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Ecuador
,→Peru
|hitch = <rating country='ec' />
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'''Ecuador''' is a country in [[South America]]. It borders [[Colombia]] and [[Peru]]. It is great for [[hitchhiking]], just be careful in some places, especially at the coast. Many pick-up trucks are there. Drivers might ask Many locals ,especially far from cities, hitchhike their way to school, work and such. But! In Ecuador it's kind of common to pay for rides. After a month of hitchhiking some ride asked me for money, and I realized that many of the people who gave me a ride this last month were actually expecting money, but I left the car and they were too shy to ask. it's good to say before you go on the ride, "No tengo Dinero, esta bien?" or "Sin plata, esta bien?" If the say yes than you are good. if you can explain your situation don't ask before you will get away with itmight be asked a specific amount that is too large for you in the end of the ride. Many Ecuadorians are happy to pick up a foreigner. It's not the safest country to hitchhike though.
Along the [[Panamericana]] there are several [[toll booths]] ("peaje"). Take an overland bus in direction of your destination and get out at the first toll booth (normally $0.25 - $0.50). You have a couple of seconds to ask the other drivers until you get kicked out by the [[police]], but that's normally enough time to find a ride. If you are able to explain your situation in Spanish, you might be able to stay longer. If you want to avoid this kind of "trouble" you can as well try to stop cars along the Panamericana. Along this road normally you won't get asked for money.
== Cities ==
* [[Ibarra]]
* [[Latacunga]]
* [[Loja]]
* [[Manta]]
* [[Montañita]]
All border crossings are ordered roughly from West to East. Ecuador and Perú had a border dispute as recent as 1999, so perhaps be sensitive on the issue. This is not a comprehensive list of border crossings, as there are many more, but most of these will have immigration offices to process international visitors.
'''Huaquillas to Aguas Verdes''' ¡DON´T GO THERE! Only if you want to do sightseeing, you can cross walking, nobody cares, but if you need to stamp your passport is imposible! From Huaquillas you must go 5km in "Transversal Sur" to a place that is called CEBAF, the first one is only to entry in Ecuador so don´t go there, 2km more in south direction you will find a second CEBAF there you can stamp your exit from Ecuador and finally entry in Perú (June 2022). Is probably a local border crossing between the two countries, not suitable for foreign passports. The border is the bridge over the Zarumilla river. The location of immigration offices is unknown. Please add information if you've hitched this. Perhaps take the next border crossing instead:
'''Puente Internacional Zarumilla''' is a major border crossing between roughly Ciudad Astral in Ecuador and Zarumilla in Perú. The location of the Ecuadorian customs and immigration is about 2 km from the actual border. The location of the border control on the Peruvian side is unknown. Please add info if you've hitched this!
'''Puente Internacional Macará''' from Macará in Ecuador on the E35 to Suyo in Perú on the 1NL. It seems to be the "real" Panamerican Highway border crossing between the two countries. The immigration offices are about 500 meters apart. Please add info if you hitched this!
'''Rio Canchis/La Balza''' from Zumba, Ecuador on the E682, to Namballe, Perú on the 5N. Immigration offices are 400 meters apart over a bridge. Let us know SonOfaHitch crossed this border on March 2022. The Immigration points are on both sides of the River Canchis and crossing is possible only between 6:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M. Hitchhiking to the border from Loja was the nicest and easiest exprience I had in all of Ecuador. never waited more than 10 minutes.There are many small towns on the way and the view is beutiful. very relaxed country side. The locals were very friendly and many times will try to help me or offer me where to stay for the night even if I didn't ask. There aren't many cars, but usually the first one will take you hitched . The end of this road is not paved until the border!crossing. After the small village of pucabamba there are really few cars or motorcycles coming by. Eventually got offered a bus ride for free with the shuttle that goes to the border.On the peruvian side althought there is a road there isn't much going on until the town Namballe. Got offered a ride eventually with a Motocar while I was walking on the road. Both sides asked me for my Covid Vaccination papers, but didn't looked at them so well because they were in a foreign language.
'''Río Santiago''' perhaps there is a river boat from Jempekat/Soldado Monge in Ecuador via the Rio Santiago and the Rio Marañon to Saramiriza in Perú. There seems to be both a Peruvian and an Ecuadorian settlement at the border, which is perhaps a military base or an immigration office. Let us know if you crossed the border here!
'''Puerto Asís''' isn't a real border, but it is a town located at the Putumayo river that forms part of the border with Ecuador. It is likely possible that there are river boats from here to Puerto El Carmen de Putumayo in Ecuador, the tri-border with Perú called Güeppi, and far away places in Colombia like Tarapaca (near [[Leticia]]). Eventually, the Putumayo river will become part of the Amazon river in Brazil and end in the Atlantic Ocean, if you're looking at the big picture. Please add any information you have if you have taken a river boat border crossing in this area!
== Covid ==
In March 2022 you can still see people a little bit affraid because of the covid. Some places will totally expect you to put on a mask, even in the street. And some will totally not mind. Especially close to the capital, Quito, people tend to be more nervous becuase of the Covid-19, and might be more hesitant to aprroach or stop for giving you a ride.
Some people claim that to stop for hitchhikers is ilegal because of the pandemic, but many policeman confirmed that hitchhiking is ok.
Proof of Vaccination is required at the entrance.
== Resources ==