Thanks
I'd appreciate it if you could answer or expand on the following:
1.Is there a recommended set of maps? For Africa I've always used Michelin for planning and IGN for detailed navigation. These seem to be the de facto standard at least for some of the the francophone countries. Is there a similar recommended set for Chile and Argentina?
... Ha,ha,ha you're quite the japester, maps what a laugh
... Basic, cheap, road maps are found in gas stations. You can buy one that covers all of Argentina and Chile that will actually serve quite well, but don't expect bridle paths to be marked. What's most important, when you're in the mountains or right down south is to get the map with fuel stops marked.
2. Vehicle Insurance requirements. What you need and how you go about buying it?
... In Santiago, or BsAs, you buy basic 3rd party, costs about £75 for a year, but you just pay the first couple of months. That should cover you for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia, but oddly not Peru.
... Fully comp on a $15-20K gringo bike???
... No chance, it's at your own risk
... Here's the thing, to confirm your 'out of country' cover you need a card or cover note. That takes 48hours in Buenos Aires and probably similar in Santiago. (Big hint, go directly from the airport to the insurance office and buy it, take licence, title docs and passport. Buy insurance. Next day clear the bike from airport, 3rd day you can probably head out of town fully papered up.)
... I can give you details where to go in BsAs, try HUBB or ADVrider for the skinny on Santiago
3. Is a carnet de passage or similar required?
... No, though Ecudaor may be the one exception south of the Darian Gap
... Bikes are imported on temporary tourist paperwork, typically 90 days, but Argentina once gave me 8 months and Uruguay a year. Budget 2 hours for a land frontier, and about 6 hours for the initial clearance at which ever airport you freight into.
4. I assume a decent knowledge of Latin American Spanish is required (in my view it's just impolite not to learn the basics).
... Out of town you will find little English spoken. I didn't speak any Spanish when I first came to Lat-Am and I muddled through. Point and grunt is universal.
... Do make sure you learn the words 'gasolina' and 'combustible' (com-bus-teeblay)
... Forget to word 'petrol,' or 'petroleo' and 'gazol' unless your bike runs on diesel
... Never speak spanish with the cops, eventually they shrug their shoulder and give up trying to whack you for a bribe. If they want money, deny having cash and offer up your Amex, they hate that!
... If you do learn Spanish you will find the Argentine accent is so thick you can't understand what they're saying anyway and Chileans babble so quickly they're equally unintelligble.
5. Could you recommend a shipper (air) or indeed a cargo-carrying airline (that won't run a mile from shipping a bike)?
... In the UK speak to James Cargo, 01753 678822, they're based at Colnbrook near Heathrow, Giles Ernsting, or Roddy Warriner are the bike guys to know and are very friendly.
... Lufthansa and United are both bike friendly. I can give you the details for both UA and the Luftwaffe operations in Buenos Aires
... Buy one way freight and buy the return leg in cash US$ (about $1600-1700) when you're ready to leave. After you've bought insurance you can pre-book the return space while you're waiting for your bike to arrive (no deposit required when I've done it.) Obviously you can ask whoever shipped the bike in when you go to pick it up.
... I suggest you consign the bike to return to James Cargo if they are who you use to freight out with.
6. Last but not least, any estimate of the fuel range required for the route I'm planning?
... Down south 200miles/300km (a standard GS tank) should easily cover it. For the odd occasion where you might want more fill a couple of 2l PET bottles and bungy them on. Look for the maps with the gas-stations marked (I lent mine to Pumpy who's heading back up to BsAs from Ushuaia as we write, I'll find out what map brand to look for when she returns)
... Paso de Jama, which is the northern most mountain crossing between Chile and Argentina has a 200mile fuel free stretch, the Bolivian sierra and the 'chaco' the swamp that is north east Argentina and all of Paraguay are also pretty light for fuel.
I feel a bit lazy not bothering to go and find these things out for myself
Thanks,
Ian.
... Yes! That's why at least one of my answers is a complete lie
... **** the advice, this isn't rocket science, put your bike on a plane, pick it up at the other end, ride around a bit, put it back on anothe plane and bore friends and family shitless with tales of derring do for the rest of your life.
... Job's a carrot
