Border Ecuador-Colombia by Tulcán-Ipiales (Rumichaca bridge)

                                                (24 hours open, from $ 1.6, 1 hour, Rumichaca bridge,2763 msl)
The border by Tulcan - Rumichaca - Ipiales is the most popular of the three border crossings between Ecuador and Colombia. The borders are linked by a bridge over the Carchi river (Rumichaca bridge). The border crossing is 7 km from Tulcan and 3 km from Ipiales. The border crossing is very easy to do and it is open 24 hours a day.

Between the Rumichaca bridge and Tulcan (Ayora Park, Calle Coral and Calle Venezuela) there are shared busses ($ 0.8, 15min), shared taxis ($ 1.5, 10 min) or private taxi ($ 3.5, 10 min).

Before crossing the bridge on foot, you have to register the exit / entrance of both Ecuador and Colombia in the offices. The crossing is free of document control but you have to carry out the legalization in each point.

Between the bridge of Rumichaca and Ipiales (14th Street between Carrera 7 and Carrera 10), there are shared busses (COP2000, 6min), shared taxi (COP4000, 6min) or taxis (COP9000, 4min).

Currently (MAR2019) the border is congested from Colombia to Ecuador by the large number of migrants who want to enter Ecuador so you have to have a lot of patience to do the procedures. You also have to be careful in the amount of things that are brought into Ecuador since there are restrictions on the entry of merchandise. As a rule you can only pass with personal items. To know which items can be passed without paying taxes check: https://www.aduana.gob.ec/viajeros-por-via-terrestre/

To cross the border by car you need to fill out a Sworn Tourist Statement (DJT) among other documents. However, between Ecuadorian and Colombian cars it is not necessary to do the paperwork within the Border Integration Zone (ZIF). ZIF of Ecuador: provinces of Carchi, Sucumbíos, Imbabura and Esmeraldas. ZIF of Colombia: Departments of Nariño and Putumayo.

Both the interprovincial bus terminals of Ipiales and Tulcan can take buses to the main cities of Colombia or Ecuador. In the case of having time, you can visit the Sanctuary and Las Lajas on the Colombian side or the Tulcan cementery in the center of the Ecuadorian city.

                                        

                                                        BY BUS:
From Quito to Tulcan ($6, 5 hours)
From Ibarra to Tulcan ($3, 2.5 hours)
From Otavalo to Tulcan ($3.5, 3 hours)
                                                        
                                                    

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