Plan on about 7 h 38 min of driving for the 313-mile (503 km) trip from Quevedo to Ipiales, Colombia, before any stops. You cross from Ecuador into Colombia at about mile 310.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Los Rios province, outside Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo.
- 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, Colombia. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; Colombia March 31, 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.”
- Colombia: “Travel only during daylight hours.”
| Total distance | 313 mi (503 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | E25 → E28 → E28B → E282 → E35 |
| Border crossing | about mile 310, Ecuador → Colombia |
| Regions on the route | Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi, Nariño |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Colombia
The route crosses at about mile 310, from Carchi into Nariño. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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, Colombia (updated August 11, 2025); U.S. State Department, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Quevedo–Ipiales drive in a few lines
E35 (107 mi) and E25 (104 mi) carry about 67% of the 313 miles. The first 310 miles are in Ecuador; the last 3 are in Colombia. It runs through 6 regions: Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi, Nariño. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Quevedo to Ipiales
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Los Rios |
| E25 | 1–105 | 104 | Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 105–106 | 1 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 106–159 | 53 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 159–167 | 8 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 167–188 | 21 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 188–194 | 6 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 194–197 | 3 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 197–204 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 204–311 | 107 | Imbabura, Carchi, Nariño |
| local roads | 311–313 | 2 | Nariño |
- Mile 39 of this route: Los Rios → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (region line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Pichincha (region line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (region line)
- Mile 258 of this route: Imbabura → Carchi (region line)
- Mile 310 of this route: Carchi → Nariño (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Quevedo and Ipiales
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 158)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico La Carolina (mile 66), Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 158)
- Museums and history: Catequilla (mile 158), Cochasquí (mile 191), Inca-Caranqui (mile 229)
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.
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a site owned by Pichincha province in San Antonio parish, 26 kilometers north of central Quito.
Catequilla
Catequilla is an archaeological site on a mountaintop in the Pomasqui Valley, in San Antonio parish near Quito, at 2,638 meters and about 300 meters above the valleys on either side.
Cochasquí
On the slopes of Mojanda, an inactive volcano in Pichincha province, Cochasquí is an archaeological site in Ecuador's northern highlands, 52 km north of Quito.
Inca-Caranqui
On the southern edge of Ibarra, Inca-Caranqui preserves a semi-subterranean Inca structure of finely cut stone, possibly the pool described by Spanish chronicler Cieza de León, across from Caranqui's parish church.
Once you reach Ipiales
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.
More drives to Ipiales
- Cali to Ipiales
- Tuluá to Ipiales
- Pereira to Ipiales
- Guayaquil to Ipiales, Colombia
- Cuenca to Ipiales, Colombia
- Portoviejo to Ipiales, Colombia
More drives from Quevedo
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Quevedo to Otavalo
- Quevedo to Tulcán
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Quevedo to Pitalito, Colombia
- Quevedo to Coconuco, Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quevedo to Ipiales, Colombia?
About 7 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 313 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quevedo to Ipiales, Colombia?
About 313 miles (503 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 Quevedo to Ipiales drive cross the border?
At about mile 310, from Ecuador into Colombia.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Quevedo into Colombia?
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. (U.S. State Department, updated August 11, 2025.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Quevedo to Ipiales drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Quevedo to Ipiales use?
In order: E25, E28, E28B, E282 and E35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Quevedo and Ipiales?
Closest to the road: Jardín botánico La Carolina (botanical garden, mile 66, 1 mi from the route); Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (park, mile 158, 0.2 mi from the route); Catequilla (archaeological site, mile 158, 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.