The Wayro route from Tumbes to Salinas, Ecuador is 252 miles (405 km), about 5 h 52 min of driving without stops. You cross from Peru into Ecuador at about mile 16.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Huaquillas and Arenillas, in El Oro province.
- 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: Peru, Ecuador. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
- Ecuador: “In rural areas, you may encounter livestock in the road.”
| Total distance | 252 mi (405 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → E50 → E25 → E40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 16, Peru → Ecuador |
| Regions on the route | Tumbes, El Oro, Azuay, Guayas, Santa Elena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The border on the way to Salinas
The route crosses at about mile 16, from Tumbes into El Oro. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Ecuador (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Ecuador | A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. |
| Entering Peru (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. |
| Driving in Peru | A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. |
| The car, entering Ecuador | You must pay for Ecuador's local liability insurance, called SPPAT. For the car's temporary entry, check with Ecuador's National Customs Service. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026); U.S. State Department, Peru (updated August 20, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Tumbes to Salinas is like
E25 (113 mi) and E40 (79 mi) carry about 76% of the 252 miles. The first 16 miles are in Peru; the last 236 are in Ecuador. It runs through 5 regions: Tumbes, El Oro, Azuay, Guayas, Santa Elena. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Tumbes to Salinas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-1N | 0–16 | 16 | Tumbes |
| E50 | 16–30 | 14 | El Oro |
| E25 | 30–143 | 113 | El Oro, Azuay, Guayas |
| E40 | 143–161 | 18 | Guayas |
| local roads | 161–178 | 17 | Guayas |
| E40 | 178–239 | 61 | Guayas, Santa Elena |
| local roads | 239–252 | 13 | Santa Elena |
- Mile 16 of this route: Tumbes → El Oro (international border)
- Mile 76 of this route: El Oro → Azuay (region line)
- Mile 81 of this route: Azuay → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (region line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (region line)
- Mile 207 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (region line)
What to see on the way from Tumbes to Salinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 162), Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 172)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 172)
- Museums and history: Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (mile 162), Museo Amantes de Sumpa (mile 244), Paleontological Museum Megatherium (mile 244)
Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman
Also called the Museum of the Meritorious Fire Department of Guayaquil, the Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman is a firefighting museum in Guayaquil.
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.
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.
Museo Amantes de Sumpa
In Santa Elena Province, the Museo Amantes de Sumpa has a clay oven used for ancestral cooking classes and a traditional coastal house with its wooden trough and woven mat.
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
More drives from Tumbes
- Tumbes to Malabrigo
- Tumbes to Casma
- Tumbes to Chota
- Tumbes to Celendín
- Tumbes to Cajabamba
- Tumbes to Jaén
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tumbes to Salinas, Ecuador?
About 5 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is Salinas, Ecuador from Tumbes by car?
About 252 miles (405 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.
Where does the Tumbes to Salinas drive cross the border?
At about mile 16, from Peru into Ecuador.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Tumbes into Ecuador?
No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated February 18, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Tumbes to Salinas, Ecuador?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Huaquillas and Arenillas, in El Oro province; Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tumbes to Salinas use?
In order: PE-1N, E50, E25 and E40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tumbes to Salinas?
Closest to the road: Museum of the Ecuadorian Fireman (firefighting museum, mile 162, 0.9 mi from the route); Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 172, 0.4 mi from the route); Paleontological Museum Megatherium (paleontological museum, mile 244, 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.