On the way to the Galapagos islands, many travellers pass by either Ecuador’s capital Quito or its Gateway to the Pacific: Guayaquil. The latter is Ecuador’s main port city. Like many international port cities, it’s one of the less safe cities in Ecuador. Guayaquil is considered a major drug trafficking hub, with all its side effects such as high rates of violent crime, gang violence, and organized crime. Consequently, international travellers usually avoid Guayaquil. However, it can be the base for explorations of beautifully diverse Ecuador. For example, the UNESCO world heritage town of Cuenca is only a 3- to 4-hour ride away from Guayaquil, with beautiful mountain sites on the way.
This blog post shows the safest ways to get from Guayaquil to Cuenca, and back.
Guayaquil to Cuenca: two transport options
According to my host in Cuenca, there are two main options to go from Guayaquil to Cuenca, and back. It depends on your budget and safety concerns, which one you consider best.
Fastest: airport minivan (~3h, ~$12)
Cheapest: bus terminal bus (~4h, ~$9)
Best for safety-minded travelers: airport minivan (less city transit)
Option 1: airport minivans (OPENAT Viajes)
This is my preferred option. Especially if you arrive at Guayaquil’l international airport (José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport), I recommend the vans from OPENAT Viajes. They are easy to find – across the road when you leave the big airport gate (see the airport gate behind me in the photo above). No advance booking is usually needed. They leave once full. In my case, they were clean, felt safe, and were fast for 12 USD in 3 hours.
As we had a good experience with OPENAT Viajes on our way from Guayaquil to Cuenca, we also chose this company again for our return from Cuenca to Guayaquil. It leaves from the same place where it arrived. Booking in advance was again not necessary. We were lucky to be the last awaited passengers of a half empty van.
Option 2 : buses from Guayaquil Bus Terminal
I haven’t tried this option because I wanted to avoid moving around the city of Guayaquil. A single bus ride from Guayaquil to Cuenca costs 9 USD and takes about 4 hours. If you arrive at the Guayaquil’l international airport (José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport), you will need to take a taxi or public transport to reach the Bus Terminal. I recommend an official taxi, just to be safe.
Buses also run back from Cuenca to Guayaquil from the Bus Terminal. It’s on the other side of the city compared to the minivan option above.
Safety tips for travelling Guayaquil ↔ Cuenca
Guayaquil is one of the less safe cities in Ecuador. Many locals warned us to be careful. That’s why here are my main safety tips:
- Plan to travel during the day and avoid late-night arrivals when possible.
- Use official transport from the airport.
- Keep valuables close to you.
Nevertheless, it’s easy to travel between Guayaquil and Cuenca. Don’t be afraid. If you have extra time, sit by the window and enjoy the impressive mountain scenery.
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