From Miami, United States to Quito, Ecuador - July, 2006

Patricia Cadena speaks and writes English and is very helpful. She responds to emails promptly. So the Miami end of the deal went relatively smoothly. I built my own crate and towed it from South Carolina to Miami. Beware, BDP did not have a forklift to lift the bike (Harley Davidson Sportster) and had to borrow one from a competitor. I shipped with the front wheel, travel trunk, and windshield off but included. Steel panniers and crash bar remained on. Panniers were packed full and locked and never checked. A gel battery was hidden in the crate(gel batteries are allowed on planes, but often shippers do not realize that). Drained of gas, not oil. At the last minute I was told the bike and crate had to be fumigated. Bike and crate weight:404 Kgs.
COSTS:
1. AirFreight- $181.80
2. Dangerous goods surcharge- $100.00
3. Dangerous goods inspection charge- $125.00
4. Fuel surcharge- $202.00
5. Airport transfer (from shipper's office)- $40
6. Security/War risk surcharge- $60.60
7. Crating service (fumigation)- $120.00
8. Transport to fumigator- $35.00
9. Forwarding- $25.00
10.Customs validation- 75.00
Lots of add-ons that may or may not be actually required. Could not get a fumigation receipt or receipts for anything but the total.
BDP has an associate company in Quito to assist in getting the bike out of customs:
Cal-Vima CIA.LTDA
Juan de Alcantara 235 and El Telegrafo
Quito, Ecuador
(593-2)2245205 or 2241477 or 2436701 or 2456870

My contact at Cal-Vima was supposed to be Joana Brito as she speaks English. She never answered any emails, never informed me when the bike arrived, never met with me when I went to their office. I was assigned a 21 year old young man named Christian Alvarado (cell 09 9 291 331) who spoke English and was pleasant but did not know the ropes. He wanted us to leave our passports at Customs for several days and we refused (in Ecuador it is against the law to not have your passport on you at all times). He really did nothing. For some reason the Customs anti-corruption official heard about us, presented our paperwork to the jefe and made sure we did not get too badly cheated.Because of him we got the bike out in 5 or 6 hours vs. having to wait over a weekend. His name is :
Angel Gabriel Salvador
Contraloria Social,Customs
Cell 085-592274

He got into a heated argument with Christian after Christian first said there were no costs (already paid in Miami) then kept adding on costs. Sr. Salvador saved us some money. He said he would help motorcyclists shipping their bikes anytime. He speaks English.
Cal-Vima costs (included in total listed above): $123
Warehouse at customs in Quito (included in total):$28
I would use BDP, but avoid Cal-Vima.