Guayaquil to Tulcán is about 410 road miles (660 km): roughly 9 h 36 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).
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: “Heavy fog and rain make conditions more dangerous.”
| Total distance | 410 mi (660 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E487 → E35 → E28A → E28B → E282 |
| Provinces on the route | Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Guayaquil to Tulcán: the shape of the trip
E35 (199 mi) and E487 (85 mi) carry about 69% of the 410 miles. It runs through 9 provinces: Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Guayaquil and Tulcán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | |
| E40 | 4–40 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 40–45 | 5 | Guayas, Cañar |
| E487 | 45–130 | 85 | Cañar, Guayas, Chimborazo, Bolivar |
| connecting roads | 130–134 | 4 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 134–139 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 139–144 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 144–147 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 147–240 | 93 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E28A | 240–255 | 15 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 255–270 | 15 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 270–291 | 21 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 291–298 | 7 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 298–301 | 3 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 301–307 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 307–408 | 101 | Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| local roads | 408–410 | 2 | Carchi |
- Mile 42 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 57 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Guayas → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 71 of this route: Chimborazo → Bolivar (province line)
- Mile 76 of this route: Bolivar → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 154 of this route: Chimborazo → Napo (province line)
- Mile 187 of this route: Napo → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 308 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (province line)
- Mile 362 of this route: Imbabura → Carchi (province line)
Places worth a stop between Guayaquil and Tulcán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Capilla del Hombre (mile 262)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna de Colta (mile 127), Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 175), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 221), Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 255), Quito Botanical Garden (mile 262)
- Museums and history: Basílica del Voto Nacional (mile 255), Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 255), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 262), Cochasquí (mile 295), Inca-Caranqui (mile 332)
Laguna de Colta
Laguna de Colta is a lake of about 275 hectares in Colta canton, Chimborazo province, in Ecuador's central highlands, home to native birds and many kinds of colorful fish.
Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria
On Avenida Circunvalación in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, the Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden covers 35 acres and dates back to 1849.
Cotopaxi National Park
Roughly 50 km south of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park spans parts of three provinces and surrounds Cotopaxi volcano, along with dormant Rumiñahui to the northwest and Sincholagua to the southeast.
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Rising to about 83 meters, the Basilica of the National Vow (Basílica del Voto Nacional) is a Roman Catholic church in Quito's historic center.
Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum
A natural history museum in Quito, Ecuador, the Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum was established in 2005.
La Capilla del Hombre
Painter Oswaldo Guayasamín's La Capilla del Hombre is a purpose-built art museum in Bellavista, overlooking Quito, dedicated to the peoples of Latin America.
Quito Botanical Garden
Covering 18,600 square meters in Quito, the Quito Botanical Garden combines a park, arboretum and greenhouses displaying plant species from across Ecuador.
Cochasquí
On the slopes of Mojanda, an inactive volcano in Pichincha province, Cochasquí is an archaeological site in Ecuador's northern highlands, 52 km north of Quito.
Inca-Caranqui
On the southern edge of Ibarra, Inca-Caranqui preserves a semi-subterranean Inca structure of finely cut stone, possibly the pool described by Spanish chronicler Cieza de León, across from Caranqui's parish church.
More drives to Tulcán
- Latacunga to Tulcán
- Ambato to Tulcán
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tulcán
- Riobamba to Tulcán
- Quevedo to Tulcán
- Babahoyo to Tulcán
From Guayaquil to other places in Ecuador
- Guayaquil to Puyo
- Guayaquil to Mindo
- Guayaquil to Otavalo
- Guayaquil to Ibarra
- Guayaquil to Salinas
- Guayaquil to Pasto, Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guayaquil to Tulcán?
About 9 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 410 miles.
What is the driving distance from Guayaquil to Tulcán?
About 410 miles (660 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 Tulcán 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.
What roads does the drive from Guayaquil to Tulcán use?
In order: E40, E487, E35, E28A, E28B and E282. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Guayaquil to Tulcán?
Closest to the road: Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 127, 1 mi from the route); Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 175, 1 mi from the route); La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 262, 0.6 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.