Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba is about 423 road miles (681 km): roughly 9 h 46 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: El Oro province, outside Huaquillas and Arenillas.
- 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.”
| Distance by road | 423 mi (681 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E39A → E30 → E482A → E482 → E48 → E40 → E25 → E50 → E35 → E69 → E682 |
| Provinces on the route | Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba is like
E25 (105 mi) and E482 (82 mi) carry about 44% of the 423 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | |
| E15 | 1–27 | 26 | Manabi |
| local roads | 27–35 | 8 | Manabi |
| E39A | 35–47 | 12 | Manabi |
| E30 | 47–51 | 4 | Manabi |
| connecting roads | 51–52 | 1 | Manabi |
| E482A | 52–55 | 3 | Manabi |
| E482 | 55–137 | 82 | Manabi, Guayas |
| E48 | 137–152 | 15 | Guayas |
| connecting roads | 152–154 | 2 | Guayas |
| local roads | 154–162 | 8 | Guayas |
| E40 | 162–180 | 18 | Guayas |
| E25 | 180–285 | 105 | Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| E50 | 285–363 | 78 | El Oro, Loja |
| E35 | 363–387 | 24 | Loja |
| connecting roads | 387–388 | 1 | Loja |
| E69 | 388–392 | 4 | Loja |
| local roads | 392–418 | 26 | Loja |
| E682 | 418–421 | 3 | Loja |
| local roads | 421–423 | 2 | Loja |
- Mile 109 of this route: Manabi → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 242 of this route: Guayas → Azuay (province line)
- Mile 247 of this route: Azuay → El Oro (province line)
- Mile 324 of this route: El Oro → Loja (province line)
What to see on the way from Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 154), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 163)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical garden of Portoviejo (mile 42), Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 154), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 163)
- Museums and history: Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral (mile 44), Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral (mile 162)
Botanical garden of Portoviejo
Owned by the Universidad Técnica de Manabí, the Portoviejo Botanical Garden covers about 50 hectares with a reserve, botanical garden, arboretum, orchid house, palm collection and a wildlife rescue area.
Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral
Officially the Catedral Metropolitana de Jesús el Buen Pastor, Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral stands on Calle Alajuela in the Ecuadorian city of Portoviejo.
Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil
Living plant collections grown for conservation, research and education fill the Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil, a 5-hectare botanical garden in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral
In the center of Guayaquil, the Metropolitan Cathedral succeeds the church that served as the city's main cathedral when Guayaquil was founded.
Parque Histórico de Guayaquil
Parque Histórico de Guayaquil combines a wildlife area showing local plants and animals with old city houses that were taken down from their original sites and rebuilt here.
More drives to Vilcabamba
- Alausi to Vilcabamba
- Salinas to Vilcabamba
- Montecristi to Vilcabamba
- Portoviejo to Vilcabamba
- Tena to Vilcabamba
- Ibarra to Vilcabamba
From Bahía de Caráquez to other places in Ecuador
- Bahía de Caráquez to Alausi
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora
- Bahía de Caráquez to Máncora, Peru
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba?
About 9 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 423 miles.
What is the driving distance from Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba?
About 423 miles (681 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 Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba 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.
Which highways go from Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba?
In order: E15, E39A, E30, E482A, E482, E48, E40, E25, E50, E35, E69 and E682. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba?
Closest to the road: Botanical garden of Portoviejo (botanical garden, mile 42, 2 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (botanical garden, mile 154, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (park, mile 163, 0.6 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.