The Wayro route from Ipiales to Salinas, Ecuador is 503 miles (810 km), about 11 h 31 min of driving without stops. You cross from Colombia into Ecuador at about mile 4.
- 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: Colombia, Ecuador. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Mountain roads may lack safety features such as crash barriers or guard rails.”
- Ecuador: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Distance | 503 mi (810 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A → E487 → E40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 4, Colombia → Ecuador |
| Regions on the route | Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Ecuador
The route crosses at about mile 4, from Nariño into Carchi. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Ecuador (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Ecuador | A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. |
| Entering Colombia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay (6 months recommended), with a blank page for the entry stamp. |
| The car, entering Ecuador | You must pay for Ecuador's local liability insurance, called SPPAT. For the car's temporary entry, check with Ecuador's National Customs Service. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026); U.S. State Department, Colombia (updated August 11, 2025). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Ipiales to Salinas is like
E35 (203 mi) and E40 (95 mi) carry about 59% of the 503 miles. The first 4 miles are in Colombia; the last 499 are in Ecuador. It runs through 11 regions: Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Ipiales to Salinas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Nariño |
| E35 | 2–109 | 107 | Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura |
| E282 | 109–116 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 116–145 | 29 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 145–173 | 28 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 173–179 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 179–270 | 91 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 270–273 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 273–278 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 278–283 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 283–286 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E487 | 286–372 | 86 | Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar |
| local roads | 372–377 | 5 | Cañar, Guayas |
| E40 | 377–413 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 413–431 | 18 | Guayas |
| E40 | 431–490 | 59 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 490–503 | 13 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 4 of this route: Nariño → Carchi (international border)
- Mile 55 of this route: Carchi → Imbabura (region line)
- Mile 109 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (region line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (region line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (region line)
- Mile 262 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (region line)
- Mile 337 of this route: Chimborazo → Bolivar (region line)
- Mile 341 of this route: Bolivar → Chimborazo (region line)
- Mile 352 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 360 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (region line)
- Mile 376 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 442 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (region line)
- Mile 456 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 459 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (region line)
What to see on the way from Ipiales to Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 424)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 195), Laguna de Colta (mile 286), Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 424)
- Museums and history: Inca-Caranqui (mile 85), Numismatic Museum of Ecuador (mile 160), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 241), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 495), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 496)
Inca-Caranqui
On the southern edge of Ibarra, Inca-Caranqui preserves a semi-subterranean Inca structure of finely cut stone, possibly the pool described by Spanish chronicler Cieza de León, across from Caranqui's parish church.
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.
Cerro Blanco Forest
Owned by Holcim Ecuador and managed by Fundación Pro-Bosque, Cerro Blanco Forest is a tropical dry forest reserve in Guayas Province, Ecuador.
Museo Amantes de Sumpa
In Santa Elena Province, the Museo Amantes de Sumpa has a clay oven used for ancestral cooking classes and a traditional coastal house with its wooden trough and woven mat.
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
More drives from Ipiales
- Ipiales to Pitalito
- Ipiales to Coconuco
- Ipiales to Zipaquirá
- Ipiales to Babahoyo, Ecuador
- Ipiales to Montecristi, Ecuador
- Ipiales to Guaranda, Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ipiales to Salinas, Ecuador?
About 11 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 503 miles.
How far is Salinas, Ecuador from Ipiales by car?
About 503 miles (810 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.
Where does the Ipiales to Salinas drive cross the border?
At about mile 4, from Colombia into Ecuador.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Ipiales into Ecuador?
No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated February 18, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Ipiales to Salinas, Ecuador?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Ipiales 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 Ipiales to Salinas?
Closest to the road: Sucre National Theater (theater, mile 160, 1 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 286, 1 mi from the route); Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 424, 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.