Just crossed from Colombia into Ecuador at Ipiales. No carnet, some problems, not helped by two gringo geniuses on an XT turning up a fornight before and deciding to do one without sorting the paperwork. Customs were double unhappy. Nice work, kids - that border will be awkward for some time now. Twats.
Entonces. Arrive early, and during the week - the main customs office isn't open over weekends - as I found out when I bounced up on Saturday morning, couldn't get the bike in till Monday, couldn't get back into Colombia. The Dakar spent the weekend locked to a lamp post at the frontier.
Without a carnet, you get transit permission. They started at 3 days, I swore and begged and got 8 days and smiled some more and got 15. Since increased to a month in Quito, at the airport aduana, with very little fuss.
None of these problems affect the lucky few who fly in and seem to be automatically offered anything up to 90 days.
No payments anywhere. Slow, but not bent. And beautiful once you're in.
Any more details needed, post here or email me.
Cheers, Dan Walsh
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Que el cielo exista, aunque mi lugar sea el infierno...
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