Plan on about 8 h 16 min of driving for the 365-mile (587 km) trip from Portoviejo to Loja, before any stops.
- 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: El Oro province, outside Huaquillas and Arenillas.
- 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: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “In rural areas, you may encounter livestock in the road.”
| Distance by road | 365 mi (587 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | E30 → E482A → E482 → E48 → E40 → E25 → E50 → E35 |
| Provinces on the route | Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
How the Portoviejo to Loja drive plays out
E25 (105 mi) and E482 (82 mi) carry about 51% of the 365 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Portoviejo to Loja
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| E30 | 0–8 | 8 | Manabi |
| connecting roads | 8–9 | 1 | Manabi |
| E482A | 9–12 | 3 | Manabi |
| E482 | 12–94 | 82 | Manabi, Guayas |
| E48 | 94–109 | 15 | Guayas |
| connecting roads | 109–111 | 2 | Guayas |
| local roads | 111–119 | 8 | Guayas |
| E40 | 119–137 | 18 | Guayas |
| E25 | 137–242 | 105 | Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| E50 | 242–320 | 78 | El Oro, Loja |
| E35 | 320–353 | 33 | Loja |
| local roads | 353–365 | 12 | Loja |
- Mile 66 of this route: Manabi → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 199 of this route: Guayas → Azuay (province line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Azuay → El Oro (province line)
- Mile 280 of this route: El Oro → Loja (province line)
What to see on the way from Portoviejo to Loja
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 112)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 112)
- Museums and history: Basilica La Merced (mile 119), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 119)
Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil
Living plant collections grown for conservation, research and education fill the Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil, a 5-hectare botanical garden in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Basilica La Merced
Named for the Virgin of Mercy, patroness of the Order of Mercy, Basilica La Merced is a Catholic church holding the rank of minor basilica in Guayaquil.
Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman
Also called the Museum of the Meritorious Fire Department of Guayaquil, the Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman is a firefighting museum in Guayaquil.
Arriving in Loja
Cathedral of Loja-Parroquia El Sagrario
Loja Cathedral (Catedral de Loja) stands on the Parque Central in the center of Loja, about 70 km from the El Cisne sanctuary, and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Loja.
More drives to Loja
From Portoviejo to other places in Ecuador
- Portoviejo to Alausi
- Portoviejo to Ibarra
- Portoviejo to Tulcán
- Portoviejo to Machala
- Portoviejo to Zaruma
- Portoviejo to Zamora
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Portoviejo to Loja?
About 8 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 365 miles.
What is the driving distance from Portoviejo to Loja?
About 365 miles (587 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 Portoviejo to Loja?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
Which highways go from Portoviejo to Loja?
In order: E30, E482A, E482, E48, E40, E25, E50 and E35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Portoviejo to Loja?
Closest to the road: Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (botanical garden, mile 112, 0.8 mi from the route); Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (firefighting museum, mile 119, 2 mi from the route); Basilica La Merced (basilica, mile 119, 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.