bus from Ecuador to Peru

Crossing the Ecuador-Peru border.

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> > > We just wanted to warn other travellers as we got well and truly screwed as we crossed the border from Peru to Ecuador. Unfortuantely for us my partner was very unwell with a stomach bug when we arrived after a night bus from Trujillo to Tumbes, we were not really alert and wanted to get across the border as hassle free as possible. We had been told that there might be problems at the border due to teachers strikes. So now the scene is set for you. We took a Dorado bus from Trujillo to Tumbes. A man introduced himself to us as we got off the bus, he said that he worked for CIFA bus company, this is the only bus company we knew that worked across the border from Peru to Ecuador. Otherwise this boarder crossing involves taxis, combi buses and collectivos. From Tumbes it takes 30 minutes to get to Agua Verdes the Peruvian border and then immigration is 2 kms from the frontier and then Ecuadorian immigration is 5 kms beyond that, outside of Huaquillas. He told us that no buses were travelling across the border from Peru due to the teachers strikes which were due to start at 09:00 hours and if we needed to cross the border today we had to hurry, (we did as we were due to get a flight out of Ecuador the next morning). He said he would take us to Peruvian immigration to get our exit stamp and then take us to the CIFA bus station in Ecuador where we could get a bus to our next destination and our entry stamp. We thought this was the answer to all our problems and took the car with him. Alarm bells started ringing as there was another "colleague" of his in the car and when we were speeding towards the border we realised in all the confusion we had not asked for ID. He started telling stories of other travellers who had been injured trying to cross the border and that was why CIFA was sending people to pick up travellers from the bus stations. I decided when we got to Peruvian Immigration we would say goodbye, but because my partner was so weak and we got our stamps without any problems as our driver chatted away to the police we thought we would be OK, BIG MISTAKE. When we crossed the frontier he turned in to the Huaquillas market, we drove a couple of blocks and a policeman (we assume) stopped us and fined us for a safe passage. The driver gave 300 soles and then told us we also had to pay 160 USD to pass. We said we did not have that money and were told to give him what we had which was 100 USD. He then drove us to a car park where we were locked in and told we had to pay 100USD to cover his fine and 200USD more for him to help us get out of this situation and get our entry stamp. He said that we were in a very unsafe area for gringos that the police were corrupt and if we did not give him the money he did not know what would happen and it was not his problem. I think if we had felt stronger we would have put up more of a fight but after about 30 minutes, my partner was escorted to an ATM and told to take out 400USD. He was then returned safely to the car and we were told to take our bags and follow them to another car. We passed a couple of policemen and my partner stopped to say we had a problem, these two men have robbed us, their reply was "It was not their problem". We were put in to another car with another driver who escorted us to Ecuadorian immigration where he chatted to the police so we could not inform them what had happened and then we were put on a CIFA bus out of town.
There were no border problems, we had just been stung out of 520 USD. I know it could have been worse. We reported the crime to the tourist police, but as we were in the wrong district and it was not worse (we were not hurt and we still have our passports) there is nothing they can do. They told us to let other travellers know about this scam so they can be warned. We are very embarrassed that after 6 months of travelling we were taken in by this scam and we did not take our own advice. So just as a helpful note to anyone travelling (I know you all probably doing this anyway) but always give yourselves 5 minutes after a bus journey to get your barings before accepting anything like accommodation, taxi rides etc, when there are border problems ask people what is going on, do not just trust the person that is trying to sell you something and most importantly ALWAYS, ALWAYS ask for and check ID´s.

This is the kind of stuff that is deeply traumatizing if you experience it yourself. Hope you deal with it well and it does not put you off travelling... I only lost 20 US$ to moneychangers with a rigged calculator when I crossed that border in 1993... My advice would not be "always check IDs" but NEVER TRUST OR FOLLOW A STRANGER IN A BORDER AREA - do not walk with them, do not talk with them, do not allow ANYONE under ANY excuse to guide you, get transport for you, share a vehicle, assist or even watch you closely or stand near you while dealing with money or border officials....

Thanks for alerting us. Everyone should take his time and not rush upon arrival in a new/strange city/station. As I have mentioned before, my practice upon arrival at a new airport/train/bus station is to take my time. If I am not on a tight schedule I sit down, have some coffee, read my travel guide or local newspaper, etc. (in Kolkotta I had my shoes shined.) I walk around and start looking for the different transportation available to my lodging. (At the train station in Luxor I hailed down an old man with a donkey cart who surprisingly agreed to drive me to the hotel!) When touts approach I kindly put them off; eventually they leave me alone. I walk around the station as if I own the place. After I am rested and well oriented and informed then, and only then, do I move on.

* I do not think asking for ID would have helped, he probably had a fake CIFA ID anyway. As I have written before on this forum, if someone approaches you it means he wants something from you. AVOID! If you choose for yourself who to go with, you minimize the risk of getting caught in something like this. Of course, in practice it is not easy to constantly be on your guard, which is why these things can happen to travelers with some experience too. Thanks for sharing your story with us. What I find most worrying is how the police seemed to know what was going on and did not care... (perhaps they were paid part of your money?)

Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

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* I did Quito to Lima by bus and had no problems. There was a single girl sitting next to me and plenty of other single female and they all survived with all their possessions in tact. Most of the largest bus companies will give you a claim ticket for your checked bag...and keep a leg looped around your bag on the bus. Also...try for directo service so the amount of stops inbetween are minimal. This trip takes 30 hours.

Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

Transportes Loja, departure at 7am from Loja to Piura. This is the safest route.

I second Transportes Loja. They'll take you through the whole border crossing process. It's safe and fine, but if you feel concerned, it's nice to have the bus and all your fellow passengers with you the whole time.

Definitely do the direct (Transportes Loja) bus from Loja, Ecuador to Piura, Peru. The border crossing on this route (at Macara) is very safe, the bus drops you off on the Ecuadorian side of the river, you get your Ecuador stamp then walk across the bridge to the Peru side and get your Peruvian stamp, where the bus will be waiting for you. No queues, no hassle, and no dodgy taxi drivers trying to extort money from you.

The coastal border crossing between Tumbes and Huaquillas is notoriously bad, we met many people on the road that got ripped off on that road, so best to avoid it!

Thanks for all the great info!!!!

Hi,

we´re in Loja now and will travel tomorrow morning to Peru @ 7 am with Transportes Loja.

we´ll update you in a couple of days as to how it goes

Taffski

Agree with the Transportes Loja from Loja to Piura.... we took the night bus, and (the typical story) several tourists had things stolen from their carry-ons in the night. So of course keep it all literally ON your person, whatever bus you take. Otherwise fine, stopped at the border, all was well!

Another note: Although of course the day bus is advisable to the night, the other hand of this is that you will need to find a hostal at night once you arrive in Piura (so choose whether to brave a bus at night, or the Piura streets!)

Good luck!

When I used it, the bus arrived in Piura around 4 pm... may be later on some days... inside the arival terminal, there are a few guys who approach you with ID tags and they can be trusted as they are accredited taxi drivers (checked by the bus station staff). If you are easily scared, use their taxis for safety.

An option is to immediately take a taxi to the "Transportes Linea" terminal some 3 blocks away, and jump on the next bus to Chiclayo, where you will arrive in time for dinner. As a first stop in Perú, I liked Chiclayo more than Piura. The bus station area in Piura is a bit hectic and not the best place for first-time visitors...