Colombia Fuel Blockade - Info Wanted

[suffolk duke]

My wife and i have just entered Colombia from Ecuador only to find that lorries are blockading petrol stations! Luckily we had filled up in Ecuador.

There was no fuel in Ipiales and only a couple of petrol stations open in Pasto a bit further north but with massive ques. We have stayed the night here but not sure whether to try to que tomorrow and head further north or to return to Ecuador.

Does anyone know if petrol is easier to get further north, say Popayan upwards?

Any info appreciated!!

[suffolk duke]

UPDATE

There was no petrol in Ipiales and about 3 petrol stations open in Pasto but with massive queues. There is one queue for cars and a separate one for motos. We queued up but were only allowed to buy 10000 pesos worth, about 1.3 gallons. There was no restriction on how much diesel you could buy.

We didn't have a full tank so didn't know our range but decided to risk it and ride slowly towards Popayan - we coasted down the hills! We met a local biker going the other way who told us there was petrol before Popayan. We made it there and filled up. As we rode further more petrol stations were open so the problem seemed nearer to the border.

Hopefully we will now be ok but will update this thread as info for other travellers.

[caminito]

Hi Duke, thanks for the info, pls keep the reports coming, we are 4 days behind you and your info is most usefull!

[suffolk duke]

Hi Caminito
For your info, we got a full tank of petrol at El Estrecho, which is about 140 km north of Pasto and about 240 km from Tulcan just over the border on Ecuador. If you fill ip in Tulcan you should be ok to get to El Estrecho, assuming they still have some!

[matt1260]

I rode up from Ecuador three days ago. I filled up near the border in Ecuador and fueled up again an hour or so before Popayan.

Empty roads make for nice easy cruising and no exhaust fumes in your face!!!


NOTE: if you have Colombian plates the Ecuadorians will refuse to sell you gas near the border. Since my bike was Colombian I had to hunt for a fuel station that would cut me some slack as a foreigner and sell me $3 of gas.

[caminito]

How are you managing uup north, Duke?
Are you getting fuel easily?
And Matt ?
Ecuador side of border now has long queues for the first 50 kilometers further south all is ok, it must be the Ecuadorians returniing from a weekend in Colombia

[Forestwiz]

hello,I 'd like to know the situation ,as well as the routes you guys took?going in/out of Ecuador .what's best ,Through Cali or Neiva/Mocoa?(coming from Bogota)map links below.
thanks a lot!


https://goo.gl/n69BOr

https://goo.gl/sm9XwT

[caminito]

Crossed at ipiales, fillup 50 kilometers before border in Ecuador and make sure you have fuel to get to popayan, No fuel before, none. In Popayan as much as you want. Buy SOAT at border on bridge, immigration into Colombia takes ages.
I'm assuming you are going into Colombia
Have a photograph printed of your VIN number

[Forestwiz]

Originally Posted by caminito

Crossed at ipiales, fillup 50 kilometers before border in Ecuador and make sure you have fuel to get to popayan, No fuel before, none. In Popayan as much as you want. Buy SOAT at border on bridge, immigration into Colombia takes ages.
I'm assuming you are going into Colombia
Have a photograph printed of your VIN number

No ,i should be going out of Colombia.from Bogota to Ipiales.did u run into any of the road blocks (heard of on the news(?) or any other safety concerns? What route did u take through Cali i guess?thanks for the info!

[caminito]

Im in popayan, off to cali tomorrow
Road south of here to ecuador via ipiales is fabulous, you may meet truck convoys that will slow you down, and lots of army chaps
Do fill up in popayan and have enough fuel to get you 50 kilometers into ecuador ( that is nearly 400 kilometers) where fuel is dirt cheap
I overnighted in pasto, and ibarra on the Ecuador side
Ecuador is very organized and tidy

[Forestwiz]

Originally Posted by caminito

Im in popayan, off to cali tomorrow
Road south of here to ecuador via ipiales is fabulous, you may meet truck convoys that will slow you down, and lots of army chaps
Do fill up in popayan and have enough fuel to get you 50 kilometers into ecuador ( that is nearly 400 kilometers) where fuel is dirt cheap
I overnighted in pasto, and ibarra on the Ecuador side
Ecuador is very organized and tidy

Sounds good thanks!please keep us updated in the next few days/stops if u can on rd conditions/safety/gasoline etc

[caminito]

Road from Cali to Popayan is fine plenty of petrol

[suffolk duke]

Hi, no fuel at Ipiales, restriced to 10,000 pesos worth at Pasto but we had no problem with fuel once we got to Popayan although we did manage to fill up before that at El Estrecho - a small very friendy petrol station.

Lots of armed lorry convoys but nothing to worry about. We decided to head to Cali as we assumed fuel would be fine - it was. Only stayed a night for a Salsa lesson! Its a hot sweaty place and unless you like cities, i wouldn't bother. Had a night at Buga, a nice colonial town with famous cathedral and now in Salento in the hills and coffee region. Lovely here with good walks and fuel!

[caminito]

Hi Duke following your footsteps Salento, Jardin, medellin is my plan so far, then aim for the Caribbean
Cheers

[suffolk duke]

Hi Caminito, sounds like a good plan. Jardin is supposed to be nice. We stayed at plantation house in salento and leaving today to camp elsewhere in the coffee region. Plantstion house do a very good coffee tour - free if you stay 4 nights. We are heading the east route hopi g to bypass bogata, via zapaquira (salt cathedral), ville de leyva and san gill before heading for the coast.