Has anyone driven from Ecuador to Cartagena?

expatriate says on Nov 16, 2006, 10:34:

Almost I've driven a car from Cali to Pasto in one day, and from Cali to Cartagena in two days, staying overnight in Medellin.

The roads are passable, but you can count on spending as much on tolls as on gas. Also, road signs are few and far between. People even earn a few coins by standing at unmarked intersections and telling you which way to go.

In some places the road is destroyed down to dirt level. There, people will stand around with shovels, pretending that they're fixing the road, and ask for a handout for their work. I suspect that they're the ones that ripped up the asphalt in the first place.

When you get near to the North coast, there are more speed bumps than usual, and they are often in the middle of nowhere, and unpainted. You'll be cruising along a straight, level road at 100 KPH, swamps on both sides of the road, and hit a speed bump, put there for seemingly no logical reason.

If there are only one or two of you, take the bus, and take it during the day for safety and to enjoy the view of green Colombia.

In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile.

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tim hickman7 says on Nov 16, 2006, 11:26:

re driving from Ecuador to North coast To 'expatriate' - thanks for info. I need the car as I want to drive around the coast north and East of Cartagena and will be there for some weeks.

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Gator says on Nov 16, 2006, 11:47:

I Have... made the same trip, Pasto to Cali, as Expatriate and his information is good. It's about 400 km, 9+ hours would be good time. Por favor, no night travel. Be sure and check out what paperwork you will need to cross the frontier with the car.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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tim hickman7 says on Nov 17, 2006, 15:08:

Re Gator's comment OK thanks - I think all paper work, car insurance etc., visas etc for Columbia is available at the border although not quite sure how long all that is good for. I am heading up to the Santa Marta area, national parks, Minca and places.

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robi666 (Trustee board) says on Nov 17, 2006, 16:06:

Tim, if you are heading up to Santa Marta, it is better to take the road from Medellin to Barbosa, Signeros, Puerto Berrio, up trough Cesar, to Cienaga. Take the road to Valdivia, Planeta Rica, Sincelejo if you want to visit Cartagena first. Gas is cheaper in Cesar then in Medellin or in Magdalena, so plan ahead. Some roads will be closed at night, like the way from Sincelejo to Barranquilla or Cartagena. Trucks and buses are the greatest danger on road, be carefull. The drivers are bloody motherfucker and do not care about rules... even if sometimes they meet someone who take it personally... when you are in Santa Marta ask about the killed truck driver on the troncal del caribe something like three weeks ago.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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tim hickman7 says on Nov 18, 2006, 07:28:

driving from Ecuador to Santa Marta OK robi - thanks for very useful info as I may bypass Cartagena. I shall only travel during the day. Have same problem here in Ecuador re buses and trucks. Drive in the middle of the road at full speed, drivers sometimes half drunk - roads diabolical. My vehicle is diesel so maybe more economical.

Have not yet found anyone who has made the border crossing near Tulcan - the formalities, vehicle insurance, visas, hassles etc

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 18, 2006, 10:29:

We did but was 15 years ago We did, but the other way round we drove from Bogota to Ecuador, but it was 15 years ago so i don't know if anyhting have change since, the only think i remembered was we were in a hire car and we had trouble on the border because they wanted the original papers of the car. Thank God we were with my dad and he talked to the guy in charge and my dad being a lawyer gave him a good excuse and he let us throught, we went to Quito, Baños, La Puyo, cotopaxi natural park, Otavalo, etc

BTW we did this trip 3 days after we came back from another one Cartagena-Bogota
On the way back we didn't have any problems only a couple of flat tyres a broken windscreen from a stone trown by a passing truck, in Cali we changed the tyres, we passed a little town at night that the guerrilla just been there but the only thing that attacked us was the mosquitos, apart from that we didn't have not problem whatsoever.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 18, 2006, 10:50:

It is a very long trip specially to Cartagena but you will see beautiful landscape, variety of climates, food and people, avoid driving at night and choose very well with towns you will want to spend the night.

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robi666 (Trustee board) says on Nov 18, 2006, 12:49:

About police...
Actually About police...
Actually they are using laser guns in Cesar. Check your speed. If they get you, ask him "me puede collaborar por favor?" and go back to your car... pass 40.000 in his hand while he's leaning from the window and that's all. Normal fine would be around two "salarios minimo". But if you don't plan to drive back there again, just make them do the paper and then trash it out the window.
There should be no laser check on the way from Medellin to Cartagena.
Laser check from Barranquilla to Cartagena.
Also, remember to turn on the lights. 20.000 would do good in case they stop you for having your lights off.
Remember that police in Antioquia would hardly accept money. They will sometimes, but you have to be a good actor and play it well.
Be prepared to be stopped several times and your bags checked.
It is annoying and sometimes I don't stop when asked to do so... I look at the other side and just drive away. But I cannot recommend doing so, it's just a kind of feeling to know when you can do it, hard to explain.
Food is normally very bad on the way (kat?), pay attention to where the truck drivers stop to eat.
Finally, you will find the worst policemen on the way from Sabana Larga, to Malambo, Soledad, South Barranquilla... trying to get your money for everything and when they will see that they can't, they will ask you some money for a Coca Cola. If you are sure that you have nothing to hide, just be serious and don't give them confidence. Not rude, but do not smile.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 18, 2006, 13:34:

Yep robi666 I agree with you about the policemen on the south of Barranquilla they did try with us too but we refused and they did ask for the coke. and about food well depend where you stop but we did stop in cocorna there were lots of truck drivers there and the food was nice and we stayed in their hotel because it was getting late. but damm truck drivers they woke up us at 5am with their noisy enginess.

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tim hickman7 says on Nov 19, 2006, 12:40:

driving from Ecuador to Santa Marta Thanks Robi again - great info. Going to print this stuff out and take with me. Re hotels to stay - can't buy Colombia guide in English here but might find something at border. Tim

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tim hickman7 says on Nov 19, 2006, 12:44:

driving from Ecuador to Santa Marta Well, if its such a long trip maybe I wont come back to Ecuador! I am considering re-locating anyhow - reason for trip actually. Anyhow I am collecting much useful info now
thanks - Tim

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