Plan on about 5 h 34 min of driving for the 235-mile (378 km) trip from Esmeraldas to Papallacta, before any 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.
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 | 235 mi (378 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E20 → E28 |
| Provinces on the route | Esmeraldas, Pichincha, Tungurahua |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
On the road from Esmeraldas to Papallacta
E28 (101 mi) and E20 (95 mi) carry about 83% of the 235 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Esmeraldas, Pichincha, Tungurahua. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Esmeraldas and Papallacta
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | |
| E15 | 4–11 | 7 | Esmeraldas |
| E20 | 11–80 | 69 | Esmeraldas |
| E28 | 80–181 | 101 | Esmeraldas, Pichincha |
| local roads | 181–206 | 25 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 206–209 | 3 | Pichincha |
| E20 | 209–235 | 26 | Pichincha, Tungurahua |
- Mile 84 of this route: Esmeraldas → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 224 of this route: Pichincha → Tungurahua (province line)
Places worth a stop between Esmeraldas and Papallacta
- Nature and outdoors: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (mile 177), Quito Botanical Garden (mile 197)
- Museums and history: Rumicucho (mile 180), National Museum of Ecuador (mile 197), El Inga (mile 208)
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Surrounding Pululahua Volcano, this geobotanical reserve lies 17 km north of Quito in the northwestern part of the Pomasqui Valley, Pichincha province.
Rumicucho
Rumicucho, or Pucara de Rumicucho, is an Inca archaeological site in the parish of San Antonio de Pichincha, in Quito Canton, Ecuador.
Quito Botanical Garden
Covering 18,600 square meters in Quito, the Quito Botanical Garden combines a park, arboretum and greenhouses displaying plant species from across Ecuador.
National Museum of Ecuador
Archaeology and art are the focus of the National Museum of Ecuador, which leads the country's network of museums under the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
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 Papallacta
- Atacames to Papallacta
- Latacunga to Papallacta
- Otavalo to Papallacta
- Alausi to Papallacta
- Salinas to Papallacta
From Esmeraldas to other places in Ecuador
- Esmeraldas to Latacunga
- Esmeraldas to Tena
- Esmeraldas to Baeza
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Alausi
- Esmeraldas to Salinas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Esmeraldas to Papallacta?
About 5 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 235 miles.
How far is Papallacta from Esmeraldas by car?
About 235 miles (378 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 Papallacta 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 Papallacta use?
In order: E15, E20 and E28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Esmeraldas to Papallacta?
Closest to the road: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (nature area, mile 177, 2 mi from the route); Quito Botanical Garden (botanical garden, mile 197, 2 mi from the route); El Inga (archaeological site, mile 208, 1 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.