Club 80-90 Forums

Aus to Ecuador shouldn't be too prohibitive but be prepared for massive headaches n drama n squeeze getting it out of customs when you arrive!

I had a nightmare getting my bike out of cargo in Quito tbh but that was air freight, sea freight to a coastal port might be easier.

Have you considered freighting into Chile and driving up thru Bolivia/Peru? I think Chilean freight companies have more worldwide connections and might be a bit more clued up, also IME bribes weren't so "expected" in Chile. Would be a fantastic journey, not sure how a VW copes with altitude tho. I know my Dommie suffered a bit.

Whichever way you go make sure you have ALL your papers in order and be prepared for border crossings to be an adventure in themselves - it's all part of the ride.

I crated my bike out of Chile to Australia and when it arrived the crate was open and anything removable without too much effort was gone. Luckily my panniers were lockable and the only one that was broken into didn't have much of any value in it. Lost a bloody good little toolkit I kept under the seat tho - silly me! For that reason I'd also be a bit concerned about Ro-Ro as your vehicle is completely open to abuse.

Good luck, I'm jealous!

Sarah

Hi Sarah, thanks for the information. My wife is Ecuadorian, so hopefully she can smooth over the importing to Ecuador side of things. From what have been reading to, any repatriating Ecuadorians are allowed to bring in one used vehicle, otherwise no vehicles older than 1 year can be imported and there may be import tax duties of 100% !

Will look into the Chile side of things, thanks for the tip.

When I was over there a few years back, the van took it all it's stride and earned the name "the indestructible". Sea level in the morning, cross the snowy Huaraz Anden Pass at 4000m+ in the afternoon, then down the otherside to camp around 2000m. Then back other the pass the next day. She went through the Guarija deserts between Colombia / Venezuala where we were told only 4x4s can go, no roads, just tyre marks in the sand, got past the gurealla roadblocks in southern colombia and so much more. This was all at the end of a journey starting in LA, with only minor check ups and the odd mechanics eye.

Hopefully the next trip will be as successful

Wow! Sounds like you know what you're doing, sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs!

I met quite a few bikers who'd bought bikes in LA and travelled down too, they'd sell their bikes on an fly home.

Great to hear you can avoid the import tax, I used a carnet de passage for some countries and others my bike got a visa stamped in my passport along with me. Ranged from very cheap in local currency to quite pricey in greenbacks depending on where you were.

My best border crossing was Guatemala to Honduras, took hours and cost a fortune and I was running from Hurricane Mitch. Once I got thru they happily told me all roads to Salvadore were out, all roads to Tegucigalpa were out and all roads to Tela were out!!! Mind you, didn't make much odds coz the bridge back to Guatemala City was out too.

The village where I spent the night was on evacuation alert as it had two rivers on either side. I got a room on the 2nd floor and listened to MW radio most of the night hoping if banks burst the bike would survive - the motel owner wouldn't let me try to get it upstairs LOL!


Adventures are fab!