Plan on about 8 h 38 min of driving for the 373-mile (600 km) trip from Nueva Loja to Atacames, before any stops.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: All areas south of Esmeraldas City, in Esmeraldas province.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo provinces.
Read the full advisory before you go: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Some roads are poorly maintained. They may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 373 mi (600 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | E45 → E20 → E28 → E15 |
| Provinces on the route | Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Pichincha, Esmeraldas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Nueva Loja to Atacames is like
E20 (118 mi) and E45 (104 mi) carry about 60% of the 373 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Pichincha, Esmeraldas. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Nueva Loja and Atacames
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| E45 | 0–104 | 104 | Sucumbios, Tungurahua |
| E20 | 104–152 | 48 | Tungurahua, Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 152–155 | 3 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 155–180 | 25 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 180–281 | 101 | Pichincha, Esmeraldas |
| E20 | 281–351 | 70 | Esmeraldas |
| E15 | 351–372 | 21 | Esmeraldas |
| local roads | 372–373 | 1 | Esmeraldas |
- Mile 61 of this route: Sucumbios → Tungurahua (province line)
- Mile 137 of this route: Tungurahua → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 278 of this route: Pichincha → Esmeraldas (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Nueva Loja and Atacames
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 181), Intiñan Museum (mile 181)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 181)
- Museums and history: El Inga (mile 153), Basílica del Voto Nacional (mile 163), Obelisco de la Vicentina (mile 163), Intiñan Museum (mile 181)
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.
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Rising to about 83 meters, the Basilica of the National Vow (Basílica del Voto Nacional) is a Roman Catholic church in Quito's historic center.
Obelisco de la Vicentina
Built in 1951, the Obelisco de la Vicentina is a monument in Quito's La Vicentina neighborhood and one of its best-known landmarks.
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a site owned by Pichincha province in San Antonio parish, 26 kilometers north of central Quito.
Intiñan Museum
Just 200 meters from Ciudad Mitad del Mundo on the outskirts of Quito, Intiñan Museum (Museo de sitio Intiñán) is a site museum built in 1989.
More drives to Atacames
From Nueva Loja to other places in Ecuador
- Nueva Loja to Mindo
- Nueva Loja to Bahía de Caráquez
- Nueva Loja to Puerto Cayo
- Nueva Loja to Puerto López
- Nueva Loja to Agua Blanca
- Nueva Loja to Salinas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nueva Loja to Atacames?
About 8 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 373 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nueva Loja to Atacames?
About 373 miles (600 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 Nueva Loja to Atacames?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Nueva Loja to Atacames?
In order: E45, E20, E28 and E15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Nueva Loja to Atacames?
Closest to the road: El Inga (archaeological site, mile 153, 1 mi from the route); Intiñan Museum (museum, mile 181, 0.1 mi from the route); Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (park, mile 181, 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.