Bus from Quito or Guayaquil

Hello,

Just started planning our trip to Ecuador. Flying from Halifax. Trying to see if it's cheaper to fly into Quito or Guayaquil. Plan to spend a lot of time in Cuenca.

So my question is:

1. How long of a bus ride from Quito to Cuenca? Cost?
2. Likewise, how long of a bus ride from Guayaquil to Cuenca. Cost?

In advance, thank you

It's nearer to Guayaquil, by some hours. Maybe 3-4 hours from memory?

As for the cost of the bus, you're flying over from Canada - the cost will be negligible and certainly shouldn't play a role in deciding where to fly. A handful of dollars, no more.

Guayaquil - Cuenca takes around 4 hours and Quito - Cuenca takes around 9 hours.

latinbus.com

I did both one year ago. Guayaquil to Cuenca cost me 5 dollars. Cuenca to Quito was 8 dollars. I asked at the bus office in the Cuenca terminal why they didn't charge more and offer faster rides, as the bus enters a few cities. The explanation was that the government want the prices to be kept low, accessible to the poor. It leaves the companies no option other than to stop on the way,
to deliver and pick-up more passengers.

Thanks for the Info!!

Hi,
I am in Nova Scotia and planning to visit Ecuador in March with my family. I was curious what you have found for flights from Halifax. My initial investigations have found a ~14 hour outward leg journey time, with the return requiring an overnight stay for approximately $1200 per person.

Cheers and Merry Christmas

Hello Moschelle,

Seems expensive. I'm flying out of Vancouver in February, taxes all in $750 with Delta airlines, going through Toronto with delta partner West Jet. I booked about a month ago (1 month earlier was $646 all in). check Trip advisor and a few of the big US airlines that fly into ecuador.
H
Have fun searching

Which EC city are you flying into?

Quito, then doing the highlands for 1 month, then doing the coast for 1 month.

Try flight scanner app. $821 from Halifax to Quito in February

$821 is a good price.

horseback riding out of Cuenca is stunningly beautiful, do a full day.. link to a great outfit/guide. Also if time take a few days to visit Saraguro further south, beautiful indigenous community and great Sunday market, and even further south Vilcabamba for breath taking mountainous hikes/horseback riding . Avoid the Guayaquil bus terminal if possible, a monstrous ants nest and someone peed in the middle ....Banos is a must for adrenaline activities, recreation capital of Equador.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g294309-d3377830-r137071996-Centro_Ecuestre_Bellavista-Cuenca_Azuay_Province.html

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