Hey folks,

recently we got same nerv-wracking infos about the aduana at copacabana.
That they are over-exactly and finding ways to get some money.

Has anyone recently ridden over that border?
It seems that they ask for insurance. Well, we do have one which should be ok, but are they very "small-spirited" with insurance. Do they accept only known ones?

Or does anyone has information how the border on the southern-side of the lake is? the over-land border without needing a ferry?

Some Info would be great Hope you are all fine!

greetings from la Paz

Hi,

we were there some weeks ago. Our direction was Bolivia --> Peru and we used the border behind Copacabana.
First we reached the bolivian side (right side of the road): Stamp in the passport , shaking hands, little smalltalk from and to where. Then handing over the customs form of the motorbike in the next office. On our form there the officer missed our own signature, so make sure, you have it signed.
Then driving about 100m forward to the peruvian side and parking before the barrier chain. On the right side you get the stamp in your passport and over the way there are the customs. They were both very friendly. The custom officer works with the computer to create the form for the bike, so it is well organised. With a little smalltalk they gave us informations about road conditions or road blocks. No one asked for a bribe or an insurance.
We had an insurance only valid for Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. But never anyone asked for it. Next time we will save the money and time.
We often passed checkpoint of the police, the customs and the fruit control. When they stopped us, which was not very often, they mostly asked for the driving licence. Sometimes for the passport or asking, whether we have fresh fruit oder vegetables.
There were always friendly and the situation was relaxed. There were asking us about our tour or technical thing of our bikes.

Btw: The ferry over lake Titicaca did us cost 20 Bolivianos per Bike. If you need any further informations about the area, don`t hesitate to ask.

Wish you a safe trip!

Joerg

March 2012 I crossed from Bolivia to Peru at said crossing. Exit from Bolivia went smoothly, surrendered TIP (I think) and got stamped out. Got stamped into Peru no problem and completed importation paperwork, no problems. Just about clear of the border when the notional police asked for insurance, which I didn't have yet. It is not sold at the border, at least not that day, maybe it was Sunday.

I promised to buy insurance in Punu and to drive slow and carefully until I got there. The police let me ride into Peru. The next day I found an insurance broker and bought the shortest term policy, approximately $30 or $35 USD. I was given a sticker and applied to my windshield. Some people think you shouldn't put importation or insurance stickers on the windshield for concern that they will be stolen. I take that chance in favor of avoiding conversations with police asking why the sticker isn't shown. In the end, if a sticker is stolen, you have the receipt/paperwork and can point to the sticky residue on the windshield where a stick might have been stolen.

A friend of mine was traveling through Peru a few months before and got pulled over. He did not have the mandatory insurance and was fined. I recall the fine was over $100 USD. Its a pain to buy insurance, but it got to be worth it if you get in an accident or need to produce proof for a cop...

__________________
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

Wow, I thought I was the only one who got screwed there.
I got pulled into the office just a few feet from the aduana by three police.
Wanted to see my insurance, which was from Robert Spieser/Allianz and for the next six months. They said it wasn't in order. I said it was fine.
Anyway they weren't letting me out of there.
So for fear of being nailed for offering a bribe I asked the guy sitting behind the computer screen what number was on the screen.
The idiot said six. I could'nt believe the moron. No idea why he didn't say a big number. I guess they've been hitting up broke backpackers.
I gave him $10 US and considered myself lucky this wasn't in Nicaragua where it would have been $50 to $100.
This was awhile ago, the beginning of December.

DON"T go the southern route. That is the commercial route and if you think you 'got done over' at Copacabana, then Desaguadero would be a nightmare!

In 2007, I went around the backside (the smuggler's route) of Lake Titicaca:

Around the Block 2007 |

and it was QUITE AN ADVENTURE!! (read: no customs, no immigrations!!) and I imagine it is still that way!

Been through the Copa border crossing five times in the last year. Always very relaxed and no hassle, except the last time when leaving Bolivia.

The Bolivian Aduana guy checked my TIP with a magnifying glass when I was leaving and found one digit of my chassis number was wrong - their mistake when inputting the data, but my problem because I had signed to say all the info was correct. I've done over 30 border crossings on this trip and NO ONE checks TIPs like that when departing a country.

Anyway, a 10 soles tip sorted it out. Good lesson though - I'll check the TIPs in future when they are issued.

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