By road, Salinas and Vilcabamba are about 350 miles (563 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 16 min of driving.
- 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: El Oro province, outside Huaquillas and Arenillas.
- 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.”
| Total distance | 350 mi (563 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E25 → E50 → E35 → E69 → E682 |
| Provinces on the route | Santa Elena, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
How the Salinas to Vilcabamba drive plays out
E25 (106 mi) and E40 (99 mi) carry about 59% of the 350 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Santa Elena, Guayas, Azuay, El Oro, Loja. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Salinas to Vilcabamba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| E40 | 0–81 | 81 | Santa Elena, Guayas |
| local roads | 81–89 | 8 | Guayas |
| E40 | 89–107 | 18 | Guayas |
| E25 | 107–213 | 106 | Guayas, Azuay, El Oro |
| E50 | 213–290 | 77 | El Oro, Loja |
| E35 | 290–314 | 24 | Loja |
| E69 | 314–319 | 5 | Loja |
| local roads | 319–345 | 26 | Loja |
| E682 | 345–348 | 3 | Loja |
| local roads | 348–350 | 2 | Loja |
- 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 169 of this route: Guayas → Azuay (province line)
- Mile 174 of this route: Azuay → El Oro (province line)
- Mile 250 of this route: El Oro → Loja (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Vilcabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo (mile 88), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 90)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (mile 90)
- Museums and history: Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo (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.
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.
Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo
Known as MAAC, the Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo in Guayaquil, Ecuador, celebrates Ecuadorian, Latin American and pre-Columbian art and culture on the Malecón 2000 riverwalk.
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.
More drives to Vilcabamba
- Alausi to Vilcabamba
- Montecristi to Vilcabamba
- Portoviejo to Vilcabamba
- Tena to Vilcabamba
- Bahía de Caráquez to Vilcabamba
- Ibarra to Vilcabamba
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 Vilcabamba?
About 8 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 350 miles.
How far is Vilcabamba from Salinas by car?
About 350 miles (563 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 Vilcabamba 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 Vilcabamba?
In order: E40, E25, E50, E35, E69 and E682. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Salinas and Vilcabamba?
Closest to the road: Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 77, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo (art museum, mile 88, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Histórico de Guayaquil (park, mile 90, 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.