The Wayro route from Mindo to Salinas de Guaranda is 203 miles (326 km), about 4 h 51 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Slow-moving buses and trucks frequently stop in the middle of the road unexpectedly.”
| Distance | 203 mi (326 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | E28 → E28A → E35 → E491 |
| Provinces on the route | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Bolivar |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Mindo to Salinas de Guaranda drive plays out
E35 (57 mi) and E28 (42 mi) carry about 49% of the 203 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Bolivar. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Mindo to Salinas de Guaranda
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 4–46 | 42 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 46–81 | 35 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 81–87 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 87–144 | 57 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo |
| local roads | 144–153 | 9 | Napo |
| E491 | 153–188 | 35 | Napo |
| local roads | 188–203 | 15 | Bolivar |
- Mile 99 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 137 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 188 of this route: Napo → Bolivar (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Salinas de Guaranda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Capilla del Hombre (mile 62), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 149)
- Nature and outdoors: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (mile 43), Quito Botanical Garden (mile 63), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 104)
- Museums and history: Catequilla (mile 45), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 62), Museo Camilo Egas (mile 69), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 149)
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Surrounding Pululahua Volcano, this geobotanical reserve lies 17 km north of Quito in the northwestern part of the Pomasqui Valley, Pichincha province.
Catequilla
Catequilla is an archaeological site on a mountaintop in the Pomasqui Valley, in San Antonio parish near Quito, at 2,638 meters and about 300 meters above the valleys on either side.
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.
Quito Botanical Garden
Covering 18,600 square meters in Quito, the Quito Botanical Garden combines a park, arboretum and greenhouses displaying plant species from across Ecuador.
Sucre National Theater
Built between 1879 and 1886 on the orders of President Ignacio de Veintimilla, Quito's Sucre National Theater (Teatro Nacional Sucre) is an Italian-style theater inspired by European models.
Museo Camilo Egas
Established in 1980 in Quito, Museo Camilo Egas is an art museum dedicated to the Ecuadorian modernist painter Camilo Egas.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Salinas de Guaranda
- Otavalo to Salinas de Guaranda
- Ibarra to Salinas de Guaranda
- Popayán to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
- Ipiales to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
From Mindo to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mindo to Salinas de Guaranda?
About 4 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 203 miles.
How far is Salinas de Guaranda from Mindo by car?
About 203 miles (326 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 Mindo to Salinas de Guaranda?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Mindo to Salinas de Guaranda?
In order: E28, E28A, E35 and E491. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mindo and Salinas de Guaranda?
Closest to the road: La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 62, 0.6 mi from the route); Sucre National Theater (theater, mile 69, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (basilica, mile 149, 0.3 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.