The Wayro route from Latacunga to Mindo is 123 miles (198 km), about 2 h 56 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.”
| Distance | 123 mi (198 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 2 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E28A → E28 |
| Provinces on the route | Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Latacunga to Mindo drive plays out
E28 (42 mi) and E35 (34 mi) carry about 62% of the 123 miles. It runs through 2 provinces: Cotopaxi, Pichincha. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Latacunga to Mindo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Cotopaxi |
| E35 | 6–40 | 34 | Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E28A | 40–54 | 14 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 54–77 | 23 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 77–119 | 42 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 119–123 | 4 | Pichincha |
- Mile 25 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
Places worth a stop between Latacunga and Mindo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Capilla del Hombre (mile 61), Intiñan Museum (mile 78)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 20), Quito Botanical Garden (mile 61)
- Museums and history: City Museum (mile 53), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 61), Rumicucho (mile 78), Intiñan Museum (mile 78)
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.
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.
City Museum
Housed in Quito's colonial center on García Moreno Street, between Morales and Rocafuerte, the City Museum is a museum in the Ecuadorian capital.
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.
Rumicucho
Rumicucho, or Pucara de Rumicucho, is an Inca archaeological site in the parish of San Antonio de Pichincha, in Quito Canton, Ecuador.
Intiñan Museum
Just 200 meters from Ciudad Mitad del Mundo on the outskirts of Quito, Intiñan Museum (Museo de sitio Intiñán) is a site museum built in 1989.
More drives to Mindo
From Latacunga to other places in Ecuador
- Latacunga to Papallacta
- Latacunga to Puyo
- Latacunga to Otavalo
- Latacunga to Alausi
- Latacunga to Tulcán
- Latacunga to Salinas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Latacunga to Mindo?
About 2 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 123 miles.
What is the driving distance from Latacunga to Mindo?
About 123 miles (198 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 Latacunga to Mindo?
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 Latacunga to Mindo use?
In order: E35, E28A and E28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Latacunga and Mindo?
Closest to the road: La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 61, 0.6 mi from the route); Quito Botanical Garden (botanical garden, mile 61, 2 mi from the route); Intiñan Museum (museum, mile 78, 0.1 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.