How to travel here

Which Airport should I fly into?

If you fly into Cuenca, you will have a 4.5 hour bus ride to get here. If you fly into Guayaquil, you will have a 9 hour bus rides to get here (2 different buses.) If you fly into Quito, you will have 14 hours of bus rides to get here (usually 2 different buses.)

If you want a detailed description of how to get to this area (Gualaquiza) from the airport in Guayaquil or Quito, you can check out the “Detailed Arrival Instructions” page on the Amazon Fruit Festival website: Detailed Arrival Instructions

PLEASE READ: Travel Safety Tips

Do I need proof of ongoing travel?

Sometimes when flying to Ecuador the customs ask regarding ongoing travel but normally they don’t check for details, sometimes they may ask to provide “proof of ongoing travel” to the airport that you are flying out of. This can be a return ticket. If you do not have a return ticket, you can get on websites such as https://onwardticket.com/ or buy a bus ticket from Ecuador to Peru or Colombia, (you can do that here if you select “Quito” as your origin city: https://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/ ) or from some other websites you can also buy a ticket from Loja, Ecuador to Piura, Peru on Cruz del Sur for around $20 or less. If you do not have proof of ongoing travel, they may not let you fly.

Are there COVID-related entry requirements?

As of February 11, 2022, you can fly into Ecuador with ANY ONE of these three options:

1) A RT-PCR test result (negative) up to 72 hours prior to flight.

2) A COVID vaccination card validated in the country of origin, at least 14 days old

3) A COVID vaccination card/certificate with QR code.

ANY ONE of these three options are valid to enter Ecuador. Government source below.

“All passengers older than 3 years will have three options to enter Ecuador, by air. One, COVID-19 vaccination certificate with QR; two, vaccination card validated in the country of origin, with at least 14 days of validity; three, negative result of the RT-PCR test up to 72 hours prior to shipment. Any of these documents are valid to enter national territory, from 00:01 this Friday, February 11, 2022. “

https://www.salud.gob.ec/carne-certificado-covid-19-o-pcr-opciones-para-ingreso-a-ecuador/

Bus times change often so check with the terminal for updates times, sometimes the bus companies list the hours online but they can still be out of date, examples: for returning to Quito for outgoing flights:

Gualaquiza to Quito bus hours
12:30pm 6:45pm 10pm $23 San Francisco
8:15pm y 9:30 pm. $22,85 union yanzatza

For recommended places to stay:

Loja: Residential International