Sierra Madre del Sur · Mexico
Oaxaca to the Pacific
MEX 175Oaxaca de Juárez to San Pedro Pochutla
An extraordinary 260 km traverse of the Sierra Madre del Sur from Oaxaca city, climbing to 2,970 m through cloud forest and pine and dropping canyon after canyon to the Pacific, one of Mexico’s most scenically varied mountain roads.
Leaving Oaxaca (1,600 m) the road rises in sharp curves through agave country past Miahuatlán to a 2,970 m pass near Suchixtepec where the forest turns to high pine. The descent toward Pochutla is relentless, curve after curve through jungle ridges, river canyons and waterfalls, before the Pacific junction at San Pedro Pochutla. Allow a full day; night driving is discouraged.
Scenery
Best seasons
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Oaxaca to the Pacific on the map135.4 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners
busiest around mile 107Elevation
under 4%4 to 8%over 8%137 to 2,770 mFrom the road
Points of interest2 stops
- Benito JuarezLandmark20 mi in
- Altos del GolánViewpoint82 mi in
Hazards
- Narrow two-lane road
- Landslides
- Sharp hairpin curves
- Village speed bumps
- Night driving discouraged
- Seasonal washouts
Sources
“Hwy 175 is one of the most beautiful highways in the world. The highway winds through the Sierra Madre del Sur.”
Route traced from OpenStreetMap, with its stats measured from that line. How the roads are mapped
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