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robrt8

Jun 18, 2008, 10:36 AM

Post #1 of 24 (4121 views)

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Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Hi folks,
My wife, two kids and I are driving down the west coast next week, stopping at the above. If any of you have any tips as far as places to check out, road conditions, mordida traps, ANYTHING, I'd really appreciate your input.
Thanks in advance!

esperanza

Jun 18, 2008, 11:04 AM

Post #2 of 24 (4115 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Buy this before you travel: http://www.amazon.com/...213812143&sr=8-1

Seriously, don't leave home without it.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Esteban

Jun 19, 2008, 8:37 AM

Post #3 of 24 (4071 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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I usually don't get lost while driving in Mexico but this last time, coming from Texas to Mazatlan, I had a few problems with the new toll road that won't be done for another god knows years, so I broke down and bought the Guia Roji for 2008. In Mexico it sells for 190 pesos. It's good, very good.

robrt8

Jun 19, 2008, 9:45 AM

Post #4 of 24 (4056 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Thanks to both of you.
I have the Mini Atlas Turistico version with me. I left the Mexico Road Atlas in SMA by accident. Can I pull it off with the mini, or should I buy another?
Also, does anyone have advice on getting to Tonala from the 15?

drmike

Jun 19, 2008, 11:46 AM

Post #5 of 24 (4045 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Drive very quickly and without stopping through Sinaloa (at least until you get to Maz.) and Culiacan...Do not make eye contact with any persons.
Dr. Mike

http://www.smarthealthchoices.blogspot.com

There are hundreds of paths up the mountain,
all leading in the same direction,
so it doesn't matter which path you take.
The only one wasting time is the one
who runs around and around the mountain,
telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.

Hindu teaching

esperanza

Jun 19, 2008, 3:40 PM

Post #6 of 24 (4021 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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In Reply To

Get the other one. Nothing else is as good, we promise.

What is the 15? One of the things you need to learn before you travel is that NO ONE in Mexico travels by the highway numbers. If, for example, you're going from Town A to Town B and get lost in Town A and ask someone where to find Highway 50003, people will simply look at you as if you fell from Mars. You want to say, "Where do I find the road to Town B?" (In Spanish, of course.)

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

robrt8

Jun 19, 2008, 6:11 PM

Post #7 of 24 (3998 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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I've done a lot of driving in Mexico. I haven't driven the Mazatlan-Guadalajara leg before, though. I'm entering Guadalajara from Hwy 15. "The 15" sounds very "LA", doesn't it? I'll do a little more searching for Tonala tips.
I'm wondering if there's any construction or other things I should look out for on my route, for example. I recall someone here recently did a similar route and got the "bite" in Culiacan.

bournemouth

Jun 19, 2008, 6:17 PM

Post #8 of 24 (3994 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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You're going to pass around Culiacan - which is a little distance off the cuota - so, with luck, you should have no problems.

esperanza

Jun 19, 2008, 8:39 PM

Post #9 of 24 (3983 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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If you're coming from Mazatlán through Tepic to Guadalajara, you'll be going around the south side of Guadalajara either on the periférico or on Lázaro Cárdenas, a more interior but equally limited access road. To get to Tonalá, you'll want Lázaro Cárdenas. Stay on that and it will take you around the near-south side of Guadalajara. As you head east, you'll easily find the Tonalá exit. The roads there are very well marked. Just watch first for the signs saying "México", follow those, and then you'll see the sign for the Tonalá exit, just on the east side of the city.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

tashby

Jun 19, 2008, 9:20 PM

Post #10 of 24 (3978 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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"I recall someone here recently did a similar route and got the "bite" in Culiacan."

That was me. But first...

We drove almost exactly the same route. Once you get through the two-lane part in Sonora, which is a bit of a grind, it gets a lot more pleasant as far as the easy driving goes.

I remember the drive from Guaymas to Mazatlan being a VERY long day, and that was without any traffic, or kids in the car. (Maybe I drive slowly, but it's a long day either way.) Might want to consider getting further than Guaymas, or....?

During the next leg, once we got beyond Culiacan, I felt like we had clear sailing so I put the cruise control on 112K/HR, where the speed limit is posted at 110K/HR. It's a wide open, flat road at that point. I laughed and told my partner, LOOK, we're speeding! (As said, it was a very long driving day and I knew we had a long way to go still.)

We got pulled over on the cuota to Mazatlan by a Federale moments after I said that.

At that point, it was late in the afternoon and I dealt with it and got us on our way as soon as possible. No big.

I think we just happened to be on exactly the right road at exactly the wrong time. It was in no way scary or at all expensive.

But we had a dog in the car! This was early April. It was hot!

¡Suerte!

bournemouth

Jun 20, 2008, 5:33 AM

Post #11 of 24 (3963 views)

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Re: [tashby] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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It's funny how perceptions are - we've always found San Carlos/Guaymas to Mazatlan an easy day, arriving in plenty of time to enjoy a walk along the beach if you feel like it. I think it's about 8 1/2 hours or thereabouts - we usual stop at a Pemex station/truck stop outside the south end of Los Mochis, for lunch - El Pozo Rico, I think it's called - clean, ATM's, clean rest rooms and reasonable food. I always enjoy a last meal of machaca before heading further south. For me Mazatlan to Chapala is a much longer day but with the new sections of cuota south of Mazatlan, it is now shorter. Those sections may be spendy as far as the tolls are concerned, but I think they cut an hour of the trip. Worth every centavo not to have to drive the old one lane road up and down hills and around bends following big and slow trucks.

robrt8

Jun 20, 2008, 8:21 AM

Post #12 of 24 (3945 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Thanks to all of you. This is very much appreciated. Tashby, those federales must have had quite the calibrated radar gun.
We'll probably spend a few nights in San Carlos and leave super early for Mazatlan. I'm more worried about getting into Guadalajara at the end of that long day.

esperanza

Jun 20, 2008, 9:46 AM

Post #13 of 24 (3938 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Robrt8, if there's a way to divide that trip (San Carlos to GDL) into two days, do it. You don't want to fight GDL traffic, either on the periférico or on Lázaro Cárdenas, at the end of a zillion hour day and in the dark. Stay the night in Tepic. It's only two hours from Tepic to GDL. You'll make the Tepic/GDL drive after a night's sleep and during the daylight hours.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

robrt8

Jun 20, 2008, 10:10 AM

Post #14 of 24 (3930 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Sorry Esperanza, my last post was confusing. I'm staying in Maz for a night or two as well. I was thinking of the possibility of staying in Tepic for a night, though. We've got the time, so that's not an issue.

tashby

Jun 20, 2008, 12:36 PM

Post #15 of 24 (3916 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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"Tashby, those federales must have had quite the calibrated radar gun."

That's an understatement. In fact, the kind officer insisted that I was actually doing 140K/Hr, and that I must have been confusing miles with kilometers even though they're both clearly indicated on my speedometer. He warned us that at that speed, we could blow out a tire if we hit a rock. Really, he was only looking out for our safety, you see...

8-P

He lobbied for some ridiculous amount of money for several minutes, saying that the fine for speeding would be 1800 Pesos (!!!) and that I'd have to return to Culiacan the following day to retrieve my license and car permit. I finally got him to take close to what I consider the "going rate". He grudgingly accepted, and with a smile said, "My family will barely be able to eat tonight."

And we were on our way.

Maybe my memory is failing, but we drove from Mazatlan to Ajijic in a day, and it didn't take as long as the Guaymas-Maz leg, I don't think.

Regardless, depending upon how far you get, there's a neat little town called Jala that's almost exactly halfway between Tepic and GDL. It's only a couple minutes off the cuota on the north side. Freshly scrubbed and painted little colonial town under the volcano. A very nice (and a bit spendy) hotel just off the plaza. Probably other places to stay less expensive. It'd be a pleasant place to overnight if you need to, or a good stop for lunch/leg-stretch.

Have a great trip!

(This post was edited by tashby on Jun 20, 2008, 2:49 PM)

bournemouth

Jun 20, 2008, 1:13 PM

Post #16 of 24 (3911 views)

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Re: [tashby] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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During the summer, with more daylight, we drive San Carlos to Tepic - which is a long day - but gives us a short day to get home to the Chapala area the following day.

Jim B

Jun 20, 2008, 4:12 PM

Post #17 of 24 (3892 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Try this. Worked for me several months ago:

Get on the Periferico Sur. Hwy 15 connects to it. Can't miss it. It is a six lane bypass around the south of GDL.

Travel east on the Periferico and watch for the intersection for Mex 54 to Colima on the right. Just after the intersection look for Pemex #7223 on the right. Shortly you will see Pemex # 4227 on the left and #7806 on the right. Zero your odometer here.
At 4.3 mile you’ll see the exit for Chapala (Mex 44 /23) on the right. DON’T take the exit but be ready. Just after the Chapala exit you’ll see an exit going right for Mexico and GDL centro. Take this exit.
You’ll pass through a big intersection and end up going north. You will see Pemex #3553 on the right at odometer 4.7 miles.
At odometer 6.8 miles follow the signs to the right for Tonala and Mexico and in a short while merge left into the eastbound traffic.
You will pass Pemex #2823 on the left and Pemex #4846 and #4857 on the right as you head eastbound.
At odometer 9.1 miles you’ll see Pemex #3404 on both sides of the road. From there follow signs as the various eastbound routes split off, including Tonala .

robrt8

Jun 21, 2008, 12:31 PM

Post #18 of 24 (3851 views)

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Re: [Jim B] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Thanks again to all of you.
Gas in L.A. is getting scary-close to $5 a gallon. I'm getting tempted to cross at Tecate or Mexicali now.

Brian

Jun 21, 2008, 2:15 PM

Post #19 of 24 (3840 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Despite the US cost of gas, I really do not think you want to subject your family to the stretch of Mex2 from Mexicali to its connection with 15 at Santa Ana. It is a very dusty and ugly stretch and mostly only two lane highway. Caborca and Altar are places to buy gas but not much more. The narcos rule the area.

My advice is to cross as originally planned at Nogales. If a town has narco corridos written about it, it's a good indication you want to avoid it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrVncTAhFLQ&feature=related

Brian

(This post was edited by Brian on Jun 21, 2008, 2:46 PM)

toucantango

Jun 21, 2008, 3:32 PM

Post #20 of 24 (3822 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Just as a matter of interest: What's the big hurry? Aren't there some interesting stops between Guaymas and Mazatlan that would break up the trip a little? We plan to make this trip later in the year and we've been thinking of a more leisurely approach. Any suggestions for interim stops would be appreciated.

http://www.toucantango.ca

bournemouth

Jun 21, 2008, 4:10 PM

Post #21 of 24 (3815 views)

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Re: [toucantango] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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Go up to Alamos, inland from Navojoa, Sonora. A Pueblo Magico, wonderful old Colonial era silver mining town. Has wonderful architectural details.

El Fuerte in Sinaloa - similar era town - the place most people catch the train to Copper Canyon.

There was discussion here a few days ago about Cosala, another Pueblo Magico, up in the hills of Sinaloa.

I think most of us are rushing to get home or to get north, for one reason or another - these trips are not road trips but getting from A to B as quickly and easily as possible. If there is time for a road trip, then enjoy - you will have fun.

(This post was edited by bournemouth on Jun 21, 2008, 4:13 PM)

robrt8

Jun 23, 2008, 3:27 PM

Post #22 of 24 (3758 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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I came across an interesting link. It's a Sonora map with road conditions and border-crossing times put out by the Arizona DOT.

I'll try to get it to light-up now......

http://www.az511.gov/hcrsweb/sonora.jsp#

Rolly, the light-up guy at your service

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jun 23, 2008, 3:37 PM)

robrt8

Jun 23, 2008, 7:13 PM

Post #23 of 24 (3733 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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I tried, Master Rolly...../Url with brackets, spaces galore. Maybe it's Firefox?
Thanks again.

robrt8

Jul 9, 2008, 9:41 AM

Post #24 of 24 (3679 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Nogales-Guaymas-Maz-Guad(Tonala)-SMA Road Trip

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I just wanted to say thanks to all.
We finished our road trip (first half). We arrived yesterday in SMA. We had mucho suerte, save for a storm just before Los Mochis that rendered windshield wipers useless.
We missed the ELO concert in Guadalajara by a day. That would have been great! Oh well.
We'll head north in two months via Zacatecas/Durango/Lerdo?Hey!/Chihuahua, so I may post before then with more: ??
Meanwhile, if anyone has any questions about the Nogales-SMA route, fire away.