Colombian visa renewal at northern Venezuelan border?
 

Good afternoon fellow bikers!

I haven't kept up to speed with events in Venezuela, though it's clearly less stable since Chavez went.

I'm just planning ahead for a Colombian visa renewal. Has anyone recently crossed the border between northern Colombia and Venezuela, between Paraquachon and Guarero? (i.e. left Colombia, spent the night in Guarero and returned to Colombia the next day, in one piece and with a smile).

Cheers,

Bob
Cali

Hi Bob,

On August 28, 2016, I heard from another member about a friend of his that entered Venezuela from Brazil, then had a awful time getting into Colombia. The rider had entered Venezuela from Brazil, then his consulate had to get involved (...I think to get his bike across the border, out of Venezuela), but it doesn't end there. Apparently you can cross from Venezuela by foot, but Colombia isn't allowing vehicles to enter from Venezuela. I am assuming this means the rider can't get the temporary vehicle importation permit and is stuck in Maicao, Colombia. The border situation changes all the time, so it could all be different now. You might be able to extend your visa and TVIP at the border, I don't really know, but think twice before crossing the border into Venezuela.

Lovely country. Crazy cheap gas (for now.) Messed up politics.

Cheers for passing that on, Peter. I'll keep my ear to the ground for further reports. I need to renew late Nov. Things may shift in the meantime.

Failing an easy renewal in the north, it'll be a rainy season slither south to renew it via Ecuador. Sooner or later the weather catches up with you! Still, with a bit of luck the mornings will be clear, allowing steady half-day rides.

Anon and all the best,

Bob

@Peter
Same situation with my club friend also..entered ven. from Brazil a few weeks ago by bike and still waiting for the gate with colombia to be opened for the vehicles again..nop on foot..
No seafreight,no airfreight..he was let to exit from ven. to colombia but stuck in maicao even he has consulate and ministry of exterior letters and supports..currently backpacking in colombia while consulate friend in bogota is trying to solve the entrance problem.......the only open gate for vehicles to/from venezuela is brasil..on the other side all roads in ven. are dangerous except maracaibo areas...locals very friendly..yes gas crazy cheap if you have local friend otherwise you have to go to blackmarket after midnight..about visa, cant say anything as we are visa free for all s.american countries...
All the best..

So, to all intents and purposes the border between Colombia and Venezuela is still closed, as it has been for a long time.

What I liked about about South America was it's easy border crossings. I deliberately didn't enter Venezuela because everyone told me don't go (political unrest/security/shortages of everything) and the border is closed between Col and Ven.

A fun option is to take a/several boat/s up the Amazon river from Brazil to Peru. Then head for Colombia via Ecuador.

I was thinking that if you exited and re-entered the same Colombian border checkpoint a day later (rather than entering Venezuela from Brazil and then heading for Colombia), the process might be smoother - checking with the aduana before leaving Colombia that re-entry would be fine, perhaps even getting a special letter.

But the way both of you are describing the situation, that doesn't sound likely. It sounds like a concrete 'No', and no exceptions. Still, I'll ask around.

For now I think I'll hang out in glorious coffee country (what better place for a lifetime coffee addict?!), renew the visa at the border with Ecuador, then head north later. Saves riding time and the possibility of washed out roads.

Cheers Mehmet and Chris. All the best,

Bob