Plan on about 6 h 26 min of driving for the 287-mile (462 km) trip from Latacunga to Salinas, before any stops.
- 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: 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.”
| Total distance | 287 mi (462 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E487 → E40 |
| Provinces on the route | Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Latacunga to Salinas drive plays out
E40 (96 mi) and E487 (85 mi) carry about 63% of the 287 miles. It runs through 6 provinces: Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Latacunga to Salinas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Cotopaxi |
| E35 | 5–53 | 48 | Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 53–57 | 4 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 57–62 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 62–66 | 4 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 66–70 | 4 | Chimborazo |
| E487 | 70–155 | 85 | Chimborazo, Guayas, Cañar |
| local roads | 155–160 | 5 | Cañar |
| E40 | 160–196 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 196–214 | 18 | Guayas |
| E40 | 214–274 | 60 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 274–287 | 13 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 13 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 46 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 135 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 144 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 243 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Latacunga and Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 195), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 197), Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 208)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 24), Laguna de Colta (mile 70), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 195), Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 208)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 24), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 197), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 279), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 280)
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.
Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria
On Avenida Circunvalación in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, the Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden covers 35 acres and dates back to 1849.
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.
Parque Histórico de Guayaquil
Parque Histórico de Guayaquil combines a wildlife area showing local plants and animals with old city houses that were taken down from their original sites and rebuilt here.
Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman
Also called the Museum of the Meritorious Fire Department of Guayaquil, the Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman is a firefighting museum in Guayaquil.
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
- Quito to Salinas
- Esmeraldas to Salinas
From Latacunga to other places in Ecuador
- Latacunga to Papallacta
- Latacunga to Mindo
- Latacunga to Puyo
- Latacunga to Otavalo
- Latacunga to Alausi
- Latacunga to Tulcán
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Latacunga to Salinas?
About 6 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 287 miles.
How far is Salinas from Latacunga by car?
About 287 miles (462 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 Salinas drive?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
Which highways go from Latacunga to Salinas?
In order: E35, E487 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Latacunga and Salinas?
Closest to the road: Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (park, mile 195, 0.6 mi from the route); Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (firefighting museum, mile 197, 1 mi from the route); Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 208, 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.