Get in
[edit]The bus station is a bit out of town, but there are collectivos the center.
There are frequent buses to Pasto (1h30 - COP$15,000) and Popayan. Collectivos will bring you to Rumichaca for the border crossing if you go to Ecuador. The border crossing is quite easy and straightforward. The Colombian DAS-office is on one site of the bridge and the Ecuadorian office in on walking distance on the other side. From there are collectivos to Tulcán (0.75$). Don't sell your dollars on the border, the exchange rate is bad.
Cars from Ipiales to the frontier leave from the bus terminal and cost COP$1,500. They let you at the Colombian immigration control. After the formalities in both police controls, a minivan in the Ecuadorian side will take you to Tulcán for US$0.75. You can choose to get off at the city center or at the bus terminal.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- The colourful Saturday Market at the "Plaza Los Mártires", 10 minutes' walk from the town center.
- Sanctuario de las Lajas, a cathedral spectacularly built on a bridge over the Guaitara river. Its construction lasted from 1916 to 1949 and was financed by local churchgoers. To get there take a collectivo (COP$3'000 - 15 minutes) or a taxi (COP$9'000). Collectivos leave from 2 blocks east of the Cathedral. Definitely worth a visit, including the museum (COP$1500), but watch for "Gringo Pricing" at the food stands overlooking the church, ask first.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]
The specialty is cuy (coo-ee), which is guinea pig. Best place to eat them is in the Carco barrio (outskirts of the town, heading to the Lajas church.)
Veggie option:
- Pan de Vida: Calle 16 #7-69. For COP$5,000, you get a soup, main dish, drink and dessert.
Drink
[edit]Wonderful Jugo bar just off the main Plaza to the north west -- try the Uvillo Completo (COP$3,000, and worth every penny) or the Alfalfa (COP$1,300). The "Completos" are made with honey, and the owners are friendly.
Sleep
[edit]There are a lot of hotels near the bus terminal, e.g. Hotel San Jose: double for 50,000 COP with wifi and private bathroom.
- Hotel Belmonte, Carrera 4a No. 12-111, 2-773-2771, is a family-run hotel with clean rooms with television. Prices: COP$12,000 for a single, COP$18,000/double.
Go next
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