Mexico: Guadalajara to Zacatecas
 

Hi Mexicobikers,
I'm in Guadalajara and want to go to Zacatecas. As far as I can see in the Guia Roji, there are at least three major possiblities:
a) Road 23 via Jerez de Garcia Salinas
b) Road 54 via Jalpa
c) Toll Road 80D and 45 via Aguas Calientes
I'd be very grateful for any hints and recommendations wrt which road to take with regards to landscape, traffic, pavement quality...
Many thanks in advance
Winfried

This is not a problem Winnie, all the roads you are considering are very good pavement and very good scenery , each one of a different sort.
Mex 23 goes through more high plains type country with some mountains. Real cowboy country with grasslands or llanos and some oak forest areas.Not many towns and light traffic.
Mex54 follows a set of river vallies , irrigated orchards and fields and many small towns. Bit more traffic. Just north of Guadalajara the road drops a great distance into a spectacular barranca, past the sewage treatment plant on a cliff. Hold your nose at the bottom because the river ius badly polluted.
The third route you propose is through the Bajio, the most heavily populated and industrialized and farmed area of central Mexico. Avoid the toll road , stick to the free ones and you can wander and stop as much as you want.
Why not go to Zacatecas on 23, back Guadalajara on 54 and then back to Zac.Zac on the others if you have the time =)

thanks Sjoerd :-)

While in Zac, ask for Frederico at Hostel Carmen, Av. Juarez 222, he's a fellow biker who will help you out! tell him i sent ya!