By road, Cárdenas and San Juan Chamula are about 165 miles (266 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 12 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 165 mi (266 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-187 → MEX-187D → MEX-190 → MEX-190D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Veracruz, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-187D, MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula
MEX-187D (65 mi) and MEX-187 (33 mi) carry about 59% of the 165 miles. It runs through 3 states: Tabasco, Veracruz, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-187D and MEX-190D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-187 | 0–33 | 33 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 33–42 | 9 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 42–107 | 65 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 107–116 | 9 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 116–125 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 125–129 | 4 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 129–158 | 29 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 158–165 | 7 | Chiapas |
- Mile 40 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 47 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Cárdenas and San Juan Chamula
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 122)
- Nature and outdoors: Sumidero Canyon National Park (mile 122), Selva El Ocote (mile 138)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Ciudad (mile 119), Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 122), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 130), Chiapa de Corzo (mile 131)
- With kids: Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro (mile 126)
Museo de la Ciudad
Tuxtla Gutiérrez's city museum covers the history and growth of the city with three permanent exhibits and a temporary gallery, in a building whose site once briefly served as a bullring.
Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Founded in 1951 with the Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden, this Tuxtla Gutiérrez museum, also called the Museo de las Maderas, is devoted to the plant life of Chiapas.
Sumidero Canyon National Park
The Grijalva River runs through Sumidero Canyon, whose walls rise from about 200 to 1,000 meters. Boat trips leave from colonial Chiapa de Corzo, and lookouts line the rim. It became a national park in 1980.
Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro
Tuxtla Gutiérrez's zoo, named for Miguel Álvarez del Toro, dates back to 1942, when it opened as the Zoológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery
Dominican friars built this convent in Chiapa de Corzo in the second half of the 16th century; today it is a cultural center whose Museo de la Laca is devoted to Chiapas' traditional lacquerwork.
Chiapa de Corzo
Near the town of Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas lies a pre-Columbian archaeological site of the same name that grew into a regional center around 700–500 BCE, during the Middle Formative period.
Selva El Ocote
Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve covers about 101,288 hectares of Chiapas, protecting tall evergreen rain forest on karst terrain, a landscape also known for its extensive caverns.
Arriving in San Juan Chamula
Museo Mesoamericano del Jade
The Museo Mesoamericano del Jade in San Cristóbal de Las Casas is housed in the Casa del Jade, a cultural center and company specializing in jade, with its own workshops.
Museo de Medicina Maya
Dedicated to the healing practices of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal peoples, the Museo de Medicina Maya is a museum in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
San Cristobal Cathedral
Seat of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, the San Cristobal Cathedral (Catedral de San Cristóbal de Las Casas) stands on the north side of the city's central plaza in Chiapas.
More drives to San Juan Chamula
- Copainalá to San Juan Chamula
- Comalcalco to San Juan Chamula
- Coatzacoalcos to San Juan Chamula
- Paraiso to San Juan Chamula
- San Andrés Tuxtla to San Juan Chamula
- Tlacotalpan to San Juan Chamula
From Cárdenas to other places in Mexico
- Cárdenas to Zacatelco
- Cárdenas to Chiautempan
- Cárdenas to Huejotzingo
- Cárdenas to Tlaxcala
- Cárdenas to Calpulalpan
- Cárdenas to Ocuituco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula?
About 3 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 165 miles.
How far is San Juan Chamula from Cárdenas by car?
About 165 miles (266 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 Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula?
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 Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula use?
In order: MEX-187, MEX-187D, MEX-190 and MEX-190D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Ciudad (museum, mile 119, 1 mi from the route); Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (museum, mile 122, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (museum, mile 130, 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.