Plan on about 10 h 10 min of driving for the 444-mile (715 km) trip from Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora, before any stops.
- 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.”
| Total distance | 444 mi (715 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E39A → E30 → E482A → E482 → E48 → E40 → E25 → E50 → E35 |
| Provinces on the route | Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja, Zamora Chinchipe |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
What the drive from Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora is like
E50 (113 mi) and E25 (105 mi) carry about 49% of the 444 miles. It runs through 6 provinces: Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja, Zamora Chinchipe. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora
| 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 | 363–396 | 33 | Loja |
| local roads | 396–405 | 9 | Loja |
| connecting roads | 405–408 | 3 | Loja |
| E50 | 408–443 | 35 | Loja, Zamora Chinchipe |
| local roads | 443–444 | 1 | Zamora Chinchipe |
- 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)
- Mile 418 of this route: Loja → Zamora Chinchipe (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Bahía de Caráquez and Zamora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 154), Teatro Sánchez Aguilar (mile 163), Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario (mile 408)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical garden of Portoviejo (mile 42), Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 154)
- Museums and history: Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral (mile 44), Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum (mile 162), Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario (mile 408)
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.
Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum
The Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum in Guayaquil, Ecuador, was established on January 25, 2006, by Alvaro Noboa.
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.
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 Zamora
- Latacunga to Zamora
- Montecristi to Zamora
- Portoviejo to Zamora
- Quito to Zamora
- Otavalo to Zamora
- Ibarra to Zamora
From Bahía de Caráquez to other places in Ecuador
- Bahía de Caráquez to Alausi
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma
- Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba
- 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 Zamora?
About 10 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 444 miles.
How far is Zamora from Bahía de Caráquez by car?
About 444 miles (715 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 Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora?
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 Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora use?
In order: E15, E39A, E30, E482A, E482, E48, E40, E25, E50 and E35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Bahía de Caráquez and Zamora?
Closest to the road: Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (botanical garden, mile 154, 0.7 mi from the route); Teatro Sánchez Aguilar (theater, mile 163, 0.7 mi from the route); Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario (cathedral, mile 408, 0.8 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.