Plan on about 5 h 26 min of driving for the 235-mile (379 km) trip from Salinas to Guano, before any 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: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Distance by road | 235 mi (379 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E487 → E35 |
| Provinces on the route | Santa Elena, Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Salinas to Guano is like
E40 (117 mi) and E487 (86 mi) carry about 86% of the 235 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Santa Elena, Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salinas to Guano, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| E40 | 0–81 | 81 | Santa Elena, Guayas |
| local roads | 81–89 | 8 | Guayas |
| E40 | 89–125 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 125–130 | 5 | Guayas, Cañar |
| E487 | 130–216 | 86 | Cañar, Guayas, Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 216–219 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 219–224 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 224–235 | 11 | Chimborazo |
- Mile 43 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 46 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
- Mile 60 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 142 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 151 of this route: Guayas → Chimborazo (province line)
Stops between Salinas and Guano
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 88), Teatro Sánchez Aguilar (mile 90)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Laguna de Colta (mile 216)
- Museums and history: Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 88)
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.
Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman
Also called the Museum of the Meritorious Fire Department of Guayaquil, the Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman is a firefighting museum in Guayaquil.
Teatro Sánchez Aguilar
Opened in 2012 in the La Puntilla area of Samborondón canton, Teatro Sánchez Aguilar was created to boost cultural and artistic life across Greater Guayaquil.
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.
More drives to Guano
- Otavalo to Guano
- Ibarra to Guano
- Puerto López to Guano
- Pasto to Guano, Ecuador
- Popayán to Guano, Ecuador
- Ipiales to Guano, Ecuador
From Salinas to other places in Ecuador
- Salinas to San Luis de Pambil
- Salinas to Guaranda
- Salinas to Alausi
- Salinas to Chugchilán
- Salinas to Baños
- Salinas to Puyo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salinas to Guano?
About 5 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 235 miles.
What is the driving distance from Salinas to Guano?
About 235 miles (379 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 Salinas to Guano 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.
What roads does the drive from Salinas to Guano use?
In order: E40, E487 and E35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salinas to Guano?
Closest to the road: Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 77, 0.3 mi from the route); Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (firefighting museum, mile 88, 0.5 mi from the route); Teatro Sánchez Aguilar (theater, mile 90, 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.