Going to Colombia

[PatOnTrip]

Hi all,

I went to see the Girag company today for info about shipping my bike to Columbia. For 350$US I can have my bike ship the next day.

The problem is for me. I spoke with a Copan airline guy and he told me that I need a two way airplane ticket. Columbian custom need to know how that I will leave their country. I don't to pay around 330$ instead of 168$ for a one way ticket for my flight.

Do I really need a paper from the Columbian Ambassade to say that I'm going to leave Columbia with my motorbike to ecuador?

Thanks,

Patrick

[Ride Far]

Hey Pat,

The Copan Air guy is drinking diesel. Less than a month ago I and three others purchased $207 one-way tickets from Panama City to Bogota, via Avianca, the other airline. No problem.

Colombian customs and migrations was very smooth. Used Girag as well and no problems, very professional. Buen suerte ...

[markwitteman]

hi Pat,
go to the avianca office in panama-city.
one way to bogota is US$ 199.
this will save you 8 dollars :-)
no problems at all to arrive in colombia on a one way ticket, as Ride Far already pointed out.
have a safe trip,
Mark

[BklynDakar]

This is a recurring problem in every country. I believe there is no country that actually requires a round-trip ticket. They may have rules about proof of departure, and it is just expected that if you arrive by plane you will depart by plane. It is often a matter of getting to someone who understands this and providing proof of departure.

------------------
Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

[Albert Hoermann]

I went in June from Panama to Bogota with a one way ticket, 194,-$US and had no problems at all in Colombia!

Good luck, Appie

[GlobeBusters]

Technically many of the Central and South America countries have a rule about proof of departure. They are rarely enforced.

We had a similar issue 4 years ago when Copa would not sell us a one way ticket to Ecuador. We ended up getting a return and cashing in the other half in Quito, but it was a real pain. This year, we bought a one way to Quito, no problem.

At the Costa Rica border in Sixaola (Dec 04), the immigration person was asking backpackers for their proof of departure.

Colombia gave us problems when entering overland from Venezula in the north (Maracaibo) in Sept 03, when the immigration insisted on seeing a air ticket leaving Colombia, even though we were on bikes. It was just a scam to get money and so we were fleeced for $10.

It may be better to try buying a ticket from an agent and not Copa direct.

[PatOnTrip]

Hi,

You were right. I had no problem at all. I bought my ticket from the Avianca Airline directly at the airport for around 200$US.

In Columbia, they did not even check that I had a one way ticket. And I did not even have to tell them that I had a motorcycle in Columbia.

It was very easy to clear the custom also...

Patrick

[pallara]

hi pat,
Where are you now, I am waiting for my bike in equador, but will be going quite quick to peru and chile. let me know your plans... see ya mate.

Troy