Hi there,
Does anyone know whether it's possible to travel (with motorbike) from Manaus to Colombia (or Ecuador) by river - WITHOUT ENTERING PERU.

There are a few rivers that could be possible, just want to know if anyone has done this, or knows something reliable about it.

thanks,

Dean.

I've never done that trip which you are asking about, however based on what i see on google maps satellite view, i think it is possible on the Rio Negro. There is a Brasil Aduanas on the river next to the triple frontier with VZ and Colombia. There are a few sizable towns on the Rio Negro in Colombia so i would think that those towns are serviced by boat as there is no road around. From the Rio Negro there is a dirt road that travels north until the Rio Orinoco 3.464251,-67.899105, then on a boat again going north up the river until about Puerto Narino 5.036227,-67.875366 where you can get on a somewhat proper road.

Alternatively, you might try starting on the Rio Negro, and then switching to the Rio Vaupes at 0.082397,-67.349167 , then taking the Rio Vaupes a long way west until Calamar 1.959562,-72.651916 . Though, the Rio Vaupes is much smaller river than the other route and it seems to be a much longer route as well. There are human settlements all along the Rio Vaupes though very few roads.

thanks for that, i saw the same on my maps/google earth, just wondering if someone had actually gone that way before... anyone???

Yes I was very close to the border (Peru/Brasil/Colombia) in July 2012. Theres a village on the peruvian side called Santa Rosa or something. Theres also a Customs office in a all three countries. Theres villages on the amazon river from all three countries as well. The colombian one is leticia but there might be a smaller one next to it, as I only went from Iquitos towards Manaus. They do drop you off in colombia on the way so they would do the same from the other direction I suppose. There are however a few issues with the customs personel... lets just say they are only there if somebody asks them to be there... a few days in advance AT LEAST. Captain of my boat offered to call, and said if you dont you might end up having to wait several days there until somebody comes. Immigration is no problem, just the customs and bike paperwork. Another thing is, I dont know how the roads are from Leticia further into colombia. Its one of those towns saying you can only take a flight, but it says the same about Iquitos in Peru, and I know that there are roads to Iquitos from Yurimaguas through the jungle. Needless to say they are complete shit and even in dry season theres parts where you have to get ur bike in up to the handlebars, since I haven´t encountered any bridges... well none that you´d wanna cross with ur bike anyway...

Just for the bike was by the way over 900US. I speak fluent spanish so I don´t think they screwed me over too much, but it may be cheaper. Coming from Brasil though, I´d be more likely to cost you more though.