Alausi to Papallacta is about 206 road miles (332 km): roughly 5 h 10 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Some roads are poorly maintained. They may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Total distance | 206 mi (332 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E20 |
| Provinces on the route | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Tungurahua |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Alausi to Papallacta drive plays out
E35 (171 mi) and E20 (26 mi) carry about 96% of the 206 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Tungurahua. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Alausi to Papallacta, road by road
| 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 | 61–180 | 119 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E20 | 180–206 | 26 | Pichincha, Tungurahua |
- 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)
- Mile 196 of this route: Pichincha → Tungurahua (province line)
What to see on the way from Alausi to Papallacta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laguna de Colta (mile 44)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna de Colta (mile 44), Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 90), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 135)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 90), El Inga (mile 180)
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.
Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria
On Avenida Circunvalación in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, the Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden covers 35 acres and dates back to 1849.
Área nacional de recreación El Boliche
Created in 1979, El Boliche National Recreation Area is a 400-hectare protected area on the Pichincha–Cotopaxi border, at elevations from about 3,484 to 3,726 meters.
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.
El Inga
On the slopes of Ilaló volcano in Tumbaco, El Inga is an archaeological site dated to 10,000–2,000 BC, used as a campsite by Paleoindian hunter-gatherers.
More drives to Papallacta
- Esmeraldas to Papallacta
- Atacames to Papallacta
- Latacunga to Papallacta
- Otavalo to Papallacta
- Salinas to Papallacta
From Alausi to other places in Ecuador
- Alausi to Isinliví
- Alausi to Mindo
- Alausi to Puerto Cayo
- Alausi to Canoa
- Alausi to Agua Blanca
- Alausi to Vilcabamba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Alausi to Papallacta?
About 5 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 206 miles.
What is the driving distance from Alausi to Papallacta?
About 206 miles (332 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.
Is it safe to drive from Alausi to Papallacta?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Alausi to Papallacta use?
In order: E35 and E20. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Alausi and Papallacta?
Closest to the road: Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 44, 0.4 mi from the route); Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 90, 1 mi from the route); El Inga (archaeological site, mile 180, 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.