Cuenca.
I am walking around the town of Cuenca.
From the old townscape, I feel a sense of tranquility.
From the old townscape, I feel a sense of tranquility.
Cuenca, Pumapungo Museum (Ministry of Culture of Ecuador).
I went to a museum called Pumapungo Museo (Ministerio de Cultura del Ecuador), which is located next to the central bank in Cuenca.
This museum has exhibits on various ethnic groups. Admission is free. It focuses on various minority groups, which is interesting.
This museum has exhibits on various ethnic groups. Admission is free. It focuses on various minority groups, which is interesting.
El Cajas National Park - Laguna Llaviucu.
Let's go to the El Cajas National Park near Cuenca.
I didn't have a map of this area, so I didn't know much about it, but I decided to go to Laguna Llaviucu.
There seem to be several points of interest, but this lake is the closest to Cuenca.
The location is here.
Let's go to the El Cajas National Park near Cuenca.
I didn't have a map of this area, so I didn't know much about it, but I decided to go to Laguna Llaviucu.
There seem to be several points of interest, but this lake is the closest to Cuenca.
The location is here.
Let's go to the El Cajas National Park near Cuenca.
I didn't have a map of this area, so I didn't know much about it, but I decided to go to Laguna Llaviucu.
There seem to be several points of interest, but this lake is the closest to Cuenca.
The location is here.
El Cajas National Park - Near the road.
After finishing the walk around Laguna Llaviucu, I decided to ride my motorcycle and go north on the road.
It seems that buses come here and travel mainly in the northern area.
Just then, a large group of people were getting off a bus in this area.
After finishing the walk around Laguna Llaviucu, I decided to ride my motorcycle and go north on the road.
It seems that buses come here and travel mainly in the northern area.
Just then, a large group of people were getting off a bus in this area.
After finishing the walk around Laguna Llaviucu, I decided to ride my motorcycle and go north on the road.
It seems that buses come here and travel mainly in the northern area.
Just then, a large group of people were getting off a bus in this area.
AMARU - Cuenca Zoo (Zoologico Cuenca)
I visited a zoo called AMARU, located in the suburbs of Cuenca.
I didn't have high expectations, but this zoo might be in the top 3 zoos I've visited in the world.
While there are other zoos with more variety and number of animals, and this one lacks marine animals, so it has some shortcomings as a comprehensive zoo, it is a zoo that harmonizes perfectly with nature, more than compensating for those shortcomings.
It feels like the area, which was originally a natural mountain, has been transformed into a zoo while preserving its original natural features. Even when creating enclosures, they utilize the natural terrain, using the elevation changes as a substitute for walls, and only placing fences on top of the elevation changes. This allows you to see that the animals are living very lively lives.
I've seen similar concepts in other zoos, but the level is on a completely different scale. Even with the same concept, the level of harmony with nature is so different that it's amazing.
Perhaps it's because there are fewer typhoons and heavy rains that enclosures like this are sufficient. In areas where typhoons occur, these enclosures would be washed away. Cuenca has taken advantage of these geographical conditions to create a zoo that harmonizes with nature. Excluding marine and river environments, it ranks very high among zoos in mountainous and land environments. Zoos that are better than this one simply have more variety or number of animals, but from the perspective of harmony with nature, this zoo is overwhelmingly number one.
I visited a zoo called AMARU, located in the suburbs of Cuenca.
I didn't have high expectations, but this zoo might be in the top 3 zoos I've visited in the world.
While there are other zoos with more variety and number of animals, and this one lacks marine animals, so it has some shortcomings as a comprehensive zoo, it is a zoo that harmonizes perfectly with nature, more than compensating for those shortcomings.
It feels like the area, which was originally a natural mountain, has been transformed into a zoo while preserving its original natural features. Even when creating enclosures, they utilize the natural terrain, using the elevation changes as a substitute for walls, and only placing fences on top of the elevation changes. This allows you to see that the animals are living very lively lives.
I've seen similar concepts in other zoos, but the level is on a completely different scale. Even with the same concept, the level of harmony with nature is so different that it's amazing.
Perhaps it's because there are fewer typhoons and heavy rains that enclosures like this are sufficient. In areas where typhoons occur, these enclosures would be washed away. Cuenca has taken advantage of these geographical conditions to create a zoo that harmonizes with nature. Excluding marine and river environments, it ranks very high among zoos in mountainous and land environments. Zoos that are better than this one simply have more variety or number of animals, but from the perspective of harmony with nature, this zoo is overwhelmingly number one.
From Cuenca, proceed towards the coast and cross the Verdes/Huaquillas border to enter Peru.
Today, I am heading to Peru.
First, I will move towards Machala in order to reach the coast from Cuenca.
According to other blogs, many people cross the mountains to enter Peru, but I heard that cyclists are often attacked on the mountain roads, and I decided to pass through this coastal border, which is said to be smoother since it was newly established, based on information from an English forum.
The route down the mountain from Cuenca offers stunning views.
I have created a video of this section.
South American motorcycle touring: Ecuador, Cuenca -> Entering Peru -> Tumbes.
When entering Ecuador from Colombia, there used to be one building on the Colombian side and one on the Ecuadorian side, and regardless of which direction you were going, you had to tell the staff which direction you were going, as you were in the same building. However, at this border, the buildings are separate for each direction, which makes it very smooth. (I wonder if I can explain this well in words?)
First, as you approach the border, there is a building on the left that says "Peru => Ecuador," so you pass that by.
After driving a few kilometers, there is a building on the right that says "Ecuador => Peru," so you go there to complete the procedures.
Inside, the departure and entry procedures are lined up side by side, so you can quickly complete the procedures.
Then, you walk to another building to complete the customs procedures, but that's where the problem occurred.
It seems that when entering Ecuador from Colombia, you are supposed to complete a temporary import procedure for motorcycles, but I didn't do that, so my motorcycle was in an illegal state in Ecuador. As a result, this became a problem when I was leaving Ecuador and entering Peru, and I was told, "You must return to the border between Colombia and Ecuador (far to the north) and apply for customs clearance and bring the documents with you if you want to enter Peru." In fact, I had already received the entry stamp for Peru, but then I went to the customs counter and found out about this. This was my mistake. Because there is no one checking, you can pass through the border without doing anything yourself, and that's how this happens. Most people do it properly, though.
So, I thought I would have to go back to Ecuador again, but after waiting for about 15 minutes and talking about "Is there any way to fix this?", the Peruvian customs officer contacted his superior, and if the Ecuadorian customs officer (on the departure side) approved it, the Peruvian customs officer (on the entry side) would allow it. A kind Ecuadorian customs officer called his superior, and it seemed like he said, "You've already passed through Ecuador, and you're going to Peru, right? It's okay, go ahead," and he gave a thumbs up, meaning "go ahead."
I thought they would ask for a bribe, but that didn't happen. Perhaps they were asking for it, but they seemed like very responsible people, so I don't think a bribe would work.
According to information on an English bulletin board, this border used to be a place where bribes were common, but it was recently renovated, and since then, bribes have disappeared, and the service has become more reliable.
After completing the Peruvian customs procedures, I joined a Peruvian compulsory insurance program and finally entered Peru.
That was a relief. If I had to go back north to Ecuador and then all the way to Colombia, it would have been a very difficult journey.
My first impression of Peru is that it feels like "India 30 years ago, but with a smaller population."
It seems that if you try to cross this border on a three-wheeled auto-rickshaw, you will be taken to a deserted place and stripped naked (sweat). I'm glad I was on a motorcycle.
First, I will move towards Machala in order to reach the coast from Cuenca.
According to other blogs, many people cross the mountains to enter Peru, but I heard that cyclists are often attacked on the mountain roads, and I decided to pass through this coastal border, which is said to be smoother since it was newly established, based on information from an English forum.
The route down the mountain from Cuenca offers stunning views.
I have created a video of this section.
South American motorcycle touring: Ecuador, Cuenca -> Entering Peru -> Tumbes.
When entering Ecuador from Colombia, there used to be one building on the Colombian side and one on the Ecuadorian side, and regardless of which direction you were going, you had to tell the staff which direction you were going, as you were in the same building. However, at this border, the buildings are separate for each direction, which makes it very smooth. (I wonder if I can explain this well in words?)
First, as you approach the border, there is a building on the left that says "Peru => Ecuador," so you pass that by.
After driving a few kilometers, there is a building on the right that says "Ecuador => Peru," so you go there to complete the procedures.
Inside, the departure and entry procedures are lined up side by side, so you can quickly complete the procedures.
Then, you walk to another building to complete the customs procedures, but that's where the problem occurred.
It seems that when entering Ecuador from Colombia, you are supposed to complete a temporary import procedure for motorcycles, but I didn't do that, so my motorcycle was in an illegal state in Ecuador. As a result, this became a problem when I was leaving Ecuador and entering Peru, and I was told, "You must return to the border between Colombia and Ecuador (far to the north) and apply for customs clearance and bring the documents with you if you want to enter Peru." In fact, I had already received the entry stamp for Peru, but then I went to the customs counter and found out about this. This was my mistake. Because there is no one checking, you can pass through the border without doing anything yourself, and that's how this happens. Most people do it properly, though.
So, I thought I would have to go back to Ecuador again, but after waiting for about 15 minutes and talking about "Is there any way to fix this?", the Peruvian customs officer contacted his superior, and if the Ecuadorian customs officer (on the departure side) approved it, the Peruvian customs officer (on the entry side) would allow it. A kind Ecuadorian customs officer called his superior, and it seemed like he said, "You've already passed through Ecuador, and you're going to Peru, right? It's okay, go ahead," and he gave a thumbs up, meaning "go ahead."
I thought they would ask for a bribe, but that didn't happen. Perhaps they were asking for it, but they seemed like very responsible people, so I don't think a bribe would work.
According to information on an English bulletin board, this border used to be a place where bribes were common, but it was recently renovated, and since then, bribes have disappeared, and the service has become more reliable.
After completing the Peruvian customs procedures, I joined a Peruvian compulsory insurance program and finally entered Peru.
That was a relief. If I had to go back north to Ecuador and then all the way to Colombia, it would have been a very difficult journey.
My first impression of Peru is that it feels like "India 30 years ago, but with a smaller population."
It seems that if you try to cross this border on a three-wheeled auto-rickshaw, you will be taken to a deserted place and stripped naked (sweat). I'm glad I was on a motorcycle.