Mexico - MEX to UPN (or MLM) - Plane, coach or rental car?

I want to go to Uruapan from DF. It's not that far, but I'm told that the coach takes 7 hours (and has no lieflat bed option like they do in Argentina or some Spanish routes). There are no flights, either, but I can fly to Morelia and arrange a pick-up from there. However, return flights MEX-MLM seem to cost the best part of 300 Euros- for 45' in an ATR? :confused:
This has gotten me thinking about renting a car...the prices seem reasonable, but I've never been to Mexico before...Is the road reasonably safe in terms of construction and freedom from crime, or shall I avoid it? I am not expecting the equivalent of a French motorway; just asking whether driving is a realistic option (and/or if there's any way of obtaining the flights for less or finding an autocar ejecutivo).

Good day

Connecting flights on AeroMar are often ridiculously expensive, so unless you are a high flying tycoon I do not recommend it.

The coach sounds like the most sensible option, actually, are you sure you cannot find a reasonable first class coach to Uruapan? I was in Michoacan a few years ago and took ETN from Guadalajara, www.etn.com.mx , they seem to have a run from Mexico City to Uruapan in 6 hours for about 38usd, quite a big difference ! You just need to catch an airport taxi from the airport to the north bus terminal, a reasonably quick ride.

A rental car -is- of course possible, but unless you've driven in Mexico before, I am not sure I would recommend it. Have you driven in Italy or Southern France? Traffic in Mexico City is quite crazy, and driving in the dense forests of Michoacan you do run the risk of running into robbers and the like.

So, my vote is for the bus, it's not the fastest way, but it's probably the most comfortable and economic way of getting there.

I hope you enjoy Michoacan, it's quite a beautiful state, and the national park in Uruapan is gorgeous, and the food, oh my !

A rental car -is- of course possible, but unless you've driven in Mexico before, I am not sure I would recommend it. Have you driven in Italy or Southern France? Traffic in Mexico City is quite crazy, and driving in the dense forests of Michoacan you do run the risk of running into robbers and the like.


I've even driven in Athens and Dubai, so I don't think that "craziness" is an issue, but, if the risk of robbery is real, I would rather avoid it!

The ETN coach may not have a lieflat seat, but it does seem quite tolerable.

Seems like the only LCC to UPN is Volaris from TIJ - probably not what you need.

There are proper toll motorways from Mexico City to (near) Morelia, from where you'd have to take regular federal highways to Patzcuaro, from where you can take another toll road to Uruapan. These are busy busy roads, so I don't think highway robbery is too much of a problem. However, you're not immune from crime in Mexico, even if you take a bus.

There are number of sights along the way, if you're interested, such as Morelia itself, Tzintzuntzan, Patzcuaro.