The Wayro route from Esmeraldas to Alausi is 319 miles (514 km), about 7 h 54 min of driving without stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Esmeraldas City and all areas north of Esmeraldas City, in Esmeraldas province.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: All areas south of Esmeraldas City, in Esmeraldas province.
- 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.”
| Total distance | 319 mi (514 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E20 → E35 |
| Provinces on the route | Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Esmeraldas to Alausi drive plays out
E20 (156 mi) and E35 (139 mi) carry about 92% of the 319 miles. It runs through 6 provinces: Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Esmeraldas and Alausi
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | |
| E15 | 4–11 | 7 | Esmeraldas |
| E20 | 11–167 | 156 | Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 167–170 | 3 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 170–258 | 88 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 258–261 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 261–267 | 6 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 267–318 | 51 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 318–319 | 1 | Chimborazo |
- Mile 83 of this route: Esmeraldas → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
- Mile 129 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 217 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 251 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Alausi
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laguna de Colta (mile 275)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico La Carolina (mile 107), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 184), Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 229), Laguna de Colta (mile 275)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 229)
Jardín botánico La Carolina
Now named Jardín Botánico Padre Julio Marrero, this roughly 17-hectare botanical garden, palm collection and orchid house in Santo Domingo de los Colorados belongs to the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador.
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.
Área nacional de recreación El Boliche
Created in 1979, El Boliche National Recreation Area is a 400-hectare protected area on the Pichincha–Cotopaxi border, at elevations from about 3,484 to 3,726 meters.
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.
Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria
On Avenida Circunvalación in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, the Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden covers 35 acres and dates back to 1849.
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.
More drives to Alausi
From Esmeraldas to other places in Ecuador
- Esmeraldas to Papallacta
- Esmeraldas to Latacunga
- Esmeraldas to Tena
- Esmeraldas to Baeza
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Salinas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Esmeraldas to Alausi?
About 7 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 319 miles.
How far is Alausi from Esmeraldas by car?
About 319 miles (514 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 Esmeraldas to Alausi 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: Esmeraldas City and all areas north of Esmeraldas City, in Esmeraldas province). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Esmeraldas to Alausi use?
In order: E15, E20 and E35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Esmeraldas and Alausi?
Closest to the road: Jardín botánico La Carolina (botanical garden, mile 107, 1 mi from the route); Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 229, 1 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 275, 0.4 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.