The 15 Best Day Trips from Latacunga
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 Latacunga, Ecuador, led by Quito, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ambato. The closest is Ambato, about 40 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 Latacunga
- 1
Quito, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car79 km north of LatacungaKnown for Arco de la circasiana.
- 2
Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car98 km north-west of Latacunga - 3
Ambato, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car35 km south of Latacunga - 4
Riobamba, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car81 km south of Latacunga - 5
Quevedo, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km west of Latacunga - 6
Babahoyo, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car140 km south-west of Latacunga - 7
El Empalme, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car114 km west of Latacunga - 8
Ventanas, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car110 km south-west of Latacunga - 9
Vinces, Ecuador
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km south-west of Latacunga - 10
Otavalo, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car136 km north of Latacunga - 11
Pomasqui, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car99 km north of Latacunga - 12
Cayambe, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car120 km north-east of Latacunga - 13
Machachi, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 55 min by car47 km north of Latacunga - 14
Puyo, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car92 km south-east of Latacunga - 15
Guaranda, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car85 km south-west of Latacunga
A sample day: Latacunga to Quito
- 08:30Leave Latacunga
- 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 Latacunga
- 17:30Home in Latacunga
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Latacunga?
- The best day trips from Latacunga are Quito, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ambato, Riobamba, Quevedo. The closest is Ambato, about 40 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Latacunga?
- Ambato is the closest, 35 km south of Latacunga, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Latacunga?
- 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Latacunga: Ambato (40 min), Machachi (55 min).
- What is the biggest city near Latacunga for a day out?
- Quito is the largest city in day-trip range, 79 km north of Latacunga 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 Latacunga?
- For a weekend away from Latacunga, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Vinces (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Babahoyo (140 km, 2 hr 10 min), Otavalo (136 km, 2 hr 10 min), Cayambe (120 km, 1 hr 55 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Latacunga?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Vinces 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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