Plan on about 3 h 14 min of driving for the 132-mile (212 km) trip from Ibarra to Latacunga, before any stops.
Full advisory: 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 | 132 mi (212 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A |
| Provinces on the route | Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Ibarra to Latacunga
E35 (55 mi) and E28B (30 mi) carry about 64% of the 132 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ibarra to Latacunga, road by road
| 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 | 95–126 | 31 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi |
| local roads | 126–132 | 6 | Cotopaxi |
- Mile 25 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
Places worth a stop between Ibarra and Latacunga
- 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: Cochasquí (mile 39), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 71)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 51)
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.
Teatro Bolívar
Teatro Bolívar is a theater in Quito, Ecuador, that opened on April 15, 1933, with seating for 2,400 spectators.
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.
Área nacional de recreación El Boliche
Created in 1979, El Boliche National Recreation Area is a 400-hectare protected area on the Pichincha–Cotopaxi border, at elevations from about 3,484 to 3,726 meters.
More drives to Latacunga
- Esmeraldas to Latacunga
- Cuenca to Latacunga
- Loja to Latacunga
- Cali to Latacunga, Ecuador
- Pasto to Latacunga, Ecuador
- Popayán to Latacunga, Ecuador
From Ibarra to other places in Ecuador
- Ibarra to Mindo
- Ibarra to Isinliví
- Ibarra to Baños
- Ibarra to Guano
- Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda
- Ibarra to Quevedo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ibarra to Latacunga?
About 3 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 132 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ibarra to Latacunga?
About 132 miles (212 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 Latacunga?
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 Latacunga?
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 Latacunga?
Closest to the road: Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 51, 0.5 mi from the route); La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 71, 0.6 mi from the route); Teatro Bolívar (theater, mile 77, 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.