The Wayro route from Salinas to Guaranda is 194 miles (312 km), about 4 h 44 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: 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 | 194 mi (312 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E49 → E25 → E491 |
| Provinces on the route | Santa Elena, Guayas, Los Rios, Bolivar |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Salinas to Guaranda is like
E40 (85 mi) and E491 (40 mi) carry about 64% of the 194 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Santa Elena, Guayas, Los Rios, Bolivar. Of the 5 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Salinas to Guaranda: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| E40 | 0–81 | 81 | Santa Elena, Guayas |
| local roads | 81–89 | 8 | Guayas |
| E40 | 89–93 | 4 | Guayas |
| connecting roads | 93–94 | 1 | Guayas |
| E49 | 94–104 | 10 | Guayas |
| connecting roads | 104–109 | 5 | Guayas |
| E25 | 109–129 | 20 | Guayas, Los Rios |
| E491 | 129–161 | 32 | Los Rios, Bolivar |
| local roads | 161–185 | 24 | Bolivar |
| E491 | 185–193 | 8 | Bolivar |
| local roads | 193–194 | 1 | Bolivar |
- 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 124 of this route: Guayas → Los Rios (province line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Los Rios → Bolivar (province line)
Places worth a stop between Salinas and Guaranda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 88), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 90), Catedral de San Jacinto (mile 106), Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, Babahoyo (mile 131)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 90)
- Museums and history: Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 88), Catedral de San Jacinto (mile 106), Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, Babahoyo (mile 131)
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.
Parque Histórico de Guayaquil
Parque Histórico de Guayaquil combines a wildlife area showing local plants and animals with old city houses that were taken down from their original sites and rebuilt here.
Catedral de San Jacinto
In the town of Yaguachi, the Catedral de San Jacinto (officially Santuario Basílica Catedral de San Jacinto de Yaguachi) is a Catholic cathedral standing at Calle Calderón and Lorenzo de Caraycoa.
Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, Babahoyo
Across from 24 de Mayo park in Babahoyo, capital of Los Ríos province, Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral is the headquarters of the Diocese of Babahoyo.
More drives to Guaranda
- Otavalo to Guaranda
- Pasto to Guaranda, Ecuador
- Popayán to Guaranda, Ecuador
- Ipiales to Guaranda, Ecuador
From Salinas to other places in Ecuador
- Salinas to San Luis de Pambil
- Salinas to Alausi
- Salinas to Guano
- Salinas to Chugchilán
- Salinas to Baños
- Salinas to Puyo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Salinas to Guaranda?
About 4 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 194 miles.
What is the driving distance from Salinas to Guaranda?
About 194 miles (312 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 Guaranda 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 Salinas to Guaranda?
In order: E40, E49, E25 and E491. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Salinas and Guaranda?
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); Catedral de San Jacinto (cathedral, mile 106, 0.2 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.