From Panama, Panama to Bogota, Colombia - November, 2016

I'm reporting this for a friend who arranged this from Panama city:

Note: Final cost will depend on the weight and dimensions of the bikes. This was for shipping Ducatis

We loaded all bags and gear under bikes on pallet. No windscreen removal, no battery disconnect and supposed to have small amount of fuel, but we had half tank. We just said small amount. We could fit as much gear as we wanted onto pallets.saved us luggage fees at airport. They palletized the bikes, strapped down, cardboard around bike and then plastic wrapped them.pulled in mirrors for them. We saved about $600 over Girag (Note: This was for TWO bikes).

Bogota pick up was easy. The carrier was DHL. Their facility is right at the airport, just tell cab the address. It's a gated facility with other carriers. You go to a main building out front, not DHLbuilding, and give them your driver's license to hold and they give you a security badge to enter the secure area. You walk to the DHL, building and go to second floor to finish pick up paperwork. We had to pay them 75 usd for some carrier cost, unexpected but we didn't question. When we entered the office they knew what we were there for. They said they get about 3 bikes a month coming through their facility. After DHLyou take all your paperwork to the building where you got the security badge, second floor. This is Colombia aduana. Lots of people, shippers of stuff. This office seemed to not often do vehicles. It took a couple hours with them. For some reason Colombia would like to know your destination hotels while in Colombia, we did not have so they wrote up a letter for us to explain. I think that's what took the time. Take the approved paperwork from aduanas back to DHL and they will release motorcycles. We had the whole warehouse come watch the unpacking of motorcycles, they acted like they never see them, not sure why. They have a makeshift ramp you ride down to get off the loading dock, looked sketchy but wasn't. DHL takes care of all the crate and plastic packing. Just un-crate and ride away, show paperwork to guards at gate, return badges as we, so you can get your license back. It went smooth and was simple enough.