By road, Latacunga and Papallacta are about 91 miles (146 km) apart, or roughly 2 h 24 min of driving.
Full advisory: 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.”
| Total distance | 91 mi (146 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E20 |
| Provinces on the route | Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Tungurahua |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
What the drive from Latacunga to Papallacta is like
E35 (59 mi) and E20 (26 mi) carry about 93% of the 91 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Tungurahua. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Latacunga and Papallacta
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Cotopaxi |
| E35 | 6–65 | 59 | Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E20 | 65–91 | 26 | Pichincha, Tungurahua |
- Mile 25 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 81 of this route: Pichincha → Tungurahua (province line)
Places worth a stop between Latacunga and Papallacta
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 20)
- Museums and history: El Inga (mile 65)
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.
El Inga
On the slopes of Ilaló volcano in Tumbaco, El Inga is an archaeological site dated to 10,000–2,000 BC, used as a campsite by Paleoindian hunter-gatherers.
More drives to Papallacta
- Esmeraldas to Papallacta
- Atacames to Papallacta
- Otavalo to Papallacta
- Alausi to Papallacta
- Salinas to Papallacta
From Latacunga to other places in Ecuador
- Latacunga to Mindo
- 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 Papallacta?
About 2 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 91 miles.
How far is Papallacta from Latacunga by car?
About 91 miles (146 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 Latacunga to Papallacta 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 Latacunga to Papallacta use?
In order: E35 and E20. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Latacunga and Papallacta?
Closest to the road: Área nacional de recreación El Boliche (nature area, mile 12, 5 mi from the route); Cotopaxi National Park (national park, mile 20, 10 mi from the route); El Inga (archaeological site, mile 65, 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.