highways along the coast on the Gulf of Mexico to Playa

Bisoulou · 11-19-2003

Unfortunately, since the ferry won't be resuming until Nov. '04 at the earliest, I am (regretfully, unable to wait another year, although I wish I could! Don't want to leave Playa!) driving back to the east coast in a couple of weeks.

I wanted to find out if anyone on the forum has made the treck from Playa del Carmen up along the coast (Villahermosa, Veracruz, Tampico, Matamoros is the route I plan on following) and could provide some insght on these highways.

i.e. lots of topes? lots of pot holes? I am only familiar with this trip up to Pallenque and then over to the west coast. I will go up in the direction of Pallenque to reach Villahermosa, but once I continue straight rather than making that left into Chiapas, it will be virgin territory for me.

Any insight, shared experience would be greatly appreciated. I am doing this trip solito and although I am looking forward to the journey, at the same time, I am a little nervous.

Thanks very much in advance for any information anyone could provide. Upon my return, I will be more than happy to provide a trip report to anyone else who may be in the same position I am in at present! :lol:

Kind Regards,
Lou

ranchhand1024 · 11-19-2003

That can be a fun trip with many different types of climate and country. Try to time your day to allow an overnight in Catamaco, SE of Vera Cruz. Beautiful town and lake. If you have no very good reason to visit Vera Cruz, take the bypass around town to avoid beastly traffic. Check your map and/or continue straight just after crossing railroad tracks on the southern approach to VC. The coast between VC and Tampico is famous for beaches, dunes, and seafood. Avoid the stretch of 180 north of Tampico that goes through Soto de Marina, it's very rough and narrow, with lots of heavy truck traffic. The road to Victoria is longer but very easy driving. Buen viaje!

**james** · 11-19-2003

I believe the best route is Playa - Tulum - Villahermosa - DF - Saltillo - Laredo for ease and quality of highway.

Or so I'm told.

I used to drive up to Texas every 6 months from the DF but gladly those days are over. I used to do DF - Laredo in one sitting.

Michael · 11-19-2003

My wife’s family always takes the route James described. It is a long journey and road quality becomes very important.

Bisoulou · 11-19-2003

Thanks for the suggestions, will investigate. A little nervous about DF because I have heard nightmare tales of police in that state, but if the roads are good and not too tough, might work out well. Want to stay as far east as possible though as I will continue on to South Carolina once across the border. But, keeping all options open and will certainly explore these routes.

Thanks again for the help!!!

Kind Regards!

Damn, I am really going to miss Playa though....

Michael · 11-19-2003

OK now that you have brought up one of James and Mike’s favorite subjects, Law enforcement on the highways of Mexico. I guess there are a few pointers I can provide. These resulted from Rosa’s recent 8,000 mile epic round trip from San Francisco to Belize and back.

Lesson 1. If you have not been driving around Mexico recently you will not be used to the radar. Yes the police now have this new labor saving device. Prior to Rosa’s trip I read a post about the misuse of radar and the fact that one could argue about the direction the offending device was pointed in. Rosa was successful a just that. After having two Mexican women yelling at him in Spanish, one cop decided it was not worth the trouble and left the two sisters to continue unimpeded. Like all hardened criminals, these ladies still to this day, claim they were falsely accused.

Lesson 2. In DF they came up against another hassle. I am not sure that the story is exactly as it was told. Do remember who we are dealing with (yes I would get shot if Rosa read this). These are people who have already intimidated one cop and got away with it. Criminals on the run by my estimation. Anyway back to DF. They stopped in the middle of the city, lost and disorientated they asked a cop for directions. His response was, to claim they had just run a red light. As this guy was more intimidating than our Mexican pair, they decided to take my approach, provide a small tip in pesos (informal taxation) and be on their way hassle free. Once that was done, and the cop hailed a taxi to leave the scene of the crime, they realized they had been ripped off and he was not a cop at all.

Rosa had asked me to post a warning about DF this summer. I had not bothered. After all who would be crazy enough to drive across Mexico and through DF to Playa anyway. Joking aside, one day I will make the drive myself. Hopefully that journey does not turn into Vanishing Point.

Take care,

Mike.

AlmaLibre · 11-20-2003

We have driven this route you describe twice, the last time was just in October.

We had no problems, we take the toll roads where available and we never drive at night.

The roads are worst between Tampico and Poza Rica, we survived it with a trailer though, so you should be okay. The toll road between Villahermosa and Veracruz had a few rough spots, from the hurricane we presume, but they were working on it.

We found the road okay between Tampico and Soto la Marina. We take highway 99 through Valle Hermoso and cross the border at Los Indios. The border crossing is very sleepy and you miss the busy Matamoros.

The book "Traveller's Guide to Mexican Camping" is handy to have. It describes the route and how to negotiate the bypasses and the border crossings. Very worthwhile to have even if you are not camping. It also has a bypass around DF if you go that way. Personally I would find driving in DF scarier than anything you will encounter on this drive.

Good luck!
-Rob

ps. We've never had a problem with police, we've never even been pulled over (knock on wood)

11-19-2003	#1 (permalink)
Bisoulou toe in water Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 51	highways along the coast on the Gulf of Mexico to Playa Unfortunately, since the ferry won't be resuming until Nov. '04 at the earliest, I am (regretfully, unable to wait another year, although I wish I could! Don't want to leave Playa!) driving back to the east coast in a couple of weeks. I wanted to find out if anyone on the forum has made the treck from Playa del Carmen up along the coast (Villahermosa, Veracruz, Tampico, Matamoros is the route I plan on following) and could provide some insght on these highways. i.e. lots of topes? lots of pot holes? I am only familiar with this trip up to Pallenque and then over to the west coast. I will go up in the direction of Pallenque to reach Villahermosa, but once I continue straight rather than making that left into Chiapas, it will be virgin territory for me. Any insight, shared experience would be greatly appreciated. I am doing this trip solito and although I am looking forward to the journey, at the same time, I am a little nervous. Thanks very much in advance for any information anyone could provide. Upon my return, I will be more than happy to provide a trip report to anyone else who may be in the same position I am in at present! :lol: Kind Regards, Lou

11-19-2003	#2 (permalink)
ranchhand1024 beachaholic Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 345	Gulf Coast That can be a fun trip with many different types of climate and country. Try to time your day to allow an overnight in Catamaco, SE of Vera Cruz. Beautiful town and lake. If you have no very good reason to visit Vera Cruz, take the bypass around town to avoid beastly traffic. Check your map and/or continue straight just after crossing railroad tracks on the southern approach to VC. The coast between VC and Tampico is famous for beaches, dunes, and seafood. Avoid the stretch of 180 north of Tampico that goes through Soto de Marina, it's very rough and narrow, with lots of heavy truck traffic. The road to Victoria is longer but very easy driving. Buen viaje!

11-19-2003	#3 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,718	I believe the best route is Playa - Tulum - Villahermosa - DF - Saltillo - Laredo for ease and quality of highway. Or so I'm told. I used to drive up to Texas every 6 months from the DF but gladly those days are over. I used to do DF - Laredo in one sitting. __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image!

11-19-2003	#4 (permalink)
Michael añejo Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Silicon Valley, California Posts: 4,162	Stay on the beaten path. My wife’s family always takes the route James described. It is a long journey and road quality becomes very important.

11-19-2003	#5 (permalink)
Bisoulou toe in water Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 51	Thanks for the help! Thanks for the suggestions, will investigate. A little nervous about DF because I have heard nightmare tales of police in that state, but if the roads are good and not too tough, might work out well. Want to stay as far east as possible though as I will continue on to South Carolina once across the border. But, keeping all options open and will certainly explore these routes. Thanks again for the help!!! Kind Regards! Damn, I am really going to miss Playa though....

11-19-2003	#6 (permalink)
Michael añejo Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Silicon Valley, California Posts: 4,162	Vanishing point OK now that you have brought up one of James and Mike’s favorite subjects, Law enforcement on the highways of Mexico. I guess there are a few pointers I can provide. These resulted from Rosa’s recent 8,000 mile epic round trip from San Francisco to Belize and back. Lesson 1. If you have not been driving around Mexico recently you will not be used to the radar. Yes the police now have this new labor saving device. Prior to Rosa’s trip I read a post about the misuse of radar and the fact that one could argue about the direction the offending device was pointed in. Rosa was successful a just that. After having two Mexican women yelling at him in Spanish, one cop decided it was not worth the trouble and left the two sisters to continue unimpeded. Like all hardened criminals, these ladies still to this day, claim they were falsely accused. Lesson 2. In DF they came up against another hassle. I am not sure that the story is exactly as it was told. Do remember who we are dealing with (yes I would get shot if Rosa read this). These are people who have already intimidated one cop and got away with it. Criminals on the run by my estimation. Anyway back to DF. They stopped in the middle of the city, lost and disorientated they asked a cop for directions. His response was, to claim they had just run a red light. As this guy was more intimidating than our Mexican pair, they decided to take my approach, provide a small tip in pesos (informal taxation) and be on their way hassle free. Once that was done, and the cop hailed a taxi to leave the scene of the crime, they realized they had been ripped off and he was not a cop at all. Rosa had asked me to post a warning about DF this summer. I had not bothered. After all who would be crazy enough to drive across Mexico and through DF to Playa anyway. Joking aside, one day I will make the drive myself. Hopefully that journey does not turn into Vanishing Point. Take care, Mike.

11-20-2003	#7 (permalink)
AlmaLibre way into it Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Puerto Morelos, Q. Roo, Mexico Posts: 155	Re: Driving in Mexico We have driven this route you describe twice, the last time was just in October. We had no problems, we take the toll roads where available and we never drive at night. The roads are worst between Tampico and Poza Rica, we survived it with a trailer though, so you should be okay. The toll road between Villahermosa and Veracruz had a few rough spots, from the hurricane we presume, but they were working on it. We found the road okay between Tampico and Soto la Marina. We take highway 99 through Valle Hermoso and cross the border at Los Indios. The border crossing is very sleepy and you miss the busy Matamoros. The book "Traveller's Guide to Mexican Camping" is handy to have. It describes the route and how to negotiate the bypasses and the border crossings. Very worthwhile to have even if you are not camping. It also has a bypass around DF if you go that way. Personally I would find driving in DF scarier than anything you will encounter on this drive. Good luck! -Rob ps. We've never had a problem with police, we've never even been pulled over (knock on wood)

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