So you want the Fast Track to Lake Chapala by Car !

So you want the Fast Track to Lake Chapala by Car !

by Cynthia Klenke

Here’s a trip report from a nice lady named Cynthia who is a friend and client.

She chose to go the Fast Track to Lake Chapala by car.. i.e. Taking the almost all toll road route going South from the Texas Border…

Crossing at Laredo (We started our trip mileage meter & I’ll give those numbers)

I wrote these directions for my son and his wife who had driven down before. If you have a trip meter in your car and you reset when you cross the border, you should be close to these. I can’t swear these are 100% accurate, but at least it will give you some idea of where you’re at.

FYI – some American cell phones will work near border, but won’t work thereafter. I have Verizon, and I have coverage here, but I had to call them and tell them I’d be in Mexico so they’d let me connect.

Crossing border at Laredo.

Go straight through town until you come to a “T” intersection – sign will say Monterrey to the left. Turn left and further down the road will divide and you want to veer to the right.

1^st toll (75.6 miles) El Rancho hotel is not too far past 1^st toll booth. (Moderately priced; wireless internet, Church’s Chicken, Subway and another restaurant to choose from.)

Leaving El Rancho you’ll turn right and go down about ½ mile to a returno - DO NOT GO BACK THROUGH TOLL BOOTH – you can do a U-turn before you get there.

You’ll be on Hwy 85/Cuota toward Monterrey

Take #40/Cuota exiting to right toward Saltillo (129 miles)

2^nd toll ($113)

Follow signs to Matehaula/Cuota – bridge will exit to left (188 miles)

Turn left on Luis Echeverria (?sp) (190 miles)

Turn left at big intersection to back on Cuota (191 miles)

Follow signs straight toward Matehaula/Mexico (when you see “Mexico” it is referring to Mexico City) Some signs say Matehaula and some will say Mexico

We also saw a nice hotel called Camino Real – maybe a little expensive though. Also saw a sign for Holiday Inn, but didn’t actually see the building.

Signs will start saying “San Luis Potosi”

3^rd toll ($50)

Bear left toward San Luis Potosi (348 miles)

4^th toll ($15) go straight to SLP

Bear left to Guadalajara/Cuota (458 miles)

5^th toll $44 (472 mile)

You will next get on Hwy 80 at Moreno del Lago and go straight.

Go right on #80 to stay on cuota at Moreno. (481 mile)

6^th toll ($94) – they will ask you how far you’re going on cuota so they know how much to charge you. Tell them you’re going to Moreno del Lago.

You’ll come to a circle at 530 Miles – go around and follow signs to Guadalajara #80.

Follow signs to Guadalajara – you’ll have to turn right at 542 miles.

7^th toll ($12) Go straight toward Moreno

You’ll have to turn right at 546 miles – I think there is a sign to Guadalajara

Stay on #80 following signs to Guadalajara – there’ll be another right turn at 589 miles.

You’ll come to an intersection at 593 miles, but just go straight.

At 597 miles, you’ll turn right again – follow signs to Guadalajara.

8^th toll $102 – (634 miles)

9^th toll $86 – (665 miles)

10^th toll $37 – (693 miles)

You’ll need to be careful not to pass the exit in Guadalajara to Chapala. Depending on the time of day, traffic may be heavy.

At 704 miles, should be exit #23 to Chapala.

At 706 miles, take right following signs to Chapala/Colima.

This road will bring you into the lake area. I didn’t write any more mileages down, but you’ll bear off to the right following signs to Chapala about 15 min after getting on this road.

You’ll cross the mountains, and then there will be a sign to Ajijic/Jocotepec.

If you plan to go directly to Ajijic or towns west of Ajijic then turn right here and continue along this highway called the Libremiento until it comes to a red light.

You’ll turn right and go into Ajijic. If you continue West through Ajijic you’ll pass through a few small “towns” and then you’ll see El Chante. Just a few minutes past that, you’ll see come townhouses on left called El Jorge and then the entrance to Las Fuentes’ on the right hand side (North)..

Jocotepec at the far West end of the Lake is a few more minutes West.

Sid’s Note: A Big Thanks to Cynthia for sharing her trip details. She and husband are the proud new owners of a very nice home in Roca Azul (Blue Rock) just South of Jocotepec.