Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Mauas-Tabatinga Boat / Leticia-Bogota Plane

MANUS-TABATINGA BY BOAT
1. We bought our tickets for our boat from Manaus to Leticia from a stand on the street outside the passenger terminal at the port in Manaus. Private cabins are available for an additional charge but the cheapest way to travel on the boat is to purchase your own hammock. We would also suggest purchasing ropes for hanging your hammock from the hooks on the boat as well as a power strip and extension cord for charging devices as this is not provided. Our boat was named “Rei Davi." We were able to stay on the boat the night before leaving and board our motorcycles the next morning. It took us exactly one week to travel upstream from Manaus to Tabatinga
2. We unloaded the bikes in Tabatinga and as there is no official border checkpoint between Tabatinga and Leticia, we were able to cross immediately into Leticia where there were more accommodations
3. The next morning we were able to get our exit stamp from Brazil at the Policia Federal in Tabatinga and get our entrance stamp to Colombia at the airport in Leticia
4. We were able to get our Brazil TIP paper stamped at the Receita Federal in Tabatinga (Brazilian Aduana)
5. Then we were able to obtain our TIP for Colombia at the DIAN in Leticia. To obtain the TIP we had to present our bike registration papers, entrance stamp for Colombia, and have our bikes undergo a general inspection. It took one full day to get our TIP papers processed at the DIAN.

LETICIA-BOGOTA BY PLANE
1. Once we were officially in Leticia, we were able to schedule a flight for the bikes to Bogotá with the company Cargo Riders. We had to send them copies of our TIP, bike registration, and passports
2. We then went to the airport in Leticia to the cargo terminal and presented all our documents to the cargo company, Auerosur to get the bikes packed for their flight. This process was quite straight forward because cargo shipping is common in Leticia due to its location. Aerosur did not offer an official crating service but they were able to wrap our bikes in cardboard and plastic wrap to offer basic protection for the flight. We had our bikes washed before the flight, disconnected the batteries, and removed the mirrors. However, Aerosur was not very strict about the condition of the bikes (ie: cleanliness or amount of gas in the tanks)
3. We left our bikes in the care of Aerosur and they were boarded on a flight to Bogotá the same day. We then scheduled our own flight for the next day.
4. Once in Bogota, we stayed at the Hotel Boutique Mendoza right next to the Cargo Rider’s main office and very close to the airport. We brought our passports, bike registration, and TIP and filled out the necessary paperwork. Cargo Riders also provided us with our SOAT for Colombia. Cargo Riders then drove us to the warehouse at the airport in Bogota to pick up our bikes. This process was very quick and we had our bikes before 12pm the same day.

NOTES

*Cost index:
1. Boat from Manaus to Tabatinga = $73 USD per person including 3 meals a day. Plus $100 for a BMW 650 moto
2. Packing the bikes and flight cost from Leticia to Bogotá = $390 USD per bike for flight, $20 USD per bike to pack bikes, $50 USD per person for flight
3. SOAT (with Cargo Riders) = $55 USD per person for 3 months

*All addresses for businesses listed above can be found on iOverlander

*With the help of Cargo Riders, the process went very smoothly. They are a professional and knowledgeable company with amazing communication and customer service skills (with an agent who speaks English). They are also well informed about transporting motorcycles to other parts of Latin America and are generous with sharing contacts. Would definitely recommend their services.
Contact = Veronica (speaks English)
WhatsApp = +57 311 2237841