I know this question has been asked before but that was back in 2000 but I cant contact the relevaant travellers. I need to return to the UK in Dec 2003 for 6 months to earn some cash to continue on to Patagonia. I will need to leave the bike in either Costa Rica, Panama or maybee Ecuador. Do bikes get stamped into passports in these countries and will this mean that I cant fly out (even with a return ticket). Has anyone done what I am trying to do? Has anyone got any good contacts for bike storage in these places ? At present from what i have researched I believe that Panama may be the easiest place to leave it. Any information that may help would be most appreciated.
Thanks
Oz

Hi Oz!

I will do the same in costa rica if it works out, i don´t know yet. but look at the topic from the 16th of september 2003 and you will find the answer! i try it in the first week of december an i ill let you know if it{s possible!

Good Luck, Appie

Thanks for the reply, I should have looked more carefully and I would have seen your link of Sept 16th. As per normal in too much of a rush. I too will be putting the bike into storage 1st week of Dec so will probably see you about. If I learn anything new will keep you posted. One thing. Can you leave Costa Rica without the bike and not have to pay import duties on it. I was informed that you couldn't. I have no info as yet on Panama.
Safe Travels
Oz

I will try to store the bike in Panama as well in the first week of December and then return in January.
I am currently staying at Lake Atitlan and heading to El Salvador in a few days.

__________________
Nelson Oliveira
RTW 2003-6
Around a Mote of Dust

ok i have sussed how to store the bike in costa rica and then hopefully leave the country without being fined for overstaying the max time the bike allowed to be in the countryfor which is 6 months. on entry to costa rica the bike was not stamped into my passport so this means i can leave without questions being asked and return again. the vehicle permits are issued for three months and can be extended for another three, but this still leaves me with 45 days without a permit. i have found out the the border crossing north of the main costa rica/panama border shuts at night but the border is not physically closed. this means that i can cross into panama with the bike, return in the morning and get panama papers for it. this plans seems to work in theory, hopefully it will work in practice, if not i am told you can oil the wheels of the beurocracy at the border with some dollars. i would like to avoid trying this if at all possible. the bike will be stored with a friend in san jose so there are no probs there. i am sure that if you havnt got a contact that a friendly bike shop would store it for a little cost. hope this is of use, mail me if you need any other info
oz

Hola todos !

I am digging up this old post as I am in the same situation right now and trying to get info.
What about bonded storage ? (Costa Rica or Panama)
Oz, how did it turn out in the end ? (just PM you)

Cheers,

Mathieu

I have left my bike in Colombia until my papers were expired and had no trouble to exit. There is a place that is posted about where you can store a bike between the CO & VE borders. You can also leave a bike with Mike at Casa Blanca in Cali (quite expensive).

You cannot extend or freeze you papers in EC. It is not advisable to over stay your TIP in EC. In Peru, you can freeze your TIP papers.

The way I understand it, is that in Panama you can enter the canal zone, check out with customs, put your bike in a bonded warehouse, return and re enter thru customs and get new papers. You'll have to confirm this.

Don't know anything about Costa Rica, but when I passed Paso Canoas by bus in the we hours the border was manned. Perhaps aduanas was closed.

I was able to store it in Costa Rica without problems :
There are several bonded storage warehouses ("Almecen Fiscal" in spanish) near the San Jose international airport and there is also a customs office, you can get a list of the warehouses there.
Once the bike is stored the warehouse gives you a paper, with it you go to the customs office and they can freeze your TIP for free.
Pretty easy and fast.
I went to the almecen fiscal Coco's, which is pretty close to the aiport, you can park the bike indoors, $3/day. You can pay when you return.

It is also explained in details here >
Going home - Head South

hello Susie and Paul,

Can u give me some info when u went to pick the truck up? did u have any problems??

Thanks to everyone for all the info.
I dropped off my bike at Cocos today. It was very easy. There where six other bikes there. They have one corner in the warehouse where they store the bikes. It's all under cover and the whole place looks safe.
I had a look at one other place. The price was the same but I would not have liked to leave my bike there.
Well, I guess I will see in eleven months if I choose the right one.

The office lady give me a paper which I took to the Aduana. The office lady there the made a few copies of the temporary import license and passport and ownership papers. Now I have the temporary import license suspended, for up to one year.

It was a lot easier then what I emaginet.

I pay $3.00 per day

Better go by coordinates , Addresses in Costa Rica are terrible to find

Cocos warehouse 09°59′10.36″N 84°13′22.63″W

Aduana 09°59′50.44″N 84°12′40.11″W

I thought I post this because the last post is 2012 and sometimes it's good to see a newer one.

__________________
To go where this man has not gone before!

Thanks fm61 for all the details,

I’d just like to update this post confirming that storing your bike in Costa Rica is still possible and very easy. Ask for the manager, Jorge at El Coco as he is the most helpful and knowledgeable.

You can only store you bike for a maximum of 1 year. After one year the bike is classed as “abandoned” and becomes property of the customs. There are no exceptions to this rule.

All motorcycles are stored inside the warehouse in a corner (there were 4 other bikes there when I dropped mine off). It is a bit dusty so I would advise covering your bike with a tarp. The price might be negotiable if your Spanish is good and you make Jorge laugh. Don’t pay more than $3 per day, but you might get it a little cheaper ;-)

The process of storing your bike takes about 2 hours. The warehouse is open from 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday and I believe on a Saturday too. Arrive at the gate, ask for Jorge, give him your temporary import permit (you got at the boarder) and start preparing your bike for storage (battery, tarp, etc). He will then return the TIP along with a paper showing the bike has been stored. You are done at the warehouse.

The walk to the customs office takes 30mins and is safe and easy. The office is only open Monday - Friday from 9am - 4pm. Once you arrive, speak to the guard at the front desk who will then send you to the “Vehitur” desk. The official on duty will then take your TIP, passport, vehicle papers and storage document to make copies and suspend your TIP. You will receive back the Storage Document and a new document with “suspendido” at the top which you will need to sign. This process took me an hour but budget 2 to be safe. From here you can walk to the airport in 15mins.

Do not loose these 2 documents as you will need them to get your bike back!

I have Jorge’s e-mail but am not comfortable putting it online. Feel free to message me if you would like it or any more information about storing your bike.