The Wayro route from Tulcán to Alausi is 324 miles (522 km), about 7 h 51 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: 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.”
| Total distance | 324 mi (522 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A |
| Provinces on the route | Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Tulcán–Alausi drive in a few lines
E35 (244 mi) and E28B (30 mi) carry about 85% of the 324 miles. It runs through 6 provinces: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tulcán to Alausi
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Carchi |
| E35 | 1–103 | 102 | Carchi, Imbabura |
| E282 | 103–109 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 109–139 | 30 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 139–167 | 28 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 167–172 | 5 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 172–263 | 91 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 263–267 | 4 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 267–272 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 272–323 | 51 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 323–324 | 1 | Chimborazo |
- Mile 49 of this route: Carchi → Imbabura (province line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 185 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 256 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Alausi
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Capilla del Hombre (mile 147), Laguna de Colta (mile 281)
- Nature and outdoors: Quito Botanical Garden (mile 147), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 189), Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 234), Laguna de Colta (mile 281)
- Museums and history: Inca-Caranqui (mile 78), Cochasquí (mile 116), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 147), National Museum of Ecuador (mile 154)
Inca-Caranqui
On the southern edge of Ibarra, Inca-Caranqui preserves a semi-subterranean Inca structure of finely cut stone, possibly the pool described by Spanish chronicler Cieza de León, across from Caranqui's parish church.
Cochasquí
On the slopes of Mojanda, an inactive volcano in Pichincha province, Cochasquí is an archaeological site in Ecuador's northern highlands, 52 km north of Quito.
La Capilla del Hombre
Painter Oswaldo Guayasamín's La Capilla del Hombre is a purpose-built art museum in Bellavista, overlooking Quito, dedicated to the peoples of Latin America.
Quito Botanical Garden
Covering 18,600 square meters in Quito, the Quito Botanical Garden combines a park, arboretum and greenhouses displaying plant species from across Ecuador.
National Museum of Ecuador
Archaeology and art are the focus of the National Museum of Ecuador, which leads the country's network of museums under the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
El Carmen Alto church
On García Moreno street at Rocafuerte in Quito's historic center, El Carmen Alto is a Catholic complex of convent, church, and chapels, also known as the Monastery of Carmen Alto.
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.
Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria
On Avenida Circunvalación in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, the Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden covers 35 acres and dates back to 1849.
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.
More drives to Alausi
- Latacunga to Alausi
- Puyo to Alausi
- Tena to Alausi
- Otavalo to Alausi
- Esmeraldas to Alausi
- Ibarra to Alausi
From Tulcán to other places in Ecuador
- Tulcán to Tababela
- Tulcán to Mindo
- Tulcán to Isinliví
- Tulcán to Zumbahua
- Tulcán to Baños
- Tulcán to Chugchilán
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tulcán to Alausi?
About 7 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 324 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tulcán to Alausi?
About 324 miles (522 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 Tulcán to Alausi?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tulcán to Alausi use?
In order: E35, E282, E28B and E28A. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tulcán and Alausi?
Closest to the road: La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 147, 0.5 mi from the route); Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 234, 1 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 281, 0.4 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.