Plan on about 3 h 34 min of driving for the 144-mile (232 km) trip from Tulcán to Tababela, before any stops.
Full advisory: 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.”
| Total distance | 144 mi (232 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E282 → E28B |
| Provinces on the route | Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Tulcán to Tababela is like
E35 (102 mi) and E28B (23 mi) carry about 87% of the 144 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tulcán to Tababela
| 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 | 109–132 | 23 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 132–144 | 12 | Pichincha |
- Mile 49 of this route: Carchi → Imbabura (province line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tulcán and Tababela
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Wiwa Quito (mile 128)
- Museums and history: Inca-Caranqui (mile 78), Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 111), Cochasquí (mile 116)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 128)
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.
Pambamarca Fortress Complex
Northern Ecuador's Pambamarca Fortress Complex holds ruins of many pukaras built by the Incas in the late 15th century to overcome resistance from the Cayambe chiefdom.
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.
Wiwa Quito
Known for almost three decades as the Quito Zoo, Wiwa Quito is a wildlife refuge park of about 12 hectares in the Guayllabamba parish of Quito, opened in 1997.
Arriving in Tababela
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.
More drives to Tababela
- Mindo to Tababela
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tababela
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Esmeraldas to Tababela
- Atacames to Tababela
- Otavalo to Tababela
From Tulcán to other places in Ecuador
- Tulcán to Mindo
- Tulcán to Isinliví
- Tulcán to Zumbahua
- Tulcán to Baños
- Tulcán to Chugchilán
- Tulcán to Alausi
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tulcán to Tababela?
About 3 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 144 miles.
How far is Tababela from Tulcán by car?
About 144 miles (232 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 Tababela?
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 Tababela use?
In order: E35, E282 and E28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tulcán to Tababela?
Closest to the road: Inca-Caranqui (archaeological site, mile 78, 2 mi from the route); Pambamarca Fortress Complex (archaeological site, mile 111, 1 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 128, 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.