Latin America 6-8 months motorbike solo-roadtrip. Choosing my Itinerary. Need advices
 

Hey fellow riders,

IMPORTANT INFOS

Countries I'm planning to ride in :

• Chile
• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Peru
• Equador

Leaving the 1st November. I need a month to deal with bureaucracy/Motorbike purchase so let's say my roadtrip starts the 1st December.

RESEARCHES BACKGROUND
I spent quite a while to finally figure out in which countries it was possible to purchase/register the motorbike. I can get it in either Peru/Chile/Equador.
I was planning to take a plane to Santiago, get the bike there and then drive south, Ushuaia, Patagonia etc then drive north in Argentina.
The problem I encounter is weather related, as it seems I'll encounter rain season in Peru/Bolivia and I think I won't be able to ride this kind of climate, being a beginner and anyways it doesn't seem very enjoyable.

QUESTION
I am looking for an alternative itinerary which could allow me weather-wise to :

1. Ride and enjoy the very south of the continent (Andes, Patagonia, eventually Antartica).
2. Ride and enjoy Bolivia/Peru.

What about maybe starting in Peru, going south in Chile and then going up north as I originally planned it, to finally arrive in Bolivia for the dry season.
What do you guys think ?
If anyone did a similar trip and got suggestions for me, that'd be of a great help !
Best regards

i'm not sure, but i think i recall reading that some countries in SA prohibit foreigners from removing vehicles purchased locally.


i very well could be inventing this, but there's this nagging in my brain about it, so hopefully the real experts will chime in.

Why is Colombia not on your list, one of the best in SA.

Won't claim to be an expert, but that sure sounds like Argentina. There are some issues (which seem to change almost daily) with Chile, but AFAIK none with Peru, Colombia or Ecuador.

Thanks for the tips guys, I'll probably include Colombia as well, I don't know yet but it actually doesn't really matter since I would be finishing my roadtrip with it because I must be in the South as close to December as I can.

Motorbike registration-wise, I already made the researches. The only no-go country to register the bike is Argentina. It seems Equador has only overpriced bikes and mostly chinese brands.

Peru or Chile seem like the obvious choice for me.

But again, I'm trying to plan my trip so I can have a decent weather in each country I'm visiting, so I don't know yet where to start.

Cheers

Colombia is also a good choice...

Howdy,

I was wondering if I could ask you a couple questions about your experience so far as I'm planning a similar trip as a new rider. I've just arrived in Santiago and am still working through the process of getting my bike.

1.) how was the RUT process for you? do you really need a sponsor because I've heard of people doing it without one.
2.) Have you crossed into Argentina yet? If so, how was the crossing experience and which one did you use?

any update
:helpsmilie:

Hello. My apologies for the lack of answers. My life didn't go the way I wanted to and I still haven't left my home country.


I posted in September in order to plan a 6/8 months trip in South America. I had everything planned and figured out, itinerary wise.

Here was my plan :

1. Buy the motorbike in Chile. Then ride south.
2. Enjoy Patagonia during summer months, Argentina included.
3. Ride north, see friends in Buenos Aires.
4. See the waterfalls, brazilian side.
5. Head to Bolivia then ride there for a while.
6. Head to Peru
7. Ecuador
8. Colombia
9. Home.

Obviously, the weather won't be the same as I planned originally and I can't ride Patagonia in Winter. I guess Automn isn't going to be very nice in Patagonia and since I'm a beginner I don't really want to risk riding there with a hard weather.

Could you fellow riders suggest me an itinerary that includes the same countries I mentioned ? I don't really want to go to Brazil because of the language barrer and I think Brazil will be another trip later on in my life.

I thought about maybe starting my trip in Colombia and then ride south. What do you think about Patagonia in early Spring ? Won't I get some rain season in the north ?

I'm a bit desperate because my original plan seemed perfect and now I feel a bit screwed weather-wise.

Best regards

I don't think there is any way to catch all the best weather throughout the whole continent, no matter when you start. It's not a question of getting "screwed;" it's all about making choices and yielding to what's inevitable.

You don't say when you might now be planning to leave home. It's February, and if you wait until April, start in Colombia, and take 8 months for your trip (per your original plan), you'll be in Patagonia in spring or maybe summer, which is fine.

I'll add only that the language barrier in Brazil is only slightly more difficult than any language barriers in the Spanish-speaking countries. Both languages are similar, and Brazilians can generally understand simple Spanish, although someone with only basic Spanish skills might have difficulty understanding them. Lots of the people you meet will speak other languages anyway--Quechua, Guarani, even German, Dutch, and others. You don't have time to go everywhere, so maybe you'll miss Brazil anyway, but don't skip it merely due to the "language barrier."

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Hey! I had the same plan, and can maybe save you a few headaches!

I arrived in Santiago on Jan 21, hoping to buy a used or new bike. I stayed at Casa Matte(great spot! I learned a ton about bike maintenance just watching people work, and Kristian is the nicest human on this planet:), where I learned of a few issues with Chilean plated bikes from other travelers. therefore i changed my plan. (Which is actually turning out for the best as I don’t really want to be in Patagonia at the height of the season anyway)

Met an American, chilean plates, ownership paperwork- has been denied at 7 border crossings

Met a Belgian- bought a new bike, submitted paperwork to have ownership papers (which can take 3+ weeks to get)...the agency lost his paperwork. He submitted again, and paid-agaib, and they lost the paperwork, again. He is now stuck in chile with a bike he cannot legally sell.

I read that Peru was a good country to have a plate from. I bought a bike and will pick it up in a few weeks, then was contacted by a few people who heaes my plan through the grapevine with their problems at border crossings and a 15 step guide on how to get out. Yikes, this next month should be interesting:)

Met 2 Americans that purchased brand new bikes in Colombia, had ownership papers in their hands within the day, havent had a single issue crossing any border.

Colombia seems the way to go! I will let you know how leaving Peru goes for me:)

Im splitting my travels into several chunks after hearing it is possible to store the bike for 6 months in Colombia or 1 yesr in Uruguay, so will come back in Nov for Patagonia.

Hope you get on the road soon’

It was helpful ! Good reminder Latin America is more culturally dispatched than I imagined. In any case, I won't be doing Brazil because I just don't have time, as you said. When it comes to the itinerary, I have to leave now, I can't really wait unfortunately but Patagonia seems enjoyable in early Autumn, I think I'll give it a try !


Thanks man ! Good to have up to date informations. It's pretty scary what I hear on the Internet about Chile. Many people tell me it's possible/no problem and many others are saying it's impossible/over.
Obviously I never take into account old informations because this seem to be changing quite often.

I realised after searching that Patagonia in early/mid Autumn would be pretty fine as well.

I guess I should follow your advice but considering an equal amount of people people did not have much trouble I'll give a try to the companies who deal with all the paperwork in exchange for money. Hopefully I can cross !

If like you I end up learning that I can't cross I'll just move to Peru like you.

If anyone has suggestions or wants to make me change my plan please tell. I'm booking tomorrow.

I'll keep everyone updated of course.

Here is the answer I got on advriders just today.




Since half of the Internet says the opposite of the other, I'm leaving next week and I'll head to Peru which seems less troublesome.

If anyone has any experience to share in Peru in order to buy a motorbike, feel free to share !

I'd suggest making note of the fact that people sometimes have had difficulties, while also noting that almost everyone works things out in the end. There's bound to be some frustration at points along the way--this is what makes good stories for the folks back home, at least--so your realistic goal should be to muddle your way through when it happens without major trauma.

I met someone who was refused entry (I forget where, but someplace in Latin America), therefore spent a night camped out in a no-man's-land between borders, and woke up only to be bitten by a scorpion....while still denied entry in either direction. He survived, kept traveling, and added a memorable story to his repertoire. I was properly horrified, but a little bit jealous.

Mark