Plan on about 11 h 1 min of driving for the 380-mile (611 km) trip from Coconuco to Tababela, Ecuador, before any stops. 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: “Travel only during daylight hours.”
- Ecuador: “Heavy fog and rain make conditions more dangerous.”
| Total distance | 380 mi (611 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25 NR C → E35 → E282 → E28B |
| Border crossing | about mile 233, Colombia → Ecuador |
| Regions on the route | Cauca, Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Getting across the Colombia–Ecuador border
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.
How the Coconuco to Tababela drive plays out
E35 (107 mi) and E28B (23 mi) carry about 34% of the 380 miles. The first 233 miles are in Colombia; the last 147 are in Ecuador. It runs through 5 regions: Cauca, Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Coconuco to Tababela, road by road
| 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 | 345–368 | 23 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 368–380 | 12 | Pichincha |
- 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)
Places worth a stop between Coconuco and Tababela
- 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), Wiwa Quito (mile 364)
- 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), Inca-Caranqui (mile 313)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 364)
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.
Inca-Caranqui
On the southern edge of Ibarra, Inca-Caranqui preserves a semi-subterranean Inca structure of finely cut stone, possibly the pool described by Spanish chronicler Cieza de León, across from Caranqui's parish church.
Wiwa Quito
Known for almost three decades as the Quito Zoo, Wiwa Quito is a wildlife refuge park of about 12 hectares in the Guayllabamba parish of Quito, opened in 1997.
Once you reach Tababela
El Inga
On the slopes of Ilaló volcano in Tumbaco, El Inga is an archaeological site dated to 10,000–2,000 BC, used as a campsite by Paleoindian hunter-gatherers.
More drives to Tababela
- Mindo to Tababela
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tababela
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Atacames to Tababela
- Otavalo to Tababela
More drives from Coconuco
- Coconuco to Mindo, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Chugchilán, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Zumbahua, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Isinliví, Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Coconuco to Tababela, Ecuador?
About 11 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 380 miles.
How far is Tababela, Ecuador from Coconuco by car?
About 380 miles (611 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 Tababela 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 Tababela 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.
Which highways go from Coconuco to Tababela?
In order: 25 NR C, E35, E282 and E28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Coconuco to Tababela?
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); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 364, 0.6 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.