The Wayro route from Portoviejo to Zaruma is 285 miles (459 km), about 6 h 51 min of driving without 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: “Slow-moving buses and trucks frequently stop in the middle of the road unexpectedly.”
| Distance by road | 285 mi (459 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | E30 → E482A → E482 → E48 → E40 → E25 → E50 → E585 |
| Provinces on the route | Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Portoviejo–Zaruma drive in a few lines
E25 (105 mi) and E482 (82 mi) carry about 66% of the 285 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Manabi, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Portoviejo to Zaruma: the road sequence
| 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 | 242–257 | 15 | El Oro |
| E585 | 257–274 | 17 | El Oro |
| connecting roads | 274–282 | 8 | El Oro |
| local roads | 282–285 | 3 | El Oro |
- 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)
Places worth a stop between Portoviejo and Zaruma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 111)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 111)
- Museums and history: Basilica La Merced (mile 119), Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo (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.
Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo
Named for singer Julio Jaramillo, this municipal museum in Guayaquil opened in 2008 and displays objects tracing Ecuadorian popular music from 1892 to 1978.
More drives to Zaruma
- Salinas to Zaruma
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zaruma
- Otavalo to Zaruma
- Ibarra to Zaruma
- Tulcán to Zaruma
- Ipiales to Zaruma, Ecuador
From Portoviejo to other places in Ecuador
- Portoviejo to Alausi
- Portoviejo to Ibarra
- Portoviejo to Tulcán
- Portoviejo to Machala
- Portoviejo to Loja
- Portoviejo to Zamora
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Portoviejo to Zaruma?
About 6 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 285 miles.
What is the driving distance from Portoviejo to Zaruma?
About 285 miles (459 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Portoviejo to Zaruma drive?
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 Zaruma?
In order: E30, E482A, E482, E48, E40, E25, E50 and E585. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Portoviejo and Zaruma?
Closest to the road: Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (botanical garden, mile 111, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo (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.