By road, Ibarra and Isinliví are about 144 miles (232 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 55 min of driving.
Full advisory: 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.”
| Distance by road | 144 mi (232 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A |
| Provinces on the route | Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Ibarra to Isinliví: the shape of the trip
E35 (46 mi) and E28B (30 mi) carry about 53% of the 144 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ibarra and Isinliví
| 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 | 62–89 | 27 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 89–95 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 95–117 | 22 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi |
| local roads | 117–144 | 27 | Cotopaxi |
- Mile 25 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 108 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
What to see on the way from Ibarra to Isinliví
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Wiwa Quito (mile 51), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 71)
- Nature and outdoors: Quito Botanical Garden (mile 71), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 112)
- Museums and history: Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 34), Cochasquí (mile 39), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 71), Museum House of Sucre (mile 77)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 51)
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.
Wiwa Quito
Known for almost three decades as the Quito Zoo, Wiwa Quito is a wildlife refuge park of about 12 hectares in the Guayllabamba parish of Quito, opened in 1997.
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.
Museum House of Sucre
Sucre House is a museum in Quito's historic center, established in 1977 by Ecuador's Ministry of Defence.
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.
More drives to Isinliví
- Baños to Isinliví
- Otavalo to Isinliví
- Alausi to Isinliví
- Tulcán to Isinliví
- Loja to Isinliví
- Cali to Isinliví, Ecuador
From Ibarra to other places in Ecuador
- Ibarra to Mindo
- Ibarra to Latacunga
- Ibarra to Baños
- Ibarra to Guano
- Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda
- Ibarra to Quevedo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ibarra to Isinliví?
About 3 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 144 miles.
How far is Isinliví from Ibarra by car?
About 144 miles (232 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 Isinliví?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ibarra to Isinliví use?
In order: E35, E282, E28B and E28A. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ibarra and Isinliví?
Closest to the road: Pambamarca Fortress Complex (archaeological site, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 51, 0.5 mi from the route); La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 71, 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.