Plan on about 12 h 53 min of driving for the 539-mile (867 km) trip from Esmeraldas to Zamora, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province.
- 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: El Oro province, outside Huaquillas and Arenillas.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Los Rios province, outside Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo.
- 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 | 539 mi (867 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E20 → E25 → E50 → E35 |
| Provinces on the route | Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Los Rios, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja, Zamora Chinchipe |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
How the Esmeraldas to Zamora drive plays out
E25 (273 mi) and E50 (112 mi) carry about 71% of the 539 miles. It runs through 8 provinces: Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Los Rios, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja, Zamora Chinchipe. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Esmeraldas to Zamora: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | |
| E15 | 4–11 | 7 | Esmeraldas |
| E20 | 11–107 | 96 | Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| E25 | 107–380 | 273 | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Los Rios, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| E50 | 380–458 | 78 | El Oro, Loja |
| E35 | 458–490 | 32 | Loja |
| local roads | 490–500 | 10 | Loja |
| connecting roads | 500–503 | 3 | Loja |
| E50 | 503–537 | 34 | Loja, Zamora Chinchipe |
| local roads | 537–539 | 2 | Zamora Chinchipe |
- Mile 83 of this route: Esmeraldas → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
- Mile 135 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Los Rios (province line)
- Mile 247 of this route: Los Rios → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 337 of this route: Guayas → Azuay (province line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Azuay → El Oro (province line)
- Mile 418 of this route: El Oro → Loja (province line)
- Mile 512 of this route: Loja → Zamora Chinchipe (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Zamora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario (mile 504)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico La Carolina (mile 107)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, Babahoyo (mile 238), Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario (mile 504)
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.
Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, Babahoyo
Across from 24 de Mayo park in Babahoyo, capital of Los Ríos province, Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral is the headquarters of the Diocese of Babahoyo.
Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario
Loja Cathedral (Catedral de Loja) stands on the Parque Central in the center of Loja, about 70 km from the El Cisne sanctuary, and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Loja.
More drives to Zamora
- Latacunga to Zamora
- Montecristi to Zamora
- Portoviejo to Zamora
- Quito to Zamora
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora
- Otavalo to Zamora
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 Zamora?
About 12 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 539 miles.
What is the driving distance from Esmeraldas to Zamora?
About 539 miles (867 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 Zamora 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: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province; 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 Zamora?
In order: E15, E20, E25, E50 and E35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Esmeraldas to Zamora?
Closest to the road: Jardín botánico La Carolina (botanical garden, mile 107, 1 mi from the route); Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, Babahoyo (cathedral, mile 238, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario (cathedral, mile 504, 0.9 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.