Atacames to Tababela is about 220 road miles (354 km): roughly 5 h 15 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: All areas south of Esmeraldas City, in Esmeraldas province.
Read the full advisory before you go: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Heavy fog and rain make conditions more dangerous.”
| Distance | 220 mi (354 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E20 → E28 → E28B |
| Provinces on the route | Esmeraldas, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
On the road from Atacames to Tababela
E28 (101 mi) and E20 (69 mi) carry about 77% of the 220 miles. It runs through 2 provinces: Esmeraldas, Pichincha. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Atacames to Tababela: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Esmeraldas |
| E15 | 2–23 | 21 | Esmeraldas |
| E20 | 23–92 | 69 | Esmeraldas |
| E28 | 92–193 | 101 | Esmeraldas, Pichincha |
| local roads | 193–201 | 8 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 201–208 | 7 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 208–220 | 12 | Pichincha |
- Mile 96 of this route: Esmeraldas → Pichincha (province line)
Stops between Atacames and Tababela
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 191)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 191)
- Museums and history: Catequilla (mile 192)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 212)
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a site owned by Pichincha province in San Antonio parish, 26 kilometers north of central Quito.
Catequilla
Catequilla is an archaeological site on a mountaintop in the Pomasqui Valley, in San Antonio parish near Quito, at 2,638 meters and about 300 meters above the valleys on either side.
Historic Center of Quito
The Historic Center of Quito covers about 375 hectares in south-central Quito and is considered among the best-preserved historic districts in Spanish America, with roughly 130 monumental buildings and some 5,000 listed heritage properties.
Wiwa Quito
Known for almost three decades as the Quito Zoo, Wiwa Quito is a wildlife refuge park of about 12 hectares in the Guayllabamba parish of Quito, opened in 1997.
In Tababela itself
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 Tababela
- Mindo to Tababela
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tababela
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Otavalo to Tababela
- Tulcán to Tababela
From Atacames to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Atacames to Tababela?
About 5 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 220 miles.
How far is Tababela from Atacames by car?
About 220 miles (354 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 Atacames to Tababela?
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 Atacames to Tababela use?
In order: E15, E20, E28 and E28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Atacames and Tababela?
Closest to the road: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (park, mile 191, 0.2 mi from the route); Catequilla (archaeological site, mile 192, 2 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 212, 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.