Transportation

  • We organise private transportation from the Cuenca Mariscal Lamar Airport. The drive to the SANTUARIO HIBISCUS takes about 1 1/2 hours and costs are about $20.00 – 30.00 per person.
  • There is an Avis office at the airport should you wish to rent a car. It is recommended to make arrangements before you travel – the rates are usually more affordable.
    • It is rather straight forward to find your way out of town and into the Yunguilla Valley. You take the Panamericana sur following the signs to Machala, Pasaje and Loja. About 20 km out of town you come to a big roundabout – the Panamericana sur will branch off to your left and go to Loja. You stay on the road, go through the roundabout and continue into the Valley. Shortly after passing Portete you will start your descent into the valley. About 46km (28.6miles) later and 1000m (3000 feet) lower you will enter the little town of La Unión. Right after you pass the sign – BEFORE – the gasstation you turn into a small road to your right. There is a small sign on your left with a red Hibiscus flower pointing you in the right direction. You will see the restaurant “Puerto Bolivar” on your right with painted walls. Keep going for about 0.8km (0.5miles). There is a road uphill to your right just before a row of houses. There is a sign that reads “Escuela Mixta Cesar Torres” and another Hibiscus sign on the post to your left. Go up that dirt road for 1.3km (.8miles) staying on the main road. You’ll see a big white sign with a red Hibiscus flower on your left. The big gate is usually closed – please call 0994951067 or hunk your horn.
  • The Pullman Sucre buses leave from Terminal Terrestre (main bus station, about 2 minutes from the airport) and are marked Machala/Pasaje. Ask the bus driver to let you off in La Unión “los caballos”. There is usually a number of white camionetas parked there. These are the cabs in this area. Ask them to bring you to the Santuario Hibiscus – we cover the fare.
    Buses currently leave in the am at: 5:15, 6:30, 7:00, 7:15, 7:45, 8:15, 9:00, 10:45, 11:30//pm: 12:00, 12:45, 1:15, 2:00, 3:00, 3:45, 4:15, 5:15, 6:00, 6:45, 7:30, 8:30, 9:00, 11:00
  • The Santa Isabel bus also leaves from Terminal Terrestre. Their service starts at 5am. Buses leave every 20 minutes until 7:30pm. The ticket is purchased in the bus. Ask the bus driver to let you off in La Unión “los caballos”. There is usually a number of white camionetas (trucks) parked there. These are the cabs in this area. Ask them to bring you to the Santuario Hibiscus – we cover the fare.