Plan on about 12 h 45 min of driving for the 555-mile (893 km) trip from Pasto to Salinas, Ecuador, before any stops. You cross from Colombia into Ecuador at about mile 55.
- 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: 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: Colombia, Ecuador. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Highways may not have lights or signs showing destinations.”
- Ecuador: “Some roads are poorly maintained. They may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Total distance | 555 mi (893 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25 NR C → E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A → E487 → E40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 55, Colombia → Ecuador |
| Regions on the route | Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing from Colombia into Ecuador
The route crosses at about mile 55, from Nariño into Carchi. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| Entering Colombia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay (6 months recommended), with a blank page for the entry stamp. |
| The car, entering Ecuador | You must pay for Ecuador's local liability insurance, called SPPAT. For the car's temporary entry, check with Ecuador's National Customs Service. |
| 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, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026); U.S. State Department, Colombia (updated August 11, 2025). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Pasto to Salinas is like
E35 (203 mi) and E40 (96 mi) carry about 54% of the 555 miles. The first 55 miles are in Colombia; the last 500 are in Ecuador. It runs through 11 regions: Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Pasto and Salinas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–49 | 49 | Nariño |
| 25 NR C | 49–53 | 4 | Nariño |
| E35 | 53–160 | 107 | Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura |
| E282 | 160–167 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 167–196 | 29 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 196–224 | 28 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 224–230 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 230–321 | 91 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 321–324 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 324–329 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 329–334 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 334–337 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E487 | 337–423 | 86 | Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar |
| local roads | 423–428 | 5 | Cañar, Guayas |
| E40 | 428–464 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 464–482 | 18 | Guayas |
| E40 | 482–542 | 60 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 542–555 | 13 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 55 of this route: Nariño → Carchi (international border)
- Mile 107 of this route: Carchi → Imbabura (region line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (region line)
- Mile 242 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (region line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (region line)
- Mile 314 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (region line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Chimborazo → Bolivar (region line)
- Mile 398 of this route: Bolivar → Chimborazo (region line)
- Mile 403 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 411 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (region line)
- Mile 427 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 494 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (region line)
Stops between Pasto and Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laguna de Colta (mile 337)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 247), Laguna de Colta (mile 337)
- Museums and history: Sanctuary of Las Lajas (mile 49), Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 168), Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum (mile 212), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 547), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 547)
Sanctuary of Las Lajas
Built between 1916 and 1949 inside the Guáitara River canyon near Ipiales, the neo-Gothic Sanctuary of Las Lajas is reached by a bridge about 50 meters long. The Marian shrine also has a museum and a crypt.
Pambamarca Fortress Complex
Northern Ecuador's Pambamarca Fortress Complex holds ruins of many pukaras built by the Incas in the late 15th century to overcome resistance from the Cayambe chiefdom.
Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum
Next to the Palacio de Carondelet in Quito's historic center, the Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum is a cultural institution of Ecuador's capital.
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.
Laguna de Colta
Laguna de Colta is a lake of about 275 hectares in Colta canton, Chimborazo province, in Ecuador's central highlands, home to native birds and many kinds of colorful fish.
Teatro Centro Cívico Eloy Alfaro
Teatro Centro Cívico Eloy Alfaro sits in Guayaquil's Parque Forestal; construction began in 1970, and it opened in 1990 while still unfinished.
Museo Amantes de Sumpa
In Santa Elena Province, the Museo Amantes de Sumpa has a clay oven used for ancestral cooking classes and a traditional coastal house with its wooden trough and woven mat.
Paleontological Museum Megatherium
Inside the Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, the Paleontological Museum Megatherium is considered Ecuador's first paleontology museum.
More drives to Salinas
- Guayaquil to Salinas
- Babahoyo to Salinas
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Riobamba to Salinas
- Latacunga to Salinas
- Quito to Salinas
More drives from Pasto
- Pasto to Pitalito
- Pasto to Neiva
- Pasto to San Cipriano
- Pasto to Girardot City
- Pasto to Armenia
- Pasto to Zipaquirá
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pasto to Salinas, Ecuador?
About 12 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 555 miles.
How far is Salinas, Ecuador from Pasto by car?
About 555 miles (893 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 Pasto to Salinas drive cross the border?
At about mile 55, from Colombia into Ecuador.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Pasto into Ecuador?
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. A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated February 18, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Pasto to Salinas, Ecuador?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province; 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)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pasto to Salinas use?
In order: 25 NR C, E35, E282, E28B, E28A, E487 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Pasto and Salinas?
Closest to the road: Pambamarca Fortress Complex (archaeological site, mile 168, 1 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 337, 1 mi from the route); Museo Amantes de Sumpa (museum, mile 547, 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.