South America information....

[Snakeboy]

Hi folks

I have been riding my bike from Norway to Australia and have been thinking hard and long what to do next. Initially wanted to ride the bike through Asia back to Europe and spend some months in Thailand as I have some good connections there, but try to ride different routes and countries. But now it seems Thailand are tightening up their rules quite much of foreign vehicles and making it hard to pass through there - and impossible to spend a few months there - I am thinking about getting the bike shipped to south America and continue there. Problem is I have never been in neither north, central or south America. So I will need to collect a whole lot of information before doing that. I hope someone in here can be able to help me out for the most basic things and point me in the right direction. Any information is highly appriciated.

1. Visa wise it seems as a norwegian can get into most countries without visa or or visa on arrival. US and Canada have Visa Waiver programs. However - I havent checked rules for each and every country yet.

2. Can a european plated bike be used and or temporary imported most througout countries in America? Will I need to get a translation of the bike registration papers to spanish or english? I have for the moment only the norwegian papers...

3. I understand that bordercrossings sometimes can be a PITA in Americas and take both time and sometimes bribes? Have I understood this right?

4. Insurance? Can it be bought for several countries at a time or only one country at a time? Can it be purchased at border crossings?

5. Cost of living - this will of course vary in each and every country but can anyone tell something about this? Compared to Europe or SouthEast Asia?

6. Climate and route - I have got a quote for sea freight from Australia and it means the bike will arrive in Valparaiso in late september. Is this a sensible time to start to travel in south America? Where should I start? Is it still possible to travel a month or two in the Andes area of Peru and Bolivia? South Chile and south Argentina should be best in the months from december to february I have understood.
And after that I will travel north - but which way to ride? West side or east side of south America?

7. Darien Gap - theres no ferry running for the moment I think?
What other options are there? The Stahlratte? Other sailing vessels? Air freight?

8. My bike will have a lot of kms in the end of such a trip and it will hardly be worth shipping it back to Europe. Is there any chance to sell it legally in northern America, Canada or USA - maybe Mexico?

8. Anything else I should know as basic knowledge for the Americas?

Any information, advice, help and pointing in the right directions will be very much appriciated.

Thanks in advance folks!