Border Crossing - I would never be a drug smuggler

Trip Start Sep 22, 2010

Trip End Ongoing

Loading Map

Map your own trip!

Map Options

Show trip route

Hide lines

Where I stayed

Hotel Riviera-Sucre Otavalo

(Otavalo hotels)

Flag of Ecuador Otavalo, Ecuador
Friday, January 21, 2011

I awoke early on Friday for my and made my way to the border crossing. I arrived around 5 minutes early and while waiting outside the locked gates I was inundated with offers to exchange my money to dollars, makes me glad I brought some with me from the UK! Upon the immigration office opening I only had to wait in a queue of around 5 people and was stamped out of Colombia without any problems. Then in a rather surreal manner I made my way across a car park and an ever so small bridge and I was in Ecuador. Rather confused and not knowing where to go I must have looked like a panicked drug smuggler as I was soon ushered into a small office where the contents of my bags were searched. Every nook and cranny was checked (luckily only my bag, thank god!), and after satisfying themselves that I was indeed just a normal tourist I was pointed to the Ecuadorian immigration office where I could get my entry stamp. This office was busier than the Colombian side but it was fairly straightforward and after a little waiting I was on my way to the bus station via taxi. As the taxi pulled into the station there was a bus just about to leave for Otavalo my destination. Hurridley my bags were dragged from the boot of the taxi to the compartments under the bus. I paid the taxi driver his $2, a bargain. On boarding the bus I only had to pay $2 more for my 2 hour trip to Otavalo, I'm thinking this is going to be a great place to get around and explore cheaply!
The journey to Otavalo wasn't without drama, a bus coming from the Colombian border area seems to draw quite some attention and the bus was stopped 2 or 3 times. On one of these occasions I had to leave the bus and open up my bags so another search could be conducted, this time at roadside, I'm so glad I didn't pack my pink Calvin Kleins for half of Ecuador to see!
The scenery was again stunning on the journey and the road seemed to be in better condition than that of the main roads in Colombia. The green mountains became less rugged and more gently rounded but no less beautiful. I departed my bus on the Pan American highway just outside Otavalo, quickly a taxi eyed me lugged down with baggage, coming to my rescue the taxi took me to my hotel, a beautiful colonial building with rooms surrounding a peaceful courtyard were I was to stay for the next 3 nights. My reason for visiting Otavalo was the famous Market, wanting to be awake early to watch the market unravel and the streets fill I fell asleep early, no problem with the added tiredness f travel!