By road, Ibarra and Bahía de Caráquez are about 290 miles (466 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 38 min of driving.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo provinces.
Read the full advisory before you go: 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.”
| Total distance | 290 mi (466 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28 → E25 → E38 → E382 → E383 → E15 |
| Provinces on the route | Imbabura, Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Ibarra to Bahía de Caráquez drive plays out
E38 (58 mi) and E28 (52 mi) carry about 38% of the 290 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Imbabura, Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabi. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Ibarra and Bahía de Caráquez
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Imbabura |
| E35 | 1–25 | 24 | Imbabura |
| E282 | 25–32 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 32–62 | 30 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 62–70 | 8 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 70–122 | 52 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 122–124 | 2 | Pichincha |
| E25 | 124–161 | 37 | Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| connecting roads | 161–165 | 4 | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| E38 | 165–181 | 16 | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabi |
| local roads | 181–186 | 5 | Manabi |
| E382 | 186–220 | 34 | Manabi |
| E38 | 220–262 | 42 | Manabi |
| connecting roads | 262–263 | 1 | Manabi |
| E383 | 263–285 | 22 | Manabi |
| E15 | 285–288 | 3 | Manabi |
| local roads | 288–290 | 2 | Manabi |
- Mile 25 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 136 of this route: Pichincha → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Manabi (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Bahía de Caráquez
- Nature and outdoors: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (mile 73), Jardín botánico La Carolina (mile 163)
- Museums and history: Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 34), Cochasquí (mile 39), Catequilla (mile 71)
Pambamarca Fortress Complex
Northern Ecuador's Pambamarca Fortress Complex holds ruins of many pukaras built by the Incas in the late 15th century to overcome resistance from the Cayambe chiefdom.
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.
Historic Center of Quito
The Historic Center of Quito covers about 375 hectares in south-central Quito and is considered among the best-preserved historic districts in Spanish America, with roughly 130 monumental buildings and some 5,000 listed heritage properties.
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.
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.
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 Bahía de Caráquez
- Nueva Loja to Bahía de Caráquez
- Cuenca to Bahía de Caráquez
- Machala to Bahía de Caráquez
- Huaquillas to Bahía de Caráquez
From Ibarra to other places in Ecuador
- Ibarra to Mindo
- Ibarra to Latacunga
- Ibarra to Isinliví
- Ibarra to Baños
- Ibarra to Guano
- Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ibarra to Bahía de Caráquez?
About 6 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 290 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ibarra to Bahía de Caráquez?
About 290 miles (466 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.
Is it safe to drive from Ibarra to Bahía de Caráquez?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ibarra to Bahía de Caráquez?
In order: E35, E282, E28B, E28, E25, E38, E382, E383 and E15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ibarra and Bahía de Caráquez?
Closest to the road: Pambamarca Fortress Complex (archaeological site, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (nature area, mile 73, 2 mi from the route); Jardín botánico La Carolina (botanical garden, mile 163, 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.