Cuenca Buses Are Ending at 7 PM. The City Added Backup Routes

Cuenca's urban bus conflict is now affecting night movement around the city.

Since the night of June 8, 2026, urban buses have been ending service at 19:00 as the transport chamber pushes for a fare review.

The user fare is still 30 cents, while the technical fare was set at 40 cents in December. The difference is handled through municipal subsidy, but operators say current income is not enough to cover fuel, maintenance and salaries.

Why The Conflict Matters

The transport sector says the existing fare study is out of date because it did not account for changes such as the VAT increase from 12% to 15% and higher diesel costs.

The city system includes 475 buses. Operators say the only current contribution is a municipal subsidy of about $600 per month for each operating unit.

Backup Municipal Routes

The Municipality responded by placing seven buses and two busetas into service after the 19:00 cutoff.

The backup routes touch major points including:

• Terminal Terrestre
• Huayna Capac
• Presidente Cordova
• Feria Libre
• Ordonez Lasso
• Sayausi
• Control Sur
• Hospital del IESS
• Sinincay
• Racar
• El Valle
• Totoracocha

What This Means For Expats

If you rely on buses after dinner, treat this as a real service disruption until the dispute is resolved.

The tram is still useful where it fits your route, but it will not solve every neighborhood connection. If you are going out at night, plan your return before 19:00, budget for a taxi or app ride, or confirm whether one of the municipal backup routes gets you close enough.