Plan on about 5 h 36 min of driving for the 236-mile (380 km) trip from Tapijulapa to Boca del Cielo, before any stops.
| Distance | 236 mi (380 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-173 → MEX-195 → MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.4 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.
Driving Tapijulapa to Boca del Cielo: the shape of the trip
MEX-173 (65 mi) and MEX-190D (58 mi) carry about 52% of the 236 miles. It runs through 2 states: Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tapijulapa to Boca del Cielo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-173 | 0–65 | 65 | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| MEX-195 | 65–101 | 36 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 101–119 | 18 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 119–128 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 128–141 | 13 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 141–199 | 58 | Chiapas |
| MEX-200 | 199–215 | 16 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 215–236 | 21 | Chiapas |
- Mile 9 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tapijulapa and Boca del Cielo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chiapa de Corzo (mile 112), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 112), Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez (mile 121), Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden (mile 122)
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 97), Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden (mile 122)
- Museums and history: Chiapa de Corzo (mile 112), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 112), Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez (mile 121), Museo de la Ciudad (mile 126), Los Horcones (mile 211)
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.
Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez
Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez is a planetarium in Tuxtla equipped with 2D and 3D image projection technology.
Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden
The Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden sits next to the Sabinal River in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.
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.
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
- Palizada to Boca del Cielo
- Sueños de Oro to Boca del Cielo
From Tapijulapa to other places in Mexico
- Tapijulapa to Omitlán
- Tapijulapa to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tapijulapa to San José del Pacífico
- Tapijulapa to Mazunte
- Tapijulapa to Sisal
- Tapijulapa to Kabah
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tapijulapa to Boca del Cielo?
About 5 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 236 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tapijulapa to Boca del Cielo?
About 236 miles (380 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 Tapijulapa 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 Tapijulapa to Boca del Cielo?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco 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 Tapijulapa to Boca del Cielo use?
In order: MEX-173, MEX-195, MEX-190, MEX-190D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tapijulapa and Boca del Cielo?
Closest to the road: Chiapa de Corzo (archaeological site, mile 112, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (museum, mile 112, 0.7 mi from the route); Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez (museum, mile 121, 0.6 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.