But what can I say? We're most excited about our return to Mexico!
So I did up a map showing our approximate route through Mexico. It's a lot of miles, and it's not the most direct route. And it's also not the route we would take if we were on our own. But it's also the safest route, and when we're in charge of a group of people we have to think of them, which might be a little safer than our normal comfort zone.
We're a little frustrated that our route does *not* include stops at our own three favorite places in Mexico. In all three cases we will be so close, and yet so far away. Maybe if things work out we'll be able to do a day trip to at least one or two of those areas, but it will likely be a last minute decision if time allows.
So, here is the approximate route...
Mexico caravan route.
To give you a little more detail, we start off crossing the border at the Colombia Bridge just west of Laredo. From there, we stop in Saltillo, then Zacatecas. We've got a couple of days in Guanajuato, then a night in San Miguel de Allende. From there to the outskirts of Mexico City and then to the Gulf Coast and Veracruz. We've never been to the city of Veracruz, so we're looking forward to that.
Then east to Campeche. We were in Campeche nine years ago and really liked it, so we're looking forward to a return there.
We eventually end up at the RV "resort" of Paamul, just south of Cancun. This place is not our style, and certainly not our style at $50 USD per night. Sherman will definitely feel out of place there! But, it's part of the RV caravan route and really it's the only suitable spot in the Cancun area to park 10 or 12 RV's all at one time.
From there, we go to the archaeological site of Palenque. In our opinion, this is one of the best ruins sites that we have visited and it's another stop that we're excited about returning to.
Palenque, when we were there in January 2009.
Some of the places along our route we haven't visited since 2009, so it will be interesting to see how much they've changed.
From Palenque we stop at the fantastic Sumidero Canyon, and then head to the city of Oaxaca for a few days. Then to Puebla, and back around Mexico City to Patzcuaro and then Villa Corona Waterpark.
From there, we're on Pacific beach time at Melaque, Lo de Marcos, Teacapan, and Mazatlan before heading inland through Durango and back up to Laredo.
What an adventure it's going to be!
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Should be a great trip for the RV'ers. Hope you find time for you to make a stop or two at your friends. But thenn I guess this is why it is work not play for you. However if one has to work this looks close to play!
ReplyDeleteWe think it should be a great trip. We love showing others how beautiful and interesting Mexico is. I think it will be hard to fit in a visit to any of our three favourite places but you never know!
DeleteYes, we think it will be more play than work as well. :-)
Looks like a lot of fun. We will definitely be tagging along.
ReplyDeleteMaybe sometime you can really tag along! ;-)
DeleteVery fun, I hope to drive there some day, so much more freedom with a vehicle. Mexico will always be one of my favorite countries, maybe even a part-time home one day
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, there is so much more freedom when you can drive to different places. So far we are pretty sure it will be our part-time home too sometime down the road!
DeleteI sure wish we could join your caravan this year, but since I had my bike accident and resulting unanticipated medical/dental expenses, it is not to be. Looks like a lot of fun, though! After living in Playa del Carmen for a year and never visiting Paamul, I'll be interested to hear/see your take on it. Have been to Campeche but very few of the other spots on your route. So envious but will be following along on your blog and in spirit!
ReplyDeleteThere is always the possibility for the following year, of course that depends on how this year goes. ;-)
DeletePaamul is the place we are least looking forward too, it just isn't the type of place that we would normally stay but we are keeping an open mind about it and it may surprise us.
We are really looking forward to exploring that area again, it has been a while since we were there and it has lots of interesting places to explore.
I forgot to mention that we had the pleasure of going to the Palenque ruins (not in a motor home but took the ADO bus) five years ago. It is magnificent! My quads ached for days after that one. We were living in Belize at the time and hadn't hiked that kind of hills/stairs for a long time. Well worth every ache, though. Enjoy!
DeleteSo glad that you made it to Palenque. As Kevin mentioned it is one of our favourite ruins sites in Mexico.
DeleteWe are really looking forward to seeing the Calakmul ruins. We had wanted to see it back in 2009 on our way to Palenque but we had read that no dogs were allowed and we had Whiskey at the time and didn't want to take the chance and drive all the way there to find out that we can't go in because of our dog. It is very far distance off the road and not a ruin site that many would take the time to see.
Emily we only have a ew spots left for 2019 (Yes I mean 2019). Whether Kevin & Ruth lead that one is up to them, but if you want to do it, better put your name in. There is a cheaper trip (20 days less), following the same route leaving Oct 15th that I am leading. It has space.
ReplyDeleteWe will see how this year goes first!
DeleteThis will be kevin & Ruth's first full caravan, BTW. They subbed for me for 30 days in Spring 2016 and did a fantastic job of it. All reviews were glowing, so I have no doubt this one will be good. In fact it helped me get the company to change their philosophy on what to offer a bit with regards to tours. So now we are adding more off the wall stuff at the expense of the cruise ship type stuff. That is why Cancun is not on that map. Kevin & Ruth proved that works. Only 3 spots left, BTW on this trip.
ReplyDeleteThank you Paul for the raving review of us! I hope we can live up to that on this trip. :-)
DeleteWe will look for you when you get to Paamul. That's our winter home. Safe travels to everyone.
ReplyDeleteWe look forward to meeting you Karen!
DeleteCan you please remind me of your dates in Mazatlan? Perhaps I can get the boys to come over for a few days.
ReplyDeleteI will send the dates to you when I send the deer pictures later today. I know that it will be some time towards the end of March.
DeleteLooks like an exciting trip. We have been on two longish caravans, each over 70 days in all. They were great, with the only issue being that it is often not possible to explore places just off the route due time considerations. It is something we just have to accept.
ReplyDeleteYes, it should be quite the adventure! That is the problem with doing organized tours, you have to follow their itinerary and sometimes it is a little too rushed. Being able to do a tour like this, then gives you the confidence to go back another year by yourself and see the things that were missed the first time around. :-)
DeleteWe spent 6 weeks in Teacapan in Feb/Mar. in 2009 loved it ,my husband practically had to take me away kicking and screaming.
ReplyDeleteWe stopped into Teacapan for the first time back in 2016 on our way out of Mexico, We were there for a couple of days and definitely enjoyed it but neither of us could stay there for 6 weeks. Having said that there are few places that we could stay at for 6 weeks. Plus we are weird and prefer the interior of Mexico to the beaches.
DeleteGlad that you loved it though. It is definitely not full of tourists and that is a big plus in our books.
We would love to take a trip to Mexico but our rig is diesel. What's the Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel situation along your route? Has Mexico finally gotten it out all over the country?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest because we don't have a diesel unit we haven't really paid much attention to this. I know that Paul the organizer for the caravan tour company has a link to the gas stations that provide the ULSD fuel that also includes a map. Hopefully he will pipe in and give a link to that information. It is definitely becoming more available in Mexico in just the last year or so.
DeleteThanks for the response. We're hoping that it will be more available soon. We have friends to visit!
DeleteDear Kevin and Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI'm always excited to meet others that love Mexico like we do. We lived there from 2005-8 and have wintered there since. We are currently selling our house in (Ontario) Canada and will be spending 6 months there.
"There" being San Cristobal de las Casas. I see that you're going to Sumidero Canyon in Tuxtla (45 minutes from us). Let me know if I can be of any service although we are the worst tourists in the world (although I've seen the Canyon and the Tuxtla Zoo when friends came to visit). We haven't been to Palenque but it's on our list, it's supposed to be the best of the bunch.
Just wondering why you're crossing at Laredo? We crossed there in 2005 when the cartels were fighting for the city and decided it wasn't for us. Since then, we always cross at Reynosa/McAllen and except for a few police stops due to our "speeding", we've never had a problem. In addition, they built a big bypass so we don't have to go through Reynosa anymore and haven't seen any police.
I can't wait to hear all about your trip. Have fun!
Besos Sarah.
We love San Cristobal de las Casas and the area around there! You have picked a wonderful place to spend 6 months of the year. :-)
DeleteWe have been to Sumidero Canyon before but is was back in early 2009 and we are looking forward to revisiting it this winter. We are actually leading a caravan of 9 to 12 other rigs so the tour company has already set up guides for a number of our destinations but thank for your offer. We can always try to met up though, when we are in the area. Just contact us when you see that we are close to you and we will see what we can arrange.
As for crossing at Laredo, we actually cross at the Colombia Bridge crossing which is slightly west of Laredo, it is actually our favourite border crossing, it is also the one that the tour company has chosen as we will have quite a few units to process there and it is generally a quieter crossing with lots of room for us. Kevin and I crossed at Reynosa back in 2009 and didn't particularly like having to drive through the city in order to do the crossing, especially if we were to do it with 10 or so rigs, however that was before they built the bypass around. We have never had any problems crossing at the Colombia Bridge crossing so I think we will just stick with it.
I will be encouraging htose who live close th eborder to get their permits on line ahead of time. This will be the firts tiem i hav eled a cravan across here and I am betting its diferent than Nogales. I am hoping i do nor have any hassles. Even thoguh I have driven from Laredo to Saltillo beofre, The road log for it is lacking so I will update that in Fall. I have completed all the others and will mail you a USB stick with them in doc & pdf format next week. I am hoping the one participant in my area can bring you the hard copies. I am telling everyone to bring their own 3 ring binder this time, I have segments stapled together individually.
ReplyDeleteColombia Bridge is a great crossing. Lots of room and well laid out, I am sure there won't be any hassles.
DeleteBTW i should point out that this caravan has both a Laredo & Nogales exit option,
ReplyDeleteRuth, I'm curious about the leg between what appears to be either Mexico City or someplace north of there on 57 and the Gulf coast. The only route I can think of that goes across like that is 70. Is that it or is there another route I don't know about?
ReplyDeleteI think you mean the route heading to the coast that is the 132D.
DeleteThank you, Kevin! I have trying for days to find out about that road as an alternative to going on to Puebla and then heading down the mountains to Veracruz and the Yucatan.
Delete