By road, Tulcán and Salinas are about 497 miles (800 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 24 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: 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: “Slow-moving buses and trucks frequently stop in the middle of the road unexpectedly.”
| Distance | 497 mi (800 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A → E487 → E40 |
| Provinces on the route | Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Tulcán–Salinas drive in a few lines
E35 (198 mi) and E40 (96 mi) carry about 59% of the 497 miles. It runs through 10 provinces: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar, Santa Elena. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Tulcán and Salinas
| 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 | 272–277 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 277–280 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E487 | 280–365 | 85 | Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Cañar |
| local roads | 365–370 | 5 | Cañar |
| E40 | 370–406 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 406–424 | 18 | Guayas |
| E40 | 424–484 | 60 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 484–497 | 13 | Santa Elena |
- 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)
- Mile 331 of this route: Chimborazo → Bolivar (province line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Bolivar → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 345 of this route: Chimborazo → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 354 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 370 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 436 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
- Mile 450 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 453 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
Stops between Tulcán and Salinas
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 189), Laguna de Colta (mile 280)
- Museums and history: Inca-Caranqui (mile 78), Convent of San Diego (mile 155), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 234), Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral (mile 408), Presley Norton Museum (mile 409), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 490)
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.
Sucre National Theater
Built between 1879 and 1886 on the orders of President Ignacio de Veintimilla, Quito's Sucre National Theater (Teatro Nacional Sucre) is an Italian-style theater inspired by European models.
Convent of San Diego
Just outside Quito's historic center, next to the cemetery of the same name, the Convent of San Diego is a Franciscan complex with a convent, church, and museum.
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.
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.
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.
Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral
In the center of Guayaquil, the Metropolitan Cathedral succeeds the church that served as the city's main cathedral when Guayaquil was founded.
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.
Paleontological Museum Megatherium
Inside the Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, the Paleontological Museum Megatherium is considered Ecuador's first paleontology museum.
More drives to Salinas
- Guayaquil to Salinas
- Babahoyo to Salinas
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Riobamba to Salinas
- Latacunga to Salinas
- Quito to Salinas
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 Salinas?
About 11 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 497 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tulcán to Salinas?
About 497 miles (800 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 Tulcán to Salinas 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.
What roads does the drive from Tulcán to Salinas use?
In order: E35, E282, E28B, E28A, E487 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tulcán and Salinas?
Closest to the road: Sucre National Theater (theater, mile 154, 2 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 280, 1 mi from the route); Presley Norton Museum (museum, mile 409, 1 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.