Loja to Tababela is about 413 road miles (664 km): roughly 10 h 34 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: “Heavy fog and rain make conditions more dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 413 mi (664 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E47 |
| Provinces on the route | Loja, Azuay, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Loja to Tababela is like
E35 (353 mi) and E47 (19 mi) carry about 90% of the 413 miles. It runs through 7 provinces: Loja, Azuay, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Loja and Tababela
| 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 | 289–408 | 119 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| local roads | 408–413 | 5 | Pichincha |
- 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)
Places worth a stop between Loja and Tababela
- 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), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 363)
- Museums and history: Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca (mile 122), Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes (mile 122), Cathedral of Azogues (mile 142), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 318)
Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
Cuenca's historic center, covering about 224 hectares in Azuay province, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and draws visitors to the city.
Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes
The Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes is a museum located in the city 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.
Área nacional de recreación El Boliche
Created in 1979, El Boliche National Recreation Area is a 400-hectare protected area on the Pichincha–Cotopaxi border, at elevations from about 3,484 to 3,726 meters.
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.
Arriving in Tababela
El Inga
On the slopes of Ilaló volcano in Tumbaco, El Inga is an archaeological site dated to 10,000–2,000 BC, used as a campsite by Paleoindian hunter-gatherers.
More drives to Tababela
- Mindo to Tababela
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tababela
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Atacames to Tababela
- Otavalo to Tababela
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 Tababela?
About 10 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 413 miles.
How far is Tababela from Loja by car?
About 413 miles (664 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 Tababela?
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 Tababela?
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 Tababela?
Closest to the road: Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes (museum, mile 122, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Azogues (cathedral, mile 142, 0.4 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 272, 0.4 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.