Driving to Chacala from Puerto Vallarta

Driving to Chacala from Puerto Vallarta

And suggestion for driving in Mexico

Note that the time is Chacala is one hour earlier (Mtn time) than PV (Central). This is important when returning for your flight.

When you leave the airport, you will be following the signs to “Compostela.” If you are renting from one of the rentals counters at the airport, many of them are on the highway going north, and their van will take you from the airport to the car.

Then it is easy to go north (and trickier when you return). You want to be on Nayarít Highway 200, north. All the way from the airport to the turnoff to Chacala. The signs start out saying “Compostela,” which is much farther than Chacala. Nothing will say “Chacala.” Later in the journey, the signs will add “Tepic,” which is even farther, but tell you that you are on the right track.It takes about 90 minutes to get to Chacala, but it totally depends on traffic.

The first half of the drive is mostly in mountains. The highway is all two lanes, with no shoulders and few turnouts. Be patient. And watch out for impatient drivers.

Parts of this road carry a lot of traffic. You will pass by Sayulita, San Francisco, Lo de Marcos and El Monten. Then comes Guayabitos-La Penita, where there are four traffic lights.

The turnoff to Chacala is about 15 minutes north of La Penita.

The landmarks before the turn-off to Chacala:

When you pass a white LP Gas Station on the left, called “Global Gas,” you are getting close. About a mile past the Global station there is a string of fruit stands on the right. When you start seeing them, you know you are close.

The road to Chacala is a wide intersection on the left. In order to correctly make the left hand turn to get onto the Chacala road, you need to pull over to the right, on the gravel in front of the fruit stands, and stop opposite the Chacala road.

And then wait for a break in the traffic and zip across the highway. DO NOT stop on the highway and signal to make a left. You will probably cause a wreck if you do that.

There is a hotel called Dora Maria on the far left corner, across from the fruit stands. If you reach Las Varas, a town about a mile north of the turnoff, you will need to turn around and go back south.

To do that move over to the right lane of the highway and then move onto the lateral as it appears, on the edge of town. Drive on the lateral to the first signal, wait for a green arrow and go back out on the highway, heading south.

RULES OF THE ROAD, Mexico:

An important word to know when driving in Mexico is “Topes.” This word and the signs indicating them means that there is a major speed bump of some kind, often on major highways like 200. If you don’t see them and hit them at high speed, make sure your seat belt is fastened! They are used to slow down traffic at villages mostly. There are also areas with a set of grooves , intended to warn you of something.

Many drivers in Mexico over double lines, on curves, hills, etc., so stay sharp.

Passing: If you decide to pass someone, watch for the vehicle passing you while you are passing.
If you are behind a slow truck or bus grinding up a hill, and he gets to where he can see it is safe for you to pass (before you can see over the hill), he will put on his left blinker, to tell you to pass him. Of course, he may also signal left because he is making a left turn!

Left turns are variable, depending on road designs. In some towns like there is a single lane separate from the highway on each side. To turn left, you must get off the highway and onto this lateral, then wait at the intersection for a little green arrow to appear in the signal lights. Traffic will be stopped and you can make a left or U turn.

Other times there is a pull-out to the right, where you wait for your chance to dash left across the highway. The Chacala turn is like that. Do not stop in the highway with your left turn signal blinking.

Traffic signals begin to blink the green before they go to yellow and red. Most Mexican drivers ignore yellow, and many use the red to speed up. Your sudden stops at the first sign of blinking green or yellow will cause trouble. When in Mexico, do as the Mexicans.

Do as the Mexican drivers do. US-Canadian driving rules do not necessarily apply.The road may look the same but the rules are different. Pay attention.

Here are some road signs you might encounter:

No rebase = no passing

No rebase con linea continua = Don’t pass over solid line

Concede cambio las luces = lower your high beams (grant the changing of your lights)

Utilize su cinteron seguridad = fasten your seatbelt.

Moderate su velocidad = slow down (moderate your velocity)

Entroque peligroso = dangerous intersection or crossing (like truck crossing)

Topez a 100 meters = speed bump in 100 meters (300 feet).

No tire basura = don’t throw trash/ no littering

Obedezca las signales = obey the signals

Camino de bajo velocidad = a road of low speed

Conserva limpia la carretera = keep the road clean / no littering.

Chacala Nayarit: Transportation From the PV Airport

(Part of this post is duplicative of the previous entry)

There are a couple of options for getting to Chacala from the Puerto Vallarta airport.

You can make prior arrangements to be picked up at the airport
or
you can take public transportation (taxi or bus).

In either case, I would suggest you get something to eat before you head out for Chacala, or bring some snacks, because if you arrive after about 6 or 7pm most restaurants are closed. Also, the ATMs (three at the moment) at the airport are the cheapest way to get pesos. There are also money changing windows at the airport (Cambios).

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION TO CHACALA FROM THE PV AIRPORT

A pre-arranged airport pickup is not cheap, however, particularly for people with lots of luggage, surfboards, disposable income, small kids, or for people with later arrivals who don't want to arrive in Las Varas after dark, this is a very practical option.

During the winter it is dark in Chacala before 5pm. However the airport is one time zone earlier, which gives you an extra hour to get to Chacala before dark.

There a locally-based van service that will pick you up, by reservation, at the airport, and bring you to where ever you are staying in Chacala. The fare is set ahead of time and depends on various factors (arriving or departing, other guests arriving/departing at the same time, season of the year, etc). In both cases you are met by the driver with a sign at the baggage/immigration exit in the airport.

Cundo's Chacala Taxi Service can be reached as follows:

Via email at trinimoya2@hotmail.com
By phone at 011 52 327 219 4018
Trini speaks English and the drivers speak some English.

You will be offered a specific fare after you make contact with the specific details of your flight, including airline and the arrival time in Puerto Vallarta. Your arrival time may impact the cost of your trip (shared rides, etc).

Cundo has several large vans with 7 or 8 comfortable seats with seat belts. These vans are clean, new looking, have good insurance, are federally licensed, can carry lots of lugagge and surfboards, and have AC. The drivers speak at least some English, and are licensed and insured.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO CHACALA FROM THE PV AIRPORT

As of September, 2007, as you walk out of the immigration/baggage area of the airport you will be in the main floor of the airport, which is generally full of resort reps, taxi drivers etc, most with signs. At this moment, if you need a restroom, ATM, phone, money exchange, food, or a newspaper don't walk out the doors in front of you, but walk back around behind the area you just came out of and find what you need. You will notice the new wing of the airport is open, with more shops and restaurants, including an escalator to the second floor departure area.

If you are ready to head for Chacala, and haven't made prior arrangements to be picked up you have several choices.

1. You can take a taxi to Chacala. If you engage a taxi driver within the airport or right outside the door you will pay top price. If you walk out the doors right in front of you as you leave the baggage area and look to the left you will see a ramp leading to a bridge across the highway. On the other side there are other taxi's who haven't paid the special airport fees to be allowed to work right in the airport parking lot. So they are cheaper and no different, as far as I know.

Be sure to negotiate the fare before you get in or allow the driver to take your bags.
You will need pesos from now on, and the airport ATMs are good because they give out smaller bills, which you will need. I think the cheaper taxis are between 60-80 dollars (400-800 pesos) to Chacala. Might be less, might be more. The driver takes less than two hours, depending on this and that.

The taxi driver probably won't know where you are staying in Chacala, but he can ask around and find out for you. Be sure you are taken right to where you are staying and that someone is there with a key. Most planes land in mid to late afternoon in Puerto Vallarta, and chances are you will arrive in Chacala after dark from December-March. If you have reservations, that person will probably make clear arrangements with you about the location of your rental and accessing the key.

2. You can hitch-hike which would be very unusual in urban Mexico and you would possibly attract the interest of the police or (other) disreputable people

3. You can catch the ATM (grey) bus (signs say Bruceria, Punta de Mita, or Sayulita). Get off and Brucerias Pacific mini-terminal, and catch the Pacific bus (runs every 30 minutes) to Las Varas. This is for people without much stuff and some confidence about travelling in Mexico.

3. You can take the bus to Las Varas and taxi or combi to Chacala.(Via the ATM bus to Brucerias and ten Chacala)
You can take the ATM bus from the bus stop across the bridge from the airport to Brucerias. It costs 10 pesos. The buses are grey and modern looking. Wave one down when you see it.
In Brucerias get off at the Pacifico busline stop, which is about halfway thru town, on the highway, on the right. (Say to the driver "Por favor, Pacifico".)
Then catch the Pacifico bus to Las Varas-Tepic. It comes every 30 minutes as is 60 pesos. This is the easiest travel plan. And quickest.

3. You can take the bus to Las Varas and taxi or combi to Chacala.
(Via the Central bus terminal /Camionera Central)
To catch the Pacifico bus, first either take a taxi (by either method above) or a city bus and go to the central bus terminal (Camionera Central). The bus stop is across the bridge, from the airport, near the cheaper taxis. Ask the driver is he is going to the Camionera Central, which is about a mile and a half north of the airport, on the way to Las Varas and Chacala (Nayarit). The bus that has "Mojo....." is the right one.

There is another Chacala (Jalisco) to the south, so be clarify that to the taxi driver. For some reason the gringo pronunciation of Chacala sounds like Chicago to many taxi drivers, so be sure you are hearing each other correctly. There is no ATM at the bus terminal so get pesos at the airport ATM's. The taxi fare from right at the airport is about $15USD or a little more, and from across the bridge is about $6USD. The city bus is about 5 pesos/50 cents US.

When you arrive at the bus terminal enter and go to the Pacifico bus counter and ask for a ticket to Las Varas (V pronounced as B). Usually they run every half hour or so. The ticket is about 76 pesos or about $7USD. Ask what gate the bus leaves from and what time. There are clean bathrooms with TP and turnstiles (30centsUSD). They usually have small change only. No bills. There are a couple of snack shops and little restaurant. You go through little security gate where the guy writes his initials on your ticket. This is a new thing and I have no idea what the point is, except to slow you down when you are late for the bus.

They load the buses quickly. If you have more stuff than you want to take on the bus with you, you can check your stuff under the bus. It's probably a good idea to sit on the passenger side so you can watch you stuff during the brief stops on your way north. If they give you a luggage tag, don't lose it. They will want it when you claim your luggage.

There are taxis to Chacala at the Pacifico bus terminal in Las Varas until maybe 9pm or so, sometimes later, and the fare is usually about $100pesos (US10$). There are two collectivo's going back and forth to Chacala from about 7am to about 5 or 6pm for 12 pesos ( $1.10US). The taxi drivers may be willing to point out the collectivo stop to you. It's about two blocks back the way you came into town and front of the Taco sign. Most of the taxi driver's know their way around Chacala, and the collectivo drivers know everybody in town.

Some of my Favorite Places in Chacala

SOME OF MY FAVORITE, Locally owned, ENTERPRISES IN CHACALA.

This is a list of some of my favorite places in Chacala.

I think it only includes places owned by people who live in Chacala.
It is not a complete Chacala resident-owned businesses list.
It includes the places I like to go to the most. Or the people I enjoy the most.

Cundo's/Chacala Van Service offers pick-ups and returns to the PV airport, day trips to various towns in the area (Tepic, Guadalajara, San Blas, Sayulita, Mexicalitan, etc) and to other places of interest to visitors. His vans are clean and very nice. They are federally licensed, with good insurance coverage. The drivers speak at least some English and are licensed and insured. There is room for lots of luggage and surf boards and have 7 or 8 passengers seats with seat belts.Reservations can be reached by calling 011 52 327 219 4018 or by emailing at trinimoya2@hotmail.com. Or take a look at a new website, Chacala Escape
Or, from the US, call 011 52 327 219 4018.

Lupe's Massages. Lupe is does wonderful massages in your home. Contact her in person. Her home can be reached by staying on the paved road as you approach Chacala (do NOT turn off at the green "Playa Chacala" sign). When the paved road ends at the large wooden gate, turn left and Lupe's is the fourth home on the right hand side of the dirt road.

Trini's Escuela de Espanol (Spanish Immersion Program)
offers group or individual Spanish instruction using an immersion model, which works well in Chacala, where there are few English speakers.
Trini has been teaching Spanish for more than fourteen years, and makes learning Spanish comfortable and not intimidating. Trini can be reached at trinimoya2@hotmail.com or
by calling from the US 011 52 327 219 4018.
Or go to Trini's Escuela de Espanol

Majahua Resort (Small Hotel, Spa, and Gourmet Restaurant)Majahua is a small hotel, five units, located above the south end of Playa Chacala. It has an incredible spa, with massages. The spa has waterfalls and hot and cool ponds, and incredible views of the ocean. The gourmet restaurant is open for guests, and by reservation for visitors.

Chacala Tourist Coop offers boat rides, fishing trips, whale/dolphin watching, and exploring isolated beaches. At least two members of the co-op, each with their own boat(s) are available all day, every day, at the small fishing dock (muelle). The dock is located by following the "Captain de al Puerto" signs all over town. You can fish, whale and dolphin watch, go to the surfing beach (Las Caletas) or the next lovely swimming beach to the south (Las Cuevas). You can also buy fish down at the dock, muelle, in the early morning, fresh off the boats.
To contact the Co-op for reservations or more information email trinimoya2@hotmail.com.Or call from the US 011 52 327 219 4018. Or go to the Chacala Tourist Coop website








Chico's Restaurant and Bar serves delicious smoked and grilled fresh-caught fish and other Mexican and seafood dishes. Their new full-service bar offers whatever you want to drink. The palapa restaurant has two levels, one with concrete and the other with sand floors. You can sit at your table and watch your kids play in the water only a few feet away.
Angeles's (and Francisco's) Tiendas.
This family owns two nice tiendas: one on the beach road, right in front of Chico's restaurant and the other up next to the Church.
Aurora and Beto's Techo de Mexico Tourist Rentals Very affordable and about a block and a half to the beach. Aurora is my favorite landlady in Chacala, and her rooms are my favorite rooms. Shady, with flowers, and quieter than other places in Chacala.Cammie's Tourist ShopSarai's Mini-Mart is located right next door to Trini's Escuela de Espanol, and offers some basic food stuff and coke, milk and water. Sarai in very involved around town, particularly with the kinder and with an adult education class for adults in town who never, or hardly ever, went to school. Now has horrible video games for 1 peso a game.

Juan's Tienda, "The Joker"
Food Delivery Services.
There are a number of individuals in Chacala who sell homemade or professionally-made food by walking around town, sometimes with a wheel-barrow, or sometimes driving. There are t bakers, several orange juice makers, coco drink makers, a person who makes delicious apple tarts and small loaves of sweetbread, and various other cooks. Sometimes there are tamales, you never know. Even Concha sells iced juice drinks during holiday periods.

























Paolo and Berta's Taco Stand is right across the street from the driveway into Chico's parking lot. They have a nice little six table restaurant. Very clean, and decorated with a red/white color theme. The tacos are great and you can watch them being cooked. They have a nice sanitary stainless steel setup that I really like.

Daniela's Tourist Shop
There are a number of souvenir shops with clothes and shoes and tourist stuff. Three of them, Cammie's, Ophelia's, and Daniella's are locally owned and operated.







Fonda de Lupa (Restaurant) This is one on the first puestos on the beach road. Good place to get a Coke.
Beach Vendors On weekends and during Christmas and Easter vacation there are usually some beach vendors peddling their wares. Never agressive, almost always cheerful. They have a really hard job.









Sarahi's Hotel and Bar is about half a block from the beach, right behind the water pumping station. She has eight rental rooms, most with a beach view.Juanita's Tienda is located in the middle of the main "business" block in Chacala. Has most everything and is open early to late. Located right next to Koko Bongo's and across the street from Las Brisas.
Ophelia's Tourist Shop
Ophelia's shop is located at the main intersection on the beach road in Chacala. It
s right next to the bizarro real estate office that looks like a church
Koko Bongo's Restaurant and Pool Hall is painted green this year, and is on the beach road. The wife is a well-trained professional cook, who has a nice clean, organized kitchen to work out of. The five children in the family all work in the restaurant and store, and are very fun to be around and some of them speak English. A very enterprising family.
Jorge's Deposito
Casa Chacala is a two-year old new six-unit hotel in town, with a swimming pool and a very nice shady, plant-filled patio overlooking the pool. Each room has a great view of Chacala. Casa Chacala has two wonderful owners who have become very involved in the town.
Koranee Hardware Store is part of a local chain in the area. The Chacala store is owned and run by local folks. The store is located on the beach road as it head up the hill toward the school.
Mirador Hotel (Chata and Isreal's rentals)Mirador is a six unit building (painted blue) located on the short bluff overlooking the sea, and is part of a family complex filled with trees and flowers. The units vary in size and amenities. The very nicest is a large one bedroom/bath unit with a very nice kitchen located on the covered patio overlooking (about 15 feet from) the ocean. The smallest is a one double bed (which pretty much fills the room) unit with a tiny bath. Clean and well-cared for. Guests can use a large palapa area with hammocks overlooking the water.

Gracias Techos de Mexico RentalThis rental unit is upstairs with patio/kitchen and a large bedroom with bath. Right across form the Church. A very nice family owns this rental, and it's very clean and nice.

Mars Tres Restaurant and Rentals is located two spaces up from Juan's Tienda, on the main road. Right across the street from the beach. Always open, early and late, with delicious tostados, tacos, breakfasts, etc. Good service and very friendly owners. The three new rental units share a large view patio with hammcocks. Very nice units.Lalo's Fish Market located just uphills from Juan's tienda and the Las Glorias Posasa. Open at the time, usually with the radio playing. They clean, weigh, and package your selection from the morning catch right in front of you.
Marcella's Tienda offers snack and alcoholic beverages and refrescos. Located between Juan's tienda and Tres Mars. Victor's Pizza is located here when open for business.
Guicho's Vino's and Licores
Here is one of the local liquor stores. Generally open Sunday and holidays.
















Mingo's Restaurant, or Event Place (often has Pozole available, pick up or dine in) on Saturday nights.
Juan Luis's Rentals (part of Concha's rental complex). Brand new very nice units withkitchens on view private patios.
Villa Celeste (on the site of the former Casa Azul)
Villa Celeste has 8 units, and the site overlooks the ocean. Less than a block to the beach. One building is brand new, all units have kitchens, and are air-conditioned.

To find more information about Chacala rentals go to Chacala Vacation Rentals (http://chacalabudgetrentals.blogspot.com) or Techos de Mexico. (www.techosdemexico.com)

Techos de Mexico Rentals

TECHOS DE MEXICO

Techos de Mexico is a program developed by in Chacala by Jose Enrique De Valle (owner of Majahua), about eight years ago. This program helps local families develop a stable source of income by offering construction loans and volunteer building help to create family-run rental units near or on top of the family home. There are currently eight home owners with about 12 rental units. All are well-built, with screened windows, with glass, hot water showers, fans, tiled floors, security windows, and steel doors and two double beds. Some units have kitchens and most have patios or terraces. They are located all over town and are easy to identify by Techo de Mexico signs at each house.

Staying at a Techos de Mexico rental unit gives visitors to a chance to spend time with a local family, and to learn some Spanish.

For more information about Techos de Mexico rentals go to
www.techosdemexico.com