Most travelers come down to San Lorenzo from
Ibarra by
bus or
train [
unfortunately, the train station has been replaced by buses] and then continue on down the coast. Motorized dugouts leave from the San Lorenzo waterfront to
La Tola, from where you can travel on to
Esmeraldas by bus or
ranchero. Check with the Capitania on the waterfront for
boat departure times. Early-morning boats to
La Tola will connect you with a bus that will get you to
Esmeraldas the same day. Alternatively, the bus service bumps its way to
Borbon via
Maldonado, from where the new road ‘whizzes’ down to
Esmeraldas.
South of San Lorenzo lies the train station, most buses arrive and leave from here, or from Hotel San Carlos. One block from the main park lies the pier. There is a frequent bus service To
Esmeraldas via
Borbon and
Camarones [
US$6*, 61/2 hours]. To
Ibarra [
US$3.50*, 61/2 hours].
Boat
There is a frequent boat service to
Limones [
US$2.50*, 1 hour] and from
Limones to
La Tola [
US$1.50*, 1 hour].
Going to Colombia.
You can cross over to Colombia in addition to the normal land route also by boat via Tumaco at 07:00 or 14:00 with a swift 90 minute ride from San Lorenzo to the borders of
Palmareal for US$2.50
*, then take a small canoe to
Monte Alto and from there a truck to the port called
Puerto Palmas. From this port you must then go over Rio Mira then on by jeep or taxi to Tumaco, which will take around 7 hours from San Lorenzo.
At the border. If you choose to arrive by boat from Tumaco see the navy customs officer in the harbor but get your passport stamped prior to embarking in
Esmeraldas or
Ibarra, upon arrival get your entry stamp as soon as you arrive to avoid complications.
As a final word of warning, only take scheduled regular boats to Colombia due to drug smuggling practices.
*The prices are approximately
| |Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton||| |
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