The Wayro route from Ajijic to Mismaloya is 231 miles (372 km), about 4 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 231 mi (372 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-15 → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-15D → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.2 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.
The Ajijic–Mismaloya drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (55 mi) and MEX-200D (54 mi) carry about 47% of the 231 miles. It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Ajijic to Mismaloya: the road sequence
| 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 | 12–25 | 13 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 26–56 | 30 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 56–111 | 55 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 111–145 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 145–163 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 163–217 | 54 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 217–231 | 14 | Jalisco |
- Mile 94 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
What to see on the way from Ajijic to Mismaloya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 75), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 104), Rosita Beach (mile 223), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 224)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 174), Costalegre (mile 219), Rosita Beach (mile 223)
- Museums and history: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 43), Guachimontones (mile 50), National Museum of Tequila (mile 66), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 75), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 104), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 224)
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
Around the town of Tequila, the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of blue agave fields shaped by the plant's use for tequila since the 16th century.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Rincón de Guayabitos is a beach town in Compostela, Nayarit, with about two kilometers of shore known for gentle waves, a popular getaway from Tepic and Guadalajara.
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
Rosita Beach
Next to the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta's Centro, Rosita Beach shares its name with one of the city's long-standing hotels.
Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale
The Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale presents crafts along with the hunting and gathering items used in pre-Hispanic times, with a focus on western Mexico.
Once you reach Mismaloya
Vallarta Botanical Garden
At about 1,300 feet above sea level near Puerto Vallarta, the Vallarta Botanical Garden covers 79 acres, 73 of them set aside as a reserve, and has been open to the public since 2005.
More drives to Mismaloya
- San Blas to Mismaloya
- Tepic to Mismaloya
- Tequila to Mismaloya
- Amatitán to Mismaloya
- Guadalajara to Mismaloya
- San Luis Soyatlán to Mismaloya
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 does it take to drive from Ajijic to Mismaloya?
About 4 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 231 miles.
How far is Mismaloya from Ajijic by car?
About 231 miles (372 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 Mismaloya?
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 Mismaloya?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ajijic to Mismaloya?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-15, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ajijic to Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 75, 0.6 mi from the route); Rosita Beach (beach, mile 223, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (museum, mile 224, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.