Seems to be the law in Bogotá to have your bike registration number on your helmet. Anyone know if this is strictly Bogotá or the rest of Columbia as well?

We crossed from Ecuador at Tulcan into Colombia yesterday 19 April.

NO safty vest or I D on helmet required. Careful of shills at the border selling fictitious numbered tickets to advance place in line for entry permit TVIP

There was no line for entry on Colombian side. Buy insurance at Alkosto department store just off central plaza of Epiales, Colombia. About 25 U S per month. (Required).

Anyone who knows please advise situation in Bogota.

Xfiltrate and rosa del desierto

Coming in to Cartagena, Colombia by boat from Panama, we were told by the immigration/TIP fixer that tourists are not required to get numbers for or helmets or wear vests. Rode northern Colombia to Venezuela and months later entered from Ecuador and rode back to Cartagena...never a problem with police and I passed a lot of them. I did not ride in Bogota, but feel confident that you would need numbers there as a tourist.

I crossed into Ipiales, Colombia from Tulcan, Ecuador and the insurance sale person was gone for the night, so I went to Exito, the grocery store chain. Heard you can buy insurance at some gas stations...

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Thanks for the as info I have (or will soon!) a Colombian registered bike so maybe different for me. As far as I can gather it's bogota only and was brought in to cut down on motorbike drive by shootings back when it was not as safe but not 100% sure as my Spanish is not really good enough

Where are you heading? and when?
we shared some info a few years back when I bought a bike in Spain !!

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http://www.newfrontiersadventures.com/MC/CentralAm.html

ClaudeNfat, yes I remember you. Thanks for the help via private messages.

As discussed in our PMs we rode the 1930s military road (built during Colombia's war with Peru) from near La Cocha...La Laguna - to Mocoa and then on to Pitalito, Colombia where we are now. Several police/military stops - all extremely polite to apologetic for having to stop us.... no need for vests or ID on helmet thus far.

Warning of horrific road conditions due to heavy rain.

After 55,000 K on every South American road imaginable and, after crossing several water falls that inundated the mostly one lane to a depth of 500 cm - and then cascading over the unprotected cliff face to a drop hundreds of meters , and being delayed for hours while men cleared land/mud slides, and after enduring heavy rain and clouds that limited visibility to a few meters.... While creeping along, Elisa's (rosa del desierto) fully loaded NX400 went down on top of her.... in slippery mud ...... this road is called La Trampolin de la Muerte, the devil's trampoline or adios mi vida.

Due to the Elisa's fall, constant delays and crossing about ten water falls - most required a * safety harness for me ... made from our hammocks and bits and pieces of gear straps.... while I crossed the two bikes... Darkness caught us so we bush camped in a small, very remote school yard while Elisa's right foot swelled and turned black around the toes. We were in survival mode....

* We had been warned, by a military patrol, that recently, a motorcycle along with the pillioned young wife of the rider were, by the force of the water fall (current) crossing the road, swept over the cliff to a thousand meter fall and a horrible death.

Upon arriving in Pitalito, Colombia we sought both western medical care and a shaman for Elisa. The x-rays revealed three hairline fractures and the treatment is an immobilization boot and crutches for a month or more, and of course no walking without crutches and the shaman served up some boiled flowers in the form of tea, and gave us a list of other herbs that I will find and Elisa will imbibe today and going forward.

We will slowly make the move from Pitalito to San Augustin, an archeological heaven , (32 K distant) and weather the 3-4 week recovery period for Elisa. We are both delighted to be near extensive ancient sites and that Colombia offers shamanic cures....

Anyone in the area is welcome to visit while Elisa recovers.
Those of you who have suffered incapacitating injury already understand the need for good friends.... thanks.

I do need to know how to extend the temporary import permit for our bikes. We requested only 30 days at the border, so we would not have to purchase insurance for a time period longer than we planned to be in Colombia.

Advice needed, we will be in Colombia for more than 30 days while Elisa recovers.

xfiltrate

Note: This is but minor blip in our incredibly interesting ride from Buenos Aires, we intend to continue riding on to Arizona and then ride back to Buenos Aires.
Both NX400s have endured all and performed admirably under the most extreme conditions. Our NX400s are considered "big motorcycles" in Colombia and you know what, they are.

My cell while in Colombia is (57) 3177078325