Help! what is the best (safest) way to travel from peru to ecuador by public transportation?!?

Question

So heres the deal;

My friend and i are traveling to Quito, Ecuador to volunteer teaching english. Since we have another friend who lives in northern Perú, we decided to get together with her for a few days. She is going to drive up to Quito to pick us up, and bring us back to Perú.

The problem is that we are flying back out of Quito, and my friend cannot drive us back to Ecuador.

I was planning on taking a bus or something, but I heard that it is very unsafe to cross borders on a bus or taxi, and/or they rip off Americans... basically, now i don't know what to do, and I have never been to South America before, so I'm a little nervous.

Should we change the flights to Lima? (again, we are on a budget, and i have no idea how much that would cost...)

anyone ever been in this kind of situation?!?!?! I'm leaving in 2 weeks! help please!!!

Answer 1

i don't know if it's possible, but look into taking a train.  Trains would be your best bet, if they do go back and forth between Ecuador and Peru...  im just guessing.

Answer 2

Take the bus, lots of people travel  every day without incidents, the story's you hear are isolated and rare, but I will give you some advice if you put any bags under the bus don't have any valuables keep your passports on you(or photocopies )remember to photocopy the stamped page as this is important and shows your not over your 90 days temp. visas they will check on the border.....Ren

Answer 3

dont let anyone around the immigration booths "help you" fill in the forms.  After they are done they will probably charge you a fee for the service u could easily do on your own.