By road, Palizada and Boca del Cielo are about 325 miles (523 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 4 min of driving.
| Distance | 325 mi (523 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-217 → MEX-186 → MEX-180 → MEX-187 → MEX-187D → MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-187D, MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Palizada to Boca del Cielo
MEX-187D (64 mi) and MEX-190D (58 mi) carry about 38% of the 325 miles. It runs through 4 states: Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-187D and MEX-190D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Palizada to Boca del Cielo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-217 | 1–13 | 12 | Campeche, Tabasco |
| local roads | 13–71 | 58 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 71–89 | 18 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 89–93 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 93–114 | 21 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 114–123 | 9 | Tabasco |
| MEX-187 | 123–152 | 29 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 152–162 | 10 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 162–226 | 64 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 226–231 | 5 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 231–289 | 58 | Chiapas |
| MEX-200 | 289–304 | 15 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 304–325 | 21 | Chiapas |
- Mile 12 of this route: Campeche → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 166 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 173 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Boca del Cielo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 91)
- Museums and history: Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 91), Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer (mile 91), Los Horcones (mile 300)
Villahermosa Cathedral
Rising on Paseo Tabasco in Villahermosa, the Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco has tall towers above a monumental facade. The current building dates from 1960–1963; an earlier cathedral was destroyed in the anticlerical campaigns of 1928–1934.
Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer
Villahermosa's regional anthropology museum, named for poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, displays Olmec and Maya pieces found across Tabasco, along with loans from other parts of Mexico such as Teotihuacan. It opened in 1980.
Los Horcones
On the north side of Cerro de Bernal, atop a small ridge on the south side of a coastal plain, Los Horcones is an archaeological zone in the municipality of Tonalá, Chiapas.
More drives to Boca del Cielo
- Copainalá to Boca del Cielo
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Boca del Cielo
- San Juan Chamula to Boca del Cielo
- Comitán to Boca del Cielo
- Tapijulapa to Boca del Cielo
- Sueños de Oro to Boca del Cielo
From Palizada to other places in Mexico
- Palizada to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Palizada to San José del Pacífico
- Palizada to Mazunte
- Palizada to Akumal
- Palizada to El Castaño
- Palizada to Reforma Agraria
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Palizada to Boca del Cielo?
About 7 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 325 miles.
What is the driving distance from Palizada to Boca del Cielo?
About 325 miles (523 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 Palizada to Boca del Cielo?
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 Palizada to Boca del Cielo?
The U.S. State Department rates Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; 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.
Which highways go from Palizada to Boca del Cielo?
In order: MEX-217, MEX-186, MEX-180, MEX-187, MEX-187D, MEX-190, MEX-190D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Palizada to Boca del Cielo?
Closest to the road: Villahermosa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 91, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer (museum, mile 91, 1 mi from the route); Los Horcones (archaeological site, mile 300, 3 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.