Minimal immigration procedures and a beautiful church to see along the way, the Colombia to Ecuador border crossing at Rumichaca is 1 of the easiest you’ll do.
Border crossings can be stressful, especially in Latin America, where thoughts of corrupt officials or someone stealing your bags can spiral in your mind.
But don’t worry, the Colombia to Ecuador border crossing at the Rumichaca International Bridge is considered the safest way to get between the 2 countries by land.
Not only is it generally safe, but you can break the day up with a visit to an interesting gothic basilica. This is a quick detour near the border that won’t add on much time.
The border crossing at Rumichaca is 1 of the smoothest I’ve had in all my years of travelling and, in this guide, I’ll explain everything so it goes as well for you too. If you’re heading from Ecuador to Colombia, then simply follow the steps in reverse.
Colombia/Ecuador border crossing at Rumichaca quick breakdown
- The Rumichaca International Bridge connects Ipiales in Colombia with Tulcan in Ecuador.
- The bridge is located in the southwest of Colombia and northwest of Ecuador.
- Rumichaca is considered the safest of the 3 land border crossings, the other 2 being San Lorenzo on the coast and San Miguel in the Amazon region.
- The process involves getting to Ipiales by bus, then a taxi or another bus to the Rumichaca bridge, walking across the border, then another taxi or bus to Tulcan and finally a bus to your next destination.
- The whole journey will cost at least $35 US depending on where you start from and if you take buses over taxis.
- There are no direct buses between Colombia and Ecuador.
- It’s a good idea to get to the border early in the morning. I’d say no later than 8:00.
- The border is open 24/7.
- At the border you can buy a SIM card and exchange money.
- There was a period in 2024 when you needed a criminal background check to cross into Ecuador by land, but this is no longer required.
- You need to complete the CheckMIG online form to leave Colombia.
- If all goes smoothly, you can cross the border in under 1 h.
The Rumichaca Colombia/Ecuador border crossing in detail
Getting to Ipiales
The first step is to get to the Colombian border city of Ipiales and there are buses to here from all over the country. I’d factor in a few extra hours for bus rides as you could be stopped at security checkpoints in place either side of the border due to cartel activity. We were boarded by the Colombian Army which added 2 h to the journey from Cali to Ipiales.
From Cali
I made this leg of the journey on a direct night bus which took around 12 h and cost 53,000 COP ($13 US). The main company running this route is Expreso Bolivariano.
Buses leave from the Terminal de Transporte Cali (Cali Transport Terminal) throughout the day and arrive at the Terminal de Transporte Ipiales (Ipiales Transport Terminal).
From Bogota
Cali is the closest of Colombia’s major cities to the border. However, you can get to Ipiales from Bogotá easily too, it’s just a much longer journey that takes around 22 h.
The main bus companies running the Bogotá-Ipiales route are ContinentalBus and Expreso Bolivariano and both charge around 175,000 COP ($45 US). Buses leave throughout the day from the Salitre Terminal in Bogota and also arrive at the Terminal de Transporte Ipiales.
You can book bus tickets directly with the bus companies, either on their website or at the terminal. Busbud and redBus are also the 2 most-popular bus booking sites, but they charge a small commission.
From Pasto
Pasto is the capital city of Nariño, the department where the Rumichaca International Bridge is located, and lies just 85 km (1 h 30 min) from the border.
There’s not a lot going on here, but as Pasto is so close to the border, it’s a handy place to spend the night before leaving for Ecuador.
Small buses, busetas, run between Pasto and Ipiales throughout the day and cost around 15,000 COP ($3.5 US).
Flying to Ipiales
Avianca has flights to Ipiales which are much faster than going by bus. Prices for a direct flight from Bogotá start at around $75 US and the flight time is roughly 1 h 20 min.
Flying from any other major city in Colombia will cost around $100 US and will take roughly 4 h as you’ll need to connect in Bogotá.
Sanctuary of Las Lajas
In Ipiales there’s a fascinating church you can get to with a short taxi ride from the terminal and checking it out is a good way to break up the journey. You don’t have to lug your bags here either as there’s storage at the bus terminal in Ipiales.
El Santuario de Las Lajas, or Las Lajas Sanctuary, is a church built in the gothic style between the years of 1916 and 1949. Lajas means flagstone, which the basilica is made from.
You can visit the basilica at any time, but the best time is early on a Sunday morning. On Sundays, mass is held here at around 6:00 and people from the city flock to the church.
You probably won’t be able to get in as it’ll be so packed, at least it was when I was here, but you can watch the procession from outside as the doors stay open.
Here’s my guide to Las Lajas Sanctuary with everything you need to know to visit. The taxi ride lasts around 15 min and costs roughly 15,000 COP ($4 US). I recommend getting your driver’s number to have them take you back to the bus terminal later.
Ipiales to Rumichaca
With some sightseeing done, it’s time to head to the Rumichaca International Bridge, which is where you’ll cross the border walking.
From Ipiales bus terminal you can either take a taxi or a minibus (colectivo) to the bridge. I hopped on a colectivo which cost around 4,000 COP ($1 US) and took roughly 15 min to cover the 3.5 km. There isn’t a timetable and the buses leave when full. A taxi ride takes roughly the same amount of time but costs around 25,000 COP ($4 US).
Rumichaca International Bridge – the Ecuador/Colombia border crossing
Make your way to the immigration office on the Ecuador side of the bridge. If you come with a taxi, make sure the driver drops you off on this side.
I’ve read about people being dropped in Colombia and having to walk back across the bridge for their Colombia exit stamp – getting your stamp is crucial.
At the immigration office join the queue for foreign passport holders, the other queue is for Colombians. Usually there’s no fee for exiting Colombia over land, but double check with your government’s official travel advice.
Annoyingly you can’t take bags into the Colombian immigration office. If you’re on your own, I’d ask someone else in the queue to keep an eye on your things. 1 of you can mind the bags while the other gets their stamp.
To leave Colombia you need to show a completed CheckMig form, which is free to complete and can be done from 72 h before you cross the border. The site I’ve linked to is the official government site, any other sites are scams.
With your passport stamped you can wave goodbye to Colombia and say hello to Ecuador as you cross the bridge on foot.
The Ecuadorian immigration office is the building to the right-hand side at the opposite end of the bridge. Your entry stamp should also cost nothing, but again, double check official advice from your government.
As of June 2024, a criminal background check is no longer required to enter Ecuador by land. There’s also the FRA Form – a customs form – introduced in July 2025. You only have to fill this out (from 3 days before you travel) if you’re carrying $10,000 US or more in cash or goods. I’ll explain these in more detail later on as they’ve caused lots of confusion.
Crossing the border and completing all immigration processes can take as little as 30 min if you’re here at a quiet time.
Exchanging money at the border
There will be a bunch of people selling SIM cards and exchanging money at both ends of the bridge. I recommend exchanging money here as these guys often give you a decent rate. Just check the rate beforehand and don’t be afraid to bargain if you’re exchanging larger amounts.
The SIM cards are usually temporary ones which only last a few days. If that suits you, then great. But if you’re going to be in Ecuador – or Colombia – for a while then it’s not worth the hassle. You’ll only have to go and buy another SIM after a few days.
Rumichaca International Bridge to Tulcan
With immigration formalities out of the way, the next leg is getting to Tulcan, an Ecuadorian city 8 km, roughly 20 min, from the bridge.
You’ll see colectivos and taxis parked next to the Ecuadorian end of the bridge. The colectivos cost $1 US and a taxi ride costs roughly $4 US.
You’ll be dropped off at the main bus terminal in Tulcan, which is a transport hub for getting to bigger cities further south in Ecuador such as Otavalo (3 h) and Quito (6 h).
Tulcan onwards
You’d think the most stressful part of the day would be the immigration processes at the border, but I can tell you that it’s the bus terminal at Tulcan.
People working here are crazy and will swamp you the second you walk into the terminal. They’ll even try to snatch your bags away and take them to their kiosk to pressure you into buying a ticket. This really annoyed me and I was swatting them away like flies.
While these are just hard sales tactics, nobody was trying to pinch my bag, don’t let anyone take your bag(s) without your permission.
Where to stay in Quito
My accommodation recommendations based on personal experience or excellent ratings across major booking platforms.
- Community Hostel: a budget hostel with a fun vibe. There are great views from the rooftop terrace.
- Apartamento 32 Juana de Arco: a holiday apartment with all amenities in the historic centre.
- Friends Hotel & Rooftop: A mid-range hotel in the historic centre offering veggie and vegan meals.
- Hotel La Basílica: A centrally-located, higher-end hotel with beautiful rooms and church views.
Safety when travelling to Quito by bus
If you’re heading to Quito from Tulcan, or from anywhere for that matter, I recommend getting a bus to the south terminal called Quitumbe. The metro system is integrated with this terminal, so you can get a train into the city centre directly from here.
The other major bus terminal is Carcelén, which is in the north of Quito, but I don’t recommend getting off here. Not only do you have to walk from the terminal to the metro, but the immediate area near the terminal isn’t the safest. I actually had an ugly experience here.
Right outside of the terminal, while waiting for our Uber, 2 guys tried to rip my friend’s bag away and get their hands in his pockets in broad daylight. Luckily for us they weren’t in the best shape and we fought them off.
I’m pretty sure they were Venezuelan migrants who’ve ended up homeless in Ecuador. In fact, there were a lot of them hanging around the entrance to Carcelén terminal.
I can understand how some Venezuelans have turned to stealing and violence. Ecuador hasn’t been the most receptive of Venezuelans who’ve escaped the crisis in their country and, in general, there’s a lot of stigma against them throughout Latin America.
Still, it’s not a good situation to be in, and why take the chance when you can go to Quitumbe which is safe.
Do you need a criminal background check to enter Ecuador by land?
As of July 2024, a criminal background certificate is no longer needed to enter Ecuador. The policy began in early 2024 to improve security in response to escalating drug cartel conflict in coastal regions of Ecuador, but only lasted a few months.
Making travellers present a criminal background certificate was supposed to stop anyone potentially related to the cartels from moving between the countries.
What about the SFA customs form?
As of July 2025, some travellers need to fill out a form from Ecuadorian customs and present this at the border to be able to enter the country.
The Customs Registration Form (FRA) is supposed to strengthen border controls, monitor the movement of valuable goods and prevent money laundering.
However, you only need to fill out this form if you’re carrying at least $10,000 US in cash or the equivalent in goods.
If you do have to fill out the form, then you can do it from 3 days before you cross the border. I’ve linked to the official form above and first you’ll need to create a profile. Filling out the form is free and any other site except the government site is a scam.
Don’t risk it
I never travel without insurance and SafetyWing’s affordable and flexible policies keep me covered. They have an essential and complete plan so you can pick which best suits your needs.
What if you overstay your tourism permit?
Many nationalities get 90 days of tourism visa free in Colombia and Ecuador upon arrival, which can be extended to 180 days in a calendar year.
If you overstay your permit, you’ll be fined and could be deported at your own cost. On top of this, you could also be banned from re-entering the country, but this is only likely if you’ve overstayed a few times – although I wouldn’t take the risk.
You pay the overstay fine in Colombia, which ranges between $360 US- $1000 US depending on how long you overstay, when leaving.
In Ecuador the fine is fixed at the local minimum salary, which is currently $470 US. You have to pay it within a year and you won’t be allowed back into the country before paying.
Other border crossings between Colombia and Ecuador
You can also cross the border between Colombia and Ecuador by land at San Miguel in the Amazon region and at San Lorenzo on the coast. These crossings aren’t considered safe, so it’s best to cross at the Rumichaca International Bridge.
The main security concern at the San Miguel crossing is the lack of police control in the area and potential armed groups operating here.
It’s thought that breakaway factions from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) set up operations here after FARC officially disbanded in 2016. San Lorenzo is closer to the Pacific coast and this border crossing is considered unsafe because of drug cartel activity.
Final tips for crossing the border between Colombia and Ecuador at Rumichaca
- Have all online forms completed beforehand.
- Start the journey early in the morning. I recommend getting to Ipiales by 8:00.
- Keep a close eye on your bags and valuables, especially your passport.
- Make sure to get exit and entry stamps in your passport.
- Have enough cash to see you through to your final destination.
- Have snacks and water. If there are delays it could turn into a long day.
Have a safe Colombia/Ecuador border crossing
So that’s how to cross between Colombia and Ecuador at the Rumichaca International Bridge. If you’re heading to Colombia from Ecuador, then follow the steps in my guide in reverse.
Border crossing requirements and processes can change, so if you’ve done this crossing recently and think my guide is missing something, please let me know in the comments.
Enjoy your next adventure in Colombia or Ecuador and stay safe.