Cuenca's New $10.7M South Bus Terminal Is Taking Shape — Opening December 2026

A Second Bus Terminal for Cuenca

If you've ever been to Cuenca's Terminal Terrestre during a holiday weekend, you know the scene: packed corridors, buses idling in traffic, and a general sense of organized chaos. It works, but it's bursting at the seams.

Relief is coming. A brand new Terminal Terrestre Sur (South Bus Terminal) is under construction in Narancay, on the south side of the city, and it's on track to open in December 2026.

The Details

• Location: Narancay, south Cuenca (near the Cuenca-Girón highway corridor)
• Size: 23,257 square meters — a serious facility
• Investment: $10.7 million USD
• Construction timeline: Steel structure complete by May, internal roads by July, operations by December 2026
• What it handles: Intercity and interprovincial routes heading south — Girón, Pasaje, Machala, Loja, Vilcabamba, Zaruma, and the southern coast

What This Means for Getting Around

Right now, all intercity buses depart from the single Terminal Terrestre on Av. España. Whether you're heading north to Quito or south to Loja, you go to the same terminal.

Once the South Terminal opens:

• South-bound routes (Loja, Machala, Vilcabamba, Girón, the coast via Pasaje) will depart from the new Narancay terminal
• North-bound routes (Quito, Ambato, Riobamba, Guayaquil via Cajas) will likely continue from the existing terminal
• Less congestion at both terminals
• Easier access for anyone living on the south side of Cuenca (Yanuncay, El Valle, San Joaquín, Baños corridor)

Why Expats Should Care

1. If you live south of the river: Getting to the current Terminal Terrestre means crossing the city and dealing with traffic. The new terminal in Narancay will be much more accessible from popular expat neighborhoods like Yanuncay and the southern suburbs.

2. Loja and Vilcabamba trips: Many expats visit Vilcabamba for the weather, the vibe, or to check it out as a potential place to live. That bus departs south. Having a dedicated terminal closer to south-side neighborhoods is a convenience upgrade.

3. Coast trips: Heading to Machala, Puerto Bolívar, or the southern beaches? Those routes go south through Girón. New terminal.

4. Property values: Major infrastructure projects tend to bump up real estate values in surrounding neighborhoods. Narancay is already developing — a bus terminal accelerates that.

Construction Progress

The project broke ground in late 2025 and is now about three months into active construction. As of mid-March 2026:

• Foundation work is complete
• Steel structure installation is underway (target: May completion)
• Internal roadways and bus bays: July
• Interior finishing and systems: August-November
• Operations target: December 2026

The project is being managed by the Municipality of Cuenca and appears to be on schedule — though construction timelines in Ecuador should always be taken with a grain of salt.

The Transit Picture

This is part of Cuenca's broader transit modernization that includes the tranvía (tram), the upcoming unified fare card system, and continued road improvements. For a city of ~600,000 people, Cuenca is investing seriously in its transit infrastructure.

Source: El Mercurio