border crossing Columbia-Venezuela
 

We consider to make a detour through the very west of Venezuela when we come down from Cartagena heading south.
Decision depends on how tough the border crossing to Venezuela is and how costly.
Any recent experience? Heard they are as welcoming on the border as the guys in Honduras.
What are the costs?
Do I need a motorcycle insurance for YV?


greetings from Nicaragua


Panny

hugo doesn't look like Robet Redford
 

:taz:[quote=Panny;329594]We consider to make a detour through the very west of Venezuela when we come down from Cartagena heading south.
Decision depends on how tough the border crossing to Venezuela is and how costly.
Any recent experience? Heard they are as welcoming on the border as the guys in Honduras.
What are the costs?
Do I need a motorcycle insurance for YV?


At least you got to pay an exit fee of about 65 Bolivars per person. If you don't pay the force you to become a citizen of this dodgy country.

Hi Panny,

When I passed through Venezuela at the end of last year the Venezuelan side of the border I entered at (from Boa Vista Brazil) was one of most professional borders in South America. All smiles and very helpful. You do need insurance in Venezuela, I hope I don't incur the wrath of anyone reading this thread but I just knocked mine up on photoshop and presented it at the border. The border with Colombia was more chaotic; I left taking the road to Bucaramanga in Colombia. That border was very busy and if you suffer a lack of smiles from officials it's probably for that reason.

In Venezuela I came across absolutely no anti-gringo sentiment. At one army check point the soldier walked up to me to shake my hand. Some check points will require you to register so don't be alarmed if they request you to pull over to sign paperwork.

I did have a couple of run-ins with the Policia Nacional... I think that's who they are. Basically the feckers who like to give people a hard time. On both occasions I was assertive, and on both occasions they tried to tell me that my license wasn't valid in Venezuela. I carry an international driving license with me so I confidently put them right. These people feck with Venezuelans too, it's not a gringo thing.

Gas is so cheap there you can fill up for about 20c. At the last gas station I filled up at they waved me away without needing to pay...it just wasn't worth there while taking the money!

Good luck and enjoy Venezuela

I came through a week ago through the northern border cross from Riohacha. We had no trouble, The guy on immigration was a bit wasted but happy to stamp us in after telling me how good the prostitutes were in Venezuela even though I was with my girlfriend. We came on a saturday so customs was closed to get bike paperwork, but knocking on the doors for 10 minutes and 100 bolivars got hsomeone to unlock, start up the computer and sort out the paperwork for the bike. This would have been free but we didn´t want to wait there until monday. I had no trouble with my licence and I have no international licence or motorbike licence just a new zealand car drivers licence. It´s no more expensive then Colombia especially if you get a good exchange rate. Looking around a bit in Maracaibo and Merida I found 8.5 Bolivars for $1 US without too much trouble and most hotels will do 7.5-8. Just take enough cash for your time in Venezuela, you can only withdraw at ATMs at $1 to 4.6.

And you don´t need insurance for Venezuela, just in Colombia.

Insurance is required in Venezuela, and the aduana is supposed to make sure that you've got it before they allow you to import your bike. Entering without insurance was part of your special friend deal with the (closed) aduana. You might find yourself paying for not having it later on...or not.

Don't know where anyone heard the border is difficult. It's not, and neither is the country itself.

Mark

Thanx for your replies!
Doesn´t sound to diffucult or expensive, so Venezuela will be on our route!

cheers

Panny

as mark said insurance is needed . just make shore to to bring cash to change on the black market at the border 2x the official rate at the minimum

Insurance is definitely required for Venezuela, customs won't give you approval without it.