Plan on about 6 h 50 min of driving for the 296-mile (477 km) trip from Baños to Puerto López, 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: 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 | 296 mi (477 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | E30 → E490 → E35 → E487 → E40 → E48 → E482 → E483 → E15 |
| Provinces on the route | Napo, Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar, Manabi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The Baños–Puerto López drive in a few lines
E487 (86 mi) and E482 (62 mi) carry about 50% of the 296 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Napo, Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar, Manabi. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Baños to Puerto López
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| E30 | 0–4 | 4 | Napo |
| local roads | 4–15 | 11 | Napo, Chimborazo |
| E490 | 15–33 | 18 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 33–38 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 38–45 | 7 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 45–48 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E487 | 48–134 | 86 | Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar |
| local roads | 134–139 | 5 | Cañar, Guayas |
| E40 | 139–175 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 175–184 | 9 | Guayas |
| E48 | 184–199 | 15 | Guayas |
| E482 | 199–261 | 62 | Guayas, Manabi |
| E483 | 261–277 | 16 | Manabi |
| E15 | 277–296 | 19 | Manabi |
- Mile 11 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 122 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 138 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 227 of this route: Guayas → Manabi (province line)
What to see on the way from Baños to Puerto López
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 34), Laguna de Colta (mile 48), Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 182)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna de Colta (mile 48), Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 182)
- Museums and history: Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 34), Basilica La Merced (mile 174), Museo Nacional del Cacao - Guayaquil (mile 174)
Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba)
Facing Parque Libertad in Riobamba, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) was begun in 1883, took 32 years to finish and was consecrated in 1915.
Laguna de Colta
Laguna de Colta is a lake of about 275 hectares in Colta canton, Chimborazo province, in Ecuador's central highlands, home to native birds and many kinds of colorful fish.
Basilica La Merced
Named for the Virgin of Mercy, patroness of the Order of Mercy, Basilica La Merced is a Catholic church holding the rank of minor basilica in Guayaquil.
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.
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.
Once you reach Puerto López
Machalilla National Park
Established in 1979, Machalilla National Park sits along the Pacific coast of Ecuador's Manabí Province, near Puerto López and the fishing village of Machalilla.
More drives to Puerto López
- Riobamba to Puerto López
- Quito to Puerto López
- Puyo to Puerto López
- Otavalo to Puerto López
- Ibarra to Puerto López
- Tena to Puerto López
From Baños to other places in Ecuador
- Baños to Isinliví
- Baños to Mindo
- Baños to Puerto Cayo
- Baños to Agua Blanca
- Baños to Coconuco, Colombia
- Baños to Máncora, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Baños to Puerto López?
About 6 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 296 miles.
How far is Puerto López from Baños by car?
About 296 miles (477 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 Baños to Puerto López 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 Baños to Puerto López?
In order: E30, E490, E35, E487, E40, E48, E482, E483 and E15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Baños and Puerto López?
Closest to the road: Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (basilica, mile 34, 0.9 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 48, 1 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (botanical garden, mile 182, 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.