Hey all,

I've been looking around online to find answers to some questions I have about planning a trip through South America. Has anyone here:

-Shipped a bike from the USA to South America;

-Flown to South America to meet the bike;

-Driven through most of the continent, then

-Shipped the bike back home and flown home to meet it?

I have some questions about gasoline, shipping, border crossing, etc. that I'd really like to ask--it'd be great to talk to somebody who's taken the type of trip that I'm planning. If you could, please e-mail me: novella@uga.edu so that I can maybe send a couple of e-mails back and forth with you.

Thanks a lot!

-Matt

Rather than private email, it's better to discuss here - then everyone benefits, and many people can respond and give their ideas.

Don't forget to read through the Travellers Stories, and Ezine - there's a ton of information on the site already. A good browse, and use of the Search function will find answers to many questions. When you can't find it, there's thousands of peole here on the HUBB that can help!

Tip: A couple of clear questions (that show you've already looked through the site and can't find the specific answer you need) is always more likely to get an answer than a question that asks for too much.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Just a quick re-read of your questions -

HUNDREDS of people here have done all that! So the answers are out there...



------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Okay,

So, here are a few of my questions. My understanding is that a lot of this stuff is pretty mutable, as some of the guide books I have seem to change their answers from year to year--so hopefully someone with recent experience can help me out.

-My understand is that you don't need a carnet for movement between South American countries. It was required until Fall 2004 for Ecuador, but they've now done away with that requirement as well. Is this correct?

-Even if I don't need a carnet for movement between countries, will I need one to retrieve my bike if it was sent from Panama to, say, Quito? Or could I just use a letter from the U.S. consulate saying something like,"This person is a tourist and doesn't intend to import this bike permanently," etc.? If so, how might I go about getting such a letter?

-It seems like the requirements for an international driver's license change from country to country--would it be best to just go ahead and get one? Any information on where they can be obtained in the U.S.?

-If someone answers "yes" to my question about needing a carnet for retrieval in Quito, do you know anything about needing a carnet for retrieval in Brazil? I'm not sure I'll have all the extra money to put up for my bike to get a carnet; it may be more economical for me to fly to/from and ship to/from Rio or Sao Paulo from the U.S. rather than driving through Central America and shipping Panama->Quito.

-I know this is probably an overly-specific question, but does anyone have any recent experiences with South American gas prices? I've got a few quotes in some guidebooks that I have, but none of them are up to date and some don't provide any information for certain countries. All I've gleaned so far is that Venezuela seems to be extremely cheap, with some countries like Peru being as much as $4/gallon--is this correct?

-Finally, insurance: I haven't been able to get a straight answer anywhere about what the requirements are from country to country. Do I have to purchase insurance at the border for each country I visit, or is someone familiar with a company that can insure you internationally (or at least throughout the Americas)?

Thanks so much for your help, everyone!

-Matt

True

will I need one to retrieve my bike if it was sent from Panama to, say, Quito?


You don't need a carnet. Search for Riccardo Rocco.

... international license ... would it be best to just go ahead and get one? Any information on where they can be obtained in the U.S.?


Get one - not actually necessary but a useful official document you can throw around and lose without worrying. Visit your local AAA office.

... carnet ...

You really, really, really don't need a carnet!

Venezuela seems to be extremely cheap, with some countries like Peru being as much as $4/gallon--is this correct?


Yes, this is correct. Gas is free in Venezuela, $3 or $4 in Peru & Brasil and in between everywhere else. There is a thread on costs in SA.


-Finally, insurance:


You can buy it at the border if you really need it, i.e. Mexico. Other places may officially require it but unless you have an accident or a cop is giving you a hard time it isn't something you need. Comprehensive insurance is available but prohibitively expensive ($3,000 / yr when I looked). Consider forging some insurance documents.

Thanks so much for your help, everyone!

-Matt

Hope that helped,
JC

[This message has been edited by JamesCo (edited 13 June 2005).]

__________________
James Courtier

1. You dont need a carnet for Ecuador any more. Sometimes it helps and makes the4 process faster, but if using an agent (f.i. the one Ricardo Rocco in Quito suggests), than u dont need one. Contact Ricardo Rocco for specific info and help on customs. We sent the bike from Panama to Quito and we did not need a carnet.

-I would rather take an intern. Drivers licence, and if it is just for the fact that u do not give ur real drivers licence away to the police or border officers.

It was worth riding thru Cental America.

-The exact price in Ecuador is 1,48 per Gallon. Yes VEnezuela is very cheap.

In some Central american countries u have to buy an insurance on the border, doenst matter if u have one. In Ecuador u dont need one. Normally in SA not at all.

have fun
Martin
Thanks so much for your help, everyone!

__________________
Martin and Katja Wickert
www.twintraveller.com
mail@twintraveller.com

Hi all,

I hope you can help, cause I am quite inexperienced in making such a travel I am about to do...

I am planning to go from Lima -peru- by motorcycle to buenos Aires , starting at the 20th of june in Lima.

I wonder wheter it is easy to get a motorcycle in Lima and if I can get a reliable one for under 500 dollar. I hear a kawasaki KLR 650 is a good motorcycle for the job but I have no clue on what to pay for it in a city like Lima and where to get it.

Thanks Rutger

Why don´t you ride all the way south and ship the bike in BA home.
It is not posible to sell or register a foreign bike in Argentina.Unless you sell it to another traveller!
Now don´t worrie to much about the entire organization.Many things you will be doing as your trip progresses.
When are you planing to do it and with wich bike?
Saludos
KH

__________________
http://vientoderipio.blogspot.com/
America is a nice continent,not a country.All people who lives in this continent are americans.Discover it in peace!