Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos, Peru is about 342 road miles (551 km): roughly 7 h 52 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Ecuador into Peru at about mile 308.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Huaquillas and Arenillas, in El Oro province.
- 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, Peru. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance | 342 mi (551 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E39A → E30 → E482A → E482 → E48 → E40 → E25 → E50 → PE-1N |
| Border crossing | about mile 308, Ecuador → Peru |
| Regions on the route | Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Tumbes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Crossing from Ecuador into Peru
The route crosses at about mile 308, from El Oro into Tumbes. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Peru (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Peru | A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. |
| Entering Ecuador (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Ecuador | A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. |
| The car, entering Peru | Register the car online first (SUNAT's advance registration for tourist vehicles, valid 10 days), then get the Temporary Entry Certificate (CIT) from customs at the border. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Peru (updated August 20, 2026); U.S. State Department, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026); Government of Peru (gob.pe). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos drive plays out
E25 (113 mi) and E482 (82 mi) carry about 57% of the 342 miles. The first 308 miles are in Ecuador; the last 34 are in Peru. It runs through 5 regions: Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Tumbes. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 180–293 | 113 | Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| E50 | 293–306 | 13 | El Oro |
| PE-1N | 306–342 | 36 | El Oro, Tumbes |
- Mile 109 of this route: Manabi → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 242 of this route: Guayas → Azuay (region line)
- Mile 247 of this route: Azuay → El Oro (region line)
- Mile 308 of this route: El Oro → Tumbes (international border)
Places worth a stop between Bahía de Caráquez and Zorritos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes (mile 325), Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes (mile 327)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical garden of Portoviejo (mile 42)
- Museums and history: Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral (mile 44), Museo Nacional del Cacao - Guayaquil (mile 162), St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes (mile 325), Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes (mile 327)
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.
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.
Museo Nacional del Cacao - Guayaquil
Ecuador's cacao takes center stage at Museo Nacional del Cacao in Guayaquil, a cultural institution devoted to the history, culture and international reach of the country's cocoa.
St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes
Also called the Church of San Nicolás de Tolentino, St. Nicholas Cathedral is a Catholic church in the town of Tumbes, in northern Peru.
Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes
Cabeza de Vaca is an archaeological site in Peru's Corrales District, in the Tumbes Province of the Tumbes Region.
More drives to Zorritos
- Chimbote to Zorritos
- Casma to Zorritos
- Chota to Zorritos
- Cajamarca to Zorritos
- Celendín to Zorritos
- Cajabamba to Zorritos
More drives from Bahía de Caráquez
- Bahía de Caráquez to Alausi
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora
- Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba
- Bahía de Caráquez to Máncora, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos, Peru?
About 7 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
What is the driving distance from Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos, Peru?
About 342 miles (551 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.
Where does the Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos drive cross the border?
At about mile 308, from Ecuador into Peru.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Bahía de Caráquez into Peru?
No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. (U.S. State Department, updated August 20, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Huaquillas and Arenillas, in El Oro province; Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Bahía de Caráquez to Zorritos use?
In order: E15, E39A, E30, E482A, E482, E48, E40, E25, E50 and PE-1N. 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 Zorritos?
Closest to the road: Botanical garden of Portoviejo (botanical garden, mile 42, 2 mi from the route); St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes (cathedral, mile 325, 0.3 mi from the route); Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes (archaeological site, mile 327, 0.3 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.