Planning a trip to south amercia, april 2015, if all goes to plan.

just been researching, and this website has been invaluable.

I will be shipping my bike from UK to Buenos Aires, ride down to Ushuaia, then ride up to el calafate, heading into chile, then ride through chile, atacama desert and then bolivia and ending the trip in peru...3 months and around 10000 miles, perhaps more if google is not to be believed.

shipping back out from LIMA and fly back.

i am currently looking into shipping from the UK, and insurance, but will need to do more research in the coming months.

so to the point of this thread, if my bike does not make the entire journey, and the cost of repair is not worth the hassle, depending on the situation,
can i leave the bike behind and fly home or would that be some sort of cardinal sin.

just want to know my options, if im in such a situation.

This is an interesting one. Legally you can't without paying import taxes and what not, but as you're flying in to Argentina, you won't actually have a passport stamp showing that you arrived by road. You will however for Peru, so you'd probably get questioned when trying to leave the country by air.

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My blog about touring and adv riding

You can leave without the bike if it's presence is not noted in your Passport upon entry. Most countries DO NOT attach the bike's TVIP to your passport ... so no one is the wiser if you leave without your bike. Varies country to country however, so check it out.

But even if broken down ... your bike is likely worth a fortune in S. America, an easy sell off to locals who can turn a tidy profit breaking your bike out or repairing it and selling it on. (Some depends what bike you have ???)

But think positive and assume YOU WILL MAKE IT! (most do!)

Shipping is very costly. I'm guessing "about" £1000 ukp each way. Not to mention the major hassle of freeing your bike from port in B.A., then getting it shipped out in Peru'. Time and energy wasted, IMHO ... and most likely will end up costing MORE money than promised. But if you know the ropes and have good Spanish skills ... go for it. (or hire someone to help you!)

If you trade off the shipping cost you could:
1. buy a local bike in Chile or Ecuador, resell legally, fly away. (you can't leave Argentina with a bike bought there unless done between two private parties outside the "system")
2. buy used bike from a fellow traveler. (many for sale on HUBB) re-sell at trips end, fly home.
3. With more time added, buy a bike in USA, (cheap) ride it South, sell off, fly home. (you'd need more than 3 months ... more like 6 months for that option)

With the money saved from not shipping, one of the above scenarios could work. Some riders just can't be without their bike ... but you pay for that luxury. Up to you and your budget.