Planning a trip from Florida,US to BsAs,Argentina
 

Happy new year to every one.... !!! I'm from Argentina living in Florida US, and I'm planning a trip from here to Argentina.... I was reading almost all the posted messages about south and central america, but few talks about Colombia. My concern is the situation over there, I'm looking to know further than the political news, t.v. news, etc... If someone crossed Colombia heading south I'd like to hear from you what your feeling was about it. Everybody knows what the news might say is no always a reflection of the reality, is more something that could sell... But I'd like to know the impressions of the traveler's point of view....
I was a police officer in Argentina for 7 years and I've seen pretty much all the tricks to scam tourist, I can afford try to be scamed, robbed, or else but I can't afford to disapear or worst just because a bad turn...
Have everybody a good ride...
Loner

Will let you know when I get there... but the general concensus is don't miss Colombia. Been there many times, but never on a bike. It's just a common sense issue. You can take a wrong exit in LA or in BA, and get in serious trouble.

www.gpadventure.com

Will go through Colombia. Haven't decided yet wether I'll boat into Cartagena or fly to Bogota. I'll decide when I get to Panama. I'm now in Argentina, leaving for LA to pick up my bike again and continue my trip south.

G

PM or email me if you have any questions...

One more question....
 

Thanks for your mail!!, I checked your website and is very interesting...
By the way, maybe I'm a little now, but if you need to know something form my country (Argentina) or any advise, just let me know...

The other question that I have is : Is posible to cross Darien(Panama) to Colombia on a pavemented road or Is there any road?
My bike is a cruiser (Honda ac.e. 750) I'm trying to plan my trip on paving roads and I know thats the most difficult part....

Thank you again...
Good ride...
Loner.

Go to Colombia don,t worry about it
 

As long as you stick to the paved roads you,ll have no problems
Check out www.yamaroundtheworld.com they did it on an xj600 and xj900 including some considerable offroad trips,just go for it worry about it later!!!

No road at all. Fly to Bogota or boat to Cartagena. Look in the "Trip Transport" section of forum.

Enjoy Colombia!! I Did!!
 

I flew my KLR and myself into Bogota on Nov 9th, 2006. It is a great trip south (or north also). Talked to a lot of people in Ushuaia that got stopped a lot by police but not ticketed because of the vest thing I think. We bought them and we never got stopped ONE time for even the check points. We rode from Bogota to Cali (two days there) then from there to Pasto then into Ecuador. Beautiful country and people. No problems what so ever. Stick to main roads, travel early and quit early. You will be glad you saw Colombia! Enjoy!
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/rickmcd
Rick McDermed

Jack
 

I just flew my bike from Miami to Quito. Its a four hour trip you have wait a bit for the bike if there is a USA holiday as customs in US hold the shipment for 72 hours. To get your bike crated go to Palmetto Kawasaki and they will crate it for about 220.00. In Quito when you clear customs you can uncrate it yourself (you have to walk a good bit to get gas) or you can have trucker right there take it to KAWA Kawasaki and they will uncrate it put oil and gas
it up and clean it if you like.

Hi jtessex,
Could you give us some more details, How much $ to ship to Quito ? How much for your plane ticket? What's your plan for getting the bike back? How did the ride go, etc.??

Colombia, ya gotta go!
 

I flew into Bogota in November heading for TDF. Some of my fondest memories was riding through Colombia alone, with passengers in buses and taxis yelling best wishs at me on the tricked out V-Strom! I still get e-mail from friends I made while there. There's an element of danger anywhere you go, don't let the fear of the unknown prevent you from going.

Harold

gotta go gotta go
 

check out motoride's post "don't miss the colombia".

I was nervous as hell, had planned on skipping it, to worried about my wife. nickdude (waitgo.com) talked us in to going and it was awesome. beautiful roads, wonderful people. The basic guidelines we got were:

don't ride at night. this was specified as after 4pm
stick to the main roads.
if the locals say 'don't go there', don't go there.

mark
roundtheworldorbust.com

YES, DO it!
 

I took a boat from Portbelo, Panama to Cartegena, Colombia, this Christmas. It wasn't in my original plan, it's just the way things worked out.

If you read all the post about Colombia I think you will find nothing but positive responses. It has been the highlight of my trip so far. Especially the people. My buddy Isaac and I were abducted by some Colombian bikers. We weren't allowed to pay for anything for two days of touring and eating around the Medellin area.

Neither of us wore a vest. No problems.

Do it.