Border crossing Colombia – Ecuador
What do you need?
》Passport.
》Reservation at a hotel (recommended).
》Extra Colombian Pesos to exchange for US Dollars, or additional pinned Dollars (currency in Ecuador).
》A health form that you buy at the border (1,000 pesos/$0.25) and fill out.
》Vaccination certificate or negative result of a PCR or antigen test.
Colombia and Ecuador are connected by land and have multiple border crossings. The most famous and common is the border crossing at Ipiales (Colombia) and Tulcán (Ecuador). The border crossing is called Rumichaca.
From Ipiales you take a taxi to the border, this costs about 10,000 pesos/€2.50 for 10 minutes. Make sure to get your exit stamp from Colombia before crossing the bridge to Ecuador. The Colombia Immigration Office where you stop has two parts, the right side is for the exit stamp and the left is for if you want to enter Colombia. Walk in on the right side, wait at a counter and there you will get your exit stamp from Colombia. You will meet people who can exchange money before, on and after the bridge. It is useful to view the exchange rate in advance, so that you know what a reasonable exchange is. Exchanging money at this border is fine.
Then you cross the yellow bridge to Ecuador. In times of Covid-19, there is a white tent at the end where you will be asked for your vaccination certificate/negative test result. They also ask for a completed health form, which you can get across the road for 1,000 pesos or $ 0.25 (1 per family). This form will be signed and then you can enter the Ecuador immigration office. There you will need your passport and health form and you will receive your entrance stamp.
Then you can take a taxi (which are already ready) to Tulcán. This is a ride of about 20 minutes and costs between $3 – $5. If you want to go to the bus station, tell the taxi driver clearly otherwise you will be dropped off in the center.
There are several bus companies at the bus terminal, each with their own counter. Several go to the same destinations. There are people walking around who will ask you where you want to go. For example, if you want to go to Otavalo or Quito, you can go with the bus company San Cristobal. It seemed like the buses go quite regularly (every hour). At the counter you need your passport number (cedula), but this can only be a number. It doesn’t matter what you say. You will receive a piece of paper with the bus number, departure time and seat number on it. Then walk to the left, there you have to buy a QR code ($0.25, total no matter how many you are), at a sign “para ingresar” to be allowed in. Then you walk further to the left, go down (bajo) and you arrive at the departure hall. Buses are waiting there and you can search for your bus number. The buses in Ecuador leave on time.
Border crossing Peru – Ecuador
What do you need?
》Passport.
》Reservation at a hotel (recommended).
》Extra Peruvian Sol to exchange to US Dollars, or extra pinned Dollars (currency in Ecuador).
》A health form that you buy at the border (1,000 pesos/$0.25) and fill out.
》Vaccination certificate or negative result of a PCR or antigen test.
If you travel from Peru to Ecuador, you can do so at the border crossing north of Jaén (Perú) to continue to Loja (Ecuador). This border crossing is called La Balsa. A more common border crossing is at Huaquillas and Zarumilla, near the coast.
A number of things are good to know for the border crossing at Huaquillas and Zarumilla. Firstly, it can get quite busy during the day at this border crossing and it is good to take long(er) waiting times into account. This border crossing is not very safe because of stories about taxi drivers who take you from the border and know that you (often) do not yet have cash in the new currency. They make use of this by taking you to a bank and then asking a lot of money from you. The border has now been made safer and you no longer have to go from migration office to migration office, because both are located in 1 building.
If you want to cross the border in an easier and safer way, you can choose to take a night bus. Several bus companies cross the border with you at night, when it is quiet, so that you do not have to transfer to another bus. Bus company Cruz del Sur runs from Lima (and Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura and Máncora) directly to Guayaquil. There are more bus companies that run to Guayaquil from Máncora or just before the border. Buses run directly to Terminal Terrestre Guayaquil.
If you want to continue your journey to Cuenca, there are 2 bus companies that run daily from Chiclayo, Piura or Máncora directly to Cuanca, namely Super Semeria Internacional and Azuay. Prices and departure times depend on where you depart from. The buses arrive at Terminal Terrestre Cuenca. For the buses to Cuemca, the seats cannot be fully horizontal.
The border crossing is quite easy. In times of Covid-19, you will be asked for your vaccination certificate/negative test result. You will receive a small piece of paper for this and you then continue to the immigration office. This is a shared office for both countries. Take care first
your exit stamp (salida) from Perú and then get your entrance stamp at the Ecuador counter. When you have both stamps, get back on the same bus and continue your journey. Once at the bus station, there are plenty of ATMs to withdraw cash.
Always good to keep in mind:
》Always keep all your things with you, even if people say you can put them somewhere.
》Never buy anything from someone who has no official papers or uniform. Everything that is really necessary is done in the official buildings.
》You don’t have to pay anything if you enter Ecuador and leave Colombia or Perú. Then don’t do that.