maw7815 Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Has anyone gone this way? Last year we went the northern route due west of Guadalajara. I'm thinking this might be the new route but I was sure that it wasn't open yet. Hoping someone else has tried this before we venture out on this new route. maw https://maps.google.com/maps?hq=http://maps.google.com/help/maps/directions/driving/mapleft.kml&f=d&dirflg=d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 No new route. Either 15 towards Tepic and turn off to 200 ............. or highway 70 to Homedepot Vallarta Your map of the World was interesting ..... BUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 HI maw7815, I think what sparks was sort of saying is that your link to the google map doesn't work (and it doesn't). So, it depends on what you meant by it. Currently as far as I know, like he said, there are only two worthwhile routes. The first through Guadalajara via the autopista westward past Tequila, etc., then connecting to Hwy 200 after you've passed Jala. Or the mountain route through Ameca/Mascota, which is scenic and without tolls ending by Home Depot Vallarta, but takes longer in my experience. There is no new route. Frankly, I think it's all a myth (despite some ink in newspapers, etc.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maw7815 Posted April 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 I hope this works- the link is longer! It shows driving time is 4 hours. https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Ajijic,+JAL,+Mexico&daddr=Nuevo+Vallarta,+NAY,+Mexico&hl=en&sll=0,33.574219&sspn=90.302039,173.144531&geocode=FRq_NQEdL1PY-Sm1KKeQTEEvhDFjnaQFcQrWuA%3BFW7OOwEdqVy5-SnHUIwQo0YhhDE9ZFGqbwa1TA&oq=Nuevo+Va&doflg=ptk&mra=ls&t=m&z=9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Yep ..... that worked. That route is highway 70 and may be the first road ever built to Vallarta. Very decent road I think but does have problems with heavy rains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sioux4noff Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 We take the Ameca route all the time. Less traffic, no tolls, very few buses or trucks. You could avoid Guadalajara totally by taking the road from Tlajomulco to Tala. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajijicrose Posted April 3, 2014 Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 We've driven this route many times - the last just 2 weeks ago. It always takes more than 4 hours - usually at least 5 1/2. There's a new cute little restaurant just as you enter Mascota. Makes a great lunch stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maw7815 Posted April 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 Thank you for all your comments- we will be leaving Sunday and returning the following Sunday. I am glad we don't have to go through Guad on a Sunday! I'll report back the following week. maw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted April 3, 2014 Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 There are a number of crossover points from highway 80 to highway 70 past Villa Corona ..... avoiding lots of traffic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted April 3, 2014 Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 Thank you for all your comments- we will be leaving Sunday and returning the following Sunday. I am glad we don't have to go through Guad on a Sunday! I'll report back the following week. maw My 2 cents worth..... I have driven both routes, each way, several times. I think they both have their merits BUT I don't think either one is much 'faster or slower' than the other. One, it depends on the traffic and that is mostly not something that one can determine accurately before hand. Two, Google maps uses the 'posted' speed limits and not what one actually drives so it is often inaccurate, more so in Mexico than NOB as 'no-one' drives 80kmh on a toll road (and this is often posted) and rarely does one drive only 110kmh. IMO, the 'direct' route is worthwhile to do at least once.... but don't make that during the rainy season as parts of that road may have major problems due to mudslides, etc. from Mascota on. I also agree that it probably cannot be made in 4 hours no matter how one drives. Although I like the route, it wears me out (compared to the toll route). When taking the 'toll' route, and especially on a Sunday, one will not have to endure much traffic..... because one goes up the back/west route to Guad, not the 'airport' route. It's very easy and even easier on a Sunday. Of course one will, by definition, pay some tolls on the 'toll route'. If that is a factor then of course the non-toll route would be the route of choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 The problem with 200 from Compostela south is it is narrow, windy and heavy traffic .... and lots of impatient drivers. One of the worst roads in Mexico Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pappysmarket Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 The problem with 200 from Compostela south is it is narrow, windy and heavy traffic .... and lots of impatient drivers. One of the worst roads in Mexico Living in PV, agreed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bezerk Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 Agree with RickS, we have done both as well and frankly we just prefer the toll road..the other way quite scenic, once, but seemed like a forever ride to us, though was same time frame. We have never found traffic problems in Guad when going to the coast on a Sunday. If it says 4 hours add at least an hour, if it says 5 hours add at least an hour..timeframes just never ever are correct here in mexico, traffic, road conditions etc. 4.5 hours more or less from NV to Guad with good flowing traffic...no accidents , the list goes on , we always allow a minimum of 5 hours and a max of 7...minus the half hour or so to PV. Have a nice trip/time, we just came back beg. of March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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