Puchutla Road is not recommended if you suffer of dizziness
Mexico, north-america
12 km
1.57 m
extreme
Year-round
Mexico 175, aka the Puchutla Road, is a seriously long and winding ride. If you get carsick easily, maybe sit this one out! We're talking over six hours of constant curves, cute little towns with speed bumps to slow you down, and unreal views of the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Fair warning, this road can get pretty hectic. It's the main drag from Oaxaca city to the coastal resort town of Huatulco, so expect some traffic on a pretty narrow road. Out of Oaxaca city, it's smooth sailing on a "supercarretera" (two-lane highway) until you reach Miahuatlán at around 5,150 feet above sea level. That's where the real fun starts!
You'll start climbing the Sierra Madre del Sur, hitting a peak of about 9,100 feet near El Manzanal. The views are absolutely insane – picture mountains covered in pine forests. From Suchixtepec (around 8,500 feet), it's all downhill (literally!) towards the coast. Brace yourself for endless curves and super-sharp turns, some so tight you might need to do a little switchback action. The road gets super narrow in spots, so be ready to yield to oncoming traffic.
The road starts near Puchutla (only 500 feet above sea level) and climbs up to 8,400 feet in San Miguel Suchixtepec. You'll experience a crazy transition from tropical rainforest to oak and pine forests – talk about scenic!
The highest point is around 9,100 feet. From here, the views are epic – you'll see smaller mountains, towns tucked right next to the road, and canyons filled with pine trees. San José El Pacífico (or just "El Pacifico") sits at 8,100 feet. It's a popular spot with tourists, and one of the chilliest towns in Oaxaca state. Plenty of restaurants and hotels offer cozy wood cabins and log houses. It's the perfect escape from the Oaxaca heat.
Miahuatlán, at about 5,450 feet, is basically the gateway to Oaxaca's central valley. The road down has a few hairpin turns, and you'll notice the landscape change from pine forests near San Andres Paxtlan to a drier climate in Miahuatlán. It's a pretty steep drop – the road goes from about 7,900 feet to 5,450 feet in just 7.5 miles!
Where is it?
Puchutla Road is not recommended if you suffer of dizziness is located in Mexico (north-america). Coordinates: 21.9048, -102.7174
Road Details
- Country
- Mexico
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 12 km
- Max Elevation
- 1.57 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 21.9048, -102.7174
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