Queretaro to Angangueo, Michoacán

Hi,

We are planning for future travel to visit the Monarch Butterfly sanctuary near Anggangeou. According to Google Maps, from Queretaro there are two starting routes we can take - Route 45 going west going past El Pueblito and the Route 45 going east which continues to Hwy 57 South.

For the sake of safety, we just want to take the tolled highways as much as possible. The problem is, Google Maps does not list which sections of the routes are tolled. I think it would be helpful if I could get information like a list of towns along the route to nail down the safest route.We are planning to travel with friends in a minivan so the toll charges will be shared.

Any information is appreciated.

By future travel I guess you mean next year. I spoke to a tour operator last week who said the monarch butterflies have left already.

Mexico normally adds a ¨D¨ suffix to indicate a toll highway. And I don´t see any ¨D¨ on the highways that Google Maps suggests.

Yes, we are planning for January 2019. Thank you for the tip about "D" designation for a toll highway.

I see a route that is tolled further south - "via Lib. Norponiente and Guadalajara - Atlacomulco/México 15D". I think that could be the safer route but need confirmation from others who have driven south from Queretaro.

According to the attached link, there are no tolls. Just plug in your origen and destino states/cities. As you'll note, the route on 57 does have you on portions of 57D, but no toll booths. I've driven from El Pueblo to Acambaro and on to Morelia, but not to Angangueo.
http://app.sct.gob.mx/sibuac_internet/ControllerUI?action=cmdEscogeRuta

Google Maps does offer a third route which partially uses toll road 15D, but it adds 25 minutes driving time. So it isn´t clear to me that route would be safer.

Hi ElPelon, do you mean El Pueblito because El Pueblo is way north.

So how was the route you mentioned above? Was it just regular highways without tolls or did the route go along country roads with lots of topes? (our experience last year driving from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara was great so we are hoping for something similar...no surprises)

And thank you for the link.

El Pueblito. Spell correct strikes again!
The route was pretty much state highways in decent shape, not much traffic, and of course topes, but not a ton. Kinda scenic in spots, as I recall. And we took 45 libre from El Pueblito through Apaseo El Alto.

Great! Thanks for the information.

This post has been removed because it may not have met our community guidelines.

Hi Vanessa, thank you for the link.
We don't plan on going to Mexico City. Our plans are to fly to Leon and visit Guanajuato, SMDA, Queretaro and all the way to Grutas Tolantongo, Hildalgo.

If there are tours to visit the Monarch Butterfly sanctuary from Leon, we would be interested.

Oh, I get it! Well, I don´t know if this tour has another meeting point at Leon, maybe you can call them and check that information. Anyway, in case I find another tour with a route from Leon to the sanctuary I will post it here for you.

According to Google Maps, Leon is more than an hour further from the butterfly sanctuaries than Queretaro, so that´ll make for a long day.

Leon is where we will drop off the rental vehicle so we will have time to stay back and take any interesting tours that we have not done on our road trip. Basically just trying to avoid driving in Michoacán if possible.

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.