Latacunga to Tulcán is about 209 road miles (337 km): roughly 5 h 6 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Some roads are poorly maintained. They may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 209 mi (337 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E28A → E28B → E282 |
| Provinces on the route | Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Latacunga to Tulcán: the shape of the trip
E35 (136 mi) and E28B (20 mi) carry about 75% of the 209 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Latacunga to Tulcán
| 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 | 54–70 | 16 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 70–90 | 20 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 90–97 | 7 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 97–99 | 2 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 99–106 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 106–208 | 102 | Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| local roads | 208–209 | 1 | Carchi |
- Mile 25 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (province line)
- Mile 161 of this route: Imbabura → Carchi (province line)
What to see on the way from Latacunga to Tulcán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Capilla del Hombre (mile 61), Wiwa Quito (mile 81)
- 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), Cochasquí (mile 94), Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 99), Inca-Caranqui (mile 131)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 81)
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.
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.
Cochasquí
On the slopes of Mojanda, an inactive volcano in Pichincha province, Cochasquí is an archaeological site in Ecuador's northern highlands, 52 km north of Quito.
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.
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.
More drives to Tulcán
- Ambato to Tulcán
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tulcán
- Riobamba to Tulcán
- Quevedo to Tulcán
- Babahoyo to Tulcán
- Guayaquil to Tulcán
From Latacunga to other places in Ecuador
- Latacunga to Papallacta
- Latacunga to Mindo
- Latacunga to Puyo
- Latacunga to Otavalo
- Latacunga to Alausi
- Latacunga to Salinas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Latacunga to Tulcán?
About 5 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 209 miles.
What is the driving distance from Latacunga to Tulcán?
About 209 miles (337 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 Tulcán drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Latacunga to Tulcán?
In order: E35, E28A, E28B and E282. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Latacunga and Tulcán?
Closest to the road: La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 61, 0.6 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 81, 0.5 mi from the route); Pambamarca Fortress Complex (archaeological site, mile 99, 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.