Getting There and Away

Written by Carmen Vallejo, Keith Roberts, Carlos Zambrano
30/07/2025
Beautiful view of the New Cathedral of Cuenca with its iconic blue domes in Azuay, Ecuador.
David Mosquera, Pexels

Cuenca is served by Mariscal La Mar Airport (CUE), located approximately 2 km from the city center. The main bus station for intercity travel is Terminal Terrestre, situated a few blocks west of the airport.

By Air (International):

There are no direct international flights to Cuenca. Travelers typically fly into Ecuador's international airports: Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito (UIO) or José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil (GYE).

By Air (Domestic to Cuenca):

From Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE), domestic flights are available to Cuenca's Mariscal La Mar Airport (CUE) via airlines like Avianca and LATAM.

  • Flights from Quito to Cuenca take approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour and cost around $70 - $200.
  • Flights from Guayaquil to Cuenca take about 30 to 47 minutes and cost around $60 - $160.

By Bus (from Quito):

Buses from Quito's Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe to Cuenca take approximately 8 to 10 hours and generally cost between $16 and $27.

By Bus (from Guayaquil):

Direct bus services from Guayaquil's Terminal Terrestre de Guayaquil to Cuenca take about 3 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours and 45 minutes, with costs ranging from $7 to $35.

From Cuenca Airport to City Center:

  • Taxis are readily available, with fares typically ranging from $5 to $10. Ride-sharing services like Cabify and Uber are also options.
  • Public buses connect the airport to various parts of the city and are a budget-friendly option.
  • The Tranvia (tram) operates from Aeropuerto station to Chola Cuencana, taking about 3-4 minutes.

Check out our other pages on Cuenca

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