The Wayro route from Quito to Cali, Colombia is 450 miles (725 km), about 13 h 25 min of driving without stops. You cross from Ecuador into Colombia at about mile 156.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán).
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali).
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: “In rural areas, you may encounter livestock in the road.”
- Colombia: “Mountain roads may lack safety features such as crash barriers or guard rails.”
| Total distance | 450 mi (725 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | E28B → E282 → E35 → 25 NR C |
| Border crossing | about mile 156, Ecuador → Colombia |
| Regions on the route | Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi, Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Colombia
The route crosses at about mile 156, 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.
What the drive from Quito to Cali is like
E35 (107 mi) and E28B (21 mi) carry about 28% of the 450 miles. The first 156 miles are in Ecuador; the last 294 are in Colombia. It runs through 6 regions: Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi, Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Quito to Cali
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–13 | 13 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 13–34 | 21 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 34–40 | 6 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 40–43 | 3 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 43–50 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 50–157 | 107 | Imbabura, Carchi, Nariño |
| 25 NR C | 157–161 | 4 | Nariño |
| local roads | 161–450 | 289 | Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca |
- Mile 50 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (region line)
- Mile 105 of this route: Imbabura → Carchi (region line)
- Mile 156 of this route: Carchi → Nariño (international border)
- Mile 272 of this route: Nariño → Cauca (region line)
- Mile 431 of this route: Cauca → Valle del Cauca (region line)
What to see on the way from Quito to Cali
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto (mile 209), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán (mile 366), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 367)
- Nature and outdoors: Farallones de Cali National Natural Park (mile 438)
- Museums and history: Cochasquí (mile 37), Inca-Caranqui (mile 75), Sanctuary of Las Lajas (mile 161), St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto (mile 209), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán (mile 366), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 367)
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.
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.
St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto
Pasto Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Pasto and takes its name from St. Ezequiel Moreno, the friar who was appointed the city's bishop in 1895.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán
Also known as Popayán Cathedral, this Catholic basilica is dedicated to the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Assumption.
Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art
In Popayán, capital of Colombia's Cauca department, the Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art is mainly devoted to displaying sacred art.
Farallones de Cali National Natural Park
Created in 1968, Farallones de Cali National Natural Park lies within the Chocó biogeographic zone and is one of Colombia's most diverse protected areas for wildlife.
Arriving in Cali
Teatro Municipal Enrique Buenaventura
Formerly called the Teatro Municipal de Cali, the Teatro Municipal Enrique Buenaventura dates from 1918 and was declared a national monument in 1982. It stands in central Cali.
Cali Zoo
Run since 1981 by a foundation that bears its name, Cali Zoo has focused on improving its animals' diet, habitats and veterinary care.
Teatro Jorge Isaacs
Facing the Ortiz Bridge and Los Poetas park, next to La Ermita church in Cali's historic center, Teatro Jorge Isaacs was built in 1931 and declared a national monument in 1984.
More drives to Cali
More drives from Quito
- Quito to Mindo
- Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados
- Quito to Esmeraldas
- Quito to Baños
- Quito to Puyo
- Quito to Quevedo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quito to Cali, Colombia?
About 13 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quito to Cali, Colombia?
About 450 miles (725 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 Quito to Cali drive cross the border?
At about mile 156, from Ecuador into Colombia.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Quito 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Quito to Cali, Colombia?
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 (Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán); Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Quito to Cali use?
In order: E28B, E282, E35 and 25 NR C. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Quito to Cali?
Closest to the road: St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto (cathedral, mile 209, 0.6 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán (basilica, mile 366, 0.6 mi from the route); Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (museum, mile 367, 0.7 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.