The Wayro route from Ajijic to Ixcateopan is 396 miles (638 km), about 7 h 27 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 396 mi (638 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-35 → JAL 122 → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Ajijic to Ixcateopan is like
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-55D (58 mi) carry about 66% of the 396 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-23, MEX-35, MEX-55, MEX-95 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ajijic to Ixcateopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 1–16 | 15 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 16–17 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 17–46 | 29 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 46–52 | 6 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 52–255 | 203 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 255–258 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 258–292 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 292–297 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 297–310 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 310–311 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 311–335 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 335–339 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 339–347 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 347–364 | 17 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 364–367 | 3 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 367–369 | 2 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 369–374 | 5 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 374–375 | 1 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 375–396 | 21 | Guerrero |
- Mile 69 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 359 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Ajijic and Ixcateopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 359), Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 375), Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (mile 375)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 234), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 315), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 331), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 359)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 216), Museum José María Velasco (mile 296), Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 375), Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (mile 375)
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
Museum José María Velasco
In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Silver baron José de la Borda paid for Santa Prisca with the bonanza from his San Ignacio mine in Taxco, and the church was dedicated in 1759, the same year his nearby house on the plaza was finished.
Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco
Housed in the historic Casa Humboldt in Taxco, the Museo de Arte Virreinal shows colonial sacred art recovered from the Santa Prisca parish church, along with permanent exhibitions on Alexander von Humboldt and the town's history.
When you get to Ixcateopan
Ixcateopan
Some 36 kilometers from Taxco in the rugged mountains of northern Guerrero, the ruins at Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc belong to a city that served as an important regional ceremonial center.
More drives to Ixcateopan
- Tlaltizapán to Ixcateopan
- Tepoztlán to Ixcateopan
- Metepec to Ixcateopan
- Oaxtepec to Ixcateopan
- Tlayacapan to Ixcateopan
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixcateopan
From Ajijic to other places in Mexico
- Ajijic to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to Real de Asientos
- Ajijic to Nombre de Dios
- Ajijic to Mineral de Pozos
- Ajijic to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ajijic to Ixcateopan?
About 7 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 396 miles.
How far is Ixcateopan from Ajijic by car?
About 396 miles (638 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Ajijic to Ixcateopan?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Ajijic to Ixcateopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ajijic to Ixcateopan use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-35, JAL 122, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ajijic and Ixcateopan?
Closest to the road: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 359, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (church building, mile 375, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (museum, mile 375, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.