Quevedo to Otavalo is about 216 road miles (347 km): roughly 5 h 18 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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. 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.”
| Total distance | 216 mi (347 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | E25 → E28 → E28B → E282 → E35 |
| Provinces on the route | Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha, Imbabura |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
What the drive from Quevedo to Otavalo is like
E25 (104 mi) and E28 (53 mi) carry about 73% of the 216 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha, Imbabura. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Quevedo to Otavalo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 204–214 | 10 | Imbabura |
| local roads | 214–216 | 2 | Imbabura |
- Mile 39 of this route: Los Rios → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (province line)
Places worth a stop between Quevedo and Otavalo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 158)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico La Carolina (mile 66), Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (mile 155), Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 158)
- Museums and history: Cochasquí (mile 191), Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 196)
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.
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Surrounding Pululahua Volcano, this geobotanical reserve lies 17 km north of Quito in the northwestern part of the Pomasqui Valley, Pichincha province.
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.
Historic Center of Quito
The Historic Center of Quito covers about 375 hectares in south-central Quito and is considered among the best-preserved historic districts in Spanish America, with roughly 130 monumental buildings and some 5,000 listed heritage properties.
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.
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.
In Otavalo itself
Laguna de San Pablo
Lago San Pablo is a lake at 2,700 meters in Imbabura, Ecuador, covering about 583 hectares with a depth of around 83 meters, at the foot of Imbabura volcano.
More drives to Otavalo
- Latacunga to Otavalo
- Ambato to Otavalo
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Otavalo
- Riobamba to Otavalo
- Babahoyo to Otavalo
- Guayaquil to Otavalo
From Quevedo to other places in Ecuador
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Quevedo to Tulcán
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Quevedo to Ipiales, Colombia
- Quevedo to Pitalito, Colombia
- Quevedo to Coconuco, Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Quevedo to Otavalo?
About 5 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 216 miles.
How far is Otavalo from Quevedo by car?
About 216 miles (347 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 Quevedo to Otavalo?
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: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Quevedo to Otavalo?
In order: E25, E28, E28B, E282 and E35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Quevedo to Otavalo?
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); Pambamarca Fortress Complex (archaeological site, mile 196, 1 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.