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Shipping bike from Costa Rica to Colombia across Gap? Shipping bike from Costa Rica to Colombia across Gap?
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Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

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Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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Shipping bike from Costa Rica to Colombia across Gap?
I'm in planning mode for an upcoming South America trip from Chicago and am trying to see what all my options are regarding which countries to visit and how to get across from Central America to South America.

I know the usual thing to do is air-freight the bikes from Panama City to either Bogota or Quito, but me being an Indian citizen (working here in the US), I need a tourist visa for most every country I visit and a usual visa costs around $30 - $40. Costa Rica is free for me, but a visa for Panama costs $85! And can you believe a tourist visa to Ecuador costs $230! Sounds like an awesome country to ride through and visit, but that's too high a price.

I'm trying to see if there's a way to get the bikes from Costa Rica to Colombia somewhere. Is flying an option or are there some cargo boats that go that way. I wouldn't mind spending a few days on a boat, if it's much cheaper.

Seeing that it costs around $600 to air-freight from Panama to Colombia, if the Costa Rica to Colombia option isn't much cheaper, I'll probably just do Panama then.

Any insights would be much appreciated.
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  #2  
Old 25 Mar 2008
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I found out how to ship from Costa Rica to Colombia, just in case someone else is looking for this info:

Travelling by motorcycles –How to go from Colombia/Cartagena to Centroamerica or viceversa
It's a hostel in Cartagena, Colombia with details on boats, cargo vessels or sailing boats that will take bikers with them. Awesome!

Also, this a great thread for shipping from Panama to Colombia:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...perience-26597
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  #3  
Old 26 Mar 2008
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Thanks for the info
I'm looking for that option too, Im planning to leave US from Ohio to Peru (Im a peruvian citizen) and also have the same issue with the visas.

ps, this site is awesome, lots of info
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  #4  
Old 26 Mar 2008
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Thanks for the info
I'm looking for that option too, Im planning to leave US from Ohio to Peru (Im a peruvian citizen) and also have the same issue with the visas.

ps, this site is awesome, lots of info
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  #5  
Old 3 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammin View Post
And can you believe a tourist visa to Ecuador costs $230! Sounds like an awesome country to ride through and visit, but that's too high a price.



Seeing that it costs around $600 to air-freight from Panama to Colombia, if the Costa Rica to Colombia option isn't much cheaper, I'll probably just do Panama then.

Any insights would be much appreciated.
Hy jay

Last week, I got Ecuador visa in New Delhi. I paid US$ 60. I got it on the same day. If you want list of requirements I can send you. Panama visa from India will cost you INR 1490 ( apprx US$ 37).

I got air shipping quote from Copa cargo for Quito - Panama City US$ 700 and Bogota - Panama city for US$ 580. If I talk to some air shipping agents I may get some better rate.

Nelson
Last edited by nsk11; 3 Apr 2008 at 12:12.
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  #6  
Old 3 Apr 2008
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Guys, I did this trip back in '84 on a CX500.

At that time I tried to ship from Panama to COlombia but could only get a boat (literally a banana boat) to take myself and my pillion form Colon to the San Blas Islands. We spent a week in San Blas trying to get a boat down to Colombia but nothing was happening so I ended up shipping back to Panama.

Back in Panama City I went to the local airport to crate up the CX to airfreight and managed to find an airline that was prepared to lease me the tail section in the back of their cargo 707 (i.e. the v-section at the back of the cabin where it tapers and pallets canot be loaded).

I ended up "riding" the bike on the scissor lift (scary as all hell when the scissor lift is all rollers with nothing to stop you rolling over the edge) and into the cabin then down the the end of the fuselage.

Upon talking to the pilot he offered us jump seats behind the cockpit for $50 which went directly into his pocket. So our total outlay was only $250 for a bike and 2 passengers, and no need for a crate either, and the only complaint was from my pillion regarding the lack of meals on the flight.

Garry from Oz.
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  #7  
Old 19 Jul 2012
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An old thread... but we're looking at that option right now. Anyone done this, from Costa Rica to Columbia? Any info appreciated.
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  #8  
Old 15 Aug 2012
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CR to Colombia
If I remember correctly Vagamoto shipped from CR to Colombia 2 years ago air freight and it was expensive
much cheaper, if you call it cheap, from Panama
I can recommend Stahlratte i took them 2 years ago now about 900 smackers
for bike and rider but great food, huge ship, good fun
all other accounts seem to lead to copa or girag outa Panama for about 800+ for bike and 300 for airfare
theres some new postings for banana boats from Panama to Colombia over on advrider for about $450 all in
J now demoted to CGL125 putt putt ,gack, muerto...........
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  #9  
Old 21 Aug 2012
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First of all, you don't want to miss Panama.

Second this is an old thread as there is now a ferry running from Panama to Columbia which makes the crossing a snap.
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  #10  
Old 21 Aug 2012
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Ferry does not exist.
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  #11  
Old 21 Aug 2012
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Fairy may exist...
...but where is it, not in Panama or Columbia it seems !!!

I'm waiting to see if it happens tho, down here in so mexico - and I hope so cuz I can't afford the other 2 of 3 options...may have to take a smugglers ride down if the ferry never shows.
J demoted to cgl125
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