Originally Posted by The_gypsy

I thought the sailing was 34 days from London? Have I got it wrong? It sounds as if you have been before. Any advice welcomed. I am hoping to organise a visa.

Originally Posted by tedmagnum (Post 150150)

We are going with Dynamic-internatial.

They have boats going direct to buenos aires every week. Its 19 days sailing from the UK.

You just get a visa on arrival. The bike is securely crated by the company before hand.

Costing £750 quid.

Im planning on being in South America for about 4-6 months.

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 150364)

Hi Gypsy

I came back with Grimaldi in '04 and it took 24 days; looking at their website this is still how long it takes. You ride on the boat and ride off again at the other end, just like a ferry. The bike is luggage, not cargo, so it isn't on the ship's manifest, which considerably simplifies the paperwork. You have a lot of time on your hands so take a stack of paperbacks/Su Doku puzzles/Gameboy with you as watching the whales/porpoises/turtles/flying fish etc. gets pretty boring after a while.

I never had a visa; as far as I know it isn't necessary.

Regards, Mick

Originally Posted by tedmagnum (Post 151165)

I basically drop the bike off at Dynamic's packers and they do the rest.

They crate it and put it on a ship for £700. Port and customs charges in BA will be about £200 at a guess.

My flight is about £500 so total for getting myself and the bike there for £1400.

I looked into the roll on roll off ferry and the cheapest I could get it for was £1600.

Plus, i really dont want to be stuck on a cargo ship for 3 weeks with nothing to do. Id go INSANE and end up spending an extra £500 on cheap booze to pass the time :cool4:

Originally Posted by tedmagnum

I looked into the roll on roll off ferry and the cheapest I could get it for was £1600.

Originally Posted by tedmagnum

..... end up spending an extra £500 on cheap booze to pass the time.

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 151249)

Just checked Grimaldi's website and converted my one way price from the euros quoted and it's £1,249.91.


The MV Repubblica Argentina is a dry ship, apart from the carafes of wine supplied with lunch and dinner and a couple of tots when you cross the equator. There's nothing to buy on board, it's all found. In effect, you're getting 3-4 week's board and lodging FOC; result, score! It considerably shrinks my carbon footprint as well, not a factor I feel I can ignore.

If you can afford the time, sailing adds an extra adventure to your trip and gives you a fantastic perspective on just how far you've gone, both of which are lacking with a flight. Each to their own.

Regards, Mick

Originally Posted by tedmagnum (Post 150047)

Me and another hubber are touching down in Buenos Aires on the 14th November.

Anyone about for a beer or 10 ?

Originally Posted by maria41 (Post 152051)

Hi Ed! Gosh I can´t beleive your coming! I thought it would be next year!
Good for you!

We will be in BAs in november, planning to stay a couple of weeks to rest and do some repairs on the bikes! Well, mainly on mine! It has taken some battering aliong the last 9000 miles! By the time we get to BAs it will be urgent I think!

Anyway, happy to get to any drink you may want to organise in BAs! We can spend time looking at some maps and we will tell you all about the state of the roads!!!

Originally Posted by tedmagnum (Post 152054)

Howdie !!

Yup.. I got fed up with waiting and saving so just booked some flights :)

Would be great to meet up in BA. I touch down on the 14th November and will hopefully be staying around Dakar Motors area to start with.

Are you going to Viedma ??

Keep in touch.

P.s What bike are you riding ???

Originally Posted by maria41 (Post 152060)

We will probably go down to Dakar moto but we are looking to rent a flat for couple of weeks if possible, to give us a break of camping and hostals, but depend when we get to BAs!
We are planning to go to Viedma but that also depends. I am currently in talks with agencies for a trip to Antarctica and boats are filling up fast this year, so depending on availability. My hopes of turning up at Ushuaia for Xmas and buying a ticket on arrival is not a good plan! We need to book something!
We ride me a F650GS, and husband a F650GS/Dakar, both are 2004 models. Mine is falling in pieces (literally!) Every day something else fall off the bike or disappear!

Originally Posted by tedmagnum (Post 151251)

That is annoying. I called Grimaldi directly and got a quote over the phone. They told me £1850 or something rediculous.

I would of gone with them if I was quoted that price. Would be fab to roll on and roll off.