By road, Tena and Atacames are about 324 miles (521 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 34 min of driving.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: All areas south of Esmeraldas City, in Esmeraldas province.
Read the full advisory before you go: 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.”
| Distance | 324 mi (521 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | E45 → E20 → E28 → E15 |
| Provinces on the route | Tungurahua, Pichincha, Esmeraldas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Tena to Atacames drive plays out
E20 (119 mi) and E28 (102 mi) carry about 68% of the 324 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Tungurahua, Pichincha, Esmeraldas. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tena to Atacames
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tungurahua |
| E45 | 1–53 | 52 | Tungurahua |
| E20 | 53–102 | 49 | Tungurahua, Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 102–106 | 4 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 106–130 | 24 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 130–232 | 102 | Pichincha, Esmeraldas |
| E20 | 232–302 | 70 | Esmeraldas |
| E15 | 302–322 | 20 | Esmeraldas |
| local roads | 322–324 | 2 | Esmeraldas |
- Mile 88 of this route: Tungurahua → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Pichincha → Esmeraldas (province line)
What to see on the way from Tena to Atacames
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 132), Intiñan Museum (mile 132)
- Nature and outdoors: Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 114), Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 132)
- Museums and history: El Inga (mile 104), Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 114), Obelisco de la Vicentina (mile 114), Intiñan Museum (mile 132)
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.
Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum
A natural history museum in Quito, Ecuador, the Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum was established in 2005.
Obelisco de la Vicentina
Built in 1951, the Obelisco de la Vicentina is a monument in Quito's La Vicentina neighborhood and one of its best-known landmarks.
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a site owned by Pichincha province in San Antonio parish, 26 kilometers north of central Quito.
Intiñan Museum
Just 200 meters from Ciudad Mitad del Mundo on the outskirts of Quito, Intiñan Museum (Museo de sitio Intiñán) is a site museum built in 1989.
More drives to Atacames
From Tena to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tena to Atacames?
About 7 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 324 miles.
How far is Atacames from Tena by car?
About 324 miles (521 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 Tena to Atacames?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tena to Atacames?
In order: E45, E20, E28 and E15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tena and Atacames?
Closest to the road: El Inga (archaeological site, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (park, mile 132, 0.2 mi from the route); Intiñan Museum (museum, mile 132, 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.