Plan on about 4 h 47 min of driving for the 208-mile (334 km) trip from Esmeraldas to Tababela, 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: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Distance | 208 mi (334 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E20 → E28 → E28B |
| Provinces on the route | Esmeraldas, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Esmeraldas–Tababela drive in a few lines
E28 (101 mi) and E20 (69 mi) carry about 82% of the 208 miles. It runs through 2 provinces: Esmeraldas, Pichincha. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Esmeraldas and Tababela
| 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 | 181–189 | 8 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 189–196 | 7 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 196–208 | 12 | Pichincha |
- Mile 84 of this route: Esmeraldas → Pichincha (province line)
Stops between Esmeraldas and Tababela
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Intiñan Museum (mile 180)
- Museums and history: Rumicucho (mile 180), Intiñan Museum (mile 180)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 200)
Rumicucho
Rumicucho, or Pucara de Rumicucho, is an Inca archaeological site in the parish of San Antonio de Pichincha, in Quito Canton, Ecuador.
Intiñan Museum
Just 200 meters from Ciudad Mitad del Mundo on the outskirts of Quito, Intiñan Museum (Museo de sitio Intiñán) is a site museum built in 1989.
Historic Center of Quito
The Historic Center of Quito covers about 375 hectares in south-central Quito and is considered among the best-preserved historic districts in Spanish America, with roughly 130 monumental buildings and some 5,000 listed heritage properties.
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
- Atacames to Tababela
- Otavalo to Tababela
- Tulcán to Tababela
From Esmeraldas to other places in Ecuador
- Esmeraldas to Papallacta
- Esmeraldas to Latacunga
- Esmeraldas to Tena
- Esmeraldas to Baeza
- Esmeraldas to Alausi
- Esmeraldas to Salinas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Esmeraldas to Tababela?
About 4 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 208 miles.
How far is Tababela from Esmeraldas by car?
About 208 miles (334 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 Tababela?
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 Tababela use?
In order: E15, E20, E28 and E28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Esmeraldas and Tababela?
Closest to the road: Intiñan Museum (museum, mile 180, 0.2 mi from the route); Rumicucho (archaeological site, mile 180, 2 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 200, 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.