Are you deciding to enter Ecuador by land by crossing the border between Colombia and Ecuador? Read further to save you moments of confusion and trouble at the border.

Crossing from Colombia to Ecuador

If you want to enter Ecuador from Colombia, you will have three options to cross borders. The first and most popular one is from Ipiales. Another option would be from San Miguel or Monte Alto-Tumaco. The last two cities are less popular and a little more complicated.

What do you need to cross the border to Ecuador?

First of all, to enter Ecuador, you will need a valid passport. Please make sure that your passport is valid for another six months, do not bring a copy of your passport. Only the original one will be allowed. If you are a national from any South American country (except for Venezuela), you can enter with your national ID card (cédula).

Second, you need to fill in a health declaration. If you are entering Ecuador for more than one day, you will need to fill in this form. Besides that, you will also need to show a vaccination card or a negative RT-PCR (taken no more than 72 hours before). This applies to anyone older than three years old.

Lastly, always double-check if you need a visa to enter Ecuador. In general, foreigners do not need a visa to enter Ecuador for up to 90 days. However, some nationalities do require a visa when they want to visit Ecuador.

When crossing the border, you are leaving one country and entering another. It is essential to get a stamp from both countries. First, go to the office of the Colombian officials to get your exit stamp. Once you get this stamp, you need to go to the Ecuadorian immigration office to get your entry stamp. This stamp counts as your visa, and with this, you have the right to stay in Ecuador for 90 days (3 months). The waiting line can vary from ten minutes to several hours. No authorities are telling you what to do, you can go freely in and out of the border, but when you have a departure flight from Ecuador, you will be in trouble if you do not have your entry stamp, so don’t forget to visit both offices!

How do you get to the border of Ecuador and Colombia?

Ipiales – Rumichaca – Tulcan

To get to Tulcan in Ecuador, you will need to go to the city called Ipiales in Colombia. Depending on where you are in Colombia you can take a bus to Ipiales. Once you arrive at the bus station, you will already see a sign that says “A la Frontera,” which means “to the border.” You will need to follow these signs because from here a van leaves to the border to the international bridge called Rumichaca. The ride won’t take more than 20 minutes and brings you right where you need to be. The ride should not cost too much (around 1,000 COP).

It can be pretty busy at the border. Try to arrive during the day so you won’t have to wait at the border when it is getting dark. At night times, it is not the safest to be traveling. For this reason, I would consider spending the night in Tulcan once you cross the border or arrive a day earlier to Ipiales so you can cross the border early in the morning and continue your trip to Quito.

Ipiales – Tulcan

San Miguel – La Puente – Lago Agrio

This border point is in the jungle and is not recommended. However, if you want to visit Cuyabeno and the Amazon forest, it might be a border for you to cross as it is closer to the Ecuadorian rainforest. I must add that it is more of a challenge. You would have to travel to San Miguel or La Hormiga and find a taxi or truck to take you to the international bridge that crosses the San Miguel river. You will have to walk the bridge to cross. On both sides of the bridge, officials will check your documents.

Once you cross the border, the first city you will encounter in Ecuador is Lago Agrio. This city is almost an hour away. You can take a bus from El Puente to Lago Agrio; here, you can get your entry stamp (or exit stamp if you are leaving Ecuador).

Monte Alto – Palmareal – San Lorenzo

This border is on the coast and is the most dangerous and adventurous of all three. Always check the latest advice on this border stop before crossing here. You will travel by boat from Tumaco to San Lorenzo. You will need to change ships in Palmareal, and this is where the actual border is.

How do I cross the border from Ecuador to Colombia?

If you want to leave Ecuador to visit Colombia by land, you must go to the same cities. But this time, the other way around. So if you want to cross the border between Tulcan – Ipiales, you first need to arrive in Tulcan. From here, you can cross the border to Ipiales and take a bus to anywhere in Colombia. You will need to get an exit stamp from Ecuador, and an entry stamp from Colombia.

Important last notes

When you are at the border, please be cautious. Do not believe anyone and think twice. Many people are wandering around, trying to scam you. Please do not give your documents to anyone else besides the immigration officers in their office.

If you have some Colombian pesos leftover, try to exchange them at the border for USD. You will probably need cash to pay for a taxi or bus once you cross the bridge to Ecuador.

• Do not forget to get a stamp from the leaving country
• Do not forget a stamp from the country you are entering
• Always arrive in time to the border so you have enough time to arrive to your next destination in daylight
• Be cautious for scammers