Getting Around Cuenca: An Overview
Cuenca is a city where walking does most of the work for you, at least in the historic centre. Beyond that, a compact network of city buses and a single light-rail line (the Tranvía) cover the main corridors, with taxis and ride-hailing filling in the gaps. The one thing to sort out early is payment: the bus and the Tranvía use separate cards, and cash is not accepted on board buses.
Walking
The centro histórico is highly walkable and is the main way visitors reach restaurants, cafés, markets and shops. Beyond the centre, paved, gravel and dirt walking and running paths follow three rivers — the Río Tomebamba, Río Yanuncay and Río Tarqui.
A few local habits are worth knowing before you set out:
- Sidewalks and paths are inconsistent, with damage, construction and gaps common; this makes wheelchair and stroller use difficult.
- Vehicles generally have right of way and do not stop for pedestrians, and jaywalking is common and broadly accepted.
- Dog waste on sidewalks is a noted hazard, so watch your step.
The Tranvía (Light Rail)
Cuenca's rail network is a single Tranvía line. It runs from the airport through the north side of the centro histórico, then south near Supermaxi Las Américas along Avenida Las Américas toward the Río Tarqui. Trains operate daily from 6am to 9pm at regular intervals, and the full airport-to-Río Tarqui trip takes roughly 35 minutes. Next-train arrival times are posted at most stops and available online.
Paying for the Tranvía is the part that trips up most visitors:
- The Movilizate bus pass does not work on the Tranvía. Tranvía cards are currently residents-only, and integration of bus and Tranvía payment was still under discussion as of January 2026.
- Without a card, tourists buy a single ticket ("boleto sencillo") for $1 per ride. Card holders pay 35 cents per ride, with senior discounts.
- Single tickets can also be bought through the apps of certain savings and loan cooperatives (JEP, CREA, Jardín Azuayo, and soon Cooperco). Virtual tickets must be purchased while boarding, when the code is scanned — not in advance — and require cell data.
- Machines at each stop let you check your balance, reload, or buy single-use paper tickets; the interface can be switched to English using "cambio".
- If you do hold a card, reload options include "Multiviajes" bundles — 5 rides for $1.50 (valid 15 days), 10 rides for $3.00 (30 days), or 20 rides for $6.00 (60 days) — or a "recarga normal" at $0.35 per ride with credit that does not expire.
- Tickets and passes are checked on board.
City Buses
Buses are the workhorse of local transport. Nearly all of them have scrolling signs and audio announcements for the current and upcoming stops, and the route number with its start and end points (sometimes landmarks) is displayed in the front window.
The key practical points:
- The fare is 30 cents per ride, but cash and coins are not accepted on board.
- You need a "Movilizate" card. Board at the front and swipe it on the red-and-black machine, holding it flat and waiting for the audible "gracias"; your balance is displayed.
- Two people can share one card by swiping, pausing, then swiping again. Passengers without a card sometimes ask others to swipe for them in exchange for exact change.
- Yellow-marked seats are reserved for seniors and passengers with mobility issues.
- Buses may not stop if no one is boarding or alighting, and drivers rarely wait for passengers to settle, so be ready to move.
Buying and using the Movilizate card
Getting set up takes three steps: buy the card, register it online, and add credit. The card costs $1.75, and credit ("saldo") can be added at purchase or later.
- Where to buy: offices next to the Terminal Terrestre bus station, the Terminal del Sur bus station, the ETAPA office on Gran Colombia y Tarqui, and the Department of Transportation on Los Capulies street. The Terminal Terrestre office is open on weekdays.
- Registration: since late 2025 a one-time online registration linking an ID number is required to recharge — your cédula, or your passport number if you don't have one. The web form only works inside Ecuador, and VPNs can interfere with it.
- Photos: seniors and students have photos taken at the counter; this is not required for regular or tourist passes, and a passport is not always requested.
- Recharging: look for shops displaying a red Movilizate sign. The cashier may ask for the linked ID number, and the receipt or display will show your new balance.
- Tip: load only a few dollars at a time in case of loss or theft.
Planning your route
The Moovit app, on a smartphone or in a browser, is the main tool for bus and Tranvía route maps, stop locations and trip suggestions — start and end points, walking time, number of stops, ride time, transfers, and future departure and arrival times. Google Maps also works for bus routes. Two caveats: Moovit does not work offline (though buses offer free onboard wifi), and it is not always accurate — stop locations may differ slightly, and some routes were uploaded during Tranvía construction and never updated. In practice, blue bus stop signs, covered waiting areas, or a crowd of people indicate the real stops.
Taxis, Ride-Hailing and Other Options
Taxis, bike rentals and car rentals are all available in Cuenca as alternatives to public transport, though they are not covered in detail here. They are worth keeping in mind for late evenings, heavy luggage, or trips outside the bus and Tranvía corridors.
Getting In from the Airport
The good news for arrivals is that the Tranvía serves the airport directly. It runs from the airport through the north side of the centro histórico and onward south, so you can step off a flight and onto a train without arranging a separate transfer. Trains run daily from 6am to 9pm, and the ride from the airport to the Río Tarqui end of the line takes about 35 minutes.
If you don't already hold a Tranvía card, plan on the $1 single ticket, which you can buy from the machines at the stop (switch the interface to English with "cambio") or through participating cooperative apps while boarding. You can also pick up a Tranvía card at the airport itself, though cards are currently residents-only. Taxis are the other straightforward option from the airport if you'd rather go door to door.