From Quito, Ecuador to Panama City, Panama - March, 2001

We went to the office in Quito and got all information. At the date of the departure of the motorbikes we took them to the office and then with a guy down to the freight terminal.

We did the deal with two other motorbikers. We got a big aluminium platform and took all the three bikes to it. They were tied down with simple straps. You have to watch very well what the workers do. They didn't have lots of experience, we helped them fixing our bikes and even took some of our private straps to fix them.

Before we had to drain the gas (everything!), disconnect the battery, take the mirrors away, let the air out of the tyres. Our panniers/boxes we could let at the bike.

Note: After having fixed the bike to the platform at the cargo terminal INSIST on going to the Aduana office (customs) to get an exit stamp on your document. (Carola got an entry stamp into her passport stating that she imported a motorcycle when we entered Ecuador). The freight guy kept on saying it was not necessary but we insisted on getting one. Could you imagine the trouble we would have had without one the next day when we were at the passenger terminal at the airport trying to get out of Ecuador!?!

In Panama we went to Tocumen Freight Terminal, which is about 8 km north of the passenger terminal. There we had to pay 12 $ to get the original of the airway bill, then we went to the Aduana (customs) office, got a temporary importation paper (30 days), went back to the freight terminal and could get our motorbikes back. Not a scratch! Take an airpump and approx. 4 liters of gas with you, there is no air compressor or gas station near the airport.