The Wayro route from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba is 388 miles (624 km), about 6 h 5 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 388 mi (624 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-187D → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-187D, MEX-180D, MEX-145D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.5 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.
How the San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba drive plays out
MEX-145D (143 mi) and MEX-187D (123 mi) carry about 69% of the 388 miles. It runs through 3 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D, MEX-187D and MEX-180D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 1–35 | 34 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 35–44 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 44–52 | 8 | Chiapas |
| MEX-187D | 52–175 | 123 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 175–179 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 179–199 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 199–342 | 143 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 342–385 | 43 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 385–388 | 3 | Veracruz |
- Mile 107 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between San Cristóbal de las Casas and Orizaba
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 22), Sumidero Canyon National Park (mile 38)
- Museums and history: Chiapa de Corzo (mile 29), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 29), Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas (mile 35), Museo de la Ciudad (mile 41), Huatusco (mile 349), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 375)
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.
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.
Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas
Opened in 2006 on the site of the former Cerro Hueco prison, the Chiapas Museum of Science and Technology in Tuxtla Gutiérrez aims to spark children's and teens' interest in science and technology.
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.
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.
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, Cuauhtochco has a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. Expect no visitor facilities, and consider hiring a local guide.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the city's main church; look up to see its octagonal dome covered in tiles, finished in a neoclassical style.
When you get to Orizaba
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Veracruz State Art Museum
Housed in Orizaba's 18th-century former Oratorio of San Felipe Neri, later a hospital and then a jail, the Veracruz State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado) holds more than 700 works, including 36 by Diego Rivera.
Teatro Llave
In central Orizaba, the Gran Teatro Ignacio de la Llave hosts artistic and cultural performances, and its exhibition room shows temporary collections, mostly by artists from the surrounding valley.
More drives to Orizaba
- Cholula to Orizaba
- Mexico City to Orizaba
- Pachuca to Orizaba
- Cuernavaca to Orizaba
- Toluca to Orizaba
- Papantla to Orizaba
From San Cristóbal de las Casas to other places in Mexico
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Cárdenas
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Comalcalco
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Paraiso
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Córdoba, Mexico
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Huamantla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba?
About 6 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 388 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba?
About 388 miles (624 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 San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba?
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 San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba?
In order: MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-187D, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Cristóbal de las Casas and Orizaba?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (museum, mile 29, 2 mi from the route); Museo de la Ciudad (museum, mile 41, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (cathedral, mile 375, 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.