How to get there

By air

Normally one or two daily flights from Quito airport to Loja/Catamayo airport, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. Information and bookings at: https://aeroregional.net or https://www.latamairlines.com/ec/es

We offer a direct and private airport transfer.
Price: 40 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 travel time: ca. 13 Stunden
• Entire route: Quito – Loja – Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma

First 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 – 20 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: 2 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.

Only by land until further notice

Entire travel time: ca. 11 Stunden
Entire route: Guayaquil – Loja – Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma

First 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: 2 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.

3 different options:

A) 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 specify when making the reservation.

B) Privat taxi direct to Izhcayluma
Travel time: 4 hrs
Price: ca. 120 USD (up to 4 people)

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

The buses with this company which depart from Loja at 06:00 / 09:00 / 13:00 / 18:00 come directly to our hotel. Just stay in the bus in Vilcabamba and tell the driver that you want to get off at the Hosteria “Izhcayluma”.

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: 2 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.

3 different options:

Option A + B mean 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”

Entire route:  Latacunga – Loja – Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma
Entire travel time:  ca. 11 hrs

First section: Latacunga – Loja
Direct buses only with the bus company “Cooperativa Loja”.
Ticket sales at the company’s office, on the Panamericana near the supermaxi.
The best way to get there is by cab.
Be sure to ask from where the bus leaves, from the bus station or from this office.
Departure times: 16:30 / 18:30 Price: 13 USD p.person
Departure time: 19:45 Price: 17 USD p.person (special service, faster and better)

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:  2 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 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)

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

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: 2 USD for the ride up to four people.
• IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.

No direct connection to Loja.
You have to go first to Guayaquil or Cuenca.

With the bus company “Cooperativa Jipijapa” to Guayaquil.
after this see –> “From Guayaquil”

You have to go to Guayaquil first, there are some direct buses.
From there see –> “From Guayaquil”

Entire travel time:  ca. 11 hrs
Entire route:  Ambato – Loja – Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma

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) Bus with the company “Vilcabambaturis”, departure from the bus station in Loja. Travel time: 1:15 h
Every half hour from 05:45 h to 20:45 h
The buses with this company which depart from Loja at 06:00 / 09:00 / 13:00 / 18:00 h pass directly by our hotel. Just stay in the bus in Vilcabamba and tell the driver that you want to get off at the Hosteria “Izhcayluma”.

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:  2 USD for the ride up to four people.
IMPORTANT: They only work till 21:00 hrs.

Entire travel time:  ca. 14 hrs
Entire route:
Chachapoyas – Jaén – La Balsa/border – Vilcabamba

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

When booking a hotel in our lodge, please be sure to mention that you will be arriving by bus from Jaén, as we can then be prepared for a late check-in.

First section: Chachapoyas – Jaén
2 possible departure times in Chachapoyas with minibuses.

Either at 06:30 h to have more time in Jaén for lunch or at 08:30 h with time for breakfast but hardly any time left in Jaén.

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 complex is located 2 kilometers BEFORE Vilcabamba. Coming from Zumba on the left side. Be sure to tell the bus driver that you want to get off at “Izhcayluma” (pronunciation: ischkeiluma).
Otherwise the bus stops in the center of Vilcabamba and from there you have to take a white pick-up cab back. The cab costs 2 USD, but they only work until 9 pm.

Entire travel time:  ca. 12 hrs
Entire route:  Mancora – Sullana – Loja – Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma

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.

Entire travel time:   10 hrs
Entire route:   Piura – Loja – Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma

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.

Entire travel time:  9,5 hrs
Entire route:   Sullana – Loja – Vilcabamba – Izhcayluma

Frist section:  Sullana – Loja
Direct bus with the ecuadorian bus company “Cooperativa Cariamanga”
Time of departure:  20:45
Price:  ca. 12 USD

Arrival time at Loja bus station: 05:00

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.