Getting to Gaia Sagrada
Travel to Cuenca, Ecuador, South America

Please make sure your passport has at least 6 months or more left on it before the expiration date or you cannot board the plane!

We recommend you make a color copy of your passport to carry with you instead of your passport if you go on daytrip excursions.

Gaia Sagrada does not handle airline reservations, but we advise to search for your flights on PricelineSkyscanner or Kayak . You can book there directly. If you need more help, we recommend finding a travel agent in your city.

Please plan to leave after 12pm on the last day of the retreat. Earlier flights may prove to be difficult after the full day’s ceremony on Tuesday, you’ll need rest! 

It’s better to book your return flight in the afternoon or evening  for the next day so you have time to get to your international flight without leaving early in the morning or rushing. The retreat officially ends at lunchtime, so book your flight later in the day so you don’t miss out!

Quito Entry Recommended Over Guayaquil Entry

The Quito International Airport has direct 45 minute flights to Cuenca several times per day whereas the Guayaquil International Airport does not have direct flights to Cuenca. You have to fly to Quito and then to Cuenca if you are coming from Guayaquil.

The other thing is that if you have to overnight in the airport because your flight comes in late, Quito has an overnight layover stay (scroll below for the website) right at the airport for $37 per night with recliners, snacks, wifi, etc. In Guayaquil you will need to find a hotel if you have to wait overnight there.

*Travel During the Pandemic*

Please visit our newly created page for information on Travel & Retreats During the Pandemic

Travel Insurance Companies

Family emergencies, illness, acts of god, missed or delayed flights, passport or entry issues, covid lockdowns, border closures, or any other situation outside our control is not grounds for a refund 30 days or less before the retreat, and we are not able to make a transfer at that point. (See our refund policies) We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you purchase travel insurance to protect yourself in the event of an emergency.

If WE cancel the retreat reasons within our control, of course we will refund your money in full, but the airlines might not. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get travel insurance. It’s a minimal cost for peace of mind! One company we know will cover covid cancellations, but the others you will have to check.

World Nomads

Allianz Global Assistance

Amex Assurance

Generali Global Assistance

Insure My Trip – Covers covid cancellations from what we understand, must check with them

Tarwick International

Compare Travel Insurance Companies – you will find here a full guide to the well known travel insurance companies and whether they offer covid insurance or not

Exit Ticket from Ecuador Required

In order to enter Ecuador from most countries, it is required that you have a round trip or exit ticket out of the country to board your flight. You will not be allowed to board the plane if you do not have a ticket out of the country.

You can get a refundable or changeable round trip ticket so you don’t lose your money if you plan on continuing to travel in Ecuador or are not sure when you are going to leave Ecuador. If you have to change a ticket later, it’s not that expensive, as long as you booked it as refundable or changeable. Simply call your airline and the fee to change is usually somewhere between $75 and $250, some are even free. Nonrefundable tickets are not able to be changed, so plan accordingly so you don’t lose money.

Another strategy some people use is to book a one way, completely refundable ticket out of Ecuador right before you travel, or even right at the airport, usually refundable within 24 hours, and then cancel it after you land.

Getting to Ecuador, Your International Flight

Fly into either Guayaquil or Quito international airports. If you fly into Quito or Guayaquil, make sure you arrive at least by 4 or 5 pm so you can catch a flight directly to Cuenca without having to leave the airport or stay overnight.

We have found that flying the the Quito airport is easier than Guayaquil because there are direct flights to Cuenca from Quito, whereas if you fly into Guayaquil there are no direct flights to Cuenca from Guayaquil. You would have to fly to Quito first and then to Cuenca if Guayaquil is your landing place for your international flight. It’s better to fly into Quito so your flight to Cuenca is easier.

Baggage Doesn’t Go All The Way – Pick Up In Quito Or Guayaquil

Just so you know, your baggage will NOT go all the way through to Cuenca no matter what flight you come in on or if the same airline goes all the way to Cuenca (which it usually doesn’t, as there are separate airline companies that fly within Ecuador). You will be flying into either Quito or Guayaquil, and you MUST pick up your baggage and go through customs baggage check before coming to Cuenca.

Sleeping in Airports

If you need to overnight in either Guayaquil or Quito where your international flight lands before you come to Cuenca, there is a great site called www.sleepinginairports.net where you can check on how that airport works for sleeping overnight there while waiting for an early morning flight to Cuenca if need be.

This site has reviews and tips for overnighting in airports around the world, including where the best spots are to sleep in the airport itself, lounge amenities, nearby hotels, and more.

Cuenca Flight

Flights to Cuenca from Quito are short, 30 – 45 minutes. LATAM is the domestic airline where you can book flights to Cuenca easily online, as well as through the larger search engines mentioned above.

If you fly into Guayaquil, you will have to fly to Quito first and then Cuenca, which makes it a longer and more complicated transit to Cuenca.

Vans to Cuenca from Guayaquil

There are constantly vans leaving for Cuenca from the Guayaquil airport area and it takes 4 hours on a curvy, nauseating and bumpy road. (There are no vans coming to Cuenca from Quito, only buses which take 12 hours to reach Cuenca.) If you are sensitive and get carsick on curvy, mountain roads in a car, this option isn’t for you!

If you do want to take a van, just walk out the front door of the airport and go right. On the same side of the road as the airport, about one block down, are several van service companies. Each of them will be offering rides to Cuenca. You won’t have to wait long.

If you stay at a hotel overnight, they should be able to help you get back to the van service area in the morning with their shuttles or calling a taxi for you. Vans cost about $25 – 30 and a fee for extra baggage if you have more than one suitcase and a carry on.

If you choose this option, you will need to take a taxi to the airport in Cuenca and wait there for the driver to take you to Cuenca. Since it is only an estimation when you will arrive at the Cuenca airport, we won’t be able to pick you up right away so the wait could be a while. If you have to wait for a long period, there is a food court and wifi on the second floor of the small Cuenca airport.

You won’t save very much money going by van, and definitely not time, and you risk getting robbed (people lift luggage at times) so we suggest you take a flight, even if you have to fly to Quito first and then Cuenca. If we know your exact arrival time, your wait at the airport for the ride to Cuenca won’t be long. Only use the van if you aren’t travelling with much luggage and can hold your belongings on your lap or between your feet.

Taxis from Guayaquil

Taxis are as expensive as a flight unless you are sharing the ride with others arriving at the same time. Might as well take the flight. It’s quicker! It only makes sense to use this service if you have a huge amount of luggage or are traveling with some friends and you all split it. If not, the plane will be a little cheaper. Taxi will cost about $150 – 200 or more.

Guayaquil is a 4 hour drive from Cuenca, whereas Quito is 12 hours by bus and no taxis make the drive. A bus from Quito is grueling and long. We don’t recommend traveling by land from Quito unless you are sight-seeing along the way for a few days. Luggage often gets lifted.

Again, we recommend flying into Quito in order to get a direct flight to Cuenca and keep your journey simple!

Hotels

If you are looking for hotels, check TripAdvisor.com, Booking.com or Hostelworld.com to make a reservation. You may also be able to book a hotel through the same service you are booking your plane tickets.

If you are flying into Quito, there is a place at the airport (across the bridge/road when you come out the front of the airport at LayoverStayQuito.com where you can sleep in a recliner. They have snacks, wifi and hangout living room area.

Arrive A Day Early

It is a good idea to arrive a day or two early before the retreat starts, just in case you can’t catch a connecting flight for some reason. If you come to the retreat a day early you can settle in, rest, get rid of the jet lag from your trip, and ease in gently. Here are the non-retreat prices for the rooms, and food is included. You can check on your reservation form that you would like to arrive a day early or stay a day later, and it will automatically calculate your cost.

Stay a Day Later

Try not to book your flight out of Cuenca early in the morning on the last day of the retreat or you will miss some last magical moments. You will need rest after the last ceremony, and we really like to close the retreat as a full group. Try to book a flight out of Cuenca that leaves in the afternoon or evening, or if you have to leave early, stay an extra night and leave the next day after the retreat is over if you have to leave in the morning. You will be glad you did!

After all these ceremonies, you’ll be glad for the extra rest before you take off. Just book an extra day or two before and after the retreat so you have time to settle in when you arrive, and have time to rest up for your journey home after the retreat.

Again, you can check on your reservation form that you would like to arrive a day early or stay a day later, and it will automatically calculate your cost.

Cuenca Airport Pickup

We will have a driver waiting for you at the Cuenca airport with the name Gaia Sagrada on paper as you come out of baggage claim. Gaia Sagrada is an hour northeast of Cuenca from the airport. We will set up the driver pickup from the airport to Gaia Sagrada. Just let us know your arrival details when you book at our Flight Form when you make your travel plans. If you go back to the airport at an unusual time (wee hours of the morning, or by yourself) additional fees would apply.

Can I save money if I take a bus to Gaia Sagrada?

Buses to Gaia Sagrada are complicated, impossible to explain, and often standing room only. This is not a good option for your first trip to Gaia Sagrada while carrying luggage and being vulnerable as a tired traveler and newcomer to Ecuador. We do not allow outside rides or arriving via public transportation, as people get lost and it creates problems. Many people have things stolen on buses.

Try the buses on a day you have time to be adventurous, ready for the unexpected, and you don’t have a lot of stuff with you. Unless you have only a daypack and are willing to stand for an hour or more, do not choose the bus. You will also have a 30 minute walk when you arrive with all your things, so please, use our driver on your first journey to Gaia Sagrada! It is best not to risk mishaps when you have all your valuables with you!