Driving from Quito to San Carlos
San Carlos lies 1,556 km (967 mi) north-east of Quito, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 23 h 43 min without stops, over roughly 1,898 km (1,179 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
Open San Carlos in Google Maps
| Quito | San Carlos | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Ecuador | Venezuela |
| Population | 2.8 million | 120,375 |
| Elevation | 2,854 m (9,364 ft) | 134 m (440 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Guayaquil) | UTC-4 (America/Caracas) |
Clocks in San Carlos are 1 h ahead of Quito right now, so a 23 h 43 min journey lands 24 h 43 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in San Carlos
Crossing from Ecuador into Venezuela: money changes from the Dollar to the Bolivar Soberano (VES); the dialling code becomes +58; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648920 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Where to book car hire from Quito to San Carlos
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in San Carlos
Live rooms and prices for San Carlos are in the search below.
Book a hotel in San Carlos
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is San Carlos from Quito?
1,556 km (967 mi) in a straight line, north-east of Quito; by road roughly 1,898 km (1,179 mi).
How long does it take to get from Quito to San Carlos by car?
About 23 h 43 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Quito and San Carlos?
San Carlos is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/Caracas against America/Guayaquil).
What currency do I need in San Carlos?
The Bolivar Soberano (VES).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.