By road, Alausi and Vilcabamba are about 253 miles (407 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 17 min of driving.
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.”
| Distance by road | 253 mi (407 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | E47 → E35 → E682 |
| Provinces on the route | Chimborazo, Cañar, Azuay, Loja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
On the road from Alausi to Vilcabamba
E35 (172 mi) and E47 (16 mi) carry about 74% of the 253 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Chimborazo, Cañar, Azuay, Loja. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Alausi to Vilcabamba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chimborazo |
| E47 | 1–17 | 16 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 17–25 | 8 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 25–83 | 58 | Chimborazo, Cañar |
| local roads | 83–88 | 5 | Cañar |
| E35 | 88–202 | 114 | Cañar, Azuay, Loja |
| local roads | 202–233 | 31 | Loja |
| E682 | 233–246 | 13 | Loja |
| local roads | 246–253 | 7 | Loja |
- Mile 36 of this route: Chimborazo → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 92 of this route: Cañar → Azuay (province line)
- Mile 168 of this route: Azuay → Loja (province line)
Stops between Alausi and Vilcabamba
Cathedral of Azogues
In the center of Azogues, facing the city's Parque Central, the Cathedral of Azogues (Catedral de San Francisco de Azogues) is a Catholic cathedral with classical Roman-style architecture and serves as the mother church of Cañar Province.
Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes
The Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes is a museum located in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador.
Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
Cuenca's historic center, covering about 224 hectares in Azuay province, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and draws visitors to the city.
Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario
Loja Cathedral (Catedral de Loja) stands on the Parque Central in the center of Loja, about 70 km from the El Cisne sanctuary, and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Loja.
More drives to Vilcabamba
- Salinas to Vilcabamba
- Montecristi to Vilcabamba
- Portoviejo to Vilcabamba
- Tena to Vilcabamba
- Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba
- Ibarra to Vilcabamba
From Alausi to other places in Ecuador
- Alausi to Isinliví
- Alausi to Papallacta
- Alausi to Mindo
- Alausi to Puerto Cayo
- Alausi to Canoa
- Alausi to Agua Blanca
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Alausi to Vilcabamba?
About 7 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 253 miles.
What is the driving distance from Alausi to Vilcabamba?
About 253 miles (407 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 Vilcabamba?
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 Vilcabamba?
In order: E47, E35 and E682. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Alausi and Vilcabamba?
Closest to the road: Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes (museum, mile 103, 1 mi from the route); Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca (historic center, mile 104, 2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario (cathedral, mile 228, 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.