Mexico-Tuxpan Highway is a Marvel of Engineering

Mexico-Tuxpan Highway is a Marvel of Engineering

Mexico, north-america

Length

N/A

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up for a ride on the Autopista Mexico-Tuxpan (Mexico 132D)! This road is seriously an engineering marvel. It took over 30 years to build, with all sorts of drama – corruption, funding issues, you name it! But hey, it’s finally here and connects Mexico City to Tuxpan, its closest port on the Gulf.

Think smooth pavement, 12 tunnels, and a whopping 60 bridges. One of those bridges, the San Marcos Bridge, is crazy high, offering insane views of the Sierra Madre Mountains. You'll be driving through some seriously diverse landscapes. One minute you're in a tropical rainforest, the next you're surrounded by pine forests, and then you hit semi-desert valleys near Mexico City.

Oh, and bonus: this road takes you right by Teotihuacán, so you can easily hop off and explore those incredible pyramids. It's a popular route for tourists heading to and from Mexico City. Get ready for a road trip you won't forget!

Where is it?

Mexico-Tuxpan Highway is a Marvel of Engineering is located in Mexico (north-america). Coordinates: 21.5331, -101.4918

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Road Details

Country
Mexico
Continent
north-america
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
21.5331, -101.4918

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