By road, Cancún and Kohunlich are about 260 miles (418 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 36 min of driving.
| Total distance | 260 mi (418 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-307 → MEX-307D → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-307D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
Driving Cancún to Kohunlich: the shape of the trip
MEX-307 (216 mi) and MEX-186 (25 mi) carry about 93% of the 260 miles. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-307D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cancún to Kohunlich, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 3–139 | 136 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307D | 139–148 | 9 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 148–228 | 80 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-186 | 228–253 | 25 | Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 253–260 | 7 | Quintana Roo |
Stops between Cancún and Kohunlich
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xelha (mile 72), Xel-Ha Park (mile 72), Tulum (mile 80), San Felipe Fortress (mile 216)
- Nature and outdoors: Arrecife de Puerto Morelos National Park (mile 20), Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve (mile 153)
- Museums and history: Puerto Morelos Lighthouse (mile 24), Xelha (mile 72), Tulum (mile 80), San Felipe Fortress (mile 216)
- With kids: Xcaret Park (mile 48), Xel-Ha Park (mile 72)
Arrecife de Puerto Morelos National Park
Facing Puerto Morelos, this national park (Parque Nacional Arrecife de Puerto Morelos) protects a section of the reef barrier that runs along the Western Atlantic, reaching north toward the Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún and Punta Nizuc park.
Puerto Morelos Lighthouse
Standing on the seafront near the main pier in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, this active lighthouse is the third in a line of lights that have operated at the site.
Xcaret Park
On the Riviera Maya coast of Quintana Roo, Xcaret Park is a privately run theme park and self-described ecotourism development, part of the Xcaret Experiencias Group.
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'.
Xel-Ha Park
On the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo in the municipality of Tulum, Xel-Ha Park is a commercial aquatic theme park and ecotourism development run by Grupo Xcaret.
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.
Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve
Established in 1986 in Tulum Municipality, Quintana Roo, Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
San Felipe Fortress
San Felipe Fortress (Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar) was an 18th-century Spanish colonial garrison in Bacalar, Quintana Roo. Today it houses the Bacalar Piracy Museum.
Once you reach Kohunlich
Kohunlich
Kohunlich is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization in Quintana Roo, about 65 km west of Chetumal on Highway 186; its original name is unknown.
More drives to Kohunlich
- Akumal to Kohunlich
- Punta Allen to Kohunlich
- Puerto Morelos to Kohunlich
- Espita to Kohunlich
- Calkiní to Kohunlich
- Maxcanú to Kohunlich
From Cancún to other places in Mexico
- Cancún to Puerto Aventuras
- Cancún to Punta Allen
- Cancún to Progreso
- Cancún to Sisal
- Cancún to Celestún
- Cancún to Hecelchakán
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cancún to Kohunlich?
About 5 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 260 miles.
How far is Kohunlich from Cancún by car?
About 260 miles (418 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 Cancún to Kohunlich?
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 Cancún to Kohunlich?
The U.S. State Department rates Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cancún to Kohunlich?
In order: MEX-307, MEX-307D and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cancún to Kohunlich?
Closest to the road: Xelha (archaeological site, mile 72, 0.3 mi from the route); Xel-Ha Park (amusement park, mile 72, 0.6 mi from the route); San Felipe Fortress (museum, mile 216, 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.