amazon - shipping bike, flying ourselves - possible?
 

hello out there,

our new plans for summer are: crossing the whole amazon bassin from tarapoto to santarem.
i imagine that hanging around on a vessel for 10 or more days must be an experience - but maybe not a good one ;-)
so i thought about putting the bikes on a cargo boat, while we fly to the next city and do some excursions there without the bikes until they arrive.
has anyone ever done this? is it possible to ship a bike without the owner aboard?

another option could be:
flying from the border at benny constant to manaus or santarem - with the bikes. could this be possible, and how are prices for domestic flights in that area?

thans for any information

good luck to everyone

I wouldn't recommend separating yourself from your bike like that. almost anything could go wrong in 10 days and you run the risk of never seeing the bike again.

Spending time on the river yourself will be an experience, although there will undoubtedly be long periods of doing nothing. You are also likely to meet lots of new people on the way, with very different and interesting lives.

If you have time and patience ( and want an adventure), take the boat, if not fly - but I would always take the same mode as your bike, its just much more secure.

best of luck, its a beautiful part of the world.



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Richb
http://www.postmaster.co.uk/~richardbeaumont/60684/

Desert,
Just crossed the Amazon basin south to north from Iguazu Falls in Argentina thru Paraguay to Porto Vehlo, Brazil, then a riverboat 4 days 3 nights, airconditioned cabin, $550usd includes all meals and the bike on the Rio Madeira to Manaus. Old style wood riverboat. Very cool trip on a jungle river. Rode from Manaus to Caracas, Venezuela. Rough roads but black roads(asphalt) all the way. Only one road on the map. Some big cities which suprised me. Plenty of gas. Gas is dirtcheap in Venezuela, .15usd a liter. Porto Vehlo to Manaus by road not possible. The road is gone. No worries on the boat. Bar with music on the top deck. Great views. Sunsets cant be described. Portugese no problem. Pure fun. Bill.

I've taken the riverboat from Belem to Manaus. It is really something you shouldn't miss... the folks are friendly, the sights are spectaular and food is.. not that great but who cares. :-)