Getting Here
Most people arrive in Cuenca at the airport or at the bus terminal.
Airport and bus terminal
Cuenca has its own airport with flights from Quito. Buses arrive at the bus terminal.
Road Closures
Sometimes roads to Cuenca are closed because of traffic accidents, landslides, or floods. See the Twitter page ECU 911 Austro to see whether a road is open or not.
Travel Options
From Baños de Agua Santa
- By Bus: Transportes Amazonas has direct bus services from Baños de Agua Santa to Cuenca. Tickets need to be bought with anticipation. The duration of the trip is about 10 hours. The buses will stop for a lunch. Another options is to first take a bus to Ambato or Riobamba and switching buses in these cities.
From Guayaquil
See How to travel from Guayaquil to Cuenca for all options.
From Loja and Vilcabamba
- By Van: EcuavanTur and Elite Tours offer van services from Loja to Cuenca.
- By Bus: Buses to Cuenca depart from the Reina del Cisne bus termina in Loja. The companies that offer bus services to Cuenca are Cooperativa de Transportes Loja ($7.50 in 2021), Ejecutivo San Luis, and Viajeros Internacional.
If you depart from Vilcabamba, you first have to take a taxi to Loja.
From Manta
- By Bus: Flota Imbabura operates a daily nightbus between Manta and Cuenca.
From Montañita and Olón
- By Bus: CLP operated direct buses between Montañita and Cuenca ($16).
From Salinas, Ballenita, Santa Elena
- By Bus: CLP operated direct buses between the Santa Elena Bus Terminal in Santa Elena and the Cuenca Bus Terminal in Cuenca ($14).
From Quito
- By Bus: Buses to Cuenca depart from the Quitumbe Bus Terminal in Quito. Price: $13.80 (2023).
From Colombia by Bus
- By Bus: To travel from Colombia to Cuenca by bus, you first need to go to the border town of Ipiales in Colombia. From there, it's a short taxi ride to the border checkpoint just outside the town. After completing the formalities, you can take a taxi to the bus terminal in Tulcán. From there, the bus company Flota Imbabura offers a daily direct service to Cuenca (12 hours, $22 as of 2025).
From Peru
- By Bus: Cooperativa de Transporte Azuay Internacional offers daily bus services between Chiclayo, Piura and Máncora in Peru and Cuenca. Buses in Cuenca arrive at the Cuenca Bus Terminal. There will be a stop at the border where you'll be given ample time to do the border procedures. In Peru, there will also be a stop at a customs checkpoint 7.5 km south of Punta Sal.
After Arriving at the Airport
Upon arrival at Cuenca's airport, you can easily continue your journey by tram, bus, or taxi. Both tram and bus stops are located directly outside the airport’s main entrance. You can purchase a single-ride tram ticket for $1.00 at the tram stop. For buses, a rechargeable bus card is required, and you can buy one at the city bus terminal, located next to the main bus terminal. Taxis are generally available right outside the airport. If none are waiting, you can use AzuTaxi or Cuenca Taxi apps to book a ride. Taxis to the city center typically cost around $2.00 during the day and slightly more at night. Uber and Cabify are not available, and while InDriver is an option, it’s not widely used.
After Arriving at the Bus Terminal
Once you arrive at the Cuenca Bus Terminal, you have various transport options. The terminal offers both tram and bus services with stops right at the entrance. You can buy a single-ride tram ticket for $1.00 at the tram stop. For city buses, you'll need a rechargeable bus card, available for purchase inside the city bus terminal. However, the city bus terminal is not frequently used, as most buses now depart from the main bus terminal. If you prefer a taxi, there is a taxi parking area nearby. Taxis are metered, and a ride to the historic center costs approximately $2.00 during the day, with a slight increase at night. Uber and Cabify are not available, and InDriver is available but not commonly used in the area.
Traffic Fines
There are several speed cameras in and around Cuenca. It is usually worth contesting speed camera fines. You can contact the legal firm Legal and Travel for this.
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