transport bike west coast South America - Europe

[Schiza]

Hi everybody,

I am looking for current information on the best (mainly cheapest) way to transport my bike from either Ecuador, Colombia or Peru to Europe.
I am heading home to the Czech Republic, so Germany for instance would be perfect.

I tried the info I found on the HUBB, but did not succeed.
For instance I contacted Hamburg Sued in Ecuador and they told me they cannot help me. Also DHL spits out outragous prices when I try the online calculator.

I will be grateful for any tips.
Thanks a lot.

Katerina

[pecha72]

Got no personal experience from the area, and this actually goes to Buenos Aires (and their brochure says, you are allowed to board a northbound journey only, if you´ve already travelled southbound with them...)

Home Page Grimaldi Freighter-cruises

But they do have prices for bikes, etc, claim they departure about every 9 days.... hell, it doesnt even seem too expensive! I have no idea, if they´d accept an unaccompanied bike or not.

I was a little surprised to find, that this kind of service between continents actually exists. Have been under the impression, that this type of long ´steamer´-routes (well, its not really a ´steamer´, but its got cabins) were buried decades ago, when air travel became common.

Could be tough to find something like this going to Europe from the west side of the Americas, though.

[jarax]

Hi, how did it go? I would like to ship/fly my bike from Europe (any place) to Argentina (buenos aires) or chille (santiago) in october 2011. Any ideas?

[Schiza]

Hi there,

it went quite well until getting back to Europe.
I was now told, that if I stay out of the EU for more than a year, it is a problem, because you have to have the carnet de passage with all the entries from beginning 'til end, otherwise you have to pay taxes.
I'll see how it goes down, so far a lot of worries and spent EUR. My bike should arrive tomorrow (so far only about two weeks delay!)
I definitely advise you to ship to Santiago. I shipped to BA and it was quite bad. Everybody advises Santiago and I now shipped back FROM Santiago and it really was much better.
Good luck!
Katerina

[pecha72]

They say you have to pay taxes for a bike registered where... And it is now going where (permanently or temporarily?)

The carnet is for taking a foreign bike temporarily into a country, that´s in the carnet-system, and using it means you dont have to leave a bond to the customs, because the issuer of the carnet already has it.

Only if your carnet has not been appropriately stamped out of some carnet-country, then the customs authorities of that country may demand the taxes and duties be paid (and at that point, you may have to be able to prove, that the vehicle has in fact been exported from that country).

[jarax]

Schiza: can you write some more info about the shipping? From where to where did you ship, what company, what price, problems, so on... everything will be very helpful for me.

Thanks...