has anyone travelled from Colombia to Ecuador

goin_south says on Jun 23, 2008, 22:28:

Latingirl.... hola!
Now, if it wasn't you, I would be cajoling the other person.
But, I am going to tell you straight up: be careful. why are you going and for what?
My novia had some harrowing experiences ... two times in the past 15 months, going across that border. I mean, there is no 'love lost' between the ecuadorians and colombians, then or.... NOW! si?...... no?

Siiiiiiiii !

Ciao! Gustav.

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Liam101 says on Jun 24, 2008, 01:43:

I crossed it without any problems and know many others who have. I crossed it at Ipiales (naturally make sure you see the cathedral). I wouldn't say too much caution is needed but as with any borders in that part of the world do it during the day. Taxi's take you to customs to get your passport stamped and then there's taxi's on the other side to take you to the nearest town. If i remember correctly we went straight to Octavalo for the market.

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durito says on Jun 24, 2008, 11:21:

I´ve crossed it dozens of times. In fact I´m in Ecuador right now.

Otavalo is only a couple hours from the border and its only 2 more hours from there to quito. where specifically where you thinking of going?

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latingirl says on Jun 24, 2008, 11:50:

Hi there guys! My parents used to travel a lot to Quita and Guayaquil when I was young for business and pleasure, obviously they flew..

We want to go to these cities? Is it feasible or worthwhile to go there by bus from one of the border towns? Just as in Colombia, you can go to any of the major cities/towns by bus, is this system similiar in Ecuador?
Thanks!

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durito says on Jun 24, 2008, 13:02:

Yes, you can get anywhere by bus very easily in Ecuador. And the country is quite small so it´s a lot easier to visit lots of places than Colombia. Getting to the border and Ipiales would probably be your longest trip, unless you live in Pasto.

South of Cali I´d stay on the interamericana and only travel by day (in colombia, once in ecuador night buses are fine). The border is very straightforward and one of the easiest I´ve crossed in South America. Check out the church Las Lajas near Ipiales while you are there, it´s amazing. You can take a taxi or minibus into the first town in Ecuador, I think it´s Tulcan. From there they´ll have frequent buses to Quito (5-6 hours), or you can get off in Otavalo and explore the northern mountains which is a really great area.

Guayaquil is about 8 hours I think by bus from Quito and theres probably a bus leaving every 20 minutes all day and night. There´s numerous interesting places you can stop along the way if so desire.

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Morrongo says on Jun 24, 2008, 14:51:

Without going over ground 'durito' has accurately described, 2/3 dollars taxi from immigration to Tulcan terminal.Depends where you want to go from there? frontera Ecuador to Peru is 24hrs.. lots of Hotels in Tulcan 5/10 dollars if required.....Yes, easy to bus around total Ecuador

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getting better says on Jun 24, 2008, 15:56:

If you cross the border into Ecuador and come back into Colombia via a small border crossing when it is not open to stamp the passport, you have to go back to the border, when it is open, cross unoffically into Ecuador and then get the exit stamp and enter Cololmbia offically again.
It is very easy to cross the border, the problem is to have the stamps in the passport consitent with with which side of the border you are on!

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goin_south says on Jun 24, 2008, 17:01:

But, you see the rest of these posters are gringos, Latingirl.
If you are colombiana, then it might be yet a different story.

Ciao! Gustav.

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