Ecuador Coffee Export Logistics

Quick Summary: Follow the step-by-step physical and regulatory journey of Ecuadorian specialty green coffee from Hacienda La Florida in Malacatos, Loja, to global ports and airports.

Every coffee lot from Cafesure starts at one place: the processing plant at Hacienda La Florida in Malacatos, Loja. From there, the coffee takes one of two routes:

• By sea — overland to the Port of Guayaquil

• By air — overland to Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)

This guide covers the truck routes, travel times, and rules that apply along the way.

Where It Starts: Hacienda La Florida, Malacatos

The processing plant at Hacienda La Florida sits in the southern highlands of Loja province. Once coffee lots are ready, trucks load up right at the estate.

Loja is a mountain region. All trucks must drive steep roads with tight curves to reach the main highways. From this one starting point, the route splits based on how the coffee ships — by sea or by air.

Route to the Port of Guayaquil (Ocean Freight)

For large orders — pallets or full containers — ocean freight is the standard choice. The destination is the Port of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s main shipping hub.

The road route

The trip from Malacatos to Guayaquil covers about 400 km (250 miles). It takes 7 to 9 hours by truck, depending on traffic and road conditions.

Here is the route step by step:

1. Mountain pass — The truck leaves Malacatos valley (1,500 m) and climbs to Loja city (2,100 m).

2. Andean descent — From Loja, the truck goes down highway E35 to the Catamayo valley (1,200 m).

3. Coastal corridor — It continues on highway E50 through Velacruz and Balsas, down the western Andes to the coastal plains of El Oro province.

4. Guayas highway — From Machala, the truck turns north on highway E25, past Naranjal, crosses the Guayas River, and enters Guayaquil at sea level.

In Guayaquil, the cargo arrives at Contecon (Puerto Marítimo de Guayaquil) or Terminal Portuario de Guayaquil (TPU). There, it loads into shipping containers.

Route to Quito Airport (Air Freight)

For high-value micro-lots — like Typica Mejorado or Sidra coffee — air freight is the faster choice. The gateway is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in the Tababela valley near Quito.

The road route

The trip from Malacatos to Quito Airport runs north along the Andes. It covers roughly 700 km (435 miles) and can take up to a day.

The truck follows the Pan-American Highway (E35) through the Andean highlands:

1. Loja to Cuenca — Winding roads through the southern provinces.

2. Cuenca to Riobamba — High-altitude regions over 3,000 m.

3. Riobamba to Ambato and Latacunga — Through the central valley.

4. Quito (Tababela) — The route avoids central Quito and ends at the Tababela cargo terminal (UIO, 2,400 m).

At Tababela, the coffee moves to airport cargo warehouses for loading onto international flights.

Rules and Inspections

Before any coffee can leave Ecuador, it must pass two checks.

Agrocalidad inspection

Agrocalidad checks the cargo at the port or airport. Their team inspects the coffee bags to confirm they are free from pests. Then they issue the Certificado Fitosanitario de Exportación through the VUE online system.

SENAE customs clearance (DAE)

SENAE handles export procedures. A licensed customs broker files the Declaración Aduanera de Exportación (DAE) in the ECUAPASS online system. The DAE includes:

• Exporter’s tax ID (RUC)

• Buyer’s details

• HS code for green Arabica coffee (0901.21)

• Gross and net weight

• Invoice value

Once the DAE passes, customs assigns a control channel. After clearance, they issue “Salida Autorizada.” The cargo can then board the ship or plane.

Route Summary

Origin	Destination	Route	Transit Time	Method
Hacienda La Florida	Port of Guayaquil	Loja → Catamayo → Velacruz → Machala → Guayaquil	7–9 hours	🚛 Ocean freight
Hacienda La Florida	Quito Airport (UIO)	Loja → Cuenca → Riobamba → Ambato → Latacunga → Quito	Up to 1 day	✈️ Air freight

Because our logistics chain starts at our own estate in Malacatos, we oversee the whole overland journey — from origin all the way to the airport or port terminal. That means a secure, documented chain of custody for every lot.

For more detail on shipping options and import rules at your destination, see our B2B import guide or contact our QC lab to request a documented sample lot.

— Cafesure QC Team, Malacatos, Ecuador