Puyo to Puerto López is about 334 road miles (537 km): roughly 8 h 16 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: 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 | 334 mi (537 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | E30 → E490 → E35 → E487 → E40 → E48 → E482 → E483 → E15 |
| Provinces on the route | Pastaza, Napo, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Manabi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Puyo to Puerto López drive plays out
E487 (86 mi) and E482 (63 mi) carry about 45% of the 334 miles. It runs through 7 provinces: Pastaza, Napo, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Manabi. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Puyo to Puerto López, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Pastaza |
| E30 | 2–40 | 38 | Pastaza, Napo |
| local roads | 40–52 | 12 | Napo, Chimborazo |
| E490 | 52–70 | 18 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 70–75 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 75–81 | 6 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 81–85 | 4 | Chimborazo |
| E487 | 85–171 | 86 | Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar |
| local roads | 171–175 | 4 | Cañar, Guayas |
| E40 | 175–211 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 211–221 | 10 | Guayas |
| E48 | 221–235 | 14 | Guayas |
| E482 | 235–298 | 63 | Guayas, Manabi |
| E483 | 298–314 | 16 | Manabi |
| E15 | 314–334 | 20 | Manabi |
- Mile 16 of this route: Pastaza → Napo (province line)
- Mile 48 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 136 of this route: Chimborazo → Bolivar (province line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Bolivar → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 150 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 158 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 174 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Guayas → Manabi (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Puerto López
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pailón del Diablo (mile 27), Agoyán (mile 28), Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 70), Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 219)
- Nature and outdoors: Pailón del Diablo (mile 27), Agoyán (mile 28), Laguna de Colta (mile 85), Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 219)
- Museums and history: Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 70), Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum (mile 211), Presley Norton Museum (mile 211)
Pailón del Diablo
Pailón del Diablo is a waterfall near the town of Río Verde in Ecuador's Tungurahua Province, a well-known stop for travelers in the area.
Agoyán
Agoyán is a waterfall on the Pastaza River just outside the tourist town of Baños de Agua Santa, one of three significant waterfalls near the town.
Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba)
Facing Parque Libertad in Riobamba, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) was begun in 1883, took 32 years to finish and was consecrated in 1915.
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.
Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum
The Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum in Guayaquil, Ecuador, was established on January 25, 2006, by Alvaro Noboa.
Presley Norton Museum
In Guayaquil, the Presley Norton Museum holds archaeological artifacts, including pottery and figurines made by Ecuador's original settlers, and occasionally hosts film screenings and live music.
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.
Once you reach Puerto López
Machalilla National Park
Established in 1979, Machalilla National Park sits along the Pacific coast of Ecuador's Manabí Province, near Puerto López and the fishing village of Machalilla.
More drives to Puerto López
- Riobamba to Puerto López
- Baños to Puerto López
- Quito to Puerto López
- Otavalo to Puerto López
- Ibarra to Puerto López
- Tena to Puerto López
From Puyo to other places in Ecuador
- Puyo to Mindo
- Puyo to Alausi
- Puyo to Puerto Cayo
- Puyo to Agua Blanca
- Puyo to Máncora, Peru
- Puyo to Zorritos, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puyo to Puerto López?
About 8 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 334 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puyo to Puerto López?
About 334 miles (537 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 Puyo to Puerto López 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.
What roads does the drive from Puyo to Puerto López use?
In order: E30, E490, E35, E487, E40, E48, E482, E483 and E15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puyo to Puerto López?
Closest to the road: Pailón del Diablo (waterfall, mile 27, 0.4 mi from the route); Agoyán (waterfall, mile 28, 0.2 mi from the route); Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (basilica, mile 70, 0.8 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.