Hello Hubbers....

Quick message to let everybody know what happened to me, as I was a little nervous when I was approaching the border.... and I needn´t have been.

First off.... I got the 3 month Temporary import for my bike when I entered Ecuador, but I left by plane for the states for 3months to replenish funds.
I´d like to blame the bike for drinking too much Petrol, but I think it was I that drank too much... anyway, when I returned the bike was out of date.

There was a note on the back of the temp import document that said that overstaying with your bike would cost you 10% of the value of the bike !!

So our plan was to just drive out and not return the document. It worked and it was easy. I exited to Columbia just past TULCAN.

When approaching the border there is a long downhill and then a carpark on the right hand side, the Migration and Customs are on the left hand side of the road. There were two of us travelling so we pulled into the back of the carpark, one of us watched the bikes and the other went over and got the passport stamped. Once we both had our passports stamped we just got back into the bike gear and drove across the bridge to Columbia. There were cops in the road and if they had asked us anything we were just going to say we handed everything in. ¨Todo completo¨... or something like that.

It does mean we are not able to reenter ecuador on our bikes but that suits us just fine,
it rained too much there anyway. January, terrible time to be there !!!

Its the same for all countries, just dont hand it in if your overdue, but then u cant officially return with your bike.

I was just worried because in previous borders I have been to you have to get a piece of paper stamped by the migration and Customs before the cop at the exit will let you go.
Not so at Tulcan (maybe this might be of help to someone)

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Thanks
Stephen

For adventure, crashs and breakdown stories go to www.footstops.com/argentina2alaska

Good information. Thanks. I will add our experience. We were told we had to pay the 10% because we didn't realize were had a 5 day permit and were exiting on day six. Long story short after 1 hour of screwing with a by the book boarder official his boss shows up and sends us on our way. Lesson is check and recheck your permit duration.

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H-Jay

2007 BMW R1200GSA
1968 Norton Fastback
1969 Triumph Bonnie

Latin American Blog - Currently Underway
www.patagonia-bound.blogspot.com

Latin American Ride report
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420453

Alaska Ride Report http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250239

I did they same thing exiting to Peru. Don't get caught though. Use the big, confusing boarders for these operations. It is easier to slip by.

I did the same in Brazil...

Got my passport stamped and got out of there quick.. They ever asked anyway.

Im sure you wouldnt get away with that in Venezuela though. They are very high tech and even more high tech in their bribery techniques.....

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Won't work between Chile-Argentina either. There systems are linked. Tricky buggers.