The Wayro route from Salinas to Tababela is 355 miles (572 km), about 8 h 9 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.”
| Distance | 355 mi (572 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E487 → E35 |
| Provinces on the route | Santa Elena, Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Salinas to Tababela: the shape of the trip
E35 (124 mi) and E40 (117 mi) carry about 68% of the 355 miles. It runs through 7 provinces: Santa Elena, Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salinas to Tababela, 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 | 224–229 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 229–232 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 232–351 | 119 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| local roads | 351–355 | 4 | Pichincha |
- 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 150 of this route: Guayas → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 239 of this route: Chimborazo → Napo (province line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Napo → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 311 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
Places worth a stop between Salinas and Tababela
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Presley Norton Museum (mile 86), Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum (mile 86), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 90)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 90), Laguna de Colta (mile 216), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 306)
- Museums and history: Presley Norton Museum (mile 86), Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum (mile 86), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 260)
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.
Presley Norton Museum
In Guayaquil, the Presley Norton Museum holds archaeological artifacts, including pottery and figurines made by Ecuador's original settlers, and occasionally hosts film screenings and live music.
Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum
The Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum in Guayaquil, Ecuador, was established on January 25, 2006, by Alvaro Noboa.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to Tababela
El Inga
On the slopes of Ilaló volcano in Tumbaco, El Inga is an archaeological site dated to 10,000–2,000 BC, used as a campsite by Paleoindian hunter-gatherers.
More drives to Tababela
- Mindo to Tababela
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tababela
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Atacames to Tababela
- Otavalo to Tababela
From Salinas to other places in Ecuador
- Salinas to San Luis de Pambil
- Salinas to Guaranda
- Salinas to Alausi
- Salinas to Guano
- Salinas to Chugchilán
- Salinas to Baños
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Salinas to Tababela?
About 8 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 355 miles.
How far is Tababela from Salinas by car?
About 355 miles (572 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 Salinas to Tababela?
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 Tababela 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 Tababela?
Closest to the road: Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 77, 0.3 mi from the route); Presley Norton Museum (museum, mile 86, 0.3 mi from the route); Luis Adolfo Noboa Naranjo Museum (museum, mile 86, 0.6 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.