By road, Loja and Latacunga are about 342 miles (551 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 56 min of driving.
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.”
| Total distance | 342 mi (551 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E47 |
| Provinces on the route | Loja, Azuay, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Loja to Latacunga is like
E35 (282 mi) and E47 (19 mi) carry about 88% of the 342 miles. It runs through 6 provinces: Loja, Azuay, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Loja to Latacunga
| 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 | 289–337 | 48 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi |
| local roads | 337–342 | 5 | Cotopaxi |
- 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)
What to see on the way from Loja to Latacunga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Azogues (mile 142), Laguna de Colta (mile 272)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna de Colta (mile 272), Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 318)
- Museums and history: New Cathedral of Cuenca (mile 122), Cathedral of Azogues (mile 142), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 318)
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.
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.
More drives to Latacunga
- Esmeraldas to Latacunga
- Ibarra to Latacunga
- Cuenca to Latacunga
- Cali to Latacunga, Ecuador
- Pasto to Latacunga, Ecuador
- Popayán to Latacunga, Ecuador
From Loja to other places in Ecuador
- Loja to Alausi
- Loja to Agua Blanca
- Loja to Puerto Cayo
- Loja to Baños
- Loja to Montecristi
- Loja to Puerto López
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Loja to Latacunga?
About 8 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
How far is Latacunga from Loja by car?
About 342 miles (551 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 Loja to Latacunga?
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 Loja to Latacunga use?
In order: E35 and E47. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Loja and Latacunga?
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); Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 318, 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.