Hi folks

I have been riding my bike from Norway to Australia and have been thinking hard and long what to do next. Initially wanted to ride the bike through Asia back to Europe and spend some months in Thailand as I have some good connections there, but try to ride different routes and countries. But now it seems Thailand are tightening up their rules quite much of foreign vehicles and making it hard to pass through there - and impossible to spend a few months there - I am thinking about getting the bike shipped to south America and continue there. Problem is I have never been in neither north, central or south America. So I will need to collect a whole lot of information before doing that. I hope someone in here can be able to help me out for the most basic things and point me in the right direction. Any information is highly appriciated.

1. Visa wise it seems as a norwegian can get into most countries without visa or or visa on arrival. US and Canada have Visa Waiver programs. However - I havent checked rules for each and every country yet.

2. Can a european plated bike be used and or temporary imported most througout countries in America? Will I need to get a translation of the bike registration papers to spanish or english? I have for the moment only the norwegian papers...

3. I understand that bordercrossings sometimes can be a PITA in Americas and take both time and sometimes bribes? Have I understood this right?

4. Insurance? Can it be bought for several countries at a time or only one country at a time? Can it be purchased at border crossings?

5. Cost of living - this will of course vary in each and every country but can anyone tell something about this? Compared to Europe or SouthEast Asia?

6. Climate and route - I have got a quote for sea freight from Australia and it means the bike will arrive in Valparaiso in late september. Is this a sensible time to start to travel in south America? Where should I start? Is it still possible to travel a month or two in the Andes area of Peru and Bolivia? South Chile and south Argentina should be best in the months from december to february I have understood.
And after that I will travel north - but which way to ride? West side or east side of south America?

7. Darien Gap - theres no ferry running for the moment I think?
What other options are there? The Stahlratte? Other sailing vessels? Air freight?

8. My bike will have a lot of kms in the end of such a trip and it will hardly be worth shipping it back to Europe. Is there any chance to sell it legally in northern America, Canada or USA - maybe Mexico?

8. Anything else I should know as basic knowledge for the Americas?

Any information, advice, help and pointing in the right directions will be very much appriciated.

Thanks in advance folks!

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Check out https://mymotorcycleadventure.com/ , a Norwegian I met a few months ago in South America. He will know the details of traveling as a Norwegian in different countries.
3) I only paid 1 very small bribe (related to not having proper insurance) , borders were often slow but the only requirement was patience.
4) us, Canada, Mexico I think you will need to buy in advance. Central America was either not required or purchased at the border, but probably worthless in case of an accident. Columbia was required, Ecuador doesn't need insurance anymore, Peru, chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - you can get a policy that covers them all. Finding an agent was tricky for us , we didn't get the policy until Bolivia. Supposedly you can buy it online but I never figured it out.
5) from Mexico to Argentina , the cost of living can be very low. Argentina and chile more expensive, and Canada-USA are crazy, but not as bad as Europe!
6) September is early spring so it shouldn't be an issue. Spend lots of time in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia to start and you shouldn't have weather problems. The weather issues there are usually related to road closures from landslides caused by rain, so just pay attention to local conditions at the time of travel.
7) stahlratte was a highlight of our trip.

1. Visa wise it seems as a norwegian can get into most countries without visa or or visa on arrival. US and Canada have Visa Waiver programs. However - I havent checked rules for each and every country yet.


**Both US and Canada now require on-line application before you get there.

2. Can a european plated bike be used and or temporary imported most througout countries in America? Will I need to get a translation of the bike registration papers to spanish or english? I have for the moment only the norwegian papers...

** There are hundreds of European, British, Australian vehicles getting around the Americas. Your vehicle documentation and your documentation need to be in the same names.

3. I understand that bordercrossings sometimes can be a PITA in Americas and take both time and sometimes bribes? Have I understood this right?

**Central America - yes, you are probably right. South America all follow a fairly standard pattern, there are no helpers to rip you off and rarely any charges unless you need a visa. Just make sure you know if any visa needs to be obtained at an Embassy rather than at the border. Most of us have never had to pay a bribe so if you could make it your goal too it will help everyone.

see here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_r...egian_citizens which I've found to be pretty accurate for other nationalities


4. Insurance? Can it be bought for several countries at a time or only one country at a time? Can it be purchased at border crossings?

**yes, yes and yes but not always. Ecuador is I think the only countryt that does not require insurance because as long as you have a valid TIP you are covered by the national system. Rarely will anyone check that you have it, but it is required and having an accident is the best way to find out.

5. Cost of living - this will of course vary in each and every country but can anyone tell something about this? Compared to Europe or SouthEast Asia?

A Scandinavian asking about the cost of living?? Chuckle. Cost of using one ferry in Norway for a 6.5 metre motorhome would feed you for a month in some SA countries. Ecuador and Chile can be reasonably expensive if you want to shop in the big supermarkets. Couple of CA countries too.

6. Climate and route - I have got a quote for sea freight from Australia and it means the bike will arrive in Valparaiso in late september. Is this a sensible time to start to travel in south America? Where should I start? Is it still possible to travel a month or two in the Andes area of Peru and Bolivia? South Chile and south Argentina should be best in the months from december to february I have understood.
And after that I will travel north - but which way to ride? West side or east side of south America?

**The East side of S America is currently a dead end for two reasons - Venezuela is a total basket case and you need to read up on current conditions eg What has gone wrong in Venezuela? - BBC News and see if you can do without toilet paper, soap and most food items for the duration of your stay. Other reason is that border with Colombia is still closed and has been since September last year

7. Darien Gap - theres no ferry running for the moment I think?
What other options are there? The Stahlratte? Other sailing vessels? Air freight?

8. My bike will have a lot of kms in the end of such a trip and it will hardly be worth shipping it back to Europe. Is there any chance to sell it legally in northern America, Canada or USA - maybe Mexico?

**Pretty hard to sell a vehicle legally in any country. Illegal work-arounds exist though

8. Anything else I should know as basic knowledge for the Americas?

**Thousands of blogs through HUBB and elsewhere. Just take a month off work and start reading. THEN come back and ask about what you are missing or don't understand

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

Thanks so much Tony and Memo - much appriciated.

Yes there are a lot of info "out there" - just a PITA to search it up.

Memo - yes I know that other norwegian guy as our paths has crossed on the www earlier on but great to get a reminder and a chance to read his blog. I havd been in touch with him and got much information already.

Tony - so the furthest north to cross back from the east side of SA (Brazil) is Bolivia? Because on Google maps there doesnt seem to be a connection from Brazil to Peru or Colombia...? Have briefly read about the current situation in Venezuela and if its not changing drastically to the better its no point going there.
Ha-ha you might joke about scandinavians asking about costs etc - but the norwegian currency has dropped 40 % to USD and more than 30 % to Euro - so it hasnt been a great time for our economy the last two years. And the last two years I have been on the road so havent been lucky with my timing.

What about camping options in SA - should I bring my camping gear?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

1. www.Visahq.com - check out this website, it will give you the skinny on basic visa requirements and a sense of fee, for any country and any citizenship combination. Know that the website is designed for air travelers not overland travelers, but still very useful in the big picture.
2. In my experience, you wouldn't have a problem getting temporary import papers. See the above for visa details (ex. Brazil is fussy for some citizens) No translation document required. It is useful to know the key points that every custom official is looking for: proof of ownership (i.e title, but your paperwork may vary), license plate number, body type, engine size, body color, license plate number, vehicle identification number VIN, your drivers license.
3. Border crossing hassle is relative and part of the adventure. Keep a good attitude and a smile. In your darkest moment, remember that Africa is worst (or so I have heard.) Chances are you won't asked for a bribe at the border. More likely a local cop will try to extract a bribe out of proportion to whatever infraction may or may not have occurred (calmly just say no, then if that doesn't work. be prepared to bargain to a lower number, much lower.) As a rule the military that you'll encounter at internal check points won't be a problem.
4. Cheaper than Europe, more expensive than Asia (Japan and Hong Kong not withstanding.) Lodging is cheap, camping is only cost effective is rare cases. Camp if you love it.
5. Google "annual weather for X" as there are a few micro climates. Think twice about riding the grass lands of the Amazon any time other than June/July, or you'll be tell one of may versions of a m mud story. Across the Andes it's a different story, coastal Peru gets a little mist all the time and hardly any rain, ever. Cross mountain passes in Andes and you could easily encounter hail and snow anytime of year. I rode west and east coast of SA. Currently riding the east coast (then along the north) may be more difficult because Venezuela is basically a train wreck at the moment, with no sign of stability on the horizon. I believe entry into Venezuela from Brazil is not a problem, if you choose to venture into the birth country of Simon Bolivar. Consider skipping Caracas and other large cities.
6. Stahlratte is lot of fun, but has a limited schedule and space. Research their schedule and reach out to them with you interest. Otherwise, sea contain, air lifting and ask around in the Panama City backpacker hostels for other sail boats. The Stahlratte is my personal recommendation for many reasons...
7. Legal sale of a bike ties into importation costs for the new owner and in some cases government limitation. Riders manage to sell their bikes, but Mexico, US and Canada are going to be more challenging. You have to put a deposit down (~$400 USD) as you enter Mexico, which you get back when you leave with your bike. Where there is a will, there is a way.
8. Brush up on your Spanish. =)
   

I love Mexico, CA and SA. These countries aren't perfect, but there is so much to experience there. The people are the best and so much to see...drink deep and enjoy. Brazil is the best. Lovely people.

Peter B

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

You can cross from Brazil directly into Peru by skirting around the top of Bolivia. It is called the Pan Oceanic Highway. Really nice new road in Peru, really interesting collection of potholes in Brazil. This is one of the better sections

Pretty boring on the Brazil side though as a lot of it is through endless sugarcane and corn fields although the need to play dodgems with huge trucks and lots of cars all doing their best to dodge potholes does tend to keep you awake. When the road is good and the scenery boring, the main problem is staying awake and for the first time in my life, I failed and did a bit of earth moving down off the side of the road.




Depending on the season there are several options for getting from NE Brazil or Venuzuala to Porto Vehlo - road or river barge - so certainly no need to go right back to Brasilia. (we left our truck there) North Pantanal (Porto Jofre) might be worth a visit though if you are in no hurry. We spent all of an hour in Porto Vehlo. Would have stayed longer but we couldn't find a Sauna open anywhere and we were desperate to find a cool spot to recover.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

Oh look here - heaps of information are coming! Thanks you so much guys - very much appriciated.

Visas and bike papers then seems ok to deal with.

Then the itinerary has to be made. Lets say I will be able to start 1th october from Valparaiso - Chile. I was thinking about a 2 months tour northbound in the Andes and then turn around and go south towards Ushuaia. Be in Ushuaia in late january/early february. Then turn north and be in Colombia for a Darian Gap crossing in april-ish. But might head straight towards eastcoast of SA and then south - and northbound in february/march/april along the westcoast....

Can then anybody point me in the right direction for where to ride climatewise? I see that most of Brazil would have a good bit of rain in february/march/april - except from northeast. So its gonna be a difficult decision.

Any advice, suggestion and ideas about the itinerary - very much approciated.

__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

The trouble with personal experiences regarding weather is first of all they are highly subjective (you may revel in tropical heat and humidity while I detest it) and their trip may have taken place during an unusual spell of good or bad weather or el nino or whatever so you still should use historical climate conditions and major climate zones ie Monsoon, to sort out major travel plans and then delve a bit deeper into climatic zones of each country to plan for instance, variations such as on the coast in Peru vs times high in the Andes or over to the east in the Amazon lowlands. Those conditions can range from torrential downpours and floods to freezing at 4500 metres to sauna conditions all withing a few hours driving. Hate the Brazil wet season, then head for the high country in Bolivia and stay high and cool all the way up to central Colombia. Etc etc etc. Boil your brains in the Atacama Desert in Summer or freeze in the winter, but drive to the coast and it is cool and relatively comfortable.
Guess the tighter your schedule the more research you need to do. We don't care where we are or go so can just go wherever conditions might suit us. One year we headed from Buenos Aries to Brasilia, but ended up in Cusco instead.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

Well Tony - Im not asking for personal experiences, Im asking for advice from people who have knowledge about weather and climate in SA. Im travelling by motorbike so obviously I would prefer to avoid rain as much as possible. And I would also prefer tempratures inbetween 10 and 30 celsius. But I can adjust a bit out of that. And of course climbing up to 4-5000 mal will interfer with climate. Im from nothern Norway - 600 kms north of the polar circle and I have experienced hail storms/blizzards on midsummernights eve. So I know a bit about extreme weather.

Anyhow - I have researhed several hours already about the climate and weather conditions in SA and find that it very very complex. Both Brazil and Chile has for example several different climates and climate zones. So for me who never have been in neither south nor north America and thus dont know the countries or the general conditions - its kinda hard to work out a route myself....

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Yes, as i was trying to get across. VERY complex along the western seaboard south of Ecuador to part way down Chile, and because you can altitude shift a long way with just a couuple of hours of east west driving, it is easy to find a comfortable climate regardless of season. That isn't so much the case with Brazil and a lot of Argentina. Have friends who drove around SA for nearly 10 years and they said they could never figure it out beyond the obvious too cold in Ushuaia in winter and way too hot in coastal Ecuador and especially coastal Columbia almost any time of the year.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

Just in case you are considering Stahlratte for the Darien Gap crossing...
No Colombia -> Panama Tours between December 2016 and May 2017.

Ok - thanks very much for the information, much appriciated.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....