Travel by road from Quito to Popayon?

Gator says on Apr 22, 2004, 20:21:

I would be careful... but you would probably(boldfaced and underlined) be O.K. This area of Colombia and this road in particular is not considered safe. However, there are increased army patrols in this area. Could you afford to fly?

DO NOT UNDERTAKE THIS TRIP EXCEPT IN DAYLIGHT HOURS!

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

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Erik says on Apr 22, 2004, 20:38:

Nice places to stop I did the same in December last year. Had no problems at all but this road has a reputation that isn't that good. Just travel during the day which is safest and there are many nice place on the road to stop for a few days. (Ipiales - Las lajas, Pasto - La Cocha and also many nice places in Ecuador).
See for more info my site.
www.backpackingforlife.com/southamerica

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ShazCas says on Apr 23, 2004, 09:09:

Pasto - Popayan Hi,

Just to give you another opinion, I lived in Bogota from 1997 until 2002 and bussed around quite happily, and in July 2002 I went from Bogota to Manizales, Manizales - Cali and then Cali - Pasto. From Pasto I went to Otavalo in Ecuador which is near Quito. I had no worries about bussing around, except for the stretch between Popayan and Pasto. This is not so much because of guerillas as due to bandits who rob buses and have been known to do so by day as well. I actually went to the bother of buying a plane ticket just from Cali to Pasto because of that stretch of road. Now I could have chanced it and been ok, but I didn't want all my stuff stolen on the start of a 3 month backpacking trip. Plus, guerillas are very unlikely to kidnap you on a bus as bus companies pay them to leave them alone, and they usually know beforehand who they are going to kidnap. Bandits, however, are a diffreent kettle of fish. Those were the motives behind my decision. On the other hand there are hardly bandits robbing buses every single day!! So really, your decision depends on a) the current security situation, and b) your priorities. Will you have anything valuable to steal? Are prepared are you to accept the consequences if something does happen? Would you rather pay for a plane ticket? (mine was only $40) Everyone has different views on these types of risks, and really it's up to you. Just don't go with yur eyes closed, thinking it's 100% definite that nothing will happen. The Quito - Pasto stretch and Cali - Bogota stretches are usually fine by day, however.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 23, 2004, 12:35:

Shaz Did you travel alone?

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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ShazCas says on Apr 24, 2004, 03:55:

Travel I travelled with my husband. I know I sounded a bit negative, and generally I would have thought nothing about hopping on a bus from Bogota to Cartagen, for example. Those buses go direct, and like I said, the guerilla geenrally leave them alone. Whe you think about it, thousands of buses cross the country every day, and how often do you hear of a bus being stopped and people being kidnapped. Bout once a year? I just hate to tell people "you'll be ok" because you take on that responsibility and what if they're not ok? I suppose the unknown scares you more, and because I didn't know that part of the country at all I was more wary. But you never know, maybe the whole scare is exaggerated.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 24, 2004, 09:34:

travel by bus I think that when the locals abstain from traveling themselves on certain stretches (if they don't have to) it's a pretty good indicator that you as a foreigner should do the same. Of course, the guerrilla don't target on a gringo backpacker, they are not just profitable enough, but I have the same problem as you: I'd hate something happen to people who go to Colombia for the first time maybe, after you told them here or on some other forum that it's safe and that those travel advisories are a gross exaggeration.
I did that bus trip too, once, but that was a very long time ago, from Cali to Popayan, Pasto and the Ecuador border, together with my boyfriend, and it was mostly just uncomfortable. The scenery was worth the effort, though, and we also stopped at La Lajas Sanctuary, which is totally awesome, and still there, as far as I know.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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