The 13 Best Day Trips from Portoviejo
Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.
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There are 13 good day trips from Portoviejo, Ecuador, led by Guayaquil, Manta, Quevedo. The closest is Manta, about 40 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 Portoviejo at a glance
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Best as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guayaquil | 141 km SE | 2 hr 10 min | Full-day trip |
| Manta | 33 km W | 40 min | Half-day trip |
| Quevedo | 110 km E | 1 hr 45 min | Full-day trip |
| Daule | 104 km SE | 1 hr 40 min | Full-day trip |
| La Libertad | 140 km S | 2 hr 10 min | Full-day trip |
| El Empalme | 90 km E | 1 hr 25 min | Full-day trip |
| Chone | 56 km NE | 1 hr 5 min | Full-day trip |
| Salinas | 140 km SW | 2 hr 10 min | Full-day trip |
| Santa Elena | 138 km S | 2 hr 10 min | Full-day trip |
| Balzar | 70 km SE | 1 hr 20 min | Full-day trip |
| Ventanas | 118 km E | 1 hr 50 min | Full-day trip |
| Bahía de Caráquez | 51 km N | 1 hr | Half-day trip |
| Jipijapa | 35 km SW | 40 min | Half-day trip |
Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.
The best day trips from Portoviejo
- 1
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car141 km south-east of Portoviejo4 hr 20 min round tripKnown for Faro del Cerro Santa Ana.
Also nearby: Eloy Alfaro, Babahoyo.
- 2
Manta, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car33 km west of Portoviejo1 hr 20 min round trip - 3
Quevedo, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car110 km east of Portoviejo3 hr 30 min round trip - 4
Daule, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car104 km south-east of Portoviejo3 hr 20 min round trip - 5
La Libertad, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car140 km south of Portoviejo4 hr 20 min round trip - 6
El Empalme, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car90 km east of Portoviejo2 hr 50 min round trip - 7
Chone, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 5 min by car56 km north-east of Portoviejo2 hr 10 min round trip - 8
Salinas, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car140 km south-west of Portoviejo4 hr 20 min round trip - 9
Santa Elena, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car138 km south of Portoviejo4 hr 20 min round trip - 10
Balzar, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car70 km south-east of Portoviejo2 hr 40 min round trip - 11
Ventanas, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car118 km east of Portoviejo3 hr 40 min round trip - 12
Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car51 km north of Portoviejo2 hr round trip - 13
Jipijapa, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car35 km south-west of Portoviejo1 hr 20 min round trip
A sample day trip: Portoviejo to Guayaquil
A realistic pace for Guayaquil, 141 km from Portoviejo. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.
- 07:30Leave Portoviejo
- 09:40Arrive in Guayaquil (2 hr 10 min drive)
- 09:55Faro del Cerro Santa Ana
- 11:55Lunch
- 13:10Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Guayaquil
- 15:40Head back to Portoviejo
- 17:50Home in Portoviejo
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Portoviejo?
- The best day trips from Portoviejo are Guayaquil, Manta, Quevedo, Daule, La Libertad. The closest is Manta, about 40 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Portoviejo?
- Manta is the closest, 33 km west of Portoviejo, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Portoviejo?
- 3 places are within about an hour's drive of Portoviejo: Manta (40 min), Jipijapa (40 min), Bahía de Caráquez (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Portoviejo for a day out?
- Guayaquil is the largest city in day-trip range, 141 km south-east of Portoviejo and about 2 hr 10 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Portoviejo?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Guayaquil at 141 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.
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