Cuenca-Giron-Pasaje Highway Sinkhole — Fix Still Weeks Away

The Road to the Coast Is in Rough Shape

The Cuenca-Giron-Pasaje highway — one of the main routes connecting Cuenca to El Oro province and the coastal lowlands — has been dealing with serious damage, and a fix isn't coming anytime soon.

According to El Mercurio, a sinkhole at kilometer 50 and landslides at kilometer 85 have turned stretches of this highway into an obstacle course. Drivers are navigating around damaged pavement, narrowed lanes, and improvised detours — and the rainy season is making everything worse by the week.

Three More Weeks (At Least)

Here's the frustrating part: the government acknowledges the damage, but the emergency repair contract hasn't even been awarded yet. According to the report, the contracting process is still pending and is expected to take roughly three more weeks before work can begin.

That means we're looking at a minimum of three weeks before crews even start, plus however long the actual repairs take. Realistically, this road is going to be compromised through the rest of the rainy season and likely into the dry months.

Why Expats Should Care

The Cuenca-Giron-Pasaje highway is one of the key routes to El Oro province, which connects to:

• Machala — the main coastal city in the south
• Puerto Bolivar — the shrimp capital and a popular day trip
• The Peruvian border at Huaquillas
• Beach destinations along the southern coast

If you're planning a trip to any of these destinations, this is the route you'd typically take. Right now, it's passable but risky — especially during or after heavy rain, when the sinkhole and landslide areas become even more unstable.

What to Do If You Need to Travel This Route

• Drive during daylight hours only. The damaged sections are hard enough to navigate when you can see them. At night, with limited or no lighting, the sinkhole and landslide zones become genuinely dangerous
• Check conditions before you leave. Ask locals or check social media groups for real-time updates. Conditions can change rapidly after heavy rain
• Consider the alternative route through Zhud. The Cuenca-Zhud-Machala route is longer but may be in better condition depending on the week. Check both before deciding
• Don't rush through damaged sections. Slow down around the sinkhole at km 50 and the landslide area at km 85. Other drivers may be stopped or maneuvering around debris
• Keep your gas tank full. If the road gets blocked and you have to wait or detour, you don't want to be running on empty

The Bigger Picture

This is part of a broader infrastructure challenge hitting Cuenca's road network during the 2026 rainy season. Between the Cuenca-Giron-Pasaje damage, the Cuenca-Molleturo highway (which just got a rehab contract), and various landslide-affected secondary roads, getting in and out of the city has required more planning than usual this season.

The good news is that the government is at least moving toward a repair contract. The bad news is that bureaucratic timelines and rainy season realities mean this road will be a headache for a while longer.

We'll update when the repair contract is awarded and work begins.

Source: El Mercurio