Guayaquil to Mindo is about 232 road miles (373 km): roughly 5 h 55 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3).
- 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: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Total distance | 232 mi (373 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E486 → E485 → E48 → E25 → E28 |
| Provinces on the route | Guayas, Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
What the drive from Guayaquil to Mindo is like
E25 (99 mi) and E48 (71 mi) carry about 73% of the 232 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Guayas, Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Guayaquil to Mindo: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | |
| connecting roads | 4–5 | 1 | |
| E40 | 5–12 | 7 | Guayas |
| connecting roads | 12–13 | 1 | Guayas |
| E486 | 13–25 | 12 | Guayas |
| E485 | 25–32 | 7 | Guayas |
| E48 | 32–103 | 71 | Guayas |
| local roads | 103–118 | 15 | Guayas, Los Rios |
| E25 | 118–217 | 99 | Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha |
| E28 | 217–228 | 11 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 228–232 | 4 | Pichincha |
- Mile 114 of this route: Guayas → Los Rios (province line)
- Mile 150 of this route: Los Rios → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Pichincha (province line)
Stops between Guayaquil and Mindo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros (mile 32)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 11), Jardín botánico La Carolina (mile 177)
- Museums and history: Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros (mile 32)
Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil
Living plant collections grown for conservation, research and education fill the Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil, a 5-hectare botanical garden in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros
On the Malecón of Daule, steps from the Daule River, the Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros is a carved-wood cathedral, now reinforced with concrete, and seat of the Diocese of Daule.
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.
More drives to Mindo
From Guayaquil to other places in Ecuador
- Guayaquil to Puyo
- Guayaquil to Otavalo
- Guayaquil to Ibarra
- Guayaquil to Tulcán
- Guayaquil to Salinas
- Guayaquil to Pasto, Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Guayaquil to Mindo?
About 5 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 232 miles.
What is the driving distance from Guayaquil to Mindo?
About 232 miles (373 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 Guayaquil to Mindo 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: Duran, in Guayas province; Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3)). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Guayaquil to Mindo?
In order: E40, E486, E485, E48, E25 and E28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Guayaquil to Mindo?
Closest to the road: Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (botanical garden, mile 11, 2 mi from the route); Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros (cathedral, mile 32, 0.8 mi from the route); Jardín botánico La Carolina (botanical garden, mile 177, 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.