New: SHipping bike to Santiago or BA, travel in Argentina
 

Hi,
I am new to the forum. Lots of useful info everywhere.
I am working in Argentina about 10 days a month form now on including a week plus in Neuquen.
Will be in Argentina for a 3 day weekend each month.
Plan to ship bike to Santiago. Ride over mountains to Argentina and down to Nequen. Leave bike there and then ride when there on 3 day weekend trips .
Plus a couple of longer trips. Alternatively could put bike in BA where I have a garage available in a secure area with KTM nearby but weekend rides seem less interesting.
Will be doing this for 12 months or so then sending the bike on to Australia for next planned posting.
I am looking into shipping and carnet etc.
Bike is a KTM 950s and I know my way around it.
Any input re reliable shippers and pros and cons Argentina vs Chile would be greatfully receved. Am more or less persuaded re Chile as entry point to Sth America because of Carlos de Gavardo and previous posts re Chile simplicity and effectiveness vs Argentina. Yet to make a final decision.
Any input welcome.

Hey Hambone, don't know how long you will have the bike in AG, but I think the max in 90 days for a temp. import permit.
Others on this forum can confirm this.

8 months
 

Hmmmm,
I heard 8 months.
90 days might change everything.
H

I got 90 days, but that´s because I´m an Argentina citizen, and was coming in with an american bike. I rode in at the same time with a brit and a Norwegian, and they got 8 months each. No carnet required for Chile, Argentina, or anywhere else all the way up to Alaska for that matter.

Flew my bike from Los Angeles to Santiago, and had the bike out of customs in about 2 hrs., without having to grease any palms. I´m sure BA wouldn´t be much worse. It´s a pretty straight forward procedure.

Neuquen would be a pretty short ride to Chile for a customs in and out if your 8 months are close to expiring. Just DONT let them expire. And just to be safe, go out one border crossing, and come in through a different one, after a day or two. Also, from BA, you can take a 1hr ferry to Colonia, Uruguay, and come back in through a land crossing a few hours further north.

Also, last I was there, the KTM dealer in BA is short on parts and outrageous on pricing. To be fair, the BMW dealer is very pricy too. $200 for a pair of front brake pads for my 1200GSA!!! Bring essential KTM service prts with you.

8 months
 

Just spoke to Javier at Dakar Motos.
Thanks Javier for your time if you are reading this post!
His opinion is 3 months at the moment but is going to look into it.
GPOTHOVEN: How recent was the 8mth entry? what location exactly?
Al of this is great input and I appreciate the advice.
Used or new bikes seem a bit of a nightmare and airship in and out with 8mths sure woud be a good call.
I am in and out so will always have parts, filters etc.
Javier has kindly offered to get me an air shipping quote to BA via his wife.
I will be in BA/ Neuquen next week and find out more in between business stuff.
H

Javier and Sandra are good people. They´ll do anything they can to help.

The entry was from Montevideo to BA, via ferry, in early May. For what it´s worth, I think even 90 days would be worth it. It just sucks not having a bike for me. And the used bike option in Argentina was not an option for me. Anywhere from $9000 to 11000 for a good condition, 90 to 94 Africa Twin!!!

Constrictions
 

It becomes a bit much if 90 days is the limit for my riding time availability which amounts to 3-4 day weekends. Shame to spend one of these ferrying to Uraguay and bike.
I am not really a traveller in the true sense of most of the users of this forum, just a bloke who will be away from his family 10 days a month wanting to ride the p**S out of my bike around the great dirt roads in the vast and beautiful Northern Patagonia area in between extreme work

Ideally I want to be based in Neuquen and ride out from there, have a weekend of it and get back in on Sunday night to continue working.

Seems like bordor hops could be done from there and since I will be bachelorizing down there and we will have a smal company appartment it will be possible to spend my evenings doing the servicing.

Yup, I hear you. Keep in mind that the ferry crossing is 1 hour only. Probably 2 hrs total with border exit, crossing, and border entry. Crossing into Chile and back is also a short affair. But yes, it does sound like a bit of a pain to have to do it every less than 90 days.

Hopefully Javier wil get you some info soon on wether it´s 3 or 8 months...

Chile LAN Cargo for AIR shipment of moto
 

Hi.. saw your post and wanted to chime in with my experience so far re air shipment of moto from Los Angeles.
I am shipping my KTM950 via Chile LAN Cargo Dec 16th. It works like this for them and me: Take bike to 3A Packing near airport(have contact info) they are building me a pallet(my choice vs crate) for $175 and will strap it down and deliver to LAN Cargo. They issue me a DG or "Dangerous Goods" certificate for LAN Cargo needs, $40. Bike will be delivered 3 days prior to a 10pm Sat flight that goes to Miami and on to Santiago. They are quoting me $1500 at this point with possible change due to wght or volume.

You must pay CASH at the Cargo terminal. I am prepared to pay more as I believe they are underquoting it at this time.

The cargo flight arrives at around 5:30pm Mon Dec 17th and should be able to get going in a hour or two. I am flying Delta LA/Atlanta/Santiago overnighter..

Happy to give more info if necc...very happy to hook up with others traveling for a beer or whatever..

Chas

I entered the Argentine border twice, in Pino Hachado at the border with Chile and at Aguas Blancas with Bolivia. Both i was granted 8 month.

Getting the bike out of the Harbour in Buenos Aires took a lot of time, paper processing and running from the office, the customs and the harbour with lowly cooperative clerks. It also cost 800 dollars for the container, with prices going up if it takes you more than one week to get your bikes.

Chile is reputed for its efficient administration. It might be a more confortable destination for you and your bike.

Goetz and Karine, Argentine temp import 2 BMWs
 

Hambone 950, we are parking Goetz and Karine's BMWs, they got 8 months temp import permits for Argentina, 8 months ago, and very recently returned to Buenos Aires from Berlin, toured Uruguay last week, got another 8 months temporary Import permits. No problem.

We are parking their bikes again and I have a copy of the 8 month temporary Import permit they just got in hand. It is possible to get 8 months. Goetz told me he asked for more, but only got 8 months. If you want to contact Goetz and Karine directly, their e-mail is: goto06@onlinehome.de

They are a great couple and have done RTW. If I can help in any way let me know.

*We, 2 expats USA and Spain are offering safe, secure long or short term motorcycle/auto parking in Recoleta (Buenos Aires) if anyone might be interested. Will be happy to help with temporary import permits info and updates.

Javier, at Dakar Motos is also checking on this issue. I would definately consult with him too. Apparently, some border officials might and some might not give the 8 months. Some do for sure. Welcome to South America. "xfiltrate" touringnorth04@yahoo.com

Luck of the draw
 

... If you're planning on leaving the bike in BsAs you'll need a day to get to any decent riding country, no offence to my many Argentine friends, but BsAs is the flat-lands.

... That not withstanding, two weeks ago I got 8 months Temp-Imp for Argentina at the Paysandu-Colon crossing (nice middle aged lady customs agent).

... Trouble is the previous trip through the same border point three weeks earlier, I was only given 90days. I was also only given 90days at Ezeiza when I first bought the bike in. You can try and argue it out I suppose, 90 day permits are actually all I need, I just need lots of them.

Argy 90 days
 

Hi,
I shipped my KTM from Bristol to BA with Denholm freight. It was the cheapest I could find. It took me a day to get it out with no bungs. I've had it here about 2 years(in SA) and it's in Argy now. I had a knock and broke my leg about 2 months ago and as the bike had been there almost 3 months before the accident I thought I'd better find out how long I had . The police didn't know but came back and said customs had said 3 months. I' ve got a carnet for mine and they just stamp an entry date on it with no time limit. I've overstayed my welcome a few times i different countries but customs have never noticed or not said anything anyway. Smile sweetly!
I've got a flight to go and get the bike tomorrow and should be crossing into Bolivia in 1-2 weeks so I'll let you know how I get on.
Fraser