Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador is about 523 road miles (842 km): roughly 14 h 26 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Colombia into Ecuador at about mile 233.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Colombia, Ecuador. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Mountain roads may lack safety features such as crash barriers or guard rails.”
- Ecuador: “Slow-moving buses and trucks frequently stop in the middle of the road unexpectedly.”
| Distance by road | 523 mi (842 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 14 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25 NR C → E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A → E491 |
| Border crossing | about mile 233, Colombia → Ecuador |
| Regions on the route | Cauca, Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Bolivar |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Colombia into Ecuador
The route crosses at about mile 233, from Nariño into Carchi. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| Entering Colombia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay (6 months recommended), with a blank page for the entry stamp. |
| The car, entering Ecuador | You must pay for Ecuador's local liability insurance, called SPPAT. For the car's temporary entry, check with Ecuador's National Customs Service. |
| 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, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026); U.S. State Department, Colombia (updated August 11, 2025). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda is like
E35 (164 mi) and E491 (36 mi) carry about 38% of the 523 miles. The first 233 miles are in Colombia; the last 290 are in Ecuador. It runs through 8 regions: Cauca, Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Bolivar. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–16 | 16 | Cauca |
| connecting roads | 16–19 | 3 | Cauca |
| local roads | 19–227 | 208 | Cauca, Nariño |
| 25 NR C | 227–231 | 4 | Nariño |
| E35 | 231–338 | 107 | Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura |
| E282 | 338–345 | 7 | Imbabura, Pichincha |
| E28B | 345–374 | 29 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 374–402 | 28 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 402–408 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 408–465 | 57 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo |
| local roads | 465–473 | 8 | Napo |
| E491 | 473–509 | 36 | Napo |
| local roads | 509–523 | 14 | Bolivar |
- Mile 112 of this route: Cauca → Nariño (region line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Nariño → Carchi (international border)
- Mile 284 of this route: Carchi → Imbabura (region line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (region line)
- Mile 420 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (region line)
- Mile 459 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (region line)
- Mile 509 of this route: Napo → Bolivar (region line)
What to see on the way from Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán (mile 16), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 16), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 470)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 424)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán (mile 16), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 16), St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto (mile 173), Sanctuary of Las Lajas (mile 227), Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 346), Numismatic Museum of Ecuador (mile 389), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 470)
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán
Also known as Popayán Cathedral, this Catholic basilica is dedicated to the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Assumption.
Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art
In Popayán, capital of Colombia's Cauca department, the Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art is mainly devoted to displaying sacred art.
St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto
Pasto Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Pasto and takes its name from St. Ezequiel Moreno, the friar who was appointed the city's bishop in 1895.
Sanctuary of Las Lajas
Built between 1916 and 1949 inside the Guáitara River canyon near Ipiales, the neo-Gothic Sanctuary of Las Lajas is reached by a bridge about 50 meters long. The Marian shrine also has a museum and a crypt.
Pambamarca Fortress Complex
Northern Ecuador's Pambamarca Fortress Complex holds ruins of many pukaras built by the Incas in the late 15th century to overcome resistance from the Cayambe chiefdom.
Numismatic Museum of Ecuador
Founded by the Central Bank of Ecuador, the Numismatic Museum of Ecuador in Quito keeps commemorative coins and medals, along with informative catalogs about the contents of its galleries.
Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena
Dating from the 16th century, the Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena in Quito is a Dominican convent and one of the city's five oldest cloistered women's monasteries.
Cotopaxi National Park
Roughly 50 km south of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park spans parts of three provinces and surrounds Cotopaxi volcano, along with dormant Rumiñahui to the northwest and Sincholagua to the southeast.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato
Ambato Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, faces Juan Montalvo Park between Bolívar and Montalvo streets in the capital of Tungurahua province. It has held the rank of minor basilica since April 1961.
More drives to Salinas de Guaranda
- Mindo to Salinas de Guaranda
- Otavalo to Salinas de Guaranda
- Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda
- Popayán to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
- Ipiales to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
More drives from Coconuco
- Coconuco to Mindo, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Chugchilán, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Zumbahua, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Isinliví, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Tababela, Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador?
About 14 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 523 miles.
What is the driving distance from Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador?
About 523 miles (842 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 Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda drive cross the border?
At about mile 233, from Colombia into Ecuador.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Coconuco into Ecuador?
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. A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated February 18, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda use?
In order: 25 NR C, E35, E282, E28B, E28A and E491. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Coconuco and Salinas de Guaranda?
Closest to the road: Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (museum, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán (basilica, mile 16, 0.5 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (basilica, mile 470, 0.2 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.