By David Eidell (11/2009)
Tecoman Colima is a nondescript city that lies smack in the path of RVers who wish to continue traveling south of Manzanillo, Colima on Mex 200 and continue on to points south like Playa Azul, Zihuatanejo, and Acapulco. RVers have historically had a bout of “Where The Heck Are We” fever when negotiating their way through the downtown section. A strikingly similar adventure awaited those going north on Mex 200.
Get your printer fired up and copy this page. I promise I won’t waste a drop of your ink: The following directions will take you on a bypass around the city and you won’t need a compass or GPS unit to find your way.
SOUTHBOUND
Exit the toll highway that joins Colima with Manzanillo at the Tecoman exit. You will be placed on a multi-lane boulevard, continue straight ahead, towards the city.
About two miles up the boulevard you are going to encounter a tall monument set in the center of a traffic circle called a Glorietta. Before you enter it (no signals) remember that traffic circulating within a Glorietta always has the right-of-way. This monument and traffic circle would be danged near impossible to miss.
Using a clock orientation, you will enter the Glorietta 12 O’clock circle it COUNTER-clockwise, and then exit on another boulevard located at the 9 O’clock position. Without getting too confusing this means making a simple left turn at the monument. A large overhead sign with arrow also points your route with Cerro de Ortega as the destination (a small town about ten miles south on Mex 200).
Another multi-lane boulevard but at least it’s on the outskirts of the city with light traffic. Dodge a bunch of pot holes while continuing onward.
Two and a half miles later, you are going to encounter a less massive yet equally impossible to miss Glorietta monument. Duplicate the 12 O’clock to 9 O’clock maneuver (meaning you’ll end up making a left turn once again). After making the turn you are now all the way through Tecoman and can resume normal highway speed (obey the signs).
Four hours from the second Glorietta to Las Peñas, four-and-a-half hours to Playa Azul, seven hours to Zihuatanejo, and nine hours to Patzcuaro. Larger or more cumbersome rigs may require twenty percent more time for transit.
Just reverse the directions above going northbound and highway signage will be for Colima, and better yet, Manzanillo.