The Wayro route from Ajijic to Malinalco is 332 miles (535 km), about 6 h 8 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 332 mi (535 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-35 → JAL 122 → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-A10D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Malinalco is like
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-55D (34 mi) carry about 71% of the 332 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-23, MEX-35, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ajijic to Malinalco, 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 | 297–332 | 35 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 69 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Ajijic and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 257), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 296)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 234), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 293), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 308), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 323)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 216), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 257), Calixtlahuaca (mile 292), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 296)
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
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.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
When you get to Malinalco
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.
Malinalco
Carved straight into the hillside above Malinalco, the Cuauhcalli is a rock-cut temple at the heart of this archaeological zone. The Mexica took the Matlatzinca town around 1476 and used it to train and consecrate elite warriors.
More drives to Malinalco
- Valle de Bravo to Malinalco
- Zitácuaro to Malinalco
- Tlalpujahua to Malinalco
- San Juan del Río to Malinalco
- Tequisquiapan to Malinalco
- Salvatierra to Malinalco
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ajijic to Malinalco?
About 6 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 332 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Ajijic by car?
About 332 miles (535 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 Malinalco?
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 Malinalco?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ajijic to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-35, JAL 122, MEX-15D, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ajijic and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 216, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 257, 0.4 mi from the route); Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (museum, mile 296, 0.9 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.