Loja to Ibarra is about 475 road miles (765 km): roughly 12 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: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Total distance | 475 mi (765 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E47 → E28A → E28B → E282 |
| Provinces on the route | Loja, Azuay, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Loja to Ibarra drive plays out
E35 (353 mi) and E28B (21 mi) carry about 79% of the 475 miles. It runs through 8 provinces: Loja, Azuay, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Loja to Ibarra
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Loja |
| E35 | 1–4 | 3 | Loja |
| local roads | 4–24 | 20 | Loja |
| E35 | 24–203 | 179 | Loja, Azuay, Cañar, Chimborazo |
| local roads | 203–210 | 7 | Chimborazo |
| E47 | 210–229 | 19 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 229–281 | 52 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 281–286 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 286–289 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 289–383 | 94 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E28A | 383–398 | 15 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 398–413 | 15 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 413–434 | 21 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 434–441 | 7 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 441–443 | 2 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 443–450 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 450–475 | 25 | Imbabura |
- Mile 58 of this route: Loja → Azuay (province line)
- Mile 135 of this route: Azuay → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Cañar → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 298 of this route: Chimborazo → Napo (province line)
- Mile 329 of this route: Napo → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 368 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 450 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (province line)
What to see on the way from Loja to Ibarra
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Azogues (mile 142), Laguna de Colta (mile 272), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 405)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna de Colta (mile 272), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 363)
- Museums and history: New Cathedral of Cuenca (mile 122), Cathedral of Azogues (mile 142), Convent of San Diego (mile 396), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 405), Cochasquí (mile 437)
New Cathedral of Cuenca
Facing Parque Calderón, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, known as the New Cathedral of Cuenca, is the cathedral church of Cuenca, Ecuador.
Cathedral of Azogues
In the center of Azogues, facing the city's Parque Central, the Cathedral of Azogues (Catedral de San Francisco de Azogues) is a Catholic cathedral with classical Roman-style architecture and serves as the mother church of Cañar Province.
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.
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.
Convent of San Diego
Just outside Quito's historic center, next to the cemetery of the same name, the Convent of San Diego is a Franciscan complex with a convent, church, and museum.
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.
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.
Once you reach Ibarra
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 Ibarra
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Ibarra
- Guayaquil to Ibarra
- Portoviejo to Ibarra
- Cuenca to Ibarra
- Machala to Ibarra
- Cali to Ibarra, Ecuador
From Loja to other places in Ecuador
- Loja to Alausi
- Loja to Agua Blanca
- Loja to Latacunga
- Loja to Puerto Cayo
- Loja to Baños
- Loja to Montecristi
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Loja to Ibarra?
About 12 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 475 miles.
How far is Ibarra from Loja by car?
About 475 miles (765 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 Loja to Ibarra drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Loja to Ibarra?
In order: E35, E47, E28A, E28B and E282. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Loja and Ibarra?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Azogues (cathedral, mile 142, 0.4 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 272, 0.4 mi from the route); La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 405, 0.6 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.