By road, Esmeraldas and Tena are about 311 miles (501 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 9 min of driving.
- 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: “Slow-moving buses and trucks frequently stop in the middle of the road unexpectedly.”
| Distance by road | 311 mi (501 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E20 → E28 → E45 |
| Provinces on the route | Esmeraldas, Pichincha, Tungurahua |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
On the road from Esmeraldas to Tena
E20 (164 mi) and E28 (101 mi) carry about 85% of the 311 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Esmeraldas, Pichincha, Tungurahua. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Esmeraldas to Tena
| 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 | 209–304 | 95 | Pichincha, Tungurahua |
| E45 | 304–311 | 7 | 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 Tena
- Nature and outdoors: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (mile 177), Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 197)
- Museums and history: Catequilla (mile 180), Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (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.
Catequilla
Catequilla is an archaeological site on a mountaintop in the Pomasqui Valley, in San Antonio parish near Quito, at 2,638 meters and about 300 meters above the valleys on either side.
Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum
A natural history museum in Quito, Ecuador, the Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum was established in 2005.
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 Tena
From Esmeraldas to other places in Ecuador
- Esmeraldas to Papallacta
- Esmeraldas to Latacunga
- Esmeraldas to Baeza
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Alausi
- Esmeraldas to Salinas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Esmeraldas to Tena?
About 7 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 311 miles.
What is the driving distance from Esmeraldas to Tena?
About 311 miles (501 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 Tena 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.
Which highways go from Esmeraldas to Tena?
In order: E15, E20, E28 and E45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Esmeraldas to Tena?
Closest to the road: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (nature area, mile 177, 2 mi from the route); Catequilla (archaeological site, mile 180, 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.