It has been more than two years since the international transport of travelers between Colombia and Peru by land was suspended, as a result of the closure of borders to prevent the spread of Covid-19. From one day to the next, the companies that operated the route had to return to their countries and reassign the vehicles to local routes, while they waited for the reactivation.
After holding several working groups to deal with the technical-operational aspects to restart international road passenger transport, the Colombian and Peruvian Ministries of Transport agreed to restart international road passenger transport services on the Lima – Bogotá route and vice versa. , as of April 1, 2022, after the closure of borders by Peru in March 2020, due to the COVID -19 pandemic.
The Minister of Transport, Ángela María Orozco, stated: “After difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the Transport sector, today we have good news not only for carriers but also for users. Traveling by land to Peru today is a reality, after 2 years. It is with facts and as a team that the Government of President Iván Duque reiterates its commitment to safe mobility”.
For his part, the Vice Minister of Transportation, Camilo Pabón, stated: “We have agreed to this decision because we see that the conditions are in place for users to move safely, complying with the biosafety protocols established by the two governments. Additionally, we recommend that all travelers consult the companies authorized for international passenger transport and thus guarantee safety conditions.”
WHAT SHOULD TRAVELERS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT?
People who wish to travel to Peru through the land terminals may do so by complying with the following requirements established by the Peruvian government in the Traveler's Technical Guide approved by Ministerial Resolution No. 780-2021- MINSA and Supreme Decree No. 015- 2022-PCM.
- Before traveling, you must fill out the online form "Electronic sworn declaration of traveler's health and Geolocation Authorization", on the website of the National Superintendence of Migration https://djsaludviajero.minsa.gob.pe/dj-salud/
- They must prove their vaccination schedule against COVID-19, if they do not have it, they must present a negative molecular test (PCR) with a result date no later than 48 hours before boarding.
- Children under 12 years of age will be able to board as long as they do not register symptoms.
Es importante resaltar que la Autoridad Sanitaria Nacional peruana se encuentra facultada para la toma de pruebas moleculares (PCR) a los pasajeros que arriben a ese país, estableciendo las medidas sanitarias complementarias para los casos positivos entre los procedentes de países con casos de infección comunitaria por las variantes de preocupación de la COVID-19, o que hayan realizado escala en estos lugares.
Recordemos, que desde septiembre de 2021 se reactivaron los viajes vía aérea desde Colombia a Perú y viceversa. De esta manera, el Gobierno Nacional ratifica su compromiso de reactivación en el sector transporte de una manera segura, cumpliendo con todos los protocolos de bioseguridad y continuará trabajando en mecanismos que permitan fortalecer el transporte internacional por carretera.
Cabe aclarar que pese a la reactivación de los viajes terrestres entre Colombia y Perú, todavía debe definirse el proceso para permitir el cruce de fronteras con Ecuador, a través de los pasos fronterizos de Rumichaca y San Miguel, que se espera sea resuelto lo antes posible. Al momento de escribir estas líneas, no se conoce la fecha en que las empresas reanuden sus operaciones internacionales.
Actualmente Expreso Brasilia, Expreso Bolivariano, Cruz del Sur y Líneas de los Andes tienen rutas autorizadas saliendo desde Bogotá o Cali. También se han recibido informaciones, sobre el interés de Expreso Internacional Ormeño por reactivar sus líneas internacionales, lo que implicaría habilitar nuevamente sus oficinas en Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, Santa Marta y Cartagena.