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  #1  
Old 6 Dec 2008
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Question Valparaiso - Customs Clearance etc
Has anybody cleared their own bike through Valparaiso? If so could you tell me the procedure please.
I've done it myself in Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia so I'm not a complete novice but I speak very little Spanish - certainly not enough to see me through this.

I've contacted the local community but only had one reply from a guy who lives 500km to the north.
I've searched through Horizons but everyone is pointing to 'Villa Kunterbunt'. They are asking 120 euros to clear my bike. Unfortunately the 'Actual Shipments by Travellers' feature is down at the moment so I can't check there.

Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated

Cheers

Adam
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  #2  
Old 6 Dec 2008
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Location: valparaiso chile
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clearing your bike
hello adam!
just found your question here.
you may trust me, we don't ask to much for the job, it's quiet a bunch of work..
hoping to hear from you
keep us posted
cheers
martina and enzo
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  #3  
Old 7 Dec 2008
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Just takes time
Hey Adam,

Cleared both my bike and my friends on seperate occasions through Valpo this winter I also speak very little spanish.

It is just a long proccess of firstly at the port then to the customs other end of town and then back to the port. The bike is inspected by two different set of people but they allowed me to just take the crate apart and drive away both times.

Not easy but definatly possible plan on two days but it may only take one. No one asked for bribrs or xtra cash or anything like that. Wave your bits of paper around like evrybody else and someone will help sooner or later.

Good luck it is all part of the fun!!!!

Cheers Rich
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  #4  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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hello,
I aslo got my bike trough the costums in Valaparaiso. Well as long as you have all the neceressary papers you visit first the port and get all info from them. Then you go as the other guy has already written, to the costums, which is quite a bit down the beach on the other side of the city. There you do all the necessary paper work (I had just problems because we had two bikes in one wooden box, but in the end we got them out).

then back to the port and open the box, fix everything. Then the costums at the port might be interessted in what you import, but the people are ok.

Have a look here: http://www.moto-adventure.ch/touren/...nate-tour.html

Good luck and all the best
burnout1
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  #5  
Old 10 Dec 2008
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We recently got both our bikes through Valpo customs - hasslefree - with the help of Enso and Martina from Kunterbunt Hostal. They made the process as easy and as quick as possible. Highly recommend if you are at all worried about the process and have enough money to spare!

:-D

Burger
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  #6  
Old 12 Dec 2008
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Villa Kunterbunt
Hi,
spend the money and let Martina & Enzo handle it! It saves you worries, time and enjoy their company. Higly recommended

Thomas & Andrea

Miles-to-ride
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  #7  
Old 23 Dec 2008
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Thumbs up Clearance completed
Well I started the process on my own at the shipping company in Santiago then caught the bus to Valparaiso where I discovered the ship had been delayed a week. I returned to Santiago and whilst waiting met a very helpful local who drove me to Valparaiso once the ship had docked and helped me through the whole process. My lovely bike even started first push of the button - hope that's an omen for SA!

Thanks to all who replied and especially Rich (NX650) who convinced me to go it alone.
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  #8  
Old 30 Dec 2008
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do it yourself
I did the paperwork with the shipping company in Santiago, bussed to Valpo and the next morning I started at 8.30am with the help of a friendly local I met the night before (translating for me because my spanish was very poor at that time). I was rolling at 3.00 pm! It is a bit of a hassle but in my opinion you can better save your money and spend it on something else.

I stayed at Kunterbunt and had to use their services for shipping it back home because my bike arrived very late in Valpo and I couldn't afford it to miss the boat (I was ready 15 min before closing time).

In my opinion, E&M do their very best to let the procedure seem as complicated as possible, while it is not really. Just ask at customs for the right procedure and they will explain... It might take some time but then after all it is worth it!
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