The Wayro route from Ajijic to Metztitlán is 405 miles (651 km), about 7 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 405 mi (651 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-35 → JAL 122 → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 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 Metztitlán is like
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-M40D (80 mi) carry about 70% of the 405 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-23, MEX-35, MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ajijic to Metztitlán, 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 |
| MEX-M40D | 255–335 | 80 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 335–347 | 12 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 347–354 | 7 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 354–370 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 370–374 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 374–390 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 390–405 | 15 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 69 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 287 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 317 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 331 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Ajijic and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 300), El Hiloche (mile 359), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 361), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 373), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 390), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 397)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 234), Tula National Park (mile 300), El Hiloche (mile 359), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 390), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 397)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 216), Museo Nacional de la Fotografía (mile 355), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 361)
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.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Museo Nacional de la Fotografía
Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, is home to the Museo Nacional de la Fotografía, a museum devoted to photography.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
La Dificultad Mine Museum
At the La Dificultad mine in Mineral del Monte, a site museum and interpretation center tells the area's mining and hospital history, showing how the mines moved from steam power to electricity.
Templo y exconvento de San Agustín
Founded in 1536 and built between 1542 and 1562, the Augustinian church and former convent of San Agustín in Atotonilco el Grande has a Plateresque design and frescoes.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán
The Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve protects about 96,000 hectares of eastern-central Hidalgo, where the Amajac, Metztitlán, Almolón and Metzquititlán rivers have cut four canyons, the Metztitlán gorge being the main one.
When you get to Metztitlán
Los Reyes Magos monastery, Metztitlán
Augustinian friars built the fortress-like Santos Reyes convent in Metztitlán in the 16th century, enclosing its atrium with a wall, open chapels and an atrial cross; it stands inside the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve with wide canyon views.
More drives to Metztitlán
- Pachuca to Metztitlán
- Actopan to Metztitlán
- Tulancingo to Metztitlán
- Zimapán to Metztitlán
- Otumba to Metztitlán
- Calpulalpan to Metztitlán
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 Metztitlán?
About 7 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 405 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Ajijic by car?
About 405 miles (651 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 Metztitlán?
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 Metztitlán?
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; Hidalgo 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 Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-35, JAL 122, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-85, MEX-105 and HGO 37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ajijic and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: El Hiloche (state park, mile 359, 0.3 mi from the route); La Dificultad Mine Museum (museum, mile 361, 0.6 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 390, 0.2 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.