http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Colombia , Ipiales en-us Fri, 11 Dec 09 00:14:01 +0000 Fri, 11 Dec 09 00:14:01 +0000 Day 735 03.04.09Having recharged our batteries it was time to make a move and face the bone thumping journey back to Popayan not a prospect that brought joy to our morning. We could have carried on south from here but had been advised that both the condition of the road and amount of Guerrilla activity in the area made it better to retrace our steps to Popayan before heading south to Ecuador.P http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/blog-388299.html I have just crossed the boarder from Tucan Ecuador to Ipialas Colombia and it was surprisingly easy. We had absolutely no problems for the first time everything went incredibly smoothly.The night before entering Colombia I sat at the bar in the Secret Garden Hostel Quito Ecuador nervously discussing the safest approach into Colombia. We talked to other travellers heading south and got http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/blog-347935.html The crossing from Otavalo Ecuador to Ipiales Colombia went very well 20 min taxi journey to Ibarra Ecuador 3 hour bus ride from Ibarra to Tulcan Ecuador then a 5 min taxi ride to the Ecuadorian border. No queues whatsoever so we were stamped out of the country within 5 mins. A short walk then over the bridge where the Colombian flag and sign welcomed us. Again no queues so we were stamp http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/blog-269678.html one of final tourist visits in my favourite latin american country so far of Colombia deep in the south on the border with Ecuador in another apparent no go zone according to many from the Uk and the foreign office too. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/blog-209893.html will add blog soon http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/blog-199082.html For more photos including some of actual people check out Katies flickr site KatiesPhotos Colombia has always been something of an enigma to me. Growing up I believed as Irsquom sure most you did too that it was an inherently dangerous place like it was usually portrayed within the media or by popular culture. In researching the country before I came I even found one red neck American we http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/blog-146082.html To get our Ecuadorian Visas that will allow us to stay in Ecuador for more than six months you have to leave the country and file the paperwork in a consulate located in another country. They prefer that we do this paperwork in the states before we come to Ecuador The closest US consulate was in San Francisco. The closest consulate to Quito is in Ipiales in Southern Colombia. We had heard http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/blog-145883.html First thing was a 'collectivo' shared minibus taxi to the border. Then getting an exit stamp from Colombia before walking through noman's land to the Ecuador side. Here you pay 200 if you forgot to get your exit stamp but we were obviously fine so went off and found another collectivo for the few miles to the first Ecuadorian town. When we pulled up in front of the almost deserted bus stat http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Ipiales/blog-93063.html