Getting There

Coming from Ecuador, from Loja or Vilcabamba there is currently no bus connection. However there is a bus company working on that, and during the year 2006 it should be in place. You can cross the recently opened La Balsa international bridge without a problem though.

For the time being, you have to take a bus from Loja or Vilcabamba to Zumba or La Balsa. From La Balsa you can take a colectivo (a shared car) to get to Namballe or San Ignacio.

Cariamanga travels from Loja to Zumba at 5.30 am, 9 am, 12am, 4pm and 11h30 pm. You can get on the bus in Vilcabamba, but it doesn´t stop at the busstation. The bus has no fixed scedule, so you´ll have to wait on the main road, about 1h30m after the mentioned timing. They charge $7,5 from Loja and $6,5 from Vilcabamba. From Vilcabamba to Zumba takes about 5h30m.

If you travel to Zumba, you can take a chiva (a truck rebuilt to serve as a bus) to La Balsa. They take about 1h30m and charge $1,75. From Monday to Friday they leave at 7.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. In the weekend at 8am, 10am and 2pm.

Once in La Balsa you´ll have to change some dollars to soles. The first ATM is in Jaén (and only accepts Visa), so make sure you´ve got some spare cash. There is no ATM in Vilcabamba neither. You can get good exchange rates in San Ignacio. From La Balsa to San Ignacio shouldn´t cost much more than 12 soles (on a 4 passenger per car basis, 3 hours drive). If you feel like they are trying to overcharge you, an option is just going to Namballe, and find another car there (4 soles, 45 minutes).

It sounds like a complicated trip, but it´s actually quite relaxed. If you leave in the morning (say, between 8 and 9), you can easily make it to San Ignacio, taking about 12 hours including waits.

From Chiclayo you can take a direct bus to San Ignacio with Turismo Adrianzen. Their office is at Balta and Parque San Carlos. They charge 25 soles. It's a night bus, leaving at 8 pm and arriving at 6 am in San Ignacio. However, these buses are of very low comfort (they don't even have TV).

From Jaén you can take a collectivo to San Ignacio for 12 soles. Coming from Chiclayo, it might be a better idea to take a bus to Jaén with Civa or Lineas, then take this colectivo.