We are planning to spend 2 weeks in Ecuador in July as our first exploration for a possible pre-retirement move. We fly into Guayquil and would like to stay a good deal of our time in Cuenca. Can you advise as to getting a rental car or is there other better transport?
I wouldn’t advise a rental car. Tame airlines has service from GYE to CUE. Round trip tickets are usually $150 or less. You can also take a private van for $80 total or a shared one for $12 each. The trip takes 3 hours and half of the time is on winding roads through the Cajas mountains, so although the scenery is spectacular on a clear day, don’t choose this option if you’re prone to motion sickness. We use either Atenas or Operazuay.