Ecuador

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From Drive the Americas

Contents 1 Basic Facts 2 Border Crossing Information 2.1 Entry Requirements 2.1.1 Necessary documents 2.1.2 Procedure 2.2 Exit Requirements 2.2.1 Necessary documents 2.2.2 Procedure 2.3 Individual Experiences 3 Roads and Driving 3.1 Gas Prices 4 Camping and Hotels 4.1 Highlands 4.2 Beaches

[edit] Basic Facts

• Population: 13,922,000
• Capital: Quito
• Fun Fact: Ecuador also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 965 kilometers (600 miles) west of the mainland.

Ecuador

[edit] Border Crossing Information

[edit] Entry Requirements

[edit] Necessary documents

• Passport (1 copy)
• Vehicle title (1 copy)
• Registration (1 copy) - may also be requested
• International Drivers License - a copy may also be requested
• Vehicle Insurance - presented only. The official here told us that only nationals needed the Ecuadorian vehicle insurance SOAT, we were not asked for it at police checks.

[edit] Procedure

Go first to migracion and fill out the Andean Immigration card. Make sure to hold on to the half of the card they give back to you - you'll need it to leave the country. Once you've processed the entry paperwork and the officials have scanned your passport, head to Aduana to process the temporary vehicle import paperwork. The official will make sure the paperwork matches the car, and then you're set to go. Painless and efficient.

[edit] Exit Requirements

[edit] Necessary documents

• Vehicle Import permit
• Tarjeta andina (received when you entered Ecuador)

[edit] Procedure

After getting your Ecuadorian exit stamp in your passport and surrendering your tarjeta andina head to customs to surrender the original import permit. Nothing more is required.

[edit] Individual Experiences

People's experiences vary depending on crowds at the border, corrupt or honest border officials, and rules can also change. People's individual experiences are included here.

[edit] Roads and Driving

[edit] Gas Prices

Prices are in US Dollars Per Gallon

June, 2008: $1.50 gallon of regular

Conversion: 1L=0.26 gallons

[edit] Camping and Hotels

[edit] Highlands

Quito

Hostal Jhomana, Gil Ramirez Davalos 151 (near Amazonas, in Mariscal Sucre, Quito. www.jhomana.com, 252-2566. Hot water, wireless internet, breakfast included, around $35/night. Has room for 3 cars in gated lot out front.

Casa Helbling is a great place to stay with the best mattresses ever. $2-3 breakfasts, laundry facilities, wifi, hot showers, well-equipped kitchen, fireplaces and parking for a smaller car or motorbikes. A double room was about $22USD/ night.

Banos

Hostal El Eden, 12 de Noviembre and Montalvo (about 2 blocks away from the main church, next door to Hostal Plantas y Blancas). El Eden has parking for about 4 cars, hot water, TV, and is $7/person/night. Nice clean rooms, a good deal.

Chugchilan

On the Quilotoa loop, Hostal Cloud Forest has parking. It's simple - no heat, small rooms, but breakfast and dinner are included for $10/person. They can help organize tours of the local area as well. There's only one road in town, so it's hard to miss. 593-032-814-808 info@chugchilan.com

[edit] Beaches

Montanita

Hotel Maeo, Via Olon, 225-6153. Limited TV, electric shower, and maybe a little too close to downtown Montanita since the saturday night raves in nearby bars kept us up much of the night. One of the few places downtown that has parking.

Salinas

Hotel Amira, Ave Eloy Alfaro between calle 4ta and 5ta. 04-277-0701. AC, cable TV, hot water, parking, one block off the Chipipi malecon (nice section of Salinas). $35/night.

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