Akumal to Sisal is about 211 road miles (340 km): roughly 4 h 35 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 211 mi (340 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-307 → QR 109 → YUC-MEX-180 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-281 |
| Mexican states on the route | Quintana Roo, Yucatán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.5 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.
On the road from Akumal to Sisal
MEX-180 (55 mi) and MEX-180D (54 mi) carry about 52% of the 211 miles. It runs through 2 states: Quintana Roo, Yucatán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Akumal to Sisal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-307 | 0–16 | 16 | Quintana Roo |
| QR 109 | 16–43 | 27 | Quintana Roo |
| YUC-MEX-180 | 43–62 | 19 | Quintana Roo, Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 62–76 | 14 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 76–80 | 4 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 80–81 | 1 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180D | 81–135 | 54 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 135–176 | 41 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 176–180 | 4 | Yucatán |
| MEX-281 | 180–211 | 31 | Yucatán |
- Mile 50 of this route: Quintana Roo → Yucatán (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Sisal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xelha (mile 7), Tulum (mile 14), Palacio de la Música Mexicana (mile 178)
- Museums and history: Xelha (mile 7), Tulum (mile 14), Coba (mile 42), Cuca (mile 162), Palacio Canton (mile 178), Palacio de la Música Mexicana (mile 178)
Xelha
On the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Quintana Roo, Xelha is a Maya archaeological site whose name comes from the Yucatec Maya roots xel and ha'.
Tulum
Tulum is a pre-Columbian Maya walled city that served as a port for Coba. Its ruins sit on 12-meter cliffs above the Caribbean on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Quintana Roo.
Coba
Coba is an ancient Maya city in Quintana Roo at the hub of a network of stone causeways, with engraved and sculpted stelae recording ceremonial life of the Late Classic Period.
Cenote Zací
Cenote Zací sits inside the city of Valladolid, Yucatán. Its name comes from the Maya settlement that once stood on the site.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, is a former Maya city between Mérida and Valladolid where you can walk past El Castillo (Temple of Kukulkan), the Temple of the Warriors, the Great Ball Court and the round El Caracol observatory.
Sacred Cenote
At the Maya site of Chichen Itza, the Sacred Cenote is a water-filled limestone sinkhole where, by Maya and Spanish accounts, offerings and human sacrifices were made to the rain god Chaac.
Cuca
Near the town of Tixpéhual in Yucatán, Cuca is a pre-Columbian Maya site of about 10 hectares, where dozens of structures and their remains lie scattered inside a low wall.
Palacio Canton
Built in the first decade of the 20th century as a residence for the Cantón Rosado family, Palacio Cantón in Mérida, Yucatán, now houses the Regional Museum of Anthropology of Yucatán.
Palacio de la Música Mexicana
Devoted to Mexican and indigenous music, the Palacio de la Música Mexicana in Mérida's historic center houses the National Center for Mexican Music, a concert hall and a virtual museum.
More drives to Sisal
From Akumal to other places in Mexico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Akumal to Sisal?
About 4 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 211 miles.
How far is Sisal from Akumal by car?
About 211 miles (340 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 Akumal to Sisal?
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 Akumal to Sisal?
The U.S. State Department rates Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Akumal to Sisal?
In order: MEX-307, QR 109, YUC-MEX-180, MEX-180, MEX-180D and MEX-281. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Akumal and Sisal?
Closest to the road: Xelha (archaeological site, mile 7, 0.3 mi from the route); Tulum (archaeological site, mile 14, 0.6 mi from the route); Palacio de la Música Mexicana (museum, mile 178, 0.6 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.