The Wayro route from Ibarra to Zamora is 492 miles (792 km), about 11 h 11 min of driving without 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.”
| Total distance | 492 mi (792 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A → E46 → E45 |
| Provinces on the route | Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Ibarra to Zamora drive plays out
E45 (197 mi) and E35 (120 mi) carry about 64% of the 492 miles. It runs through 7 provinces: Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ibarra and Zamora
| 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 | 95–191 | 96 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| local roads | 191–215 | 24 | Chimborazo |
| E46 | 215–290 | 75 | Chimborazo, Morona Santiago |
| local roads | 290–295 | 5 | Morona Santiago |
| E45 | 295–492 | 197 | Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe |
- 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 179 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 247 of this route: Chimborazo → Morona Santiago (province line)
- Mile 433 of this route: Morona Santiago → Zamora Chinchipe (province line)
Stops between Ibarra and Zamora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Wiwa Quito (mile 51), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 71), Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 196)
- Nature and outdoors: Quito Botanical Garden (mile 71), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 112), Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area (mile 382)
- Museums and history: Cochasquí (mile 39), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 71), Museo Camilo Egas (mile 77), Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 196)
- 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.
Sucre National Theater
Built between 1879 and 1886 on the orders of President Ignacio de Veintimilla, Quito's Sucre National Theater (Teatro Nacional Sucre) is an Italian-style theater inspired by European models.
Museo Camilo Egas
Established in 1980 in Quito, Museo Camilo Egas is an art museum dedicated to the Ecuadorian modernist painter Camilo Egas.
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.
Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba)
Facing Parque Libertad in Riobamba, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) was begun in 1883, took 32 years to finish and was consecrated in 1915.
Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area
Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area in Morona Santiago, Ecuador, is a protected area that also welcomes some tourism.
More drives to Zamora
- Latacunga to Zamora
- Montecristi to Zamora
- Portoviejo to Zamora
- Quito to Zamora
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora
- Otavalo to Zamora
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 is the drive from Ibarra to Zamora?
About 11 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 492 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ibarra to Zamora?
About 492 miles (792 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 Zamora?
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 Zamora?
In order: E35, E282, E28B, E28A, E46 and E45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ibarra and Zamora?
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); Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (basilica, mile 196, 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.