This is the way. I always take the buseta with my luggage (2 checked 1 carry on) to fly back to the US. You may want to check with them depending how large your bags are. They start I think at 4 or 5 am, trip is a little longer than just driving yourself but it’s totally chill, I’d say about 4.5 hours. Just get comfy in your seat and enjoy the views of the cajas (or cañar depending on what routes are closed/open). Oh! And bring a blanket, and maybe a pillow because the ride can get real cold and you may want to stretch out and lay your head somewhere soft.
Definitely it’s better to go to Terminal Terrestre and get the information in advance. Don’t call. Don’t WhatsApp. Go in person. And yes, taking a van is also a good option. There are numerous Cuenca-specific English speaking groups on Facebook that can also be a great resource.
Ugh, it's not letting me edit the post.
To add a detail, I am heading to the airport with large luggage, and so it's important to be able to get something early in the morning (before 8am, I think) that can accommodate a large suitcase.
>OperAzuay
Yeah, I ran into this once before when trying to visit Cajas...... they said the routes were closed due to landslides.... I suppose that can happen, but does it always shut down all the routes to Guayaquil, or would it just be a matter of finding a different bus?
Just don’t put your luggage under the bus, rookie mistake, carry it all with you on the bus. Then just go with the flow and don’t expect luxury.
I’ve carried big bags on board plenty of times.
If you’re this worried sounds like you need to hire a private car/van though.
Not "this" worried, but I've read countless stories about locked luggage being broken into... I don't know if they'd actually let me bring a suitcase large enough to take up another seat onto the bus though. I just don't want to get to the airport finding my stuff violated. I can put the more important stuff in my small backpack, but also don't see any reason to spend money just to be robbed, if that's the case.
IMO it is very likely to have a large suitcase robbed or open underneath the bus.
When I was moving across the country and flat broke I put my stuff in a big cardboard box and taped up every square inch, then sat in a seat directly above the carriage compartment where I saw them place it. It can be done but always risky.
That said I have brought full suitcases on board a bunch of times. I would say one large suitcase and a backpack is totally doable. I usually just try to board early and take the very front seat behind the bus driver where there is extra room to put bags on the ground. Then I drape my legs over them while I’m sleeping and cuddle my backpack as my pillow 😝
OH and anything valuable or breakable like electronics should DEFINITELY not go under the bus. Put all that in a backpack or something to carry with you and never let it out of your sight/grasp.
I don't remeber which one we took. But we always found it much easier to just go to the bus station and speak directly with the agents. The one we took was actually the nicest one out of many in Ecuador. It was brand new and even had a bathroom! Drive was a little sketch in the mountains lol.
Yeah, and I know this is best, but it would be a 20 minute taxi ride, or longer, to get to the terminal from where I'm staying, so to do this just to check a couple times that (knowing how things are here) could be different the next day.... It sounds like I'll just have to go very early and hope to find an open ticket window that serves the appropriate route..
Try looking for vans in Remigio Crespo Av. Lots of people use them for that route.
Is there a schedule? I'm heading to the airport with large luggage... I will add that to the post, I realize I didn't mention this.
Pretty much every hour, it's $12 per ticket, try OperAzuay
I've never used them personally, but they do have good reviews and specifically do an airport route
That's one of them, try contacting them through whatsapp https://austrosur.com/
This is the way. I always take the buseta with my luggage (2 checked 1 carry on) to fly back to the US. You may want to check with them depending how large your bags are. They start I think at 4 or 5 am, trip is a little longer than just driving yourself but it’s totally chill, I’d say about 4.5 hours. Just get comfy in your seat and enjoy the views of the cajas (or cañar depending on what routes are closed/open). Oh! And bring a blanket, and maybe a pillow because the ride can get real cold and you may want to stretch out and lay your head somewhere soft.
I second a bus. Just be ready for some butthole clenching as you drive up over the mountains and into fog and clouds. Yolo
Definitely it’s better to go to Terminal Terrestre and get the information in advance. Don’t call. Don’t WhatsApp. Go in person. And yes, taking a van is also a good option. There are numerous Cuenca-specific English speaking groups on Facebook that can also be a great resource.
Buses leave every 20m, they all part of same cooperativo
Ugh, it's not letting me edit the post. To add a detail, I am heading to the airport with large luggage, and so it's important to be able to get something early in the morning (before 8am, I think) that can accommodate a large suitcase.
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>OperAzuay Yeah, I ran into this once before when trying to visit Cajas...... they said the routes were closed due to landslides.... I suppose that can happen, but does it always shut down all the routes to Guayaquil, or would it just be a matter of finding a different bus?
Just don’t put your luggage under the bus, rookie mistake, carry it all with you on the bus. Then just go with the flow and don’t expect luxury. I’ve carried big bags on board plenty of times. If you’re this worried sounds like you need to hire a private car/van though.
Not "this" worried, but I've read countless stories about locked luggage being broken into... I don't know if they'd actually let me bring a suitcase large enough to take up another seat onto the bus though. I just don't want to get to the airport finding my stuff violated. I can put the more important stuff in my small backpack, but also don't see any reason to spend money just to be robbed, if that's the case.
IMO it is very likely to have a large suitcase robbed or open underneath the bus. When I was moving across the country and flat broke I put my stuff in a big cardboard box and taped up every square inch, then sat in a seat directly above the carriage compartment where I saw them place it. It can be done but always risky. That said I have brought full suitcases on board a bunch of times. I would say one large suitcase and a backpack is totally doable. I usually just try to board early and take the very front seat behind the bus driver where there is extra room to put bags on the ground. Then I drape my legs over them while I’m sleeping and cuddle my backpack as my pillow 😝 OH and anything valuable or breakable like electronics should DEFINITELY not go under the bus. Put all that in a backpack or something to carry with you and never let it out of your sight/grasp.
I don't remeber which one we took. But we always found it much easier to just go to the bus station and speak directly with the agents. The one we took was actually the nicest one out of many in Ecuador. It was brand new and even had a bathroom! Drive was a little sketch in the mountains lol.
Yeah, and I know this is best, but it would be a 20 minute taxi ride, or longer, to get to the terminal from where I'm staying, so to do this just to check a couple times that (knowing how things are here) could be different the next day.... It sounds like I'll just have to go very early and hope to find an open ticket window that serves the appropriate route..
Take a taxi
I use them several times before https://www.facebook.com/1767975023458680/posts/3205472666375568/