By road, Babahoyo and Salinas are about 132 miles (213 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 16 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3).
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Los Rios province, outside Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo provinces.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: 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 | 132 mi (213 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | E25 → E49 → E40 |
| Provinces on the route | Los Rios, Guayas, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Babahoyo–Salinas drive in a few lines
E40 (65 mi) and E25 (19 mi) carry about 64% of the 132 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Los Rios, Guayas, Santa Elena. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Babahoyo to Salinas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Los Rios |
| E25 | 3–22 | 19 | Los Rios, Guayas |
| connecting roads | 22–27 | 5 | Guayas |
| E49 | 27–36 | 9 | Guayas |
| connecting roads | 36–37 | 1 | Guayas |
| E40 | 37–42 | 5 | Guayas |
| local roads | 42–60 | 18 | Guayas |
| E40 | 60–120 | 60 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 120–132 | 12 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 8 of this route: Los Rios → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 72 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
Places worth a stop between Babahoyo and Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Jacinto (mile 26), Teatro Sánchez Aguilar (mile 41), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 43), Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 54)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 54)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Jacinto (mile 26), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 43), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 125), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 126)
Catedral de San Jacinto
In the town of Yaguachi, the Catedral de San Jacinto (officially Santuario Basílica Catedral de San Jacinto de Yaguachi) is a Catholic cathedral standing at Calle Calderón and Lorenzo de Caraycoa.
Teatro Sánchez Aguilar
Opened in 2012 in the La Puntilla area of Samborondón canton, Teatro Sánchez Aguilar was created to boost cultural and artistic life across Greater Guayaquil.
Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman
Also called the Museum of the Meritorious Fire Department of Guayaquil, the Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman is a firefighting museum in Guayaquil.
Cerro Blanco Forest
Owned by Holcim Ecuador and managed by Fundación Pro-Bosque, Cerro Blanco Forest is a tropical dry forest reserve in Guayas Province, Ecuador.
Museo Amantes de Sumpa
In Santa Elena Province, the Museo Amantes de Sumpa has a clay oven used for ancestral cooking classes and a traditional coastal house with its wooden trough and woven mat.
Paleontological Museum Megatherium
Inside the Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, the Paleontological Museum Megatherium is considered Ecuador's first paleontology museum.
More drives to Salinas
- Guayaquil to Salinas
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Riobamba to Salinas
- Latacunga to Salinas
- Quito to Salinas
- Esmeraldas to Salinas
From Babahoyo to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Babahoyo to Salinas?
About 3 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 132 miles.
How far is Salinas from Babahoyo by car?
About 132 miles (213 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 Babahoyo to Salinas drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province; Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Babahoyo to Salinas use?
In order: E25, E49 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Babahoyo to Salinas?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Jacinto (cathedral, mile 26, 0.2 mi from the route); Teatro Sánchez Aguilar (theater, mile 41, 0.7 mi from the route); Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 54, 0.4 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.