Location
Vilcabamba is in the South of Ecuador, 23 miles south of the provincial capital of Loja.
Our hostel is located 1,25 miles south of the center of Vilcabamba, on the top of a little hill, overlooking the entire valley of longevity.
Loja has direct bus connections to almost all mayor cities of Ecuador, as well as one international bus service to Piura in nothern Peru.
50 miles from Vilcabamba is the national airport of Loja, located 19 miles outside the city center of Loja in a little town called "Catamayo". From there daily flights to Quito and Guayaquil are offered. Airline: www.tame.com.ec
How to get there
Click at one of the green bus or the blue plane icons to get detailed travel information.
We don't give any warranty of the provided information. It is only a guide line.
Please check with the bus company or the airline!
Quito
By air :
Normaly two daily national flights from Quito airport to Loja/Catamayo airport,
the closest one to Vilcabamba.
More information and booking: www.tame.com.ec
We offer a direct and private airport transfer.
Price: 35 USD for the 70 km long drive, 1,5 hrs.
If you want to make use of this service, please let us know together with your hostel reservation, under "comment".
By land :
Entire route: Quito - Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: ca. 13 hrs
Frist section: Quito - Loja
Most frequent connections with bus company "Cooperativa Loja"
Ticket selling office called "Colon" in the new town of Quito
Address: Juan de Velasco y Av. Orellana
Also one "Coche cama" service, sleeper with stewardess, comfortable seats and wifi.
Time of departure: 20:00 (only one a day)
Price: ca 40 USD p.person
Often booked, best to buy your ticket in advance!
Buses leave from bus terminal "Quitumbe" in the south of Quito
Time of departure: 12:50 / 15:00 / 19:00 / 19:40 / 20:00 / 20:15 /20:55
Price: ca.18 USD p.person
Second section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis", departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks,
working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Guayaquil
By air :
Normaly two daily national flights from Quito airport to Loja/Catamayo airport,
the closest one to Vilcabamba.
More information and booking: www.tame.com.ec
We offer a direct and private airport transfer.
Price: 35 USD for the 70 km long drive, 1,5 hrs.
If you want to make use of this service, please let us know together with your hostel reservation, under "comment".
By land :
Entire route: Guayaquil - Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: ca. 11 hrs
Frist section: Guayaquil - Loja
Direct only with the bus company "Cooperativa Loja", leaving from the bus terminal in Guayaquil.
Time of departure: 06:30 / 09:00 / 13:00 / 17:00 / 21:00 / 22:00 / 23:30 / 23:35
Price: ca. 15 USD p.person
Second section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis", departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks, working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Loja
Entire route: Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: 1,5 hrs
First section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis",
departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Second section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks, working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Cuenca
3 different options:
A) Privat taxi direct to Izhcayluma
Travel time: 4 hrs
Price: ca. 120 USD (up to 4 people)
B) Daily shuttle service direct from the old town of Cuenca to Izhcayluma.
Place of departure: Hostal "La Cigale", Honorato Vasquez 7-80 y Luis Cordero
Time of departure: 13:30 h (1:30 pm)
Price: 20 USD p.person
Travel time: 4,5 hrs
If you want to make use of this service, please let us know together with your hostel reservation, under "comment".
C) Public transport
Entire route: Cuenca - Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: ca. 6 hrs
First section: Cuenca - Loja
Departure at the bus terminal in Cuenca.
There are 3 different bus companies running to Loja:
"Coop. Loja" / "Viajeros" / "San Luis"
Time of departure: almost every hour
Price: 7,50 USD p.person
Second section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis", departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks, working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Baños
3 different options:
Option A + B means an overnight bus journey to Loja.
A) First take one of the many buses to Ambato and from there direct with the bus company "Santa" to Loja.
See --> "From Ambato"
B) First take one of the many buses to Riobamba and from there direct with the bus company "Cooperativa Loja" to Loja.
See --> "From Riobamba"
C) New bus conection directly to Cuenca with "Amazonas" bus company.
Departure time: 08:45 am / 22:00 pm
Duration: 8 hrs
Price: 10 USD
After that: See --> "From Cuenca"
Latacunga
Entire route: Latacunga - Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: ca. 11 hrs
Frist section: Latacunga - Loja
Direct bus only with the bus company "Cooperativa Loja"
Ticket sales and departure at their own office, at the Panamericana, close to the "Supermaxi". Not at the bus terminal !
Best to take a taxi to get there.
Time of departure: 16:30 / 18:30 / 19:45(special service, 17 USD but faster)
Price: ca. 13 USD
Second section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis",
departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks,
working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Riobamba
Entire route: | Riobamba – Loja – Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma |
Entire travel time: | ca. 10 hrs |
First section: Riobamba – Loja
- Direct bus only with the bus company "Cooperativa Loja"
- Ticket sales and departure at their own office, at the "Bypass". Not at the bus terminal!
- Best to take a taxi to get there.
- Time of departure: 18:30 / 19:30 / 20:30 / 21:30
- Price: ca. 11 USD
Second section: Loja – Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
- Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis", departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person - Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma
- Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks, working as taxis. They take you up to Izhcayluma.
- Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
- IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Canoa
No direct connection to Loja.
You have to go first to Guayaquil or Cuenca.
Puerto Lopez
With the bus company "Cooperativa Jipijapa" to Guayaquil.
after this see --> "From Guayaquil"
Montañita
You have to go to Guayaquil first, there are some direct buses.
From there see --> "From Guayaquil"
Ambato
Entire route: Ambato - Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: ca. 11 hrs
Frist section: Ambato - Loja
Direct bus only with the bus company "Santa"
Ticket sales and departure at their own office, outside the bus terminal.
Best to take a taxi to get there.
Time of departure: 16:00 / 18:00 / 20:00 / 22:00
Price: ca. 12 USD
Second section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis",
departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks,
working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Chachapoyas
Entire route:
Chachapoyas - Jaén - Border - Vilcabamba
Entire travel time: ca. 14 hrs
IMPORTANT:
- The main goal is to catch the international direct bus with the ecuadorian company "Nambija", leaving Jaén at 13:00 hrs (01:00 pm)
- Don't leave Chachapoyas later than with the 08:30 am "combi" to Jaén
First section: Chachapoyas - Jaén
There are two departure times in the morning you can choose from
At 06:30 am. This gives you more time in Jaén to have lunch
At 08:30 am. This gives you time for breakfast but hardly for lunch
Second section: Jaén - Border - Vilcabamba
There is only one daily direct connection with the ecuadorian bus company "Nambija", leaving Jaén at 13:00 hrs (01:00 pm). No seat reservation possible.
Border crossing is very easy and relaxed. No need to change transport.
Our hotel is 2 km BEFORE reaching Vilcabamba, left hand side. Tell the bus driver to stop at "Izhcayluma" (pronounced: Eshkiluma)
When you reserve your stay at our EcoLodge, please let us know that you are coming from Jaén, so we can prepare for a late check in.
Mancora
Entire route: Mancora - Sullana - Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: 13 hrs
Frist section: Mancora - Sullana - Loja
In Manora at the Av. Piura/Panamericana you´ll find many little offices, selling tickets to Loja/Ecuador. Departure in Mancora with one change of transport in Sullana.
From Sullana direct bus with the ecuadorian bus company "Cooperativa Cariamanga"
Time of departure in Mancora: 18:00
Time of arrival in Loja: ca. 05:00
Price: ca. 24 USD p.person
Second section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis", departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks,
working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Piura
Entire route: Piura - Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: 10 hrs
Frist section: Piura - Loja
Direct bus with the ecuadorian bus company "Cooperativa Loja"
Address in Piura: Avenida Loreto Sur, 1241, Piura
Inside the same terminal as the peruvian transport company "RONCO"
Time of departure: 21:00
Price: ca. 14 USD
Second section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis", departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks,
working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.
Sullana
Entire route: Sullana - Loja - Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Entire travel time: 9,5 hrs
Frist section: Sullana - Loja
Direct bus with the ecuadorian bus company "Cooperativa Cariamanga"
Time of departure: 20:45
Price: ca. 12 USD
Second section: Loja - Vilcabamba (2 different options possible)
1) Take a bus with the bus company "Vilcabambaturis", departure from bus terminal in Loja.
Travel time: 1 hrs 15 minutes
Departure time: every 30 minutes from 05:45 - 20:45 hrs
Price: 1,65 USD p.person
2) Take a yellow cab at the bus terminal or any other place in Loja direct to Izhcayluma.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Price: 20 USD for the ride up to four people
Third section: Vilcabamba - Izhcayluma
Outside the little bus terminal of Vilcabamba you'll find white pick up trucks,
working as taxis.
They take you up to Izhcayluma.
Price: 1,50 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.