From Panama City, Panama to Quito, Ecuador - July, 2004

This company came recommended by lots of past users so I didnt bother to shop around, just went straight to them. Look at other postings for directions to the freight terminal, it is easy to find. Girag took the bike on a Wednesday and as promised had it in Quito on Saturday. I wanted this confirmed for me in writting which i never got and also I did not get a Quito contact till the Monday when I had to call Dalyss in Panama. No probs really, and for future reference bikes normally arrive at the Air France Cargo office (look for the Air France sign on Amazonas Ave and go through the steel gates to the office, a little hidden away from the road)This was where the real fun began. Aduana were adamant that I could not take the bike without the dreaded Triptico (Carnet) As I dont have one I was forced to use a Customs Agent. I used Bertha Ibarra (you can find her office at the end of the street next to the entrance to the Aduana. Its the second last office or ask) She is well clued up on how to get the bike out without a Carnet and will charge you $50. My spanish is poor and without her and George my bike would still be in Aduana. I got a 60 days tourist permit, any more she would not do. Its a real pain in the arse process involving lots of letters and eventually the Commondant has to sign your papers. It took one and a half days to try it out myself and then get Bertha on the job. Other costs were $28 to Air France for some non-existant paperwork and $21 to Aduana for the warehousing and paperwork. Now for the pisser, the bike had been dropped, no real damage but the sidestand had been snapped off the frame, leaving a hole in the frame, as it is an integral part of it.It was left just hanging on. This would I guess have been due to enthusiastic ratchet strapping in transit. Its going to be and awkward welding job that I hope wont cost much and wont break again. I suppose I would use Girag again but the snapped stand has left a bitter taste. No one else reports anything more than bikes being dropped so maybee I was unlucky. As a post note I went to a welder today to get the stand fixed. For $5 I have a good strong stand again and am now a very happy boy. Not the big problem I thought it could have been.