Folks,
What are some ideas for a good, safe route from Guadalajara to San Cristobal/Chiapas region. I'm looking for efficient and reasonably toll free. I'd really like to avoid Cuidad de Mexico.

I have worries about the (Pacific) coast due to reports of narco-traffica...

I think Guad - Toluca - 160/190 to Oaxaca - Tuxtla Gutierrez is a good bet. Good lines, but is it too close to the "Big Smoke" (M. City?)

Thanks,
Mitch

Why avoid Mex City. It is a great place to visit. I can meet you somewhere outside of Mex City and then put you up and show you around. Don't believe what people say about the city but check with some travellers that have actually been here. Check these sites www.kevinfoley.com or motomoments blogspot

Gary has a good point - the difficulty and hazard of n avigating a bike or car through Mexico city are overstated . Been there often in recent years and once you get a grasp of some of the major routes and landmarks you can move around easily. There are even a lot of inexpensive hotels to be found in the Centro Historico so you can leave the bike parked securely and do the wandering foot tourist routine.And Gary 's offer of guide service sounds good for you.
Now if you are simply looking for a route to S.C/C. start on Mex 15 from Guadalajara , follow it around lake Chapala, all the way to Toluca - nice highway varied scenery, interesting stops at Quiroga ,and Patzcuaro among many others.From Toluca take the toll freeroute through Cuernevaca to Cuautla and then Mex 160 to Izucar de Matamoros where you pick up Mex 190 toll free and that number you will follow all the way to Tehuantepec and to San Cristobal through the center of Mexico, great varied scenery , differrent climates.
Another possibility is to go from Guadalajara to the Pacific coast either via Mex 80 (Barra de Navidad) or via Mex 54/Jal 54 toll free to Colima and Tecoman .Either route ,once at the coast you get on Mex 200 through all the coastal zone and resorts , forest, cactus and farm districts to finally get on Mex 190 as before at Tehuantepec

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93

thanks all for the tips. Highly recommend staying on the libres, as has oft been suggested. A headache at times with routefinding, but great riding. Damn the topes, though.

And it beats paying a $10 (USD!) toll then getting caught in construction for ever.

Mitch

throw my thanks in there too, guys. we have been pondering avoiding Mexico City ourselves. We were not planning on that route, but instead down through Texas then head for the ast coast, Yucatan, pyramids, etc and although we want to see the ancient ruins around the city, had heard so many warnings on another tourist site, that we are (were) really concerned about safety and pollution. The other site is not a rider one, but is a tourist one. Guess jump in with both feet, and if it is more than we want, we can always point the front wheel south and follow it.

joe

60 days, 7 hours, 15 minutes.

Joe,
You are more than welcom e to stay with us in Mex City. It really is a great place and don't believe any of the horror stories big cities are dangerous everywhere but with a little care you will have a great time. Send me a PM if you are interested