The Wayro route from Alausi to Mindo is 239 miles (384 km), about 5 h 42 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Total distance | 239 mi (384 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E28A → E28 |
| Provinces on the route | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Alausi to Mindo is like
E35 (146 mi) and E28 (43 mi) carry about 79% of the 239 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Alausi to Mindo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 1–53 | 52 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 53–58 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 58–61 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 61–155 | 94 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E28A | 155–170 | 15 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 170–192 | 22 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 192–235 | 43 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 235–239 | 4 | Pichincha |
- Mile 70 of this route: Chimborazo → Napo (province line)
- Mile 101 of this route: Napo → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 140 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Alausi and Mindo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laguna de Colta (mile 44), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 176), Intiñan Museum (mile 193)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna de Colta (mile 44), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 135), Quito Botanical Garden (mile 176)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 89), City Museum (mile 168), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 176), Rumicucho (mile 193), Intiñan Museum (mile 193)
Laguna de Colta
Laguna de Colta is a lake of about 275 hectares in Colta canton, Chimborazo province, in Ecuador's central highlands, home to native birds and many kinds of colorful fish.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato
Ambato Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, faces Juan Montalvo Park between Bolívar and Montalvo streets in the capital of Tungurahua province. It has held the rank of minor basilica since April 1961.
Cotopaxi National Park
Roughly 50 km south of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park spans parts of three provinces and surrounds Cotopaxi volcano, along with dormant Rumiñahui to the northwest and Sincholagua to the southeast.
City Museum
Housed in Quito's colonial center on García Moreno Street, between Morales and Rocafuerte, the City Museum is a museum in the Ecuadorian capital.
La Capilla del Hombre
Painter Oswaldo Guayasamín's La Capilla del Hombre is a purpose-built art museum in Bellavista, overlooking Quito, dedicated to the peoples of Latin America.
Quito Botanical Garden
Covering 18,600 square meters in Quito, the Quito Botanical Garden combines a park, arboretum and greenhouses displaying plant species from across Ecuador.
Rumicucho
Rumicucho, or Pucara de Rumicucho, is an Inca archaeological site in the parish of San Antonio de Pichincha, in Quito Canton, Ecuador.
Intiñan Museum
Just 200 meters from Ciudad Mitad del Mundo on the outskirts of Quito, Intiñan Museum (Museo de sitio Intiñán) is a site museum built in 1989.
More drives to Mindo
From Alausi to other places in Ecuador
- Alausi to Isinliví
- Alausi to Papallacta
- Alausi to Puerto Cayo
- Alausi to Canoa
- Alausi to Agua Blanca
- Alausi to Vilcabamba
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Alausi to Mindo?
About 5 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 239 miles.
How far is Mindo from Alausi by car?
About 239 miles (384 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Alausi to Mindo drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Alausi to Mindo?
In order: E35, E28A and E28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Alausi and Mindo?
Closest to the road: Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 44, 0.4 mi from the route); La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 176, 0.6 mi from the route); Intiñan Museum (museum, mile 193, 0.2 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 October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.