Plan on about 7 h 55 min of driving for the 349-mile (561 km) trip from Manta to Máncora, Peru, before any stops. You cross from Ecuador into Peru at about mile 269.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Huaquillas and Arenillas, in El Oro province.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3).
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: El Oro province, outside Huaquillas and Arenillas.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo provinces.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Ecuador, Peru. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Heavy fog and rain make conditions more dangerous.”
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 349 mi (561 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | E15 → E30 → E482 → E48 → E40 → E25 → E50 → PE-1N |
| Border crossing | about mile 269, Ecuador → Peru |
| Regions on the route | Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Tumbes, Piura |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Peru
The route crosses at about mile 269, from El Oro into Tumbes. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Peru (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Peru | A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. |
| Entering Ecuador (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Ecuador | A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. |
| The car, entering Peru | Register the car online first (SUNAT's advance registration for tourist vehicles, valid 10 days), then get the Temporary Entry Certificate (CIT) from customs at the border. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Peru (updated August 20, 2026); U.S. State Department, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026); Government of Peru (gob.pe). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from Manta to Máncora
E25 (113 mi) and E482 (88 mi) carry about 58% of the 349 miles. The first 269 miles are in Ecuador; the last 80 are in Peru. It runs through 6 regions: Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Tumbes, Piura. Of the 5 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Manta to Máncora
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Manabi |
| E15 | 1–6 | 5 | Manabi |
| E30 | 6–10 | 4 | Manabi |
| E482 | 10–98 | 88 | Manabi, Guayas |
| E48 | 98–113 | 15 | Guayas |
| connecting roads | 113–115 | 2 | Guayas |
| local roads | 115–123 | 8 | Guayas |
| E40 | 123–141 | 18 | Guayas |
| E25 | 141–254 | 113 | Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| E50 | 254–268 | 14 | El Oro |
| PE-1N | 268–349 | 81 | El Oro, Tumbes |
- Mile 70 of this route: Manabi → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Guayas → Azuay (region line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Azuay → El Oro (region line)
- Mile 269 of this route: El Oro → Tumbes (international border)
- Mile 349 of this route: Tumbes → Piura (region line)
Places worth a stop between Manta and Máncora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 116), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 123), St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes (mile 286), Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes (mile 289)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 116), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 123)
- Museums and history: Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo (mile 124), St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes (mile 286), Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes (mile 289)
Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil
Living plant collections grown for conservation, research and education fill the Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil, a 5-hectare botanical garden in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Parque Histórico de Guayaquil
Parque Histórico de Guayaquil combines a wildlife area showing local plants and animals with old city houses that were taken down from their original sites and rebuilt here.
Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo
Named for singer Julio Jaramillo, this municipal museum in Guayaquil opened in 2008 and displays objects tracing Ecuadorian popular music from 1892 to 1978.
St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes
Also called the Church of San Nicolás de Tolentino, St. Nicholas Cathedral is a Catholic church in the town of Tumbes, in northern Peru.
Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes
Cabeza de Vaca is an archaeological site in Peru's Corrales District, in the Tumbes Province of the Tumbes Region.
More drives to Máncora
- Trujillo to Máncora
- Chimbote to Máncora
- Casma to Máncora
- Moyobamba to Máncora
- Caraz to Máncora
- Chota to Máncora
More drives from Manta
- Manta to Alausi
- Manta to Baños
- Manta to Otavalo
- Manta to Puyo
- Manta to Huaquillas
- Manta to Ipiales, Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Manta to Máncora, Peru?
About 7 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 349 miles.
How far is Máncora, Peru from Manta by car?
About 349 miles (561 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.
Where does the Manta to Máncora drive cross the border?
At about mile 269, from Ecuador into Peru.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Manta into Peru?
No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. (U.S. State Department, updated August 20, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Manta to Máncora drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Huaquillas and Arenillas, in El Oro province; Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Manta to Máncora?
In order: E15, E30, E482, E48, E40, E25, E50 and PE-1N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Manta to Máncora?
Closest to the road: Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (park, mile 123, 0.5 mi from the route); St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes (cathedral, mile 286, 0.1 mi from the route); Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes (archaeological site, mile 289, 0.2 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.