Plan on about 8 h 13 min of driving for the 478-mile (770 km) trip from Ixtenco to San Juan Chamula, before any stops.
| Total distance | 478 mi (770 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-140D → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-187D → MEX-190 → MEX-190D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.1 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 Ixtenco to San Juan Chamula
MEX-187D (123 mi) and MEX-150D (81 mi) carry about 43% of the 478 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-140D, MEX-150D and MEX-145D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ixtenco to San Juan Chamula
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 2–8 | 6 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| local roads | 8–50 | 42 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 50–131 | 81 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 131–242 | 111 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 242–273 | 31 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 273–294 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 294–298 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 298–421 | 123 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 421–429 | 8 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 429–439 | 10 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 439–443 | 4 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 443–472 | 29 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 472–478 | 6 | Chiapas |
- Mile 4 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 63 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 360 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 367 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Stops between Ixtenco and San Juan Chamula
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 76), Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (mile 435)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 76), Selva El Ocote (mile 451)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 124), Museo de la Ciudad (mile 431), St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 434), Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (mile 435), Chiapa de Corzo (mile 444), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 444)
- With kids: Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro (mile 438)
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) include a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. There are no visitor facilities; reaching it means crossing a suspension bridge and climbing a steep trail, ideally with a local guide.
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.
St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Tuxtla Gutiérrez Cathedral, dedicated to St. Mark, is the Catholic church that serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Tuxtla in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.
Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas
Two main halls cover Chiapas's Mesoamerican archaeology and the state's history since the Spanish conquest at this regional museum of anthropology and history in Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to San Juan Chamula
Museo de los Altos de Chiapas Ex Convento Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Attached to the baroque church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, this museum occupies the former convent and is one of the city's most traditional landmarks.
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
- Cárdenas 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
From Ixtenco to other places in Mexico
- Ixtenco to Omitlán
- Ixtenco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ixtenco to Tonatico
- Ixtenco to El Oro
- Ixtenco to Mineral de Pozos
- Ixtenco to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ixtenco to San Juan Chamula?
About 8 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 478 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ixtenco to San Juan Chamula?
About 478 miles (770 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 Ixtenco 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 Ixtenco to San Juan Chamula?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ixtenco to San Juan Chamula?
In order: MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-187D, MEX-190 and MEX-190D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ixtenco and San Juan Chamula?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 76, 0.5 mi from the route); St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (cathedral, mile 434, 1 mi from the route); Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (museum, mile 435, 0.7 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.