Pan American Trip
 

I'm starting my Pan American trip from Anchorage in early June, 2008. I'm due to go and get my US visitor visa in London this week and I believe that there is no Carnet required for my BMW 1200 GS for the entire trip to Ushuaia.

Has anyone advice on travelling in Colombia - or not?

Is there any way to send a bike by sea from Panama to Ecuador, if so can you travel with the bike?

Any advice regarding the entire trip is very much appreciated - I estimate the trip will take about three months.

As the start date approaches, the "free spirit" aspect is being replaced by the stark reality of getting everything organised!!

Is anyone going to be making a similar trip about the same time?

Mike

Hello Mike,
If you come to Brazil :welcome: and need something, contact us.:thumbup1:
A hug,

Hi Mike,
There is a HU meeting in British Columbia 19 to 22 June. You pick up a lot of info and meet some hubbers.
I have a loose plan to be there but if we miss it there is another in Colorado a month later.
info here.......
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/

Out of interest why are you getting a Visa for USA?

Steve

USA Visa
 

Hi Steve

Thanks for the info on the meetings. I'd like to make the Canadian one if possible.

I have been told to get a US Visitors Visa from the US Embassy in London as I do not have a return ticket from anywhere in the US, and I have to go down to the Embassy for an interview.

I plan to return from Buenos Aires at the end of the trip, and buy my ticket in Argentina.

Regards

Mike

Hello Mike, welcome to the HUBB. Although anything is possible, it is not recomended you travel by boat from Panama to Ecuador. The sugested rout is Panama to Cartegena, Colombia. Please, don't miss Colombia! Of all the Americas i've travelled i've spent the most time in Colombia and will always want to go back. You can also fly your bike from Panama to Colombia, or Ecuador if you wish. You do NOT require A CARNET. Three months? Well' it's possible, but you'll be covering a lot of ground in a short time. Maybe you might want to consider starting in the southern US and concentrate for thee months on Mexico, C.America and S.America? Just a thought, there is so much to see and do! When i first entered Colombia, i was planning one week. It turned into two months and then some! Personally, i think that three months to acomplish this distance requires hard riding every day. I think i would be quite exhausted in the end and would feel i missed a lot, but that's just me! Enjoy your planning, and please use the search function to answer all your questions, and if that fails you, please feel free to ask :)

Mike,
we are starting off in Montreal next month. We have booked passage via Grimaldi sea freighter lines from BA and hope that will over come the Onward travel ticket issue.

These guys know there stuff if you are interested, they take bikes as well.
The Cruise People Ltd [Round the World & Extended Voyages]

Steve

Mike,

The coast of Peru (and top half of Chile for that matter...) is just desert with little to see (I know, I've lived in Peru for most of 30 years..). It is also where you will run into the most $$ hungry police.. :thumbdown:

IMHO, leave the coast of Peru up north and travel along the valley/pampa between the two ridges. The country is beautiful, the people noble, and no hassles. you will be a Hero in each town you stop. :clap:

Get to Cuzco and turn towards Bolivia (get $100 visa first) to La Paz, then south to Argentina towards Salta and Cordova.

THEN cross over to the PAN AM to TDF.... :scooter:

Toby (charapa) Around the Block 2007 |

Alaska? then Usuhaia? Me too!
 

Mike,
An Englishman and I are planning to leave Seattle in October for a ride (roughly) to Panama - get to Columbia, then Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina ([FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Viedma,[/font] [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Argentina [/font]for HU gathering December 7-9), down to Ushuaia (TDF) for Christmas, up the Careterra Austral to Santiago... I may fly home from Santiago or maybe I’ll ride back up again. All this is very tentative except the leaving for TDF in October.

But before all that, I am planning to ride up to Prudhoe Bay - leaving Bellingham, Washington State around the 25th of May - and back again in time for the HU meet-up in British Columbia in June. Maybe we will meet and ride together from Alaska. If we got back a few days early, you could stay at my place (about 25 miles from Canadian boarder - 100 miles north of Seattle -and US Consulate?).

I am riding an F650GS. I'm old and not strong in off road riding (it has been 35 years since I did motocross). I ride a little fast/aggressive. I like to see things and experience people and cultures, but once on the road for a destination, I like to get there and check it off.

Contact me if you're interested in hooking up in Alaska - or in staying at my place in Bellingham for a few days.

tomrinbellingham

how are you dude.

I guess you are English from your post. I am Irish and am just back from South America .. well almost, (kicking around spain at the moment). As a citizen of the EU you dont have to pay for any visas in south america, that includes (bolivia) the 100 is just for Americans. Same goes for the bike, no payment required there either.
I personally flew the Darien Gap with Girag aircargo and it was fine, slightly more than the boat but not much.
Central America is a pain you have to pay a fee for practically everything at all the borders. Fumigation, visa, and import. there is a good document here in the archive somewhere on crossing borders done by an american guy, i will see if i can find it. Worst crossing is El Salvador to Honduras.. so avoid that one if you can , its on the main pan am. After that just have fun!! All the info i came across is on my site somewhere, so have a look, the link is below.

kev

Hello Kev,
Will you come to Brazil?

Yes. I'm starting in Texas the 2nd week of July. Although I'm planning a much more relaxed pace (6 months, with atleast one month staying put somewhere learning spanish early in the trip).

I'm looking for people to meetup/ride with as I'm currently solo for the bulk of the trip.

If you're going to be in Mexico before July, you're welcome to stay at my house in Houston. While on the road I'm pretty free-spirited, I'm plan obsessed leading up to a big trip. Anticipation/planning is half of the experience for me :thumbup1:

dg

Hi Toby

Nice to hear from you and thanks for the advice. I heard there were cash hungry police officers in several South American countries!
I hope to take the routes you mentioned when I make it that far:scooter:

Take care
Regards

Mike

Pan American Trip
 

Hi Mr Ron,

Thank you for the information. It's interesting to hear your comments on Colombia, I would like to visit there if at all possible but security seemed to be the biggest concern.
I appreciate what you're saying about the time required for the whole trip, there's a lot of miles and a lot to see, the maximum time I can be away is 4 months.
I made a similar trip in Aussie a couple of years ago and completing the trip took over from sightseeing. I'll see how it goes but I'm sure there will be a few long days spent riding the bike.
The organising is taking quite a bit of my time up but it is a fun chore, I could do with a brief case just for the paperwork etc.
I'm counting the days down.
Best regards,

Mike

Pan American Trip
 

Hi Steve,

I've got the US visa, what unbelievable security at the embassy - totally understandable though.

That looks a great way to travel with or without the bike, I'd heard of "freighter cruises" before but never looked into it. I will use this for future trips, if it's possible. I've had details sent from their website.

I'm planning on seeing an old buddy im Calgary, so I'm not too far away from the Merritt, BC HU meeting.

I'm sure we'll meet up somewhere. Have a great trip!
Regards,

Mike

Hi,

It's nice to hear from you. I'm planning on trying to be at the HU meeting in Merritt, BC. I've an old buddy in Calgary to visit before the meeting. He emigrated to Canada 30 years ago and has never looked back.

We both have a similar idea, when travelling I like to get to a destination without too much delay. Completing the planned trip becomes the most important aspect - it must be a trait from the workplace!

Thank you for the offer but I'm not sure if I'll head south from Anchorage or head north to start the trip from Prudhoe Bay. I'll wait and see how I feel when I get there. But we'll keep in touch and meet up somewhere, will you be at the HU meeting for all three days?

I'l send you my Blackberry email address, once I've figured out how to set it up!
Regards,

Mike

Hi Kev,

Thank you for the information, it's very much appreciated.
The website looks really good - very professional! I can tell you have the travel-bug!
Yes, I'm English, living in Northumberland.

Just a couple of extra questions - how did you find Colombia, I didn't know if I should visit or not?

Who did you organise your bike insurance through for Central and South America, I've been in touch with one company but they exclude some countries, including Argentina.

I'll have a good look at your site, once I've caught up on my emails.
Regards,

Mike

Hi Mike,
Pleased you got the visa OK.

Have you got the bike insurance sorted yet? It's a number of years since I have been in the USA and on previous trips I have just brought it after arrival. Insurance in Canada appears to be harder to obtain without a state Licence and or state registered bike.

After a lot of phone calls and emails with copies of documents I found this company in Florida, best cover (3 levels to choose from), best rates. You have to buy 12 months but if you cancel they will credit you without penalty. Quite easy to deal with compared to others I have tried.

Virna Figueroa
The Sunrise Group
816 Executive Drive
Oviedo, FL 32765
PH: 800-478-7648
FX: 407-977-7004
E-mail: sunrisegroup@cfl.rr.com
Web: The Sunrise Group

You are on a tight schedual so you may want to sort it out before you go.

I hope the weather improves in canada before we get there, winter seams to be hanging on for ever this year.

Steve

Pan American Trip
 

Hi Dave,

Nice to hear from you. I don't think I'll be in Mexico by then but I'll forward my BlackBerry email (not set up yet) so we can keep in contact but thank you very much for the offer, I'm sure we can meet up somewhere.

It's surprising just how much there is to get organised before the trip, it's taking up most of my time just now but I know it will be worth it. I can't wait for the trip to begin.
Regards,

Mike

Pan American Trip
 

Hi Steve,

Thanks for that, I'm just looking into insurance at the minute, I'll contact Sunrise for a quote. I've been in touch with one company which was very expensive.

Are you heading to Central and South America?

I'll let you know how the insurance goes.

I'd like the weather to improve in the UK too!!
Regards,

Mike

Mike,
The cheapest Quote from Sunrise is $281. This is Liability only and includes Canada. For Canada the minimum liability for interstate cover has to be CAN$200,000.
The US$281 is for 12 months and we are planing around 4 to 5 months, they will refund any time we don't use, so if we only use 4 months we should get $186 back.

The next best was $208 for 4 months. but the quote took 3 weeks to arrive.

Thankfully I have a scanner otherwise it would have been much harder to organise.

We will ride central and southern America, should get to Mexico around September.

Steve

Colombia Content
 

Mike,

Mr Ron is right. Unless you are into setting yourself distance/speed challenges, you don't have enough time, and as he says too, you can never have enough time in Colombia. I was planning on getting to Panama from Venezuela as fast as possible. I now live here! And I hear travellers repeatedly saying how they wished they had spent more time here.

Security won't really be an issue, (well, always an issue!), for someone travelling the main drag by motorbike. In fact, you are probably a lot more secure here than in most Latin American countries. I'm not exaggerating!

I've never had insurance that has not been obligatory in crossing a border in any one of the LaAm countries I have motorcycled in, but I'm not a good example. I was once asked in VEN, and I gave them my medical insurance. I have been asked once or twice in COL, and just shrugged my shoulders. You can buy SOAT in the supermarket.

Hope this helps. If you come through Colombia, give me a shout.

Colombia
 

Hi Stretcher Monkey,

Thank uou very much for the advice, I would like to see Colombia if at all possible. I'll certainly get in touch if/when I get there.

I know it will be tight to try and make the trip without it feeling like a race - I should have a good idea of the reality after a couple of weeks on the bike.

I don't want to sound thick but what is SOAT??
Regards,

Mike

No Problems,

I have never been to North America, where logistically, I suppose you would have an experience equivalent to your OZ trip. I was just thinking of all those Central American border crossings, bad weather days and arse ache. What happens when you meet some lovely engaging people and they ask you to stay until the weekend, so that they can take you to their favourite beach/restaurant? Oops, there goes the schedule!

Shipping the bike may cost you some time, as you can't get these details nailed down until you get to Panama City/Colon. You may have to wait up to 2 weeks for a boat, although the last time I did it, I found one immediately.

How's the spanish?

Anyway, good luck and I think the "suck it and see" approach is a good one.

Soat
 

Sorry, that's your insurance for Colombia - "Seguro Obligitario". As far as I know, you are not able to buy a policy in advance that provides cover for any LaAm countries. In Central America it tends to be available, (and unavoidable), at the border.

I'll be in Central America about the time you get down this way. Email me at terraxpeditions at gmail dot com and give me some updates.

Scott