Venezuela to Brazil: paved roads all the way???
 

Hola!! I've got a BMW 1100 RT, leaving from california to buenos aires, would like to go through venezuela to brazil. Does anyone know the road conditions, is there a paved road through this area?? Got a touring bike, not an off road, any info would help, thanks, marcos.

Roads are generally good in Venezuela, and not that bad from Santa Elena as far as Manaus. However, from Belem into Brazil they can be dreadful. They really took their toll on my KLR and me. I wouldn't recommend it on yours.

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"There's no justice, just us".
2004 650 KLR, Venezuela

Stretchermonkey, tell me more about the roads from Belem. I'm riding Belam-Fortaleza-Recife etc through to Rio later this year on an 1150GS. Is it mud/dirt or just potholed tarmac?

Grant

Oh, and Marcos, I'm planning on a boat down the river from Manaus.

Grant

Marcos, I was riding in the opposite direction to your planned route. I got a boat from Belem to Santareme and then another to Manaus, 5 days, sleeping in a hammock. Because these are small boats, it was pretty stressful watching them load and unload the bike, and in trying to help, I nearly fell between the boat and the dock! I know some people, who after watching this process, have decided to fly their bike instead, but it's one hell of an adventure, Suerte!

Grant, I came through Belem about 2 weeks ago. It is the rainy season at the moment, and I think this makes a big difference, as they just can't keep up with repairs. In some parts there are short stretches of mud, but on the whole, the roads consist of either rubble or deep pot-holes, which can all be negotiated in time. I just found it frustrating. I'd still do it again, though!

The rest of the coastal main routes are fine-suerte at ti!

Mick


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"There's no justice, just us".
2004 650 KLR, Venezuela

Thanks, Mick,
That Belem road sounds like fun on a big RT, Marcos! Character-building stuff!
Does the Amazon Basin ever actually have a dry season?

Grant

There´s less rain April to November.

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"There's no justice, just us".
2004 650 KLR, Venezuela

Santa Elena (Venezuela) to Boa Vista (Brasil) is a piece of cake. Boa Vista to Manaus is a long (800km) day with some potholed sections but no problems on any bike; you just have to remember to be out of the Indian-reserve section in the south before dark. Belem to Sao Luis has a very long stretch of potholes, but there is always a bit of tarmac to ride between them and it's no big deal. Venezuela, north of the equator, has rainy season when the Amazon, south of the Equator, is dry. It's so hot that the rain really doesn't matter. I'd feel comfortable doing these on a sportsbike; a GS would be no worries. Lots of interesting scenery and animals, these are not roads to be scared of.

Sorte,
James

But on a BMW 1100 RT? Are you sure? You Kiwis are so hard!
Oh yeah, that's a point, going South, you can get juice just before the Waimiri Reserve, but can't remember where the next gas stop was on the Northern side. I think the Reserve was about 140km, and no stopping!

"There's no justice, just us".
2004 650 KLR, Venezuela

[This message has been edited by Stretcher Monkey (edited 15 February 2005).]

Now in Pucallpa, Peru. Heading to Iquitos, then to Manaus. How{s the road from Manaus to Venezuela, and where and how to get Brazil visa(required for U.S. citizens. Road from Tingo Maria to Pucallpa was a real challenge. Mostly washed out roads being repaired. Thanks--PW