Calacalí–La Independencia Highway Completely Blocked by Massive Landslide — 7-Hour Detours on Carnival Weekend

If you're heading from Quito to the coast this Carnival weekend, your travel plans just changed.

What Happened

At 11:48 PM on Friday, February 13, ECU 911 received a citizen report that a massive landslide of earth and rocks had completely blocked the Calacalí–La Independencia highway at kilometer 36. The debris field covered the entire roadway in both directions, making passage impossible.

No injuries or trapped vehicles were reported — the slide happened during a low-traffic hour. But the timing couldn't be worse: it's the start of Ecuador's biggest travel weekend.

The Route That's Blocked

The Calacalí–La Independencia highway is one of only two major routes connecting Quito and the northern highlands to the Pacific coast. It runs northwest from Quito through the cloud forest toward Esmeraldas, Los Bancos, and Pedro Vicente Maldonado. For expats living in the Quito area, this is the standard route to:

• Mindo and the cloud forest
• Esmeraldas beaches (Atacames, Súa, Same, Tonsupa)
• Los Bancos and Puerto Quito
• Pedro Vicente Maldonado

The Detour — And the Traffic

The Prefectura de Pichincha confirmed that the alternative route is the Alóag–Unión del Toachi–Santo Domingo highway, which remains fully operational. However, this detour adds significant distance and time.

Travelers already attempting the detour on Saturday morning reported seven-hour delays just to reach Alluriquín — a trip that normally takes about two hours. With Carnival traffic volumes piling onto a single route, expect conditions to worsen through the weekend.

Cleanup Timeline

Crew from the Pichincha provincial government and the National Risk Management Secretariat began mobilizing heavy machinery to the site on Saturday morning. No reopening timeline has been announced. Given the scale of the debris — described as "large-scale earth and rock" — this is not a quick fix.

Context: Road Closures Stacking Up

This landslide adds to an already strained road network. As reported in our Carnival 2026 Survival Guide, three other highways were already completely closed due to rain damage:

| Route | Province | Status | |-------|----------|--------| | Quevedo–San Carlos–Anillo Vial | Bolívar | Closed (landslide) | | San Luis–Túneles de Coca Codo | Napo | Closed (road collapse) | | Vía Paquisha Bellavista | Zamora Chinchipe | Closed (bridge collapse) | | Calacalí–La Independencia km 36 | Pichincha | Closed (landslide) |

What This Means for Expats

• Reroute now: If you're driving to the coast from Quito, use the Alóag–Santo Domingo route. Do not attempt the Calacalí road — it's fully blocked
• Leave early or wait: Seven-hour detour delays will only grow as more Carnival travelers hit the road. Leave before dawn or consider waiting until Monday/Tuesday when return traffic eases
• Mindo is cut off from the north: If you planned to visit Mindo via Calacalí–Nanegalito, verify access. You may need to approach from the south via Alóag
• Monitor ECU 911: Check @ECU911 on social media and the Abordo EC app for real-time road condition updates before departing
• Pack supplies: Carry extra water, snacks, and a full tank of gas. Detour routes will have limited services under heavy demand
• Esmeraldas expats heading to Quito: The route is blocked in both directions. Use the Santo Domingo–Alóag route instead

Sources: Teleamazonas, ECU 911, Prefectura de Pichincha