Bacalar to Sisal is about 249 road miles (401 km): roughly 6 h 18 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 249 mi (401 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-307 → MEX-293 → MEX-184 → MEX- → YUC 18 → MEX-180 → MEX-281 |
| Mexican states on the route | Quintana Roo, Yucatán |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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.
How the Bacalar to Sisal drive plays out
MEX-184 (106 mi) and MEX-293 (62 mi) carry about 67% of the 249 miles. It runs through 2 states: Quintana Roo, Yucatán. Of the 6 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Bacalar to Sisal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 1–24 | 23 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-293 | 24–86 | 62 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-184 | 86–118 | 32 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX- | 118–128 | 10 | Quintana Roo, Yucatán |
| YUC 18 | 128–132 | 4 | Yucatán |
| MEX-184 | 132–206 | 74 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 206–213 | 7 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 213–217 | 4 | Yucatán |
| MEX-281 | 217–249 | 32 | Yucatán |
- Mile 120 of this route: Quintana Roo → Yucatán (state line)
Stops between Bacalar and Sisal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chacchoben (mile 29), Mayapan (mile 183), Xiol (mile 206), Teatro Peón Contreras (mile 216), Palacio de la Música Mexicana (mile 216)
- Museums and history: Chacchoben (mile 29), Mayapan (mile 183), Acanceh (mile 196), Xiol (mile 206), Teatro Peón Contreras (mile 216), Palacio de la Música Mexicana (mile 216)
Chacchoben
About 110 miles south of Tulum, Chacchoben is a Maya ruin some 7 miles from the village that gave it its name.
Mayapan
About 40 km southeast of Mérida near Telchaquillo, Mayapan is a pre-Columbian Maya site that was the political and cultural capital of the Yucatán Maya from the 1220s to the 1440s.
Acanceh
Inside the modern town of Acanceh, this Maya archaeological site was a major center of northern Yucatán, founded in the Middle Preclassic and at its peak in the Classic period. Its name means "lament of the deer."
Xiol
Xiol is a Maya archaeological site in Kanasín, about 10 kilometers from Mérida, found by accident in 2018 during construction of an industrial complex. Its Maya name means "the spirit of man."
Teatro Peón Contreras
Designed by European architects and built in Mérida in the early 20th century, Teatro Peón Contreras is an opera house that hosted Yucatán's First Feminist Congress in 1916.
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 Bacalar to other places in Mexico
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bacalar to Sisal?
About 6 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 249 miles.
What is the driving distance from Bacalar to Sisal?
About 249 miles (401 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 Bacalar 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 Bacalar 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 Bacalar to Sisal?
In order: MEX-307, MEX-293, MEX-184, MEX-, YUC 18, MEX-180 and MEX-281. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Bacalar to Sisal?
Closest to the road: Chacchoben (archaeological site, mile 29, 0.2 mi from the route); Mayapan (archaeological site, mile 183, 0.4 mi from the route); Xiol (archaeological site, mile 206, 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.