The Wayro route from Manzanillo to Ajijic is 185 miles (297 km), about 3 h 25 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 185 mi (297 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-200D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.4 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.
What the drive from Manzanillo to Ajijic is like
MEX-54D (90 mi) and MEX-200D (26 mi) carry about 63% of the 185 miles. MEX-200D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-200, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-15, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Colima, Jalisco. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Manzanillo to Ajijic, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 3–9 | 6 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 9–35 | 26 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 35–38 | 3 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 38–63 | 25 | Colima |
| MEX-54 | 63–70 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-54D | 70–160 | 90 | Colima, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 160–161 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 161–171 | 10 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 171–175 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 175–185 | 10 | Jalisco |
- Mile 80 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Manzanillo and Ajijic
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 83)
- Museums and history: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 64), Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (mile 65), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 106), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 106)
Museo Comunitario de la Sal
Set in an old warehouse in Cuyutlán, the community Salt Museum (Museo Comunitario de la Sal) explains how local salt has been harvested, from the old tapeixtle technique to modern methods, with historic photos of the salt works.
Cathedral Basilica of Colima
Colima Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, stands at a corner of the Jardín Libertad in the city center. Pope John Paul II named it a minor basilica on October 12, 1998.
Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery
Two restored old houses in downtown Colima hold this art gallery (Pinacoteca Universitaria Alfonso Michel), which honors painter Alfonso Michel and displays a large collection belonging to the University of Colima.
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
This national park in western Mexico protects the upper slopes of two volcanic peaks, Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima, in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral
Ciudad Guzmán's St. Joseph Cathedral (Catedral de San José) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ciudad Guzmán and the seat of its bishop.
Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán
Founded in the 1950s with writer Juan José Arreola among its promoters, this INAH museum in Ciudad Guzmán shows stone and ceramic pieces from western Mexico, colonial-era religious art and sketches by muralist José Clemente Orozco.
More drives to Ajijic
- Calvillo to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
From Manzanillo to other places in Mexico
- Manzanillo to Comala
- Manzanillo to Mazamitla
- Manzanillo to Cotija
- Manzanillo to San Luis Soyatlán
- Manzanillo to Tequila
- Manzanillo to Amatitán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Manzanillo to Ajijic?
About 3 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 185 miles.
How far is Ajijic from Manzanillo by car?
About 185 miles (297 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 Manzanillo to Ajijic?
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 Manzanillo to Ajijic?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Manzanillo to Ajijic use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Manzanillo and Ajijic?
Closest to the road: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 26, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Colima (cathedral, mile 64, 2 mi from the route); Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (museum, mile 65, 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.