Nueva Loja to Bahía de Caráquez is about 400 road miles (644 km): roughly 8 h 58 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Distance | 400 mi (644 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | E45 → E20 → E28 → E25 → E38 → E382 → E383 → E15 |
| Provinces on the route | Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Nueva Loja–Bahía de Caráquez drive in a few lines
E45 (104 mi) and E38 (57 mi) carry about 40% of the 400 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabi. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Nueva Loja to Bahía de Caráquez, road by road
| 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 | 180–233 | 53 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 233–234 | 1 | Pichincha |
| E25 | 234–271 | 37 | Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| connecting roads | 271–275 | 4 | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| E38 | 275–291 | 16 | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| local roads | 291–296 | 5 | Manabi |
| E382 | 296–331 | 35 | Manabi |
| E38 | 331–372 | 41 | Manabi |
| connecting roads | 372–374 | 2 | Manabi |
| E383 | 374–395 | 21 | Manabi |
| E15 | 395–399 | 4 | Manabi |
| local roads | 399–400 | 1 | Manabi |
- Mile 61 of this route: Sucumbios → Tungurahua (province line)
- Mile 137 of this route: Tungurahua → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 246 of this route: Pichincha → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
- Mile 291 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Manabi (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Bahía de Caráquez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Intiñan Museum (mile 181)
- Nature and outdoors: Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 164), Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (mile 183), Jardín botánico La Carolina (mile 273)
- Museums and history: El Inga (mile 153), Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 164), Obelisco de la Vicentina (mile 164), 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.
Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum
A natural history museum in Quito, Ecuador, the Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum was established in 2005.
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.
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.
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.
Jardín botánico La Carolina
Now named Jardín Botánico Padre Julio Marrero, this roughly 17-hectare botanical garden, palm collection and orchid house in Santo Domingo de los Colorados belongs to the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador.
More drives to Bahía de Caráquez
- Ibarra to Bahía de Caráquez
- Cuenca to Bahía de Caráquez
- Machala to Bahía de Caráquez
- Huaquillas to Bahía de Caráquez
From Nueva Loja to other places in Ecuador
- Nueva Loja to Mindo
- Nueva Loja to Atacames
- 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 Bahía de Caráquez?
About 8 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 400 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nueva Loja to Bahía de Caráquez?
About 400 miles (644 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 Bahía de Caráquez?
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 Nueva Loja to Bahía de Caráquez use?
In order: E45, E20, E28, E25, E38, E382, E383 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 Bahía de Caráquez?
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); Jardín botánico La Carolina (botanical garden, mile 273, 1 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.