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colibri1

Dec 29, 2010, 8:45 AM

Post #1 of 19 (4979 views)

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New road to Vallarta?

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I remember hearing about a new quota 'pista going between PV & GDL. Is it done? Where would I find a map showing it?

chicois8

Dec 29, 2010, 9:30 AM

Post #2 of 19 (4967 views)

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Re: [colibri1] New road to Vallarta?

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It is Highway 70, it is on my 2011 Guia Roji roads of Mexico atlas...

From Guadalajara you take the Tala / Ameca turnoff,

it takes you through Mascota and by San Sebastian...

It ends at the Home Depot in PV...It starts off with

fields of Blue Agave, then turns onto fields of sugar cane,

then into pine tree forests and drops into tropical jungle......... hope this helps

RickS

Dec 29, 2010, 10:58 AM

Post #3 of 19 (4945 views)

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Re: [colibri1] New road to Vallarta?

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Well, there is no cuota that runs from Guad to PV. The only cuota would be from Guad towards Tepic, turn off around Chapalila (plainly marked) on another short cuota over to Compostela and Highway 200, then down a pretty congested (some call it very dangerous!) Hiway 200 to PV. I'm sure you know all of this.

The road that chicois8 is referring to is not cuota (unless there a 'new' portion out of Guad to Ameca but this could only be about 25 miles max.) and is not new. From Ameca west on Hiway 70 it is 2-lane in fairly good condition (for Mexican 2-lanes), but one will be limited to around 50 mph due to traffic and general road conditions. This is the road, BTW, to Talpa de Allede if you have not been there. Then is does go to/thru Mascota which is a nice town. It is past Mascota that this road might be considered 'new', but in reality it has been there in its current form for several years.... previously one could only get from Mascota to PV in the dry season and then 'only' with a high-clearance vehicle or 4WD.

So maybe 5 years ago? they constructed a highway over the mountains from Mascota to around San Sebastian de Oeste and then on down the mountain to Las Palmas outside/northeast of Nueva Vallarta. A bridge spanning a deep gorge was put in about 2 years ago on this route. But as is the case with much Mexican road construction this route from Mascota down towards Las Palmas, much of it very 'mountainous', succumbs to deterioration during the rainy season and is often closed for some days when the mountainside caves off covering or worse yet wiping out the road.

I took this route last year coming back from PV to Chapala (I had done it before and enjoyed the 'newness' of it then). I said 'not again'... I'll just take the cuota and pay the tolls... which are around 300 pesos today. Well, I have a short memory so last week I took it from Lake Chapala down to PV. My route, from Jocotopec thru Villa Corona then thru San Martin de Hidalgo to Ameca was about 75% construction and it took me forever. From Ameca on it was OK. BUT, I have reaffirmed that I won't go that way again.... been there done that!

Although this route looks like it might be shorter in time (it is in distance!), it is not, even if one hits no construction as I did last week. It is longer. It might also 'wear you out'. But if you have never taken it before I'd say by all means.... new sights. And no tolls. But if you are looking for a better route to PV, this is not it. YMMV

(This post was edited by RickS on Dec 29, 2010, 2:32 PM)

tashby

Dec 29, 2010, 12:02 PM

Post #4 of 19 (4932 views)

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Re: [RickS] New road to Vallarta?

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Yes, but....

There has been a nice rumor about another road being constructed through the mountains that would link Guadalajara to the PV-area, supposedly ending up at Bucerias, I think. I've been hearing about this phantom road for a while now....I think there was even an appropriately vague blurb in the ever-reliable Guadalajara Reporter several months ago.

Personally, I don't think it really exists.

(This post was edited by tashby on Dec 29, 2010, 12:03 PM)

RickS

Dec 29, 2010, 12:32 PM

Post #5 of 19 (4923 views)

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Re: [tashby] New road to Vallarta?

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Yes, I have heard this 'rumor' for a while... even asked about it on this forum (see: http://www.mexconnect.com/cgi-bin/forums/gforum.cgi?post=121701;search_string=new%20highway%20planned%3F;#121701

But I traveled this road a couple of days ago (I was in Bucerias, Las Varas, Chacala, Compostela etc) and there is no evidence of nor talk (from friends in Chacala) of this phantom road project. If it turns out to be true and forthcoming, it will replace probably one of the most highly traveled and pretty dangerous roads that I have traveled in Mexico. Coming back Sunday, I was heading north towards Compostela, and coming south there would be a bus or two (or truck) being followed by maybe 45 vehicles.... mostly Mexican Nationals going to the playa..... at maybe 15 miles an hour. Many of them try and pass to get into the 44th position, then maybe the 43rd position, but that's another story.

(This post was edited by RickS on Dec 29, 2010, 2:35 PM)

Casa

Dec 29, 2010, 12:50 PM

Post #6 of 19 (4918 views)

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Re: [tashby] New road to Vallarta?

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It seems that every couple of years there is talk from officials on a new MAXI pista or cuota road between PV and GDL cutting travel time in half but they never seem to materialize.

below is the link to recent article
http://www.milenio.com/node/596495

"La nueva autopista de cuota permitiría que el trayecto entre la capital jalisciense y el centro turístico se haga en dos y media horas, esto es, que se tendría un ahorro de dos horas en el recorrido, que en este momento se hace por una vía libre de un carril por sentido, desde Chapalilla hasta La Cruz de Huanacaxtle."

RickS

Dec 29, 2010, 12:59 PM

Post #7 of 19 (4916 views)

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Re: [Casa] New road to Vallarta?

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If I translated correctly, this project is progressing with the 'obtaining of right-of-way', some of which is through a protected area of the Sierra Vallejo. In the US, that last part would slow it down (I'm NOT complaining!) for a good couple of years.

Maybe some day.....

Casa

Dec 29, 2010, 1:17 PM

Post #8 of 19 (4912 views)

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Re: [RickS] New road to Vallarta?

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Well this project, new cuota PV to GDL, will probably get done about the same time as the High Speed Train Between GDL and DF that they were talking about back in 2002………

tashby

Dec 29, 2010, 3:26 PM

Post #9 of 19 (4882 views)

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Re: [RickS] New road to Vallarta?

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Quote

I was heading north towards Compostela, and coming south there would be a bus or two (or truck) being followed by maybe 45 vehicles

Yeah, when there's heavy traffic the stretch between Las Varas and Compostela can be, errrrrm, engaging to say the least. I've been lucky the last few times I've driven it. The first time I ever drove it was during rain and fog and ...... never mind.

Still, like you, prefer it over the route via Ameca/Mascota. The bad stretch only lasts 30 minutes, almost to the dot.

sparks

Dec 29, 2010, 5:17 PM

Post #10 of 19 (4852 views)

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Re: [colibri1] New road to Vallarta?

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In 98 we drove from DF to Vallarta and my girlfriend heard there was a shortcut (new highway) but we couldn't find it on the map. Might have been improvments on highway 70?

I think the latest talk is from the Riviera Nayarit consortium

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

jerezano

Dec 30, 2010, 5:44 AM

Post #11 of 19 (4810 views)

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Re: [sparks] New road to Vallarta?

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Hello all,

The stretch of road from Compostela Nayarit to Las Varas Nayarit on the route to Puerto Vallarta is indeed tortuous and dangerous.

In the best of weather, this two lane, curving, snake-like mountainous road is restricted by the curves, etc., to about 40 mph over all. In foggy weather, which is often, the road is one of the most dangerous I have ever driven. Not because of the road itself but because of the fog. As somebody has mentioned previously, the drivers get impatient when stuck behind a long line of cars following a truck or bus. They then start to pass and since in foggy weather one can see no more than 100 feet, and the road has a new curve during that 100 feet, a car will suddenly appear head on and there is no place to hide.

I recommend in bad weather that one drives into Tepic, take the Tepic Mazatlan bypass, and from Tepic down to the coast (an hour of also snake-like road but usually no fog and not much traffic and then take the coast road to Las Varas. Trip adds about 30 to 45 minutes to your drive but gets rid of the dangerous element.

Take this route particularly if you have an RV or if you are pulling a boat or trailer.

Have a good trip.

Hasta luego, jerezano.

(This post was edited by jerezano on Dec 30, 2010, 5:47 AM)

sparks

Dec 30, 2010, 6:21 PM

Post #12 of 19 (4751 views)

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Re: [jerezano] New road to Vallarta?

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Best advise I can think of is if you are in a slow line of cars ... have patience and stay there. It won't last forever.

The long haul buses and crazy drivers that want to pass 10 vehicles at a time probably won't get you

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

sioux4noff

Dec 30, 2010, 8:42 PM

Post #13 of 19 (4730 views)

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Re: [tashby] New road to Vallarta?

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We prefer the Mascota / Ameca route.

tashby

Dec 30, 2010, 8:45 PM

Post #14 of 19 (4729 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] New road to Vallarta?

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You didn't say why...so.....???

sioux4noff

Dec 30, 2010, 9:25 PM

Post #15 of 19 (4722 views)

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Re: [tashby] New road to Vallarta?

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Less traffic, very few buses and trucks, more scenic and no tolls.

jerezano

Dec 31, 2010, 6:23 AM

Post #16 of 19 (4692 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] New road to Vallarta?

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Hello all,

Yes, the Ameca-Mascota-Sebastian route is very scenic and a lot of fun for a small car, although the right seat passenger will be frightened at times.

No, do not go this route with a trailer of any type or with an RV. You will regret it.

San Sebastian is worth a stop over the weekend, if you can find lodging. It is crowed with Puerto Vallarta visitors every weekend and mounts several fun events.

Hasta luego, jerezano

colibri1

Jan 1, 2011, 9:02 AM

Post #17 of 19 (4616 views)

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Re: [jerezano] New road to Vallarta?

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A BIG thanks to all!!! We probably would have gone the Compostela way...YIKES!!!

RickS

Jan 1, 2011, 9:37 AM

Post #18 of 19 (4613 views)

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Re: [colibri1] New road to Vallarta?

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"We probably would have gone the Compostela way...YIKES!!!"

I think that maybe all the discussion about that small stretch of road between Compostela and Las Varas (it's only about 34km!) has clouded the discussion. The 'Compostela route' is the one that's probably the route-of-choice for 99% of the folks driving Guad to PV. It's not a train-wreck by any stretch. Now if one also wants to eliminate the toll, that's another story. But remember that going the Mascota route one will have about 300km of 2-lane roads. The choice is yours.....

(This post was edited by RickS on Jan 1, 2011, 5:49 PM)

jimboynton

Jan 1, 2011, 4:38 PM

Post #19 of 19 (4573 views)

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Re: [RickS] New road to Vallarta?

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Couldn't agree with RickS more. I have driven the "Composeta route in both directions a number of times. Just duck behind a big SUV and let him lead you down or up the road. I've driven stretches of mountain roads in the U.S. just as bad. Of course there were any Mexican drivers on those roads.