Traveling down Mexico's Western Coast

[NCK]

My buddy Chris and I will be driving down Mexico's western coast in the middle of April. We'd love suggestions on good places to stay and see!

I'll be all over couchsurfing looking for awesome people to stay with in the meantime!

We'll be doing something like this, keeping along the coast:

[Two Moto Kiwis]

Originally Posted by NCK

We'll be doing something like this, keeping along the coast:

After a while the coast is all the same same!

Lo De Marcos and La Manzanilla are two to start with anyway.

Heading inland you will get to see a lot more .... unless you are a total beachbum of course.

[NCK]

Originally Posted by Two Moto Kiwis

Lo De Marcos and La Manzanilla are two to start with anyway.

Heading inland you will get to see a lot more .... unless you are a total beachbum of course.

Thanks! We'll check those out. We can go anywhere, we just love us some beach!

[Lone Rider]

The 200 coast road greatly varies in scenery.
The Michoacán section is similar to sections of Hwy 1 in CA - taking your breath away, stunning.

[Airhead Wrangler]

I live in Manzanillo. If you have a tent, you can crash in my yard.

[GuateRider]

By staying on the coast all the way down, you will miss some of the greatest parts of Mexico, the mountains and the highlands way off the "gringo trail"

Let me know if you make it down to Antigua

[Misery Goat]

The best part of Mexico is in the Sierra Madres, just sayin.

[crashmaster]

I would hit the mountains at least until Michoacan. Agua Prieta, Creel, Copper Canyon, Durango, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Morelia, Patzcuaro, 120 to Mex 200 just south of Tecoman, then 200 down the coast for a way. There is plenty of great beach hanging to be done from Michoacan to Oaxaca. The areas around Oaxaca City are great too. A great gem of a place is just northwest of Lazaro Cardenas called Rio Nexpa, a little surf community. Nothing to do but hang out on the beach, surf, fish, and drink cold beer. All kinds of amazing beaches after that as well.

Also, after Salinas Cruz, I would head inland toward Tuxtla, then San Cris, Comitan, cross into Guatemala at La Mesilla instead of the hot dusty zoo like crossing at Tapachula.

If you stay on the coast all the way down, you will be missing the best of Mexico IMO.

[kantuckid]

AMEN! Do some zigs inland & back out on another road as you head southward. As stated above it changes as you go, becoming more tropical as you get south. Some great "zigs" are in/out of Guadj.& PV & Oaxaca through the mtns each place.

[Lone Rider]

Where the mountains abruptly meet the coast/sea, there are only great moto roads across and back.
If you look at the topography on a map, it will be in-your-face clear.

This holds true for all lands.

Great riding...

[jimmex]

Originally Posted by GuateRider

By staying on the coast all the way down, you will miss some of the greatest parts of Mexico, the mountains and the highlands way off the "gringo trail"

Let me know if you make it down to Antigua

Originally Posted by Misery Goat

The best part of Mexico is in the Sierra Madres, just sayin.

Originally Posted by crashmaster

I would hit the mountains at least until Michoacan. Agua Prieta, Creel, Copper Canyon, Durango, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Morelia, Patzcuaro, 120 to Mex 200 just south of Tecoman, then 200 down the coast for a way. There is plenty of great beach hanging to be done from Michoacan to Oaxaca. The areas around Oaxaca City are great too. A great gem of a place is just northwest of Lazaro Cardenas called Rio Nexpa, a little surf community. Nothing to do but hang out on the beach, surf, fish, and drink cold beer. All kinds of amazing beaches after that as well.

Also, after Salinas Cruz, I would head inland toward Tuxtla, then San Cris, Comitan, cross into Guatemala at La Mesilla instead of the hot dusty zoo like crossing at Tapachula.

If you stay on the coast all the way down, you will be missing the best of Mexico IMO.

+3

[NCK]

This is all wonderful advice. I need to synthesize it and come up with a new plan. Will circle back!

[Dr. Benny]

El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone) from Mazatlan to Durango is one of the best roads I've ever ridden. Take a break from the coast and head into the mountains for a bit. Just be careful of trucks passing other trucks on blind corners

Have a great ride!!

[Lone Rider]

If you're into laid back scenes, beaches, and cheap digs, make a point to visit Zipolite.

It's on the coast south of Pto Escondido, and it's kinda unique...and weird.

Most everybody enjoys it.

[Cal]

NCK All of this information is great.... if this is your first trip in Mexico your path along the coast will keep you more than happy! I have taken the coast all the way back from Guatemala and the route was enjoyable. The other route suggestions can be done in future trips because once you have riden in Mexico you will be back!!! I try and take a different route each time I go. Get Sjoerd Bakkers Hotel book and use it to get yourself in the areas of the least expensive hotels.
Go down one way and back another.