 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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Hello,

JavawaveC said: We went to Mazatlan from Puerto Vallarta last week. Went the coast road one way and through Tepic the other. Tepic was faster.

Of course through Tepic is faster. Much faster. Primary roads all the way. But that drop or climb from the coast up through the mountains to Compestela and on through Tepic is a very dangerous drive, even if NOT pulling a trailer. Mainly because of impatient drivers who opt to take chances on uphill passing on curves, etc. And if there should be fog, forget the idea. The subject of this thread is whether there is or not a viable alternate route for somebody trailering a boat or a trailer or driving a large unwieldy Motor Home. Yes, there is. That coast route, while secondary roads most of the way, is just that.

Adiós. jerezano.

sioux4noff

Nov 23, 2006, 8:59 AM

Post #12 of 14 (1054 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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Actually, I was the one who said it. And you're right, I overlooked the part about the trailer. Sorry.
But, I do know folks who have hauled trailers that way (Tepic) without any real complaints.
It was faster, but not lots faster. Traffic was fine on a Sunday afternoon both ways, not too many passholes out there.

javawaveC

Nov 23, 2006, 9:11 AM

Post #13 of 14 (1051 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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Glad that got cleared up! We would never recommend going through Tepic-- It's definitely up to the individual but whether trailering or not through San Blas has our vote---
D & L

jerezano

Nov 24, 2006, 6:39 PM

Post #14 of 14 (1011 views)

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Re: [javawaveC] Road from Mazatlan to San Blas to PV--

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Hello,

My appologies to both javawaveC and sioux4noff for the mis-attribution of the quote. These threads can get confusing at times. Adiós. jerezano.