Leaving Bike in Argentina
 

Hi, I'm planning to ship my bike to Argentina, travel a couple of months in Argentina and Chile, and then pretty much leave the bike there, save the shipping cost back and its on its last run. I read somewhere in here that they stamp your passport with the motorcylce visa, and can't leave the country without it. Is this so? any suggestions?
thanks
Kenny

I would think that you can surrender the wreck to customs. You will then get documentation from them to that effect, permitting you to leave.

hola,

in Argentina and Chile if you enter by bike (overland, you ship it in, or you fly it in) you will be given a piece of paper (this is a tempory import permit). This paper you will have to return to customs when you leave the country with the bike.

Nobody stamps your passport, so if you leave without the bike nobody at immigrations will know.

The only country in South America where they stamp your passport with bike details is Venezuela.

Go to Azul and visit *La Posta del viajero en moto* - a place where most overland bike travellers go and relax for a few days.

Ask Javier in Bs As from the HU Community if somebody wants your bike (for a beer, or two) at the end of your journey for spare parts.

Enjoy

Mika

Thank you all for your replies, it was most helpful. I do feel a bit helpless, since I was planning to leave the bike there for good. I travel regularly there and was hoping to be able to use it every time I go, maybe just renew the visa everytime, but was intending to have freedom of moving in and out as I pleased with out it.
Thanks again,
Kenny

hola again,

huu, so things have changed since i travelled in 2002 to 2004 in south america.

.. than please excuse my mistake.

I remember somebody told me a story about selling his car in Chile and getting into big trouble reentering a year later ... but there are so many stories and it was hard for me to believe that the computers were working at the border posts, where they had only generators for electricity.

anyway, thanks for the up to date correct information.

dont worry too much about paperwork in south america, you are allways the gringo and you can act stupid and have some selfmade documents or copies with you ... and never forget to smile.

hasta la pasta

mika

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