Leaving Panama via Colon paperwork advice needed

[Steve aka Ratty / frozen rat]

I am leaving Panama as of December 2012 and I am looking for some updated advice.I need to know where to go to get my motorcycle stamped out,can I get it done in Colon or do I have to get it done in Panama City?
Any current advice as to what is the best and cost efficient way to get to Columbia would be helpful

[MountainMan]

Not sure if the timing works out, but it seems fitting that a frozen rat (gefrorenen ratte) should sail to Cartagena on the steel rat (stahl ratte. Costs are reasonable and a cool experience to boot.

www.stahlratte.org: Logbuch

[Steve aka Ratty / frozen rat]

A little high in price for me,unless the ship could make use of a retired Shipwright to cut the costs down.

[MountainMan]

Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a cheap way to do the hop over the Darien. Check out the prices of some of the recent shipments by air. Might be a good opportunity to use those shipwright skills.

Shipping the bike | Horizons Unlimited

[RanFar]

I'm sure this is too late to help you Ratty, but I hope others searching for the same info find it helpful.

I just (Nov. 27, 2012) shipped my KLR 650 from Panama to Bogota. Had I planned better I would have taken a boat through San Blas, but that's here nor there now. To get my motorcycle from Panama to Bogota, I used Air Cargo Pack (aircargopack.com).

Here's what you need to know:

Air Cargo Pack flies from Panama to Bogota four days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please contact Leivy for reservations in advance. You`ll need to bring the motorcycle to the Tabosa loading facility next to the Terminal Carga, around the back side of the Tocumen Airport near Panama City, Panama.

Items they require to transport your moto:

1. Your passport
2. Title and registration of the motorcycle.
3. Cash for payment (they DO NOT accept credit or debit cards at this facility) exact change is appreciated. (*I paid 1,075.00 U.S.)
4. Be sure the fuel tank on the motorcycle is low, they cannot have flammable fuels on board the jet.

Tabosa contact: Leivy Becerra
Phone: 507 2384630

No crating is necessary, which was great IMO. You wheel the bike into their warehouse and walk a hundred yards to the little old terminal and catch a taxi to where ever. I went straight to the Tocumen Airport (since I was already around the backside on the Air Cargo side) and bought a plane ticket t Bogota to meet my bike the next day. Be careful, Copa Airlines will tell you that Colombia requires that you purchase a round trip ticket. I opened my laptop, went online (free WiFi at the airport), and purchased a one-way ticket . No problem.

Hope this sheds some light for someone.

Safe travels,

Randy

Here's t a link to the Air Cargo Pack representative I dealt with: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOwnEnmndb...8+16.24.56.jpg

[Steve aka Ratty / frozen rat]

Thank you for the very good info,I am however being called back to a urgent matter in Canada so I will be postponed from my SA ride for a few months but once again thank you and I'm sure others will find it helpful as well

[Gsswede]

Thanks for the info. Had planed to take Die Stahlratte in januari but it was fully booked

[bad babba]

take a local bat to the san blas then one to colombia whil coast yuo around 300 us and take about 3 to 5 days tge boat whil in the end drop yuo in turbo colomboa the sthal ratte and the reast off thous f...ng boat onears are a gredy bunch dunt give them any money the local boats that rune the route to colombia is totaly ok whil spend 1 day att the san blas then to the bordear to do the papper whork geting in to colombia then a new litel boat to turbo easy and qvait a relaxing litel trip takes 3 days and maybe yuo have to whait 1 day four the boat in colombia

[markharf]

The question was about getting the bike stamped out, not about which bloodthirsty robber barons suck you dry and discard your dessicated corpse along the way.

Couple years ago bikes needed to be imported/exported in Panama City. There's a main office near Albrook Mall and a much friendlier office in a little booth just outside the freight section of the airport. People have had all sorts of interesting times at that little booth, though, with varying results. At least they don't make you wait around in the heat for hours at a stretch.

If you return to Panama with the bike, you'll be glad you followed the export rules. Ask me how I know this....

Mark

[Steve aka Ratty / frozen rat]

I have been to the Albrooke Mall but I somehow missed seeing the the Aduana but no big deal,I do enjoy hearing a story of someone else that has had a ahem shall we safely say rough experience like myself and my gal have been through so I am asking how you know this ?

[markharf]

It's not in the mall: it's near the mall. You wouldn't find it unless looking for it, and probably wouldn't recognize it even if you found it. I hired a taxi.

Not sure what rough experience you're talking about. I've had a few, here and there.

Mark

[Throttlemeister]

If are stopping near the island airport of El Povenier (sp?) in the San Blas you can check your bike out of Panama there where many of the sailboat captains do.

[pasomonte]

I shipped my bike with Tabosa today. Below are the facts:
PH. 507-238-4415
1. Cost $1075 cash only, exact change. There is an ATM conveniently located next door in the old terminal which will give only up to $500 per day per card
2. The air cargo terminal is located about 5 bumpy construction filled miles past the airline terminal and on the opposite side of the runway.
3. The Aduana is located in the first little building on the right as you enter the terminal area. It across from the drug dog training area. Go here first. These ladies are nice.
4.Tabosa is the first barn on the right after you pass the old terminal.
5. Arrive with your importacion cancelled, Title, $1075 cash, very little fuel, Insurance,Passport
6. They will inspect the bike for damage and ask where you the tiedowns attached .
7. The plane flies at 23::00 and your bike should be available at 8:30AM in Bogota.
You can then either proceed to Bogotá and overnight there or spend another night in Panama. It makes the most sense to go directly to Bogota because taxi fare in Panama to the airport. would be $30 and 40 minutes each way. You could also sleep later and get your bike 2hours earlier. I wish I had thought of these things before now.
I'll get back with the result soon.

[wilimaur]

Originally Posted by Gsswede

Thanks for the info. Had planed to take Die Stahlratte in januari but it was fully booked

I am in Panama right now trying to get to Colombia with my motorcycle, also. Since you couldn't take the Stahlratte, what are you planning to do now? I am looking for someone to share a container with. Would you be interested in that?

[wilimaur]

Is anyone looking to share a container from Panama to Colombia in the next couple weeks?? The sooner the better for me.