The Wayro route from Salinas to Tena is 349 miles (561 km), about 9 h 32 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: “Heavy fog and rain make conditions more dangerous.”
| Distance | 349 mi (561 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E487 → E35 → E490 → E30 → E45 |
| Provinces on the route | Santa Elena, Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Pastaza, Tungurahua |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Salinas–Tena drive in a few lines
E40 (117 mi) and E487 (86 mi) carry about 58% of the 349 miles. It runs through 7 provinces: Santa Elena, Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Pastaza, Tungurahua. Of the 9 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Salinas to Tena
| 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 | 219–226 | 7 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 226–235 | 9 | Chimborazo |
| E490 | 235–250 | 15 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 250–260 | 10 | Chimborazo, Napo |
| E30 | 260–298 | 38 | Napo, Pastaza |
| E45 | 298–348 | 50 | Pastaza, Tungurahua |
| local roads | 348–349 | 1 | Tungurahua |
- 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)
- Mile 253 of this route: Chimborazo → Napo (province line)
- Mile 286 of this route: Napo → Pastaza (province line)
- Mile 328 of this route: Pastaza → Tungurahua (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Salinas and Tena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Basilica La Merced (mile 86), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 88), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 90), Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 230), Agoyán (mile 272), Pailón del Diablo (mile 273), Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Puyo (mile 300)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 90), Laguna de Colta (mile 216), Agoyán (mile 272), Pailón del Diablo (mile 273)
- Museums and history: Basilica La Merced (mile 86), Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 88), Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 230), Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Puyo (mile 300)
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.
Basilica La Merced
Named for the Virgin of Mercy, patroness of the Order of Mercy, Basilica La Merced is a Catholic church holding the rank of minor basilica in Guayaquil.
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.
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.
Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba)
Facing Parque Libertad in Riobamba, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) was begun in 1883, took 32 years to finish and was consecrated in 1915.
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.
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 Tena
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 is the drive from Salinas to Tena?
About 9 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 349 miles.
What is the driving distance from Salinas to Tena?
About 349 miles (561 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 Tena?
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 Tena use?
In order: E40, E487, E35, E490, E30 and E45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Salinas and Tena?
Closest to the road: Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 77, 0.3 mi from the route); Agoyán (waterfall, mile 272, 0.2 mi from the route); Pailón del Diablo (waterfall, mile 273, 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.