Here are emails and other bits of information travellers have sent us.
EMAIL FROM GERD IN GERMANY
Date : Tue, 12 Feb 2002
hello ,
thanks for your mail .
We hope you had a wonderful time at chrismas and new year .
We are back in Germany and had a wonderful trip . The last 3 months have been
very exiting . Travelling on the amazon river with the bikes , riding through
colombia and sailing from Cartagena to the darien gap border station Pto.
Obaldia
.Cartagena for us is the nicest city in hole south america and we loved
colombia and the people most .The boat trip was a horror trip because the oar of
the boat broke 2 times and we also had a engine problem . So the boat was out of
control for hours in 4 meter waves . At the border there was the only way out of
the djungle with a small plane ( 5 passangers and 2 motos )to Panama City . It
was not possible on the road there were no road only big mountains with djungle
and swamps . Every 2 weeks there was a boat from Pto. Obaldia to colon ( Panama)
but that boat sunk because of big waves and a engine problem .
So we were in a very difficult situation on the border .
Also we entered Panama illegal because not on a road border with customs check .
In Panama City at customs office they didn't give us a permit for the motos and
said we have to wait for a permit 5 days . That was to much time for us and we
decided to leave the country illegal to Costa Rica .
Costa we liked very much the National parks , the nature , many animals and very
clean . Then we came to Nicaragua were we stored our bikes at the house of a
german guy . We intend to go on travelling with the bikes on december 2002 or
january 2003 . From there we go to Honduras , Guatemala and Mexico . We don't
know were to store the motos the next time - may be in Mexico or better
in Texas or California .
GERD
EMAIL FROM DIRK IN GERMANY
Subject : airfreighting bike between colombia and panama
Date : Sat, 27 Oct 2001 00:52:42 +0100 (BST)
a tip: airfreighting your motorcycle with Giragair
between panama and bogota (and vice versa) costs US
$250 no matter what weight and size. bike will just be
tied onto some wood and thats it.
HOWEVER: sometimes they try to get more money out of
you at arrival! dont pay more than agreed, best to get
that in writing!
flights leave daily; there MIGHT also be a weekly
flight to cartagena for the same price or a little
less.
a passanger´s seat costs US $200.
ciao, DIRK
Email from Riccardo Ricco
Date : Tue, 26 Feb 2002 20:56:54 +0000
Dear friends: let me assure you, you DON´T need a carnet for Ecuador.
I suggest using GIRAG cargo. they do Panama - Bogota - Quito.
The bikes will have to switch planes in Bogota, so make sure
you insist on fast delivery of the bikes in Quito.
It`s mandatory to write on the bill of lading, the words:
TOURIST - IN TRANSIT and a note: URGENT DELIVERY - PASSENGERS
WAITING IN QUITO.
Talk to several empoyees at the cargo company, and expalin to them
that you need the bikes in Quito FAST.
All this is to avoid delays in Bogota.
Once you get to Quito, you`ll have the bikes out in a few hours.
I suggest using an agent. The agent I use and that has helped
many bikers is BERTHA IBARRA. She`s a very well know customs agent,
you ask anybody in the customs bulding for her.
Please give a call when you are in Quito, I can go with you to
customs if I`m in town.
phones: home 2448437 of. 2449718 cel. 099722408
I`m looking forward to meet you and to be of help
R
Ricardo Rocco Paz
Around the World for PEACE
www.andesmoto-tours.com
Phone (593) 09 9722 408
Quito ECUADOR PHOTOS and PRESS in: http://communities.latam.msn.com/AroundtheWorldforPeacePhotos
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