Road Trip Planning| Miles Kms | Item | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 0.0 |
Begin Highway 200 - Petatlan, Guerrero to La Mira, Michoacan |
Petatlan is the county (municipio) capital. It is noted for its gold jewelery market and Catholic church. Tourist information kiosks are at the north and south ends of town.
The first 20 km. of this drive go through rolling hills. The highway then becomes more flat.
Watch for topes (speed bumps) at every settlement. Some are well-marked while others are unmarked. Particularly difficult to see are the ones that are hidden by shadows.
Topes are favourite places for passing as the lead vehicle slows for the tope, vehicles in the rear overtake the lead vehicle. This is particularly true if the lead vehicle is a large truck or bus. |
| 0.2 0.4 |
Pemex Station |
Located on the east, opposite the police station on the west. |
| 0.8 1.3 |
Turnoff For Church |
Many streets to the west will take you to the area of the church and gold market. This one is the best marked. |
| 2.1 3.4 |
Pemex Station |
A Pemex station is located on the east side. |
| 2.3 3.7 |
Tourist Information Kiosk |
Located on the east side. |
| 5.1 8.2 |
Soledad de Maciel Archeological Site |
The dig at this site has been put on hold due to finances.
There is a person who will take visitors for walking tours of the are with descriptions in Spanish.
It is a serious offence to remove artifacts from Mexico without a federal permit. Reproductions of artifacts can be purchased in Zihuatanejo. |
| 5.4 8.7 |
Village of Palos Blancas |
Watch for the topes! |
| 6.4 10.3 |
Village of San Jeronimito |
San Jeronimito is the northernmost village in the municipio that includes Petatlan. Northbound drivers now enter the municipio of Jose Azueta that includes Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. |
| 7.0 11.3 |
Panteon de San Jeronimito |
The cemetery of San Jeronimito is on the east side at the north end of town. It is well-decorated for the Days of the Dead (November 1-2) and stays decorated for a couple of weeks after. |
| 11.9 19.1 |
Laguna de Potosi Turnoff |
The turnoff to this fishing area is to the west. There is a sign on the east side, but it is very small and sometimes obstructed. |
| 12.1 19.5 |
Village of Los Achotes |
Topes |
| 13.7 22.0 |
Village of Los Almendres |
|
| 15.1 24.3 |
Intersection for Zihuatanejo or ZIH Airport |
Pemex station on the west.
Highway 200 splits into two parts here for northbound traffic. The eastern fork continues as a two-lane highway with topes. The western fork goes past the airport. This log follows the western fork. |
| 15.9 25.6 |
Junction for ZIH Airport and Ixtapa |
Northbound traffic curves to the north.
After the curve, continue straight, then turn west to get to the ZIH airport (about 1 km.) or continue straight (north) to go on to Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
This portion is a four-lane divided highway. |
| 20.3 32.7 |
Agua de Correa Exit |
Northbound traffic should watch for this exit as there is a difficult curve coming right after it. |
| 20.9 33.7 |
Difficult Curve |
For northbound drivers, this curve to the left appears to be gentle, but watch out. As you enter the curve, the right lane narrows.
If you are in the right lane, you'll need to curve hard to the left without entering the left lane.
If you are in the left lane, watch out for the driver on your right who didn't read this. |
| 21.3 34.3 |
Pemex Station |
On the west side. |
| 21.9 35.3 |
Pemex Station |
On the east side. |
| 22.1 35.5 |
Statue on Centre Boulevard |
The four-lane highway past Zihuatanejo becomes divided by a boulevard. Northbound drivers will see a statue of a man at the beginning of the boulevard. Watch for this because the turnoff for downtown Zihuatanejo comes right after the statue for northbound drivers. |
| 22.2 35.7 |
Left Turn to Zihuatanejo |
This is the northbound turnoff for downtown Zihuatanejo. Immediately after entering the turn is a stop sign preceded by a very large metal tope.
You have been warned.
The southbound entrance to Zihuatanejo does not have the tope. |
| 23.0 37.0 |
Pemex Station |
On the east side. |
| 24.1 38.8 |
South Entrance to Ixtapa |
Traffic from the south and north ascends a gradual hill. At the top of the hill exits leave Highway 200 and decend several kilometers into Ixtapa.
Highway 200 is a two-lane undivided highway north of here and a four lane divided highway south to the Zihuatanejo airport. |
| 24.4 39.2 |
Ixtapa Viewpoint |
Just north of the southern Ixtapa turnoff there is a scenic viewpoint on the west. Southbound traffic has easy access to the parking lot. Northbound drivers should NOT try to get into the parking area there.
Immediately after seeing the parking lot on the west, northbound drivers will see a gravel area on the east that is not a parking lot, but is used for parking.
|
| 26.9 43.3 |
North Entrance to Ixtapa |
Immediately north of the intersection is a new Pemex station. It was not yet opened in November 2001. |
| 29.5 47.4 |
Bario Viejo Turnoff |
There are two topes here, one just before and one just after the exit to the west to Bario Viejo. |
| 31.1 50.1 |
Rio Salitrera |
At the north end of the village of Salitrera there is a nice view of the Rio Salitrera from Puente Salitrera. |
| 31.8 51.1 |
Junction for Highway 134 (Altamirano) - New Pemex Station |
Highway 134 goes to Toluca and Mexico City. It is not a recommended highway. There is frequently a military or police checkpoint at this intersection.
The new Pemex station at this intersection was not yet open in November 2001. |
| 32.3 51.9 |
Bario Nuevo Turnoff to the West |
Watch for topes. |
| 34.2 55.1 |
Rio Pantla |
Watch for topes, especially at the turnoff to the village of Pantla, 0.8 km south of the bridge. |
| 37.5 60.3 |
Buena Vista |
Watch for topes.
Buena Vista is the northernmost village in the municipio that includes Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. The municipio further north is La Union. |
| 39.3 63.2 |
Oracion de la Virgen Maria |
The sign on the west side indicates a local church. It isn't very busy during the week, but watch for traffic on Sundays and Holy Days. |
| 40.1 64.6 |
Troncones Turnoff On Left (See Scenic Drive Log) |
This turnoff is between the 30 km. and 31 km. markings on the highway.
The beachfront village of Troncones is 3.6 km. to the west. The drive from Troncones to the village of La Majahua features over five kilometers of beachfront, several B&Bs, three small hotels and a few vacation rental houses. There are also at least 12 restaurants from simple Mexican ramadas with home cooking to Mexican-inspired elaborate cosmopolitan dishes at gringo restaurants. 'Downtown' Troncones has several tiendas (convenience stores), a boutique, and at least one operation renting mountain bikes, surf boards and boogie boards. |
| 40.7 65.5 |
Village of La Majahua Turnoff |
This turnoff to the west takes you to Kandahar Surf Club, the village of La Majahua, and on the Troncones Scenic Drive. |
| 41.5 66.8 |
Village of Lagunillas |
|
| 44.9 72.3 |
Village of Los Llanos |
The turnoff to the west in the middle of Los Llanos goes to the surfing beach known as Saladitas. |
| 52.7 84.8 |
Turnoff For La Union - Pemex on West Side of Highway |
The town of La Union, to the east of Highway 200, is the county capital. |
| 54.1 87.1 |
Puente La Union |
The bridge over Rio La Union. |
| 56.2 90.5 |
Village of El Chico |
|
| 62.9 101.2 |
Junction Highway 37-D |
Highway 37-D is the toll highway (cuota) to Uruapan, Patzcuaro, Morelia, etc. This cuota is due to open in 2002 and will reduce driving time to these destinations by several hours. |
| 62.9 101.3 |
Junction Highway 200-D to Lazaro Cardenas |
This is the better-quality cuota highway to Lazaro Cardenas. |
| 72.7 117.0 |
Overpass Over Cuota |
There is an on-road painting at this location reading KM 85. |
| 74.4 119.7 |
City of Petacalco |
Petacalco has a major thermal electric generating plant. You can't miss the three huge smokestacks.
There is a turnoff to the west in the centre of Petacalco for a beach area.
NOTE: The highway between Petacalco and La Mira has lots of topes. |
| 74.8 120.3 |
Plaza de Toros |
The Petacalco bullfighting ring is visable to the west of the highway. |
| 75.1 120.9 |
Pemex Station on West Side |
This is a new Pemex station.
There is a large, roadside map of the state of Guerrero here for southbound traffic. |
| 75.8 122.0 |
Junction for Cuota to Lazaro Cardenas |
This exit is easy for southbound vehicles. Northbound vehicles must go over an overpass, then make a U-turn to enter the cuota. |
| 80.2 129.0 |
Rio Balsas - Guerrero-Michoacan State Border |
The dam over the Rio Balsas forms part of Highway 200 and marks the state border with Guerrero on the south and Michoacan on the north. |
| 80.7 129.8 |
Roadside Map of Michoacan |
There is a roadside roadmap of Michoacan for northbound vehicles.
NOTE: The first 3 km. of Highway 200 in Michoacan is very curvy. Southbound drivers may think they have gotten off of Highway 200 somehow. Northbound drivers need to be alert. |
| 82.3 132.5 |
Difficult Intersection |
There is a peculiar intersection for northbound drivers at about this distance. (Southbound drivers won't notice it.) It appears that the highway splits into two or three arms. Northbound drivers should stay to the extreme right. (There is a better way, but it is complicated to describe, so stay to the extreme right.) |
| 82.9 133.4 |
Town of Guacamayas |
Northbound traffic will experience a congested area here. The road marker indicates KM 107. |
| 84.3 135.7 |
Railway Crossing |
Northbound traffic should be alert for traffic entering from the west and U-turn traffic, both just about at the railroad tracks. |
| 85.6 137.7 |
Confusing Northbound Signs |
Just before the turnoff for Lazaro Cardenas, northbound traffic has a confusing combination of road signs.
The first sign directs M-37 traffic to Lazaro Cardenas straight and M-37 traffic to Playa Azul and Uruapan to the right.
Immediately after that is a sign that shows M-200 to Lazaro Cardenas straight and M-200 to La Mira to the right.
Just take the curve to the right for this route. |
| 85.6 137.8 |
Northbound Warning |
Immediately upon taking the curve to the right there is a tope that creates congested traffic. Take the curve carefully, then anticipate congestion. |
| 85.9 138.3 |
Preventive Police Station on East |
There is a PFP (federal preventive police) station at this location. |
| 87.3 140.5 |
Railway Overpass |
There is a railway overpass marked FFCC at this location. |
| 97.6 157.0 |
Pemex Station on East Side |
The highway marker reads KM 120 at this location. |
| 98.5 158.5 |
Northbound Sign to Enter La Mira |
Southbound drivers will exit La Mira easily.
Northbound drivers need to pay attention for the junction of Highway 200 and Highway 37. As you enter La Mira, watch for a gentle curve to the right. |
| 99.0 159.3 |
Important Northbound Highway Sign |
There is only one sign for this junction. See the photo for the sign. The junction is 0.2 km. after the sign.
In the photo, the green and white VW van is following the route to Highway 200 north. |
| 99.1 159.5 |
Junction of Highway 200 and Highway 37 |
Northbound drivers have a difficult time with this junction. Here is the most detailed description I can offer.
Immediately after the sign at 159.3 km. is a tope.
Immediately after the tope, a small street joins on an angle from the west.
Immediately after the small street joins, Highway 200 starts to curve to the east.
At this point, look for a small traffic island with a few trees in the middle of the road. This is the junction.
As Highway 200 curves to the west, it becomes Highway 37. Stay to the right of the red truck in the photo.
Hwy 200 northbound traffic goes to the right of the blue van and to the left of the treed area in the photo.
If you miss the left turn, you'll have to go about 0.5 to 1.0 km. to find a place to turn around.
Southbound drivers should be aware that Highway 200 between La Mira and Petacalco has many topes. Topes are common in settled areas, but are more common on this portion of Highway 200. |