Day trips

The 14 Best Day Trips from Machala

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 14 good day trips from Machala, Ecuador, led by Guayaquil, Cuenca, Loja. The closest is Pasaje, about 25 min by car, and 3 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Machala at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Guayaquil118 km N1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Cuenca114 km E1 hr 45 minFull-day trip
Loja117 km SE1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Milagro132 km N2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Tumbes63 km SW1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
Pasaje18 km SE25 minHalf-day trip
Santa Rosa22 km S35 minHalf-day trip
Huaquillas39 km SW45 minHalf-day trip
La Troncal115 km NE1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Azogues136 km NE2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Naranjito133 km NE2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
El Triunfo147 km N2 hr 20 minLong day or overnight
Naranjal75 km NE1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Posorja69 km NW1 hr 20 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Machala

  1. 1

    Guayaquil, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car118 km north of Machala3 hr 40 min round trip

    Known for Faro del Cerro Santa Ana.

    Also nearby: Eloy Alfaro.

  2. 2

    Cuenca, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car114 km east of Machala3 hr 30 min round trip
  3. 3

    Loja, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car117 km south-east of Machala3 hr 40 min round trip
  4. 4

    Milagro, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car132 km north of Machala4 hr 10 min round trip
  5. 5

    Tumbes, Peru

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car63 km south-west of Machala2 hr 30 min round trip
  6. 6

    Pasaje, Ecuador

    Half-day trip
    About 25 min by car18 km south-east of Machala50 min round trip
  7. 7

    Santa Rosa, Ecuador

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car22 km south of Machala1 hr 10 min round trip
  8. 8

    Huaquillas, Ecuador

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car39 km south-west of Machala1 hr 30 min round trip
  9. 9

    La Troncal, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car115 km north-east of Machala3 hr 40 min round trip
  10. 10

    Azogues, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car136 km north-east of Machala4 hr 20 min round trip
  11. 11

    Naranjito, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car133 km north-east of Machala4 hr 10 min round trip
  12. 12

    El Triunfo, Ecuador

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car147 km north of Machala4 hr 40 min round trip
  13. 13

    Naranjal, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car75 km north-east of Machala2 hr 50 min round trip
  14. 14

    Posorja, Ecuador

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car69 km north-west of Machala2 hr 40 min round trip

A sample day trip: Machala to Guayaquil

A realistic pace for Guayaquil, 118 km from Machala. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Machala
  2. 09:20Arrive in Guayaquil (1 hr 50 min drive)
  3. 09:35Faro del Cerro Santa Ana
  4. 11:35Lunch
  5. 12:50Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Guayaquil
  6. 15:20Head back to Machala
  7. 17:10Home in Machala

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Machala?
The best day trips from Machala are Guayaquil, Cuenca, Loja, Milagro, Tumbes. The closest is Pasaje, about 25 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Machala?
Pasaje is the closest, 18 km south-east of Machala, roughly 25 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Machala?
3 places are within about an hour's drive of Machala: Pasaje (25 min), Santa Rosa (35 min), Huaquillas (45 min).
What is the biggest city near Machala for a day out?
Guayaquil is the largest city in day-trip range, 118 km north of Machala and about 1 hr 50 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Machala?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is El Triunfo at 147 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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