The Wayro route from Ajijic to Maruata is 216 miles (347 km), about 4 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 216 mi (347 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-15 → MEX-54D → MEX-54 → MEX-110 → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Maruata is like
MEX-54D (89 mi) and MEX-200 (71 mi) carry about 74% of the 216 miles. MEX-54D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-23, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-110, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Ajijic to Maruata, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 1–9 | 8 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 9–12 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 12–24 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 24–113 | 89 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 113–121 | 8 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 121–145 | 24 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 145–216 | 71 | Colima, Michoacán |
- Mile 104 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 166 of this route: Colima → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Ajijic and Maruata
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 100)
- Museums and history: Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 79), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 79), Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar (mile 119), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 119)
Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral
Ciudad Guzmán's St. Joseph Cathedral (Catedral de San José) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ciudad Guzmán and the seat of its bishop.
Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán
Founded in the 1950s with writer Juan José Arreola among its promoters, this INAH museum in Ciudad Guzmán shows stone and ceramic pieces from western Mexico, colonial-era religious art and sketches by muralist José Clemente Orozco.
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
This national park in western Mexico protects the upper slopes of two volcanic peaks, Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima, in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar
Founded by collector María Teresa Pomar and run by the University of Colima, this museum is dedicated to Mexican folk art and handcrafts (artesanía), with pieces from across the country as well as the traditions of Colima state.
Cathedral Basilica of Colima
Colima Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, stands at a corner of the Jardín Libertad in the city center. Pope John Paul II named it a minor basilica on October 12, 1998.
More drives to Maruata
- San Luis Soyatlán to Maruata
- Guadalajara to Maruata
- Amatitán to Maruata
- Tepatitlán to Maruata
- San Juan de los Lagos to Maruata
- Lagos de Moreno to Maruata
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 Maruata?
About 4 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 216 miles.
How far is Maruata from Ajijic by car?
About 216 miles (347 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 Maruata?
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 Maruata?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Michoacán 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 Maruata use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-15, MEX-54D, MEX-54, MEX-110 and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ajijic and Maruata?
Closest to the road: Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (museum, mile 79, 2 mi from the route); Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar (art gallery, mile 119, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Colima (cathedral, mile 119, 2 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.