Plan on about 9 h 33 min of driving for the 420-mile (676 km) trip from Ibarra to Salinas, before any stops.
- 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: 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: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Distance by road | 420 mi (676 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A → E487 → E40 |
| Provinces on the route | Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Ibarra to Salinas drive plays out
E35 (120 mi) and E40 (96 mi) carry about 51% of the 420 miles. It runs through 8 provinces: Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ibarra and Salinas
| 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 | 95–186 | 91 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 186–190 | 4 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 190–194 | 4 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 194–199 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 199–202 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E487 | 202–288 | 86 | Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar |
| local roads | 288–293 | 5 | Cañar |
| E40 | 293–329 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 329–347 | 18 | Guayas |
| E40 | 347–407 | 60 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 407–420 | 13 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 25 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 108 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 146 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 179 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 268 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 359 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
- Mile 373 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 376 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
Stops between Ibarra and Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 331)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 112), Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 157), Laguna de Colta (mile 205)
- Museums and history: Cochasquí (mile 39), Numismatic Museum of Ecuador (mile 77), Basilica La Merced (mile 331), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 331), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 413)
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.
Numismatic Museum of Ecuador
Founded by the Central Bank of Ecuador, the Numismatic Museum of Ecuador in Quito keeps commemorative coins and medals, along with informative catalogs about the contents of its galleries.
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.
Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria
On Avenida Circunvalación in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, the Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden covers 35 acres and dates back to 1849.
Laguna de Colta
Laguna de Colta is a lake of about 275 hectares in Colta canton, Chimborazo province, in Ecuador's central highlands, home to native birds and many kinds of colorful fish.
Basilica La Merced
Named for the Virgin of Mercy, patroness of the Order of Mercy, Basilica La Merced is a Catholic church holding the rank of minor basilica in Guayaquil.
Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman
Also called the Museum of the Meritorious Fire Department of Guayaquil, the Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman is a firefighting museum in Guayaquil.
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 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 Salinas?
About 9 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 420 miles.
How far is Salinas from Ibarra by car?
About 420 miles (676 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 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: Duran, in Guayas province; 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)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ibarra to Salinas use?
In order: E35, E282, E28B, E28A, E487 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ibarra to Salinas?
Closest to the road: Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 157, 1 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 205, 1 mi from the route); Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (firefighting museum, mile 331, 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.