Vilcabamba, via Zumba, La Balsa (Ecuador) to San Ignacio (Peru)

I had really mixed feelings about riding this road. Butterflies were roaring in my stomach. The border crossing was one of the fastest ever!


Details on the border crossing

I crossed the border on Sunday 31.Jan2016 around 16o'clock. Customs and immigration on the Ecuador side took about 10min. Then I went to take copies of passport and bike papers for the Peru side. Besides that I changed a few dollars in one of the shops so I had some cash if needed. Nobody cared about Peto and a few locals sponsored my journey. Thank you very much!

I crossed the bridge, drove under the barrier and parked on the right side. I got the feeling of being in the wrong movie. Chickens with their little ones running all over the place. But no I was at the right place. However there was an electric cut and thus immigration guys did not want to do anything. 

Then I went to customs because that anyway takes longer. So I filled the papers by hand instead of the guy typing everything into the system and then printing the cards. Now it came REALLY handy that I took some copies on the Ecuador side where they had electricity.

Some time later customs were done, still no electricity and then also immigration people could be moved to give me my stamp manually. This process took less than 30minutes which makes this border crossing one of the fastest - no most likely THE fastest - one I ever had. Only 40 minutes in total! Of course I was honest and said "yes" on the customs form about bringing animals into the country. Meaningless as this question was, nobody cared Peto. Good that I did not invest in any vet's certificate ;)

Peru here I come!

My track through Ecuador:

About 1000km

Ecuador track and waypoints as GPX and GDB files.

Ecuador accommodations

Ibarra - Camping at Finca Sommerwind

Type: camping
Costs: 5USD/person
Dogs: free
Bike parking: besides tent
Contact: http://www.finca-sommerwind.info/
GPS: N0.38049° W78.08908°
Comment: Clean toilets and hot shower, kitchenette, restaurant, great Wifi, they seem to have also cabins.

Quito - Residence Latitude 0

Type: Room for 6+people (all for me)
Costs: 10USD/person
Dogs: free
Bike parking: free in the one and only garage
Contact: booking.com
GPS: S0.21142° W78.48541°
Comment: Clean, shared warm shower, shared toilet, TV, good Wifi, kitchen

Riobamba - Hotel Royalty

Type: Room with one queen size bed
Costs: 13.50USD/person
Dogs: free
Bike parking: secured in inner yard
Contact:
GPS: S1.65549° W78.66520°
Comment: Clean, warm shower, TV, good Wifi, free breakfast, opposite of shopping mall

Cuenca - Mallki Hostel

Type: Room with one queen size bed
Costs: 25USD
Dogs: free
Bike parking: secured in inner yard
Contact: http://www.mallkihostel.com/ and booking.com
GPS: S2.90413° W79.00713°
Comment: Shower head, common TV, Wifi (from congested and no throughput to superfast), free breakfast, kitchen, first two nights in dorm room (10USD/night).

Vilcabamba - Hosteria Paraiso

Type: Room with multiple beds
Costs: 20USD/room (special price, normally 25USD/room)
Dogs: free
Bike parking: in inner yard
Contact: +593 (0) 72640266, 072640029, 0988448057, www.hosteriaparaiso.com, hosteriaparaiso@hotmail.com
GPS: S4.25516° W79.22341°
Comment: Clean, hot shower, TV, good Wifi at reception, free breakfast, swimming pool, steam sauna, Finnish sauna at weekends

Finnish sauna and vegan Falafel and maybe my last video - greetings from Vilcabamba

Vilcabamba -  a village where local people are supposed to get very old. I enjoyed a great Finnish sauna and had excellent tasting vegan dishes there. Is this my last video?

Vegan pancakes, walking through Cuenca and the bike repair continues

I walked through Cuenca and started to work on my next project - getting the required papers for Peto to come to Europe. Meanwhile Andres made vegan pancakes in the morning and I continued to repair my broken rear shock.


Company who did the rear shock work:

Leon Motors
Taller especializado: motor, suspencion, frenos
Christian Leon (he speaks English and his wife speaks German)
Parque Industrial Modulo202
Cornelio Vintimilla y Carlos Tosi
Cuenca, Ecuador
0992832161
crisleonmx@hotmail.com
-2.876990, -78.977967

1000days on the road

It is difficult for me to comprehend that I have been on the road for 1000days now. This lifestyle with all its ups and downs has become the normal thing to do and I sometimes forget that I am on the journey of my life - seeing all those places, experiencing new cultures and all that on my motorbike! So much has happened during those 1000days... and when looking at the maps of South America so much is still ahead. And then there is still Asia and Australia :D

72000km 39 countries 4 continents :)

Market day and bike repair in Cuenca, Ecuador

Andres, the owner of the hostel, gave us a tour to the local market. Besides waiting for my parts to come, I repaired the leaking oil filter... hopefully.

Oh shit - what to do now?

There I was - somewhat stuck in Ecuador. The big question is what I will do next after I realized that my great plan was rubbish.

Wolfi's new master plan

Hanging in Riobamba and making new plans for the future.

One down in the bucket list, many more to go - in Ecuador

Finally I crossed the equator with my bike. One down in my bucket list and many more to go...

Bordercrossing Colombia Ecuador

That was one of the easiest, smoothest, cheapest and fastest border crossing for a long long time. No fees, no trouble with the dog, no "helpers" and the customs officer at the Ecuador side even spoke some English. Despite other travel reports, there was no need for any vehicle insurance. Welcome to Ecuador!