Central and South America Trip

**mattpope** · #1 18 Jan 2004

Planning a trip to Central and South America starting soon. Any recent news on visa requirements, carnets, Darien Gap crossing, shipping and general recommendations will be very welcome.

Rough plan is to ship the bike to the US (anywhere else cheaper on route may be preferable) spend 2-3 months getting down to Colombia and then 6 months in South America.

What is the current view on Colombia? (A good friend - a Bogotana no less thinks I am mad) but when I went last year without the bike I felt pretty safe compared to Joburg, Kabul, Nairobi etc.

Also, what is this going to cost me? 9 months away with some fairly frugal living. Plan to spend 2-3 weeks in 4 or 5 locations where I can take a language course. Again, any information or recommendations would be great - there are hundreds of these language schools!

**Mick O'Malley** · #2 20 Jan 2004

Matt

Everything you need to know is on the site already, just do a few searches and all will be revealed.

I'm sure Colombia will be fine, just so long as you take sensible precautions and appraise yourself of the very latest position immediately before getting there.

That's what I'm going to do.

Might see you on the road?

Mick

**iswoolley** · #3 21 Jan 2004

Matt, you lazy sod, why didn't you just post a question asking someone to organise your trip for you!?! Don't rely on the Force, use the search facility!

Iain

ps See you at the weekend...

**mattpope** · #4 22 Jan 2004

This is a good solution - now looking for someone to plan the full trip to South America. Sponsorship would be welcome too.

Joking aside, the carnet issue seems to have been cleared up by Grant.

The shipping issue remains unclear - don't really fancy the ride down from Canada in early March. Would be keen to hear from anyone who has shipped a bike out to the southern US recently.

Darien Gap crossing sounds like an air freight job unless anyone has done a boat trip in recent times.

Thanks!

**Chris Smith** · #5 22 Jan 2004

Do a search for HC Travel on Google. They ship (sea or air) to Huston USA. I'm looking at the same trip starting end of Feb. I haven't sorted ou the details yet but will start the ball rolling in the next day or 2 so I'll let you know how I get on.

If you fancy the 'safety in numbers' aproach to shipping send me an email and we can take it from there.

Chris

**javkap** · #6 22 Jan 2004

Hi Matt:
I’ already answer you in other topic about the carnet. If you want to start your trip by Buenos Aires-Argentina, my wife will become in these days to give Spanish lessons to the travelers (many bikers ask her to do it). This is a great city to stay a few weeks.
Javier…………………………

**wallsts** · #7 24 Jan 2004

Just a little note on language school's- When you pass through Guatemala I highly recommend PLQE (Proyecto Lingüistico Quetzalteco de Español) an non-profit one-on-one spanish school.

I have studied there twice now (1998&2003), have referred many to their program and have been very impressed with the program. Plus, it's only 150 per week and includes meals, lodging, great people and lotsa Spanish!

Hope that helps!

Steve Wallstrom

www.bikerswithoutborders.org
Hope

**StephenRivett** · #8 26 Jan 2004

Reading BLOGs is the best way to figure out what to do.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tst...an/2002_11.php is a good example. They started in LA and have been doing a good job of spending no money. I've got to contact them to figure out how they have been able to find guarded beaches for a dollar!

Cheers, Steve