Hi,

I just shipped my bike with James Cargo from The UK to Caracas. James Cargo did a great job of the getting the bike there, but getting it out of customs was a nightmare! Days spent in the customs house, etc, etc. In the end my total cost was around 250Euro including paying for ~25 hours of a receiving agents time, but the wasted time spent dealing with it was the real pain. Finding anyone even at the international airport who spoke English was almost impossible.

General info:
-No problems at all with the police or military, even at road blocks. I couldn't get insurance and was never asked for it.

-Roads are in generally good condition, though there was some flood damage that they were still working on.

-Fuel might as well be free at about 1 cent/litre. Yes, 1 US cent a litre.

-The back market rate for foreign is at least double the official rate at banks, proper money changers, etc. USD gets a much better rate than Euro. Right now USD is at around 1-8 and Euro are around 1-10.

-Non-Venezuelan cards do not work in any bank machine I tired and every other traveler reported the same. They keep asking for a pin and the 'last 2 digits of your Identification'. So bring lots of cash and change it on the street.

Places info:

-N10 15.059 W64 27.208 Is a good place to explore the coast around Barcelona from is a place run by a French Canadian (speaks great English too). Just above a beach along a fun riding road (traffic permitting). Camping depends on how busy he is, but assume around 3USD at above exchange.

-N8 05.460 W63 29.370 Just outside of Cuidad Bolivar is a proper campsite. A bit pricier at around 7USD to camp. But a proper site with laundry, resto/bar, internet, arranges tours, etc

Crossing into Brazil:

The border town of Santa Elana is actually a fairly cool place and not at all a normal crappy border town. Most tourists come for the hiking, so there is some infrastructure.

-N4 36.222 W61 06.433 There are a couple of cheap places on this street, with posada Michele being cheap, clean, and allowing you to park your bike inside the building.

-N4 35.890 W61 06.517 The Brazilian consulate. Prices and times for a visa vary by nation, but my Canadian one took about an hour and a guys US one was ready the next day. One photo, a credit card (proof of funds), and yellow fever card required

-Around N4 29.246 W61 08.900 Just past the border is a Brazilian bank machine that takes most cards. You can just ride through and use the machine and then ride back- no border stuff or need for a visa.

-The border crossing was casual and very fast on both sides. No insurance asked for on the Brazilian side.

__________________
DRad
http://gsguy.wordpress.com