Plan on about 8 h 12 min of driving for the 360-mile (580 km) trip from Esmeraldas to Salinas, 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.
- 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 | 360 mi (580 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E39A → E30 → E482A → E482 → E483 → E40 |
| Provinces on the route | Esmeraldas, Manabi, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Esmeraldas to Salinas is like
E15 (286 mi) and E482 (20 mi) carry about 85% of the 360 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Esmeraldas, Manabi, Santa Elena. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Esmeraldas to Salinas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Esmeraldas |
| E15 | 4–206 | 202 | Esmeraldas, Manabi |
| local roads | 206–214 | 8 | Manabi |
| E39A | 214–226 | 12 | Manabi |
| E30 | 226–231 | 5 | Manabi |
| connecting roads | 231–232 | 1 | Manabi |
| E482A | 232–235 | 3 | Manabi |
| E482 | 235–255 | 20 | Manabi |
| E483 | 255–270 | 15 | Manabi |
| E15 | 270–354 | 84 | Manabi, Santa Elena |
| E40 | 354–360 | 6 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 85 of this route: Esmeraldas → Manabi (province line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Manabi → Santa Elena (province line)
Places worth a stop between Esmeraldas and Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Machalilla National Park (mile 292), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 354)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical garden of Portoviejo (mile 222), Machalilla National Park (mile 292)
- Museums and history: Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral (mile 224), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 354)
Botanical garden of Portoviejo
Owned by the Universidad Técnica de Manabí, the Portoviejo Botanical Garden covers about 50 hectares with a reserve, botanical garden, arboretum, orchid house, palm collection and a wildlife rescue area.
Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral
Officially the Catedral Metropolitana de Jesús el Buen Pastor, Portoviejo Metropolitan Cathedral stands on Calle Alajuela in the Ecuadorian city of Portoviejo.
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.
Museo Amantes de Sumpa
In Santa Elena Province, the Museo Amantes de Sumpa has a clay oven used for ancestral cooking classes and a traditional coastal house with its wooden trough and woven mat.
More drives to Salinas
- Guayaquil to Salinas
- Babahoyo to Salinas
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Riobamba to Salinas
- Latacunga to Salinas
- Quito to Salinas
From Esmeraldas to other places in Ecuador
- Esmeraldas to Papallacta
- Esmeraldas to Latacunga
- Esmeraldas to Tena
- Esmeraldas to Baeza
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Alausi
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Esmeraldas to Salinas?
About 8 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 360 miles.
How far is Salinas from Esmeraldas by car?
About 360 miles (580 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.
Is it safe to drive from Esmeraldas to Salinas?
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 Salinas use?
In order: E15, E39A, E30, E482A, E482, E483 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Esmeraldas to Salinas?
Closest to the road: Botanical garden of Portoviejo (botanical garden, mile 222, 2 mi from the route); Machalilla National Park (national park, mile 292, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Amantes de Sumpa (museum, mile 354, 0.1 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.