Mindo to Tababela is about 73 road miles (117 km): roughly 1 h 48 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 | 73 mi (117 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 1 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | E28 → E28B |
| Provinces on the route | Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Mindo to Tababela is like
E28 (42 mi) and E28B (7 mi) carry about 67% of the 73 miles. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Mindo to Tababela
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 4–46 | 42 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 46–54 | 8 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 54–61 | 7 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 61–73 | 12 | Pichincha |
Stops between Mindo and Tababela
- Nature and outdoors: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (mile 43)
- Museums and history: Rumicucho (mile 45)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 66)
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.
Rumicucho
Rumicucho, or Pucara de Rumicucho, is an Inca archaeological site in the parish of San Antonio de Pichincha, in Quito Canton, Ecuador.
Historic Center of Quito
The Historic Center of Quito covers about 375 hectares in south-central Quito and is considered among the best-preserved historic districts in Spanish America, with roughly 130 monumental buildings and some 5,000 listed heritage properties.
Wiwa Quito
Known for almost three decades as the Quito Zoo, Wiwa Quito is a wildlife refuge park of about 12 hectares in the Guayllabamba parish of Quito, opened in 1997.
In Tababela itself
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
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tababela
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Atacames to Tababela
- Otavalo to Tababela
- Tulcán to Tababela
From Mindo to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mindo to Tababela?
About 1 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 73 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mindo to Tababela?
About 73 miles (117 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 Tababela?
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 Mindo to Tababela use?
In order: E28 and E28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mindo and Tababela?
Closest to the road: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (nature area, mile 43, 2 mi from the route); Rumicucho (archaeological site, mile 45, 2 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 66, 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.