Huaquillas to Salinas is about 237 road miles (381 km): roughly 5 h 35 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Huaquillas and Arenillas, in El Oro province.
- 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: El Oro province, outside Huaquillas and Arenillas.
- 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: “In rural areas, you may encounter livestock in the road.”
| Distance | 237 mi (381 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | E50 → E25 → E40 |
| Provinces on the route | El Oro, Azuay, Guayas, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Driving Huaquillas to Salinas: the shape of the trip
E25 (113 mi) and E40 (79 mi) carry about 81% of the 237 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: El Oro, Azuay, Guayas, Santa Elena. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huaquillas to Salinas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | El Oro |
| E50 | 1–15 | 14 | El Oro |
| E25 | 15–128 | 113 | El Oro, Azuay, Guayas |
| E40 | 128–146 | 18 | Guayas |
| local roads | 146–163 | 17 | Guayas |
| E40 | 163–224 | 61 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 224–237 | 13 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 62 of this route: El Oro → Azuay (province line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Azuay → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 176 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Huaquillas and Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 158)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 158)
- Museums and history: Presley Norton Museum (mile 148), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 229), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 229)
Presley Norton Museum
In Guayaquil, the Presley Norton Museum holds archaeological artifacts, including pottery and figurines made by Ecuador's original settlers, and occasionally hosts film screenings and live music.
Teatro Centro Cívico Eloy Alfaro
Teatro Centro Cívico Eloy Alfaro sits in Guayaquil's Parque Forestal; construction began in 1970, and it opened in 1990 while still unfinished.
Cerro Blanco Forest
Owned by Holcim Ecuador and managed by Fundación Pro-Bosque, Cerro Blanco Forest is a tropical dry forest reserve in Guayas Province, Ecuador.
Museo Amantes de Sumpa
In Santa Elena Province, the Museo Amantes de Sumpa has a clay oven used for ancestral cooking classes and a traditional coastal house with its wooden trough and woven mat.
Paleontological Museum Megatherium
Inside the Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, the Paleontological Museum Megatherium is considered Ecuador's first paleontology museum.
More drives to Salinas
- Guayaquil to Salinas
- Babahoyo to Salinas
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Riobamba to Salinas
- Latacunga to Salinas
- Quito to Salinas
From Huaquillas to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huaquillas to Salinas?
About 5 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 237 miles.
How far is Salinas from Huaquillas by car?
About 237 miles (381 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 Huaquillas to Salinas 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: Huaquillas and Arenillas, in El Oro province; Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huaquillas to Salinas?
In order: E50, E25 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Huaquillas to Salinas?
Closest to the road: Presley Norton Museum (museum, mile 148, 1 mi from the route); Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 158, 0.3 mi from the route); Paleontological Museum Megatherium (paleontological museum, mile 229, 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.