Hi guys,
Aussie here who is 3 months into a 1.5 year trip from Ushuaia to Alaska. Got as far as Peru when the shit hit the fan and its all locked down. Military on virtually every corner with semi automatics. Boarders and airports are closed. 8.00 pm to 5am curfew, can only walk to the supermarket or chemist. Passport getting checked every 5 minutes by police. Trip is over for the time being. I expect in the next five days or so with the Australian government will send an aircraft to repatriate us. In the meantime I've got a 2018 GSA 1200 that needs to be parked up in a safe and safe & secure location. Does anybody know anybody that may be able to help me here in Arequipa. At this point in time, There is no way for me to ride to Lima or Cusco because no private vehicles are allowed on the road. This GSA stands out like dogs balls and there is no way I'll get through the checkpoints even if I try to run them. I am hearing rumours that the Australian government may organise permission for Australians to travel to get to the airport so parking in Lima or Cosco may also be an option.everything is so fluid at this stage I simply don't know. Unfortunately the commercial storage operators cannot be contacted because all businesses are also shut down. I am literally walking the streets looking for people who speak English that may be able to help me. I've got no idea how long it will take for this shit to pass over but my bike may need to be here for six months. The temporary import approval is just a whole Nother saga.

Well I came here for an adventure and I've got one.
Any suggestions are most welcome guys.

Cheers Dale.

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Toby, at Round the Block Moto Tours aroundtheblock07@gmail.com might be able to give you guidance, although in Huanuco he knows the TVIP issues. Take your time if possible and get it suspended, dont just leave it and try to figure it out later,, Peru is very tough on TVIP permits unless you suspend.
Please keep us updated,

Hi Dale,

For storage, did you try the Contact a Community page?
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/connect/contact
Chances are you will find someone to watch your bike.

Read the instructions, then navigate by clicking on P
There is a registered contact in Arequipa. I have no idea if the person is active. Community contacts are usually responsive. I reached out to community contacts in Bolivia and Mexico with very positive results.

EXTEND or SUSPEND TVIP
I highly recommend that you take steps to extended or suspend your TVIP before leaving Peru. These are uncertain times and getting back to Peru may be challenging. Sorry to raise your stress level... Know that Peru is VERY strict about overstaying the time allowed on your TVIP. One day over and your bike will be confiscated (at least in normal times.)

HUANACO
Given the roadblocks/checks, Huanaco is probably too far, but reach out to Toby before going. I know Toby well and am sure he will do everything he can do to assist you directly or give you advice. adventure motorcycle tours in Peru and all South America - Suspend your TVIP

Lima - Felipe Miranda
Motos del Perú
They are known to suspend TVIP and store bikes

Cusco - "Milligrand, the manager of Quinta Lala camping can get you official suspension of your TVIP so you can leave for longer. I put her email address on the entry for ioverlander" mili_sj_7@hotmail.com
iOverlander | Quinta Lala Camping

All the best to you. Get home safe and back on the road when this all blows over.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Apropos of the TVIP, which I presume is the document Peru issues to grant permission to temporarily import a tourist vehicle against the promise (and obligation) to export the vehicle at the same time the tourist leaves...

I'm in Tunisia at the moment - stuck here with my Canadian-plated motorcycle. Normally Tunisia is very strict about not permitting foreign vehicles to remain in the country when the visitor leaves - if you bring a vehicle in, you have to take it out with you (the vehicle gets stamped into your passport), and the Customs people simply won't let you leave the country without your vehicle.

However, during this pandemic crisis, the government has granted an exception, visitors may leave their vehicle behind provided they leave a photocopy of their passport and vehicle importation permit with the Customs people on their way out.

Dale, I highly recommend that you contact the Australian embassy in Peru for guidance on this matter - I didn't know about the Tunisian exception to the rule until I heard it from a French Embassy employee. In other words, I'm pretty sure that exceptions to the vehicle import regulations will be made in pretty much all countries, but it may well require a request from your country's embassy to facilitate an exception for you.

You might want to mentally prepare yourself to abandon your motorcycle - in other words, recognize the possibility that you might not ever get it back again. I know this is a bitter pill to swallow, but it's a decision I have already made - if I could get out of here tomorrow, I would simply leave the moto anywhere and get on a flight. Sure, if I could easily arrange a place to store it where I might be able to pick it up again I would do that, but not if making those arrangements compromised in any way my success getting my body out of the country on the next available flight.

Michael

Hi Michael,

Wow, good stuff. Glad to hear things are working out for you.
As time allows, re-post your message in the Africa forum. There may be others in the same boat that could benefit from your advice.

Hi Dale,

In the event,

1. you leave without getting an extension or suspension of TVIP
2. there are no exceptions provided (before or after the fact)
3. you return after the TVIP expires

..then here is a story for you. I met a pair of Mexican riders that crossed in Bolivia under moonlight with a bike that had stayed in Peru beyond its TVIP allowed date. There are many back roads into Bolivia and the border officers have been known to help out travelers in this situation. They got help from a guy in Bolivia with friends working on the Bolivian side of the border. Yes, it's risky and illegal to slip a bike across the border into Bolivia without canceling out of Peru. Of course, it's best to square your paperwork away through official channels. Fingers crossed that you find a place to store the bike, get the TVIP worked out and mostly, get home safe.

PS: If the country weren't on lockdown, I would recommend hanging out and enjoying Peru until this all blows over. It's a lovely country...

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Jeff, Peter and Micheal,

Thanks very much for your detailed replies fellers. Much appreciated.

Storage.

I worked all day today and have found a place to store the bike that is safe and secure although it's 120 US a month. Ouch. They know I am desperate and I are attempting to take me to the cleaners but at this stage that's all I've got. I'll be definitely making contact with the people you have provided and see if there are any better options. As I mentioned in my opening post, Unfortunately all the roads are locked down with military, if I could organise a way through to another town I'm definitely gonna take it.

TVIP
Tomorrow I hope the customs office opens. I've done a bit of homework and understand that there are forms to fill out, there is a letter required from the person where I'm storing it, ( saying it won't be moving) and there are also police inspections to ensue sure it's actually being stored where it supposed to.
I will contact the people you have provided before going to Customs and see if they can assist me anyway.

I've also sent an email to the Peruvian embassy in Canberra Australia requesting assistance. Although we don't know when the Australian government is gonna fly us out, I'm expecting I've probably got five days to get this done. Not much of a time frame but I can only do what I can do.

Once again guys thanks for all your help boys. I'll keep you informed of how I go.

Cheers (a nervous)

Dale.

Peter, if it comes to that mate is definitely on the cards. I'm not a rich man and I cannot afford to walk away from a $20,000 motorcycle.

Hi Peter, thanks for the link to the community page. I put a post up there so fingers crossed mate. I wasn't even aware of existence.

Once again cheers Dale

Dale:

I think you have it backwards. Embassies and Consulates exist to either help their own citizens, or to promote the benefit of their own country.

You need to get in touch with the Australian Embassy in Peru. They are the folks who are tasked with looking out for your best interests, not the Peruvian embassy employees in Australia.

Chances are that Peru has probably made some exception to the normal rules regarding vehicles due to the extraordinary nature of this pandemic, and because countries all over the world are repatriating their citizens. It's unlikely you will read about this in a local newspaper because it's not the kind of thing of interest to local people - like I said above, I only heard about the Tunisian exception to the rule because I ran into a French Embassy employee.

Don't waste time by emailing your embassy in Peru. Find out what their phone number is and call them until you reach someone. I emailed the Canadian embassy in Tunisia a week ago, and all I got back was a form letter telling me to wash my hands.

As for the $120 a month - that's a bit higher than average, if it is in USD and not AUD, but if it gives you any comfort, I paid USD $90 a month to store my ST1100 in Sicily last winter, and that was during normal times.

Michael

UPDATE

Hi Guys, An Update on what's going on,

I got into contact with Toby from Around the block moto tours and he has been absolutely a life saver.

Apart from taking the time to provide a very detailed email regarding the process of getting the temporary vehicle import permit suspended or extended, he also made a few calls to high-ranking police officials in Peru and provided me with some names.

I spent four hours at the police headquarters here in Arequipa yesterday and ended up sitting in front of the commissioner himself. After showing him the names he looked me up and down, grinned and wave me off to sit down.
I sat around in the Police "executive area" for another hour and then magically a vehicle transport permit appeared.

This is no small thing, I was photographed, fingerprinted, they told me to open up my email and they went through all my emails, they wanted to see evidence from our ambassador that the flight was going ahead. This was difficult because our embassy has sent us one email in the eight days this is been going on with no definite dates of a flight departure.

Obviously, they also went through all my passport and motorcycle details. They wanted to know where I live in Australia and where I am residing in Peru.

I must say, they were very courteous and professional and took this very seriously. The Commissioner of Arequipa also called the commissioner in Cusco to inform him that I will be heading there.

(Not forgetting that this place is in a total state of lockdown and the police are stretched to the limit. To you have an audience with the commissioner in times like these is extraordinary.)

The ability for me to travel 500 or so kilometres (300 miles) to Cusco now puts me in a better position to have my motorcycle safely stored and (possibly) my vehicle import permit extended or suspended. Toby has also let me know of a place to stay where there is another biker in the same situation.

Until the appropriate departments open up again, it is impossible for me to have my permit extended or suspended at this current point in time. More than likely this will need to be done on my behalf in my absence.

And Michael, I think you're right. Simply emailing the Embassy will get me nowhere. I will give them a call and wait in the queue (no doubt). Yes and I hope you're right, commonsense is used and the permits are put on hold automatically.

By the way, the Australian government is absolutely pathetic. Their solution was to tell us to consult an adventure travel company that is organising a charter flight at a cost of AU$5160 ($USD 3050) one way back to Sydney. This was quickly booked out by those that could afford it. We have heard nothing since.

The Americans And the Israeli governments got their citizens repatriated quick smart. For some reason the Australian government is paralysed.

Ok guys, before signing off I just want to say a big thank you to everybody that has helped me and especially to Toby. It's great to know I have support in these difficult times when I am in a country by myself without the ability to speak the language and nobody else to talk to.

My most sincere appreciation to you all
Dale

Great to hear that someone helped you out, this is a great community!

Good to hear!

(and to add, slightly off topic: Toby was a huge help to me when I broke my leg in Peru after renting a bike from him. He's a great asset to the moto community and deserves much success.)

........shu

Hi Roguestate
Can you give us all an update on your current situation. I guess you are now home in Aus but did you manage to get a suspension on your TIPV from someone in Cusco and is the bike stored there? I am asking because we are hoping to store our bikes under suspended TIPVs in Cusco sometime in 2021 so this info would be very useful.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

Dale,

You wrote, "...Until the appropriate departments open up again, it is impossible for me to have my permit extended or suspended at this current point in time. More than likely this will need to be done on my behalf in my absence..."

Did you follow up on this task? Peru has a policy of confiscating bikes that overstay their TVIP. The bikes sit in storage for many months, then they are auctioned off. A friend hired a lawyer and tried getting his bike back, no joy.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Hi Dale,
Is it possible to get the information of the person/business that stored your bike in Cusco? Heading there next year and would like to see if that is a good place to drop off the bikes based upon our itinerary.
Thanks,
Lance