The Wayro route from Babahoyo to Tulcán is 356 miles (573 km), about 8 h 19 min of driving without stops.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Los Rios province, outside Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo.
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: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Distance | 356 mi (573 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | E491 → E35 → E28A → E28B → E282 |
| Provinces on the route | Los Rios, Bolivar, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Babahoyo–Tulcán drive in a few lines
E35 (162 mi) and E491 (92 mi) carry about 71% of the 356 miles. It runs through 7 provinces: Los Rios, Bolivar, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Babahoyo to Tulcán: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Los Rios |
| E491 | 2–30 | 28 | Los Rios, Bolivar |
| local roads | 30–53 | 23 | Bolivar |
| E491 | 53–117 | 64 | Bolivar, Napo |
| local roads | 117–126 | 9 | Napo |
| E35 | 126–187 | 61 | Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E28A | 187–201 | 14 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 201–216 | 15 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 216–237 | 21 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 237–244 | 7 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 244–247 | 3 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 247–253 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 253–354 | 101 | Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| local roads | 354–356 | 2 | Carchi |
- Mile 24 of this route: Los Rios → Bolivar (province line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Bolivar → Napo (province line)
- Mile 133 of this route: Napo → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 171 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 254 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (province line)
- Mile 308 of this route: Imbabura → Carchi (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Babahoyo and Tulcán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 121), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 208), Wiwa Quito (mile 228)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 167)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 121), Quito Metropolitan Cathedral (mile 201), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 208), Inca-Caranqui (mile 278)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 228)
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.
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.
Quito Metropolitan Cathedral
On the southwest side of Plaza de la Independencia, the Quito Metropolitan Cathedral was the seat of the Diocese of Quito from 1545 until it became an archdiocese in 1848.
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.
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.
Inca-Caranqui
On the southern edge of Ibarra, Inca-Caranqui preserves a semi-subterranean Inca structure of finely cut stone, possibly the pool described by Spanish chronicler Cieza de León, across from Caranqui's parish church.
More drives to Tulcán
- Latacunga to Tulcán
- Ambato to Tulcán
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tulcán
- Riobamba to Tulcán
- Quevedo to Tulcán
- Guayaquil to Tulcán
From Babahoyo to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Babahoyo to Tulcán?
About 8 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 356 miles.
What is the driving distance from Babahoyo to Tulcán?
About 356 miles (573 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 Babahoyo to Tulcán?
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 Babahoyo to Tulcán use?
In order: E491, E35, E28A, E28B and E282. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Babahoyo and Tulcán?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (basilica, mile 121, 0.2 mi from the route); La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 208, 0.5 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 228, 0.5 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.