Ibarra to Zaruma is about 439 road miles (706 km): roughly 10 h 26 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: El Oro province, outside Huaquillas and Arenillas.
Read the full advisory before you go: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Slow-moving buses and trucks frequently stop in the middle of the road unexpectedly.”
| Distance by road | 439 mi (706 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A → E487 → E40 → E58 → E25 → E50 → E585 |
| Provinces on the route | Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar, Azuay, El Oro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Ibarra–Zaruma drive in a few lines
E35 (120 mi) and E487 (86 mi) carry about 47% of the 439 miles. It runs through 9 provinces: Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar, Azuay, El Oro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Ibarra to Zaruma
| 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 |
| connecting roads | 288–291 | 3 | Cañar |
| E40 | 291–299 | 8 | Cañar |
| E58 | 299–314 | 15 | Cañar, Guayas |
| E25 | 314–396 | 82 | Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| E50 | 396–410 | 14 | El Oro |
| E585 | 410–428 | 18 | El Oro |
| connecting roads | 428–436 | 8 | El Oro |
| local roads | 436–439 | 3 | El Oro |
- 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 268 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 311 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 353 of this route: Guayas → Azuay (province line)
- Mile 358 of this route: Azuay → El Oro (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Zaruma
- 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), Laguna de Colta (mile 205)
- Museums and history: Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 34), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 71), Numismatic Museum of Ecuador (mile 77), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 157)
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Zaruma
- Salinas to Zaruma
- Portoviejo to Zaruma
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma
- Otavalo to Zaruma
- Tulcán to Zaruma
- Ipiales to Zaruma, Ecuador
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 Zaruma?
About 10 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 439 miles.
How far is Zaruma from Ibarra by car?
About 439 miles (706 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 Zaruma drive?
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 Zaruma use?
In order: E35, E282, E28B, E28A, E487, E40, E58, E25, E50 and E585. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ibarra to Zaruma?
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); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 205, 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.