Shipping from Colombia to USA seems next to imposable

[Cartagenabound]

I have spoken with many shipping agents in Cartagena and Barranquilla and even an agent in Medellin. No one wants to ship a motorcycle from Colombia, by air or sea to the States. I spoke to directly one of three air freight companies that service Florida/Barranquilla. They bring bikes in but make it very expensive and complicated to send out. They will not even deal directly with the bike owner; they will only work through an agent and none of the agents they work are willing to send a bike.

The owner of a mid size company explained it to me like this. High risk, low reward. Apparently any thing shipped from Colombia to the U.S.A must be certified drug free. There has been a high rate of drug smuggling in motorcycles so the powers in charge are telling the shippers, if a motorcycle you ship has drugs, you will loose your exporting licensee. Even if you have nothing to do with it. This company does Motor homes and cars, no problem, but will not touch a motorcycle. I think this is the case with a many single item and one time exports. No one wants to take the risk.

I did receive a quote from one agent/broker willing to ship by air, it was $3,000 US and I do not have faith that they can make it happen. I have had offers to ship it to Asia and Europe, no problem. Perhaps there are different politics at work for the USA. I can drive it out, no problem. It is just the wrong direction. As long as I am with the bike, I can leave with it, no problem. I want to go north and all roads head south. I already drove through Mexico and Central America and do not really want to do it again.

Claude from Venezuela has been very helpful. He knows a guy from Medellin that has the BMW dealership. He says this guy shipped his bike to Miami and rode to Alaska. I am going to contact him this week and see what is up. If any one reading this has personally shipped a bike from Colombia to the USA in the last year or two, please contact me. Perhaps I am missing something. Any body have experience with Venezuela to the States, Maracaibo is only a days ride and I hear it is a big port.

I shipped in by air from Panama. It was one of the least complicated things I have done here in Colombia. A little expensive, but simple. I just assumed that getting out would be the same process and perhaps even a little less expensive. There is so much freight going back and forth the between Colombia and the States. I assumed wrong. I know I have other options, however I really would like to send this bike back to the States before winter sets in..

If I make it, I will be sure to post it in the shipping database.

Martin