The Wayro route from Quito to Puyo is 144 miles (232 km), about 4 h 16 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “In rural areas, you may encounter livestock in the road.”
| Total distance | 144 mi (232 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | E28A → E35 → E30 |
| Provinces on the route | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Pastaza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Quito to Puyo drive plays out
E35 (65 mi) and E30 (50 mi) carry about 80% of the 144 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Pastaza. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Quito to Puyo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–14 | 14 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 14–19 | 5 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 19–84 | 65 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo |
| connecting roads | 84–86 | 2 | Napo |
| E30 | 86–89 | 3 | Napo |
| local roads | 89–95 | 6 | Napo |
| E30 | 95–142 | 47 | Napo, Pastaza |
| local roads | 142–144 | 2 | Pastaza |
- Mile 32 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 70 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 130 of this route: Napo → Pastaza (province line)
Stops between Quito and Puyo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Agoyán (mile 116), Pailón del Diablo (mile 117)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 36), Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 81), Agoyán (mile 116), Pailón del Diablo (mile 117)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 81)
Cotopaxi National Park
Roughly 50 km south of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park spans parts of three provinces and surrounds Cotopaxi volcano, along with dormant Rumiñahui to the northwest and Sincholagua to the southeast.
Área nacional de recreación El Boliche
Created in 1979, El Boliche National Recreation Area is a 400-hectare protected area on the Pichincha–Cotopaxi border, at elevations from about 3,484 to 3,726 meters.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato
Ambato Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, faces Juan Montalvo Park between Bolívar and Montalvo streets in the capital of Tungurahua province. It has held the rank of minor basilica since April 1961.
Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria
On Avenida Circunvalación in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, the Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden covers 35 acres and dates back to 1849.
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.
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.
Arriving in Puyo
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Puyo
In Puyo, Pastaza province, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral stands in the central 12 de Mayo district and serves as the seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puyo.
More drives to Puyo
- Latacunga to Puyo
- Guayaquil to Puyo
- Salinas to Puyo
- Montecristi to Puyo
- Manta to Puyo
- Piura to Puyo, Ecuador
From Quito to other places in Ecuador
- Quito to Mindo
- Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados
- Quito to Esmeraldas
- Quito to Baños
- Quito to Quevedo
- Quito to Salinas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quito to Puyo?
About 4 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 144 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quito to Puyo?
About 144 miles (232 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 Quito to Puyo?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Quito to Puyo?
In order: E28A, E35 and E30. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Quito and Puyo?
Closest to the road: Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 81, 1 mi from the route); Agoyán (waterfall, mile 116, 0.3 mi from the route); Pailón del Diablo (waterfall, mile 117, 0.3 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.