The Wayro route from Riobamba to Salinas is 231 miles (371 km), about 5 h 3 min of driving without stops.
- 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: “In rural areas, you may encounter livestock in the road.”
| Total distance | 231 mi (371 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E487 → E40 |
| Provinces on the route | Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Riobamba–Salinas drive in a few lines
E40 (96 mi) and E487 (86 mi) carry about 79% of the 231 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Riobamba and Salinas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 3–11 | 8 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 11–13 | 2 | Chimborazo |
| E487 | 13–99 | 86 | Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar |
| local roads | 99–104 | 5 | Cañar, Guayas |
| E40 | 104–140 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 140–158 | 18 | Guayas |
| E40 | 158–218 | 60 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 218–231 | 13 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 65 of this route: Chimborazo → Bolivar (province line)
- Mile 71 of this route: Bolivar → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 79 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 87 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 170 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
Stops between Riobamba and Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laguna de Colta (mile 13), Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo (mile 141), Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 152)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna de Colta (mile 13), Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 152)
- Museums and history: Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo (mile 141), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 223), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 224)
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.
Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo
Named for singer Julio Jaramillo, this municipal museum in Guayaquil opened in 2008 and displays objects tracing Ecuadorian popular music from 1892 to 1978.
Teatro Centro Cívico Eloy Alfaro
Teatro Centro Cívico Eloy Alfaro sits in Guayaquil's Parque Forestal; construction began in 1970, and it opened in 1990 while still unfinished.
Cerro Blanco Forest
Owned by Holcim Ecuador and managed by Fundación Pro-Bosque, Cerro Blanco Forest is a tropical dry forest reserve in Guayas Province, Ecuador.
Museo Amantes de Sumpa
In Santa Elena Province, the Museo Amantes de Sumpa has a clay oven used for ancestral cooking classes and a traditional coastal house with its wooden trough and woven mat.
Paleontological Museum Megatherium
Inside the Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, the Paleontological Museum Megatherium is considered Ecuador's first paleontology museum.
More drives to Salinas
- Guayaquil to Salinas
- Babahoyo to Salinas
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Latacunga to Salinas
- Quito to Salinas
- Esmeraldas to Salinas
From Riobamba to other places in Ecuador
- Riobamba to Mindo
- Riobamba to Otavalo
- Riobamba to Tulcán
- Riobamba to Puerto López
- Riobamba to Puerto Cayo
- Riobamba to Agua Blanca
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Riobamba to Salinas?
About 5 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 231 miles.
How far is Salinas from Riobamba by car?
About 231 miles (371 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 Riobamba to Salinas 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.
Which highways go from Riobamba to Salinas?
In order: E35, E487 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Riobamba to Salinas?
Closest to the road: Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 13, 1 mi from the route); Museo Municipal de música popular Julio Jaramillo (museum, mile 141, 0.9 mi from the route); Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 152, 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.