The 15 Best Day Trips from Ibarra
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 15 good day trips from Ibarra, Ecuador, led by Quito, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Pasto. The closest is Otavalo, about 30 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Ibarra
- 1
Quito, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car78 km south-west of IbarraKnown for Arco de la circasiana.
- 2
Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car135 km south-west of Ibarra - 3
Pasto, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car135 km north-east of Ibarra - 4
Tulcán, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car69 km north-east of Ibarra - 5
Ipiales, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car76 km north-east of Ibarra - 6
Orito, Colombia
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km east of Ibarra - 7
Samaniego, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car125 km north-east of Ibarra - 8
Túquerres, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car99 km north-east of Ibarra - 9
Otavalo, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car20 km south-west of Ibarra - 10
Pomasqui, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 5 min by car58 km south-west of Ibarra - 11
Cayambe, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car34 km south of Ibarra - 12
Machachi, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car108 km south-west of Ibarra - 13
Nueva Loja, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car140 km east of Ibarra - 14
San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car131 km north-west of Ibarra - 15
Pupiales, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car79 km north-east of Ibarra
A sample day: Ibarra to Quito
- 08:30Leave Ibarra
- 10:00Arrive in Quito (1 hr 30 min drive)
- 10:15Arco de la circasiana
- 12:15Lunch
- 13:30Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Quito
- 16:00Head back to Ibarra
- 17:30Home in Ibarra
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Ibarra?
- The best day trips from Ibarra are Quito, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Pasto, Tulcán, Ipiales. The closest is Otavalo, about 30 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Ibarra?
- Otavalo is the closest, 20 km south-west of Ibarra, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Ibarra?
- 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Ibarra: Otavalo (30 min), Cayambe (40 min).
- What is the biggest city near Ibarra for a day out?
- Quito is the largest city in day-trip range, 78 km south-west of Ibarra and about 1 hr 30 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Ibarra?
- For a weekend away from Ibarra, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Orito (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Nueva Loja (140 km, 2 hr 10 min), Pasto (135 km, 2 hr 5 min), Santo Domingo de los Colorados (135 km, 2 hr 5 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Ibarra?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Orito at 144 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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