Plan on about 8 h 4 min of driving for the 360-mile (579 km) trip from Latacunga to Zamora, before any stops.
Full advisory: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Heavy fog and rain make conditions more dangerous.”
| Distance | 360 mi (579 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E46 → E45 |
| Provinces on the route | Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Latacunga–Zamora drive in a few lines
E45 (197 mi) and E46 (75 mi) carry about 76% of the 360 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Latacunga to Zamora
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Cotopaxi |
| E35 | 5–59 | 54 | Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| local roads | 59–82 | 23 | Chimborazo |
| E46 | 82–157 | 75 | Chimborazo, Morona Santiago |
| local roads | 157–162 | 5 | Morona Santiago |
| E45 | 162–359 | 197 | Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe |
| local roads | 359–360 | 1 | Zamora Chinchipe |
- Mile 13 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 46 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 113 of this route: Chimborazo → Morona Santiago (province line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Morona Santiago → Zamora Chinchipe (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Zamora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 64)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 24), Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area (mile 254)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 24), Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 64)
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.
Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba)
Facing Parque Libertad in Riobamba, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) was begun in 1883, took 32 years to finish and was consecrated in 1915.
Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area
Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area in Morona Santiago, Ecuador, is a protected area that also welcomes some tourism.
More drives to Zamora
- Montecristi to Zamora
- Portoviejo to Zamora
- Quito to Zamora
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora
- Otavalo to Zamora
- Ibarra to Zamora
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 is the drive from Latacunga to Zamora?
About 8 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 360 miles.
What is the driving distance from Latacunga to Zamora?
About 360 miles (579 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 Zamora?
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 Zamora use?
In order: E35, E46 and E45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Latacunga and Zamora?
Closest to the road: Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (basilica, mile 24, 2 mi from the route); Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (basilica, mile 64, 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.