Ipiales

Ipiales is a city close to the Ecuadorian border in Colombia. It is a obligatory stop over on your way to Ecuador. There is nothing much to see except the spectacular Iglesia de las Lajas (See Get Out). Get in The bus station is a bit out of town, but there are collectivos to the centre. There are frequent buses to Pasto and further north. Collectivos will bring you to Rumichaca for the border 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 is at walking distance on the other side. From here there are collectivos to Tulcan. Don't sell your dollars on the border, the exchange rate is bad. Cars from Ipiales to the border leave from the bus terminal and cost 1500COP. They leave 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 0.75$. You can choose to get off at the city center or at the bus terminal. Get around See The colourful Saturday Market at the "Plaza Los Mártires", 10 minutes walk from the town center. Do Buy Eat Veggie option: Pan de Vida: Calle 16 #7-69. For $5000 a soup, main dish, drink and dessert. Drink 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 home made honey, and the owners are friendly. Sleep 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. Get out 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$1900, 15 minutes) or a taxi (COP$9000). 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. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!