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.

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

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

Hi Guys, Its been a while since I have been here as I still feel sick to the stomach when I think about the whole situation and trying to forget that my most valuable asset sits holed up in a hostel room on the other side of the world.
Yes, I am now back in OZ after finally getting out of Arequipa Peru and into 2 weeks isolation in Melbourne, Aussieland. Who would have thought hey???
As of today, my bike is stored locked away in a hostel room at $120 USD/month in Arequipa. After all the work getting a travel permit to Cusco, the Aussie Govt got into contact at the last minute and said don't move, we are on our way to get you. 3 days later I was in Melbourne. As everything was in Arequipa was closed, and no possibility to move, I had to negotiate with a Hostel that I had previously stayed at to store my bike. I paid $360 USD for 3 months rent, (3rd April to 3rd July), this runs out in 2 days so last night I gave him another $360USD via western Union for another 3 months. This is going to be one hell of an expensive trip . Who knows when it will end but I have come to the realisation that it could be 12 months before I can get back. And then, maybe to only rescue the bike and ship it back home. Don't know yet. I planned to go to Alaska and I've got Ecuador, Columbia, Panama, etc etc up next. Will all the boarders be open???....nobody knows and its not worth worrying about now. Time will tell.

In relation to my TVIP, it has not been suspended. I had 90 days, 10 of which were expired prior to the boarders closing (15th March). In theory, I still had 80 days left on it. There are so many rumours about the clock stopped ticking the day the boarders closed and will start again once they open but I've seen nothing in writing to that effect from a Govt department or the like. It makes me quite uncomfortable. I have a local dude looking after me (for a fee of course) and he told me the SUNAT will open today (1st July) for the first time. I have given him a photo copy of the TVIP which he will then present to them. As I have been told by Toby, suspending a TVIP is not an easy process which (normally) involves evidence of a contract of storage and a police inspection. That's "normally". God knows what the buggers are likely to do or say in this current situation.

So guys, the bike never made it to Cusco so I don't have any info for that. I am able to give you details of where its stored in Arequipa if anyone needs them. Ill do this privately as I don't want to publicly announce the location of my pride and joy. Its safe and I trust them.

OK, that's all for now. In the next few days Ill know exactly what the deal is with the TVIP an let you all know, (Well as far as what I have been told anyway!!!). PS; Just to complicate things, the Aussie Gov't is talking about no intentional flights out until next year, just another spanner in the works.
Until then, drink , start another iso project (preferably motorcycle related!) and keep safe.

Kind Regards

Dale

Hoping for the best for you.

I too left a bike in Peru (not during COVID) and at the time it was not certain I would eb able to get back to the bike in time for my 6 month TIP to expire.

In the end I was able to get the bike out with a few days to spare but my plan B was that if the bike's TIP was to expire well I would flyback and travel inside Peru with the bike until I got stopped and lost the bike.

__________________
Alaska 2014: Hotel Budget ZeroXmas in Death Valley, New Year in Urique