Mail drops in Panama and/or Peru?

[rndmtim]

I'm traveling from Alaska to Argentina. I just put on a new chain and set of tires, and I'll need to do this again, either in Panama or Peru or latest Chile. Anyone know how I can send stuff to an address down there to pick up? Once upon a time it used to be possible to send stuff to American Express, provided that you were a cardholder or had traveler's checks from them, but after I talked to the office in NYC they said they have discontinued this after the anthrax scares, at least in the US, and the lady I talked to didn't know about South America. I was also thinking about sending stuff to a hotel after I made a reservation - I've actually done this before with hotels in southeast Asia, but never months in advance. Maybe I'll have someone ship the stuff from the US around the time I'm getting there, but that seems iffy...

[Arne Bomblies]

The South American Explorer's Club (Quito, Lima, Cuzco) holds mail and stores luggage for members and has other services, but I'm not sure if that necessarily means you can send them large packages containing tires and chains. Their address is www.samexplo.org. I got my membership for $50, and I think it's worth it. But tires and chains should be available in Lima. Right?

[El Penguino]

Yep . Small bike consumables and parts are available in most small cities , over 125/250cc stuff only in the capitals and sometimes in the really big other cities .

Chris

[Grant Johnson]

Contact La Casa Suiza in Peru, or Walter Nosiglia in Bolivia (both on the links page.)

They may be able to help out. Walter is a good dealer, with good stocks, and can probably work out supplies for you.

Remember that you WILL have to pay significant duties on anything shipped in, and this can of course complicate shipping in advance. Somebody has to pay for it.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com