Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma is about 328 road miles (528 km): roughly 7 h 48 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 | 328 mi (528 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E39A → E30 → E482A → E482 → E48 → E40 → E25 → E50 → E585 |
| Provinces on the route | Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma is like
E25 (105 mi) and E482 (82 mi) carry about 57% of the 328 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma
| 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 | 285–300 | 15 | El Oro |
| E585 | 300–317 | 17 | El Oro |
| connecting roads | 317–325 | 8 | El Oro |
| local roads | 325–328 | 3 | El Oro |
- Mile 108 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)
Places worth a stop between Bahía de Caráquez and Zaruma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 154)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical garden of Portoviejo (mile 42), Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 154)
- Museums and history: Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral (mile 44), Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo (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.
Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo
Known as MAAC, the Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo in Guayaquil, Ecuador, celebrates Ecuadorian, Latin American and pre-Columbian art and culture on the Malecón 2000 riverwalk.
Malecón Simón Bolívar
Running about 2.5 km along the west bank of the Guayas River, Malecón Simón Bolívar is Guayaquil's riverside boardwalk, rebuilt in an urban renewal project.
More drives to Zaruma
- Salinas to Zaruma
- Portoviejo to Zaruma
- Otavalo to Zaruma
- Ibarra to Zaruma
- Tulcán to Zaruma
- Ipiales to Zaruma, Ecuador
From Bahía de Caráquez to other places in Ecuador
- Bahía de Caráquez to Alausi
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora
- Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba
- Bahía de Caráquez to Máncora, Peru
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma?
About 7 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 328 miles.
How far is Zaruma from Bahía de Caráquez by car?
About 328 miles (528 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 Zaruma 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 Zaruma?
In order: E15, E39A, E30, E482A, E482, E48, E40, E25, E50 and E585. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Bahía de Caráquez and Zaruma?
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); Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo (art museum, mile 162, 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.