So long Ecuador, hello Peru! An easy border crossing today as I am slowly heading for drier areas.
It was already 21C (70F) and slightly humid when I left. Just a few days ago, that could have been the high temperature for the day. Fortunately, it didn’t get extremely warm today. It was also a very flat day of cycling, less uphill than any riding day since I started in South America. Airplane above was at junction of road from Santa Rosa to the main highway heading to the border.

Santa Rosa averages 19 inches (49cm) of rain a year and Tumbes only 12 inches (31cm) a year, so I am already heading to drier regions. Photo above was on the Ecuador side not long before the border. The road crosses through an ecological preserve and photo shows vegetation.

Also some large snails on the road.

A small church on the way.

Diesel gasoline has two prices, a normal price ($1.04/gallon) and international price ($3.51/gallon), showing it is subsidized here in Ecuador. Will need to see corresponding prices in Peru.

The border itself was in middle of a no-mans land. There are signs thanking you for visiting Ecuador and welcome signs for Peru, but otherwise not much for 2km on each side of this. I actually stopped briefly on the Ecuador side immigration office on other side of the road to make sure I didn’t need to do anything special to check out. Nope, one can check out of Ecuador and into Peru at the same building.

Official border sign. I believe the EU helped in building the road and hence this is why the EU flag is there along with Ecuador and Peru.

Welcome to Peru!

Here was the sign at the customs building.

This was as smooth a crossing as any I’ve had so far. I went into one building and first went to a line that said “Salida Ecuador”. They looked at my passport and stamped it. Next, I went one line over to the “Entrada Peru”. The woman handed me an immigration form that I completed. I came back to the line and had indicated that I might want to stay up to three months in Peru (I expect to cycle across quicker than that, but better to have enough time than to get caught). She stamped my passport and gave me a 180 day visa. After that I was done.

The only downside is I didn’t see any money changers at the border to change some dollars into Peruvian sol.

Here was vegetation on the Peruvian side of the border. The shoulder wasn’t great and disappeared not long after this. However, traffic was still fine so not a big deal.

Without too much trouble, found myself in Tumbes and a reasonable hotel. They do appear to be more expensive here than Ecuador. I then walked around. First to an ATM. It unfortunately only gave larger bills. Next to a restaurant that told me they would be able to take a larger bill. I had a good plate of rice and a not so good piece of meat with it. The entrepreneur didn’t quite give me all my change back, I think he said something like, “an extra tip” in Spanish, but still didn’t quite feel right.

One side of the plaza has this bandstand.

Another side has a church.

Not far away.

Otherwise walked a little around town. Wasn’t able to find a larger supermarket type store, but was able to get things separately at a fruit stand, a bakery and a small mini-mart. I did have someone suggest I put my camera away as it might not be safe. Otherwise, a warm afternoon as I slowly get me “Peru legs” under me.