South America

Depot Locations:
Cartagena, COLOMBIA (COCTG) 20mins Cartagena's Rafael Núñez International Airport
Valparaiso, CHILE (CLVAP) 80mins Santiago's Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport

2025/26 Valparaiso shipping timings detailed below are a sweet spot to enable riding Patagonia + Tierra del Fuego (Ushuaia southernmost) AND Amazonian Andes (Machu Picchu northernmost) from a single container shipment.

Read Article Season and Ride WIndow before expressing interest for alternative timings. Given 10 bikes we will ship anytime!

Export from AUS:
mid Nov 2025 container pack Australia
early Feb 2026 bikes ready Valparaiso
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Return Shipment from Valparaiso:
mid May 2026 container pack Valparaiso
early Aug 2026 bikes ready Australia
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Return Shipment from Cartagena (pending minimum 10 bikes):
Sep 2026 container pack Cartagena
Dec 2026 bikes ready Australia
SEND INTEREST NOW!

Import to Cartagena also possible but more co-ordination required. At this stage import customs process requires all riders' passport immigration stamps, which means we need all riders flying at the same time. Riders can land anywhere Colombia and send photos of their stamps … then do something else for 4-5 business days before collecting bikes Cartagena.

Valparaiso Depot Secure Storage :
- FREE 2 weeks import & export at terminal depot then US$15 per day thereafter
- Alternative secure storage for US$50 per month PLUS US$75 transport to get your bike to/from there
Worthwhile to use this alternative storage if you require the free 2 weeks plus another 2+ weeks

Bikes can be collected / delivered terminal depot Mon, Wed, Fri
MEETING POINT is Plaza Sotomayor - you will be driven 15mins to terminal depot
RECOMMEND bike collection ETA vessel + 4 business days + 2 weeks buffer

BREAKING UP YOUR TRIP
- Chile temporary vehicle import permit (TVIP) is 3 months. This is why we have 105 day ride window - a one month rider is able to use front end or back end of ride window and still adhere to 3 month TVIP before export back to Australia
- As of recently (Jan 2024), Argentina have been issuing 8 month TVIPs at various border crossings, which enables you to break up your trip. You could return ship back to Australia with Own Bike Odyssey the following year.
- Keep in mind that nowadays Argentina is computerised when it comes to tracking foreign registered motorbikes entering and exiting land borders - so make sure you exit (to reset the clock) in accordance with TVIP.

Trucking options (all charges +19%VAT):
Valparaiso <-> Santiagio US$150
Santiago to Punta Arenas US$610 650cc / US$745 >650cc
Punta Arenas to Santiago US$410 all bikes
Calama / Antofagasta / Iquique to Valparaiso US$550

EXIT | RIDE WINDOW | ROUTE SUGGESTION

VALPARAISO | 1 - 3 months

Click link below for TRUNK line map. Take note that the trunk line in Chile (first and last legs) has used Panamericana Hwy. There are 34 vehicle borders crossings between Chile and Argentina (known as 'Pasos') located along the Andes Mountains and the island of Tierra del Fuego. Routes via these Pasos are in some of the prettiest regions you'll ever see - but they COST YOU TIME in km and border crossing logistics - so carefully consider your Pasos :)

TRUNK LINE south and north in Google Maps

The table below is to give you a BALL PARK idea of km and saddle hours involved to tackle southern AND northern routes. Again these are TRUNK LINE numbers - you need to add your secret squirrel exploring to these kms/hrs. A rider with <60 days should consider north or south - but not both. Also note numbers aren't speed limits - they're overall moving averages. Rookie riders: do not underestimate how slow your journey can progress relative to your plan, particularly remote tracks in the Amazonian Andes. Be conservative or you'll end up with very little 'head outta helmet'.

CARTAGENA | 3 - 6 months
- Ride the andes S to N

NORTH AMERICA | 6+ months
- For the Darien Gap, we can arrange air freight of your bike from Bogota to Panama City for ~US$1,200
There are also container share options from Cartagena to Colon - but you'll struggle to beat that air freight rate.
- Consider using Panama do break up your Americas trip
For temporay import permits you get 3 months Colombia vs 12 months Panama
- For back country riders you will struggle to line up the Americas seasons in one continuous run. Pavement riders no problem.
- For Alaska, consider that Poker Creek - Little Gold Creek Crossing (Top of the World Highway) is generally open from mid May to mid September. If you're crossing here late Aug / early Sep then you very much want to be headed SOUTH.

Read Article Season and Ride WIndow before expressing interest for alternative timings.

We will ship to line riders up with Chrissy New Years break if there is demand for it, however, please consider that you'll be in the peak of Patagonia's high season. Yes, February is still high season Patagonia but better than January and closer to shoulder season starting March. You will hear seasoned Southern Patagonia riders swear by March as the best month (something about the light) - but might be getting too cold for the average Aussie rider :)

ALSO CONSIDER that we are timing for one of the world's greatest adv regions: northern Argentina - Bolivia - southern Peru - northern Chile. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is generally closed February for rainy season - April is a much better time.

www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/Americas