California to Cartagena!
 

This is my first posting here and since I am new to this, please be patient. A quick little background.

I was an avid motorcycle rider in my youth. I started with a small Honda SL 70 when I was 11 or 12, a small street bike when I was 15, a Honda 750 in the late 70’s and then a Suzuki GS 1000 the first year they came out. I even rode from Mexico to Canada back in 1978, on a whim with some buddies. My last real motorcycle was a Yamaha 1100 which I stopped riding when my first daughter was born in 86.

January of last year, I went to the Philippians and spent a month riding around the northern island of Luzon with several friends. I used a Honda 200 for this. It was the perfect bike. We had a great time, for the most part. Wine, women and song!!!

Now I have an apartment in Cartagena, Colombia. I was thinking of purchasing a bike in the states and riding it to Cartagena. Once I am here in Cartagena, I can take a break. Then when I am ready, continue south. I am in no hurry. I was even thinking I could take several trips using Cartagena as my base.

The First series of question I have is in regards to Border crossings. I have a visa to be in Colombia as long as I want to. I was wondering if any one knows how long my bike can stay for. Additionally I am interested in the best way to get from Panama to Cartagena.

I also have a lot of other advice I need, but I will post that as I come up with things.

On another note, I have a large apartment here in Cartagena, on the beach. I would be happy to host some motorcycle travelers who are traveling from North America and swap stories. Could be fun!!
Thanks, Martin

Well Martin, welcome to the HUBB. It sounds like you have experience of how things work in Colombia. What the law says or one person's advice dictates is very often different to how things actually work out. What kind of visa do you have?

My first bike was imported numerous times with temporary permission on the back of 60/90 day tourist stamps. The period of entry dictates the period of entry for the bike too. With other visas eg; investment and rentista visas, I am led to believe, (we shall soon find out for sure), that an initial period of 6 months is given on importation and that you will then be able extend that by a further 3 months at DIAN. After the 9 months is up, you then have to at least nominally leave the country with the bike.

This is the experience of one person leaving at the Cucuta border control. I intend leaving and re-entering at the Ipiales border control early July. This bike currently has importation permission in some else's name, so we shall see.

You cannot import "permanently" to Colombia

Hope that helps on the importation issue.

Six Months
 

Hello Strecher Monkey:

Yes, I am very experienced with “Life in Colombia”

I have a visa valid until the end of 2009. It sounds like I can get 6 months and perhaps 3 months more. That would be great for my plans. I was thinking on a Vstrom. The Vstrom is sold both in the USA, Colombia and throughout SA. I am assuming that it is easy to get parts and service this way.

Thanks for your advise!

Maimi to Colombia
 

I will keep my eye out for you. I would think that your best bet would be Avianca as they do a lot of cargo in and out. When are you planning on your trip? What kind of bike do you want to take?
Martin

@Martin - Not sure if I made myself clear, but I did not mean you should have to leave with the bike permanently. After one day, you can enter again and renew the paperwork. Vstroms, as you probably know, are very popular here with whole moto clubes being dedicated to them. I don't know about Cartagena, but if it's anything like the rest of the Costa Caribe, you'll have no problems getting parts as long they are for a jetski!!! Plentiful Suzuki parts available in the other big cities.

@Patrick - try one of the cargo-carriers like Tampa Air, Girag or Centurian. Costs are apparently $500 - $600, but a mate of mine recently paid substantially more to do the trip in reverse.

100% on that statement.

I have however imported my bike for a 7 month term. The only limitation was MY visa. If you have a visa until 2009, you should be able to get a temp permit for your bike for this long as well.

See here:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...=colombia+visa


And Martin, careful what you wish for, I might show up at your doorstep. (Isn't there a concurso in Cartegena in February?)

Jeff

Jeff, that's what I meant about how people have very different experiences with authorities here. Often it seems to depend on the individual, what you are prepared/able to ask for, and to top it all it seems rules and regulations are in constant flux. I was told some time ago about the visa=importation permission rule, and if that still holds true, it's very good news indeed!

Suerte

PS: Jeff, what happened to the Colombiana?

That is very good news and very helpful. It seems like I can have my bike here forever as long as I keep leaving and coming back. The Venezuelan border is only a one or 2 day ride from here.

One thing I was thinking about. Why is there not more buying and selling of bikes from one foreigner to another. The price of bikes here is so outrageous; this would make a lot of sense. I am looking at a Vstrom 1000. In the U.S. a nice used one can be had for 5 or 6 thousand. Here new is 18,000 and used is not so much less.

Jeff, you are welcome any time. I am not sure about the concurso in February, But I will look into it.
Martin

Hello Patrick:
Sounds like you have done the CA to Panama trip. Several questions. How long is the trip? Was it mostly paved roads?
I am into adventure; however the kind that ends up in a hotel at night. My days of sleeping out side are long gone.
Thanks
Martin

Hey Patric, that is great stuff. I am printing it out as I write this. Thanks!

Patrick:

I read it all from beginning to end. This is almost everything I will need to know. I feel like I am ready to go!! Thanks a bunch. Any time in Cartagena, look me up.

Martin

She is in Colombia, in Med school. We still catch each other on MSN frequently. She is a wonderful woman, but really far away and dedicated to her studies.

Mollydog: There is a thread going over on ADVrider about Girag mishandling bikes, go for a search...
I have flown with Avianca a couple times. They treat customers really well, I would think they would treat freight customers well too.

Cartegenabound: Thanks.

Jeff

Hi Cartagenabound,
Yes you can do the entire trip to Panama on excellent pavement. I would however suggest that Pat's time estimate of " a week or less " is very optimistic and would mean that you ride very fast for many hours a day and not take the time to enjoy the countries you are travelling through.
A more relaxed pace is recommended. Figure on a minimum of five days to traverse Mexico ( and even that is pushing it in my thinking) and then at least another five to cross CA to Panama. You do not want to be trying to do two border crossings in one day , you will drive yourself nuts trying to beat some of their closing deadline hours and dealing with the bureaucracy at several of them can be very trying. Just relax, go with the flow and you will be able to enjoy the trip. Give each of the countries you need to cross at least a full day. They have plenty of road and scenery to keep you occupied, believe me.

Sjoerd, couldn't agree more. And for me 5 days from Guatemala to Panama would be way too fast. Waking up to a border crossing each day? - no way!!

If Martin is going to do the trip he might aswell enjoy it. I would say at least a couple of months. If not, why not just ship the bike down? It would save on money, time and risk.

Hi martin
I am living in Venezuela. let me know when you are in Cartagena and we can meet. I'd love to go back to Cartagena. Although I have no bike at the moment, they stole my Dakar about 1 month ago here in Caracas.
I brought it through Central America last year. If you want you can check it here From USA to Venezuela , solo motorcycle trip
claude