air freight to peru
 

Does anyone know or have experience of a reliable and cheap (of course) air freight company to Lima - Peru or Quito - Ecuador.

Hi there,
Judging by your profile, I assume you are flying your bike from the London area.

I used a company near Heathrow to fly my bike from London to Alaska in April and it all went without a hitch. The company is called Jardine Logistics, contact is Dave Wren (Export manager), phone number is 020 8751 7060. Continental Airlines use them for their cargo so I assume they can fly anywhere in the world inc. Lima or Quito.

Should go smoothly at the London end but it all depends the customs at the S.A destination. i have just spent a couple of days getting my bike out of Quito customs after flying from Panama. Overall not too painful but cost me a few quid.

Good luck.
Lois
www.b13media.com/lois

Lois,

Thanks for your message. Just spoken to them and they were by far the most helpful of companies I've spoken to. Sorry to hassle you but what was it like getting the bike out of customs. What did you need and roughly how much did it cost.

Also what about carnets?

I've been told you don't need them for borders in SA.

Any advice gratefully received.

What trip are you on?

Travel safely

Read the carnet page - link on left - for everything you need to know about carnets. You don't need for S.Am.

------------------
Grant Johnson

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

Grant, thanks for your reply.

I have read and understood from the pages of the book and the web site that a carnet wasn't needed for South America.

However, the RAC and various people I've spoken to have sad that it is offcial policy of countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile Uruguay and others to request a carnet.

The reports and advice I receive continue to conflict.

As far as I can work out it depends on individuals experience, how the border guards are feeling that day and probably most importantly how good your spanish or portuguese is.

Ben

"Request" is the operative word here - you can indeed use a carnet - I did - but you don't REQUIRE one. It's cheaper and somewhat easier and quicker to use the carnet than to pay the fees etc. But it's NOT worth getting a carnet ONLY for South America - I still had mine from Africa so I used it.

Yes, it's up to the border guards and how they are feeling - but you don't need a carnet, it's entirely possible and people do it all the time without. Smile and keep smiling and be patient - a day or so to clear when first flying in is a good result. Patience is a virtue.

When we flew into BA in 97, they had just built a new customs office at the airport - and it seemed, all new staff. They wouldn't even accept the carnet - didn't know what it was, and wanted us to arrange a personal guartantee and bond from an Argentinean citizen. Yeah right. It took a while, but we got sorted, and they are now fine. We have had no reports of problems without a carnet when flying into BA recently.

As for flying into Ecuador from Panama, over 150 travellers did it last year. No great problem but it does take time. No carnet.

have fun,

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

By the way, do NOT fly in or out of Venzuela. Too hard given a choice.

Hi Snub,
Grant is quite correct (of course!).
All is fine without a carnet, even though some South Americam countries officially still say they require one. It is really not worth getting one. All the bike travellers I have been in contact with here in South America are travelling without, as I am.

In answer to your other questions, I am travelling from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego, currently in Peru. Ecuadorian customs was not a problem, just time consuming. Have a look at my website for more details of my trip www.b13media.com/lois

It is all much easier than you would ever imagine. Really!
Cheers,
Lois