By road, Ibarra and Salinas de Guaranda are about 211 miles (339 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 8 min of driving.
Full advisory: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Total distance | 211 mi (339 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A → E491 |
| Provinces on the route | Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Bolivar |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda
E35 (81 mi) and E491 (35 mi) carry about 55% of the 211 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Bolivar. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ibarra and Salinas de Guaranda
| 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 | 95–152 | 57 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo |
| local roads | 152–161 | 9 | Napo |
| E491 | 161–196 | 35 | Napo |
| local roads | 196–211 | 15 | Bolivar |
- Mile 25 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 146 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 196 of this route: Napo → Bolivar (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ibarra and Salinas de Guaranda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Capilla del Hombre (mile 71), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 157)
- 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), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 157)
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.
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.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato
Ambato Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, faces Juan Montalvo Park between Bolívar and Montalvo streets in the capital of Tungurahua province. It has held the rank of minor basilica since April 1961.
More drives to Salinas de Guaranda
- Mindo to Salinas de Guaranda
- Otavalo to Salinas de Guaranda
- Popayán to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
- Ipiales to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
From Ibarra to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda?
About 5 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 211 miles.
How far is Salinas de Guaranda from Ibarra by car?
About 211 miles (339 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 Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda drive?
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 Salinas de Guaranda?
In order: E35, E282, E28B, E28A and E491. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda?
Closest to the road: La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 71, 0.6 mi from the route); Teatro Bolívar (theater, mile 77, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (basilica, mile 157, 0.2 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.