Frequently Asked Questions - Reservations, Booking and Cancellations

The standard SOAT (Seguros Obligatorios de Accidentes de Transito) insurance is included with all of our motorcycle rentals. It covers third party damage and emergency medical in the case of an accident with another vehicle. We do not have other insurance available. 

We offer a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) program that limits your responsibility to $2500 (you must pay the first $2500 in damages).  The LDW is available for $30/day for motorcycles <700cc and $50 for motorcycles >700cc. 

We have several features that reduce your risk of costly damage to our bikes.   Our bikes are equipped with crash bars and protective vinyl stickers, which reduce the risk of costly scratches and dents to the bikes. Our motorcycles are also equipped with hidden anti-theft GPS tracking devices to locate the bike if it is ever stolen.  Since 2009, with thousands of customers, we have never had a motorcycle stolen or attempted to be stolen.  On our guided and self-guided tours, guarded parking is provided at each overnight stop.

 Travel Insurance

It is highly recommended that you secure an international travel insurance policy from a reputable travel insurance company.  Making claims and dealing with an international insurance company can be difficult - we want you to have that relationship with the provider on your own to be fully covered and regulated in your state or country of residence.

We highly recommend that you purchase a travel insurance policy to cover trip cancellation in addition to medical and repatriation expenses. 

Remember - you are traveling to a developing country and participating in a dangerous activity (motorcycling). If there was ever a time for travel insurance, this is it!

Medical and security emergencies happen; when they do, we rely on Global Rescue, The world’s leading membership organization providing integrated medical, security, travel risk, and crisis response services to our travelers worldwide. Memberships start at $129

Global Rescue has created the industry’s most complete travel insurance that was built with the outdoorsman in mind. With minimal exclusions, the IMG Signature Travel Insurance is the perfect add-on to your Global Rescue membership.

To find out more information please visit our landing page at: https://partner.globalrescue.com/freedombikerental

Insurance is a personal thing.  What is good for your situation may not be good for another. We want to make sure our customers have the proper coverage amounts and proper and personal service from an international travel insurance company from their country of origin.  Making claims and dealing with an international insurance company can be difficult and frustrating - we want you to have that relationship with the provider on your own so that you are fully covered.

We've tried to deal with Ecuadorian insurance companies - and honestly, it can be a real headache, and we find there is really no such thing as "bulletproof" Ecuadorian insurance!  There are many travel insurance plans and subscriptions available to fit your needs better than something we would choose for you.  When you buy travel insurance - you get the coverage you want - you can include trip cancellation and trip delay coverage. 

Medical and security emergencies happen; when they do, we rely on Global Rescue - the world’s leading membership organization providing integrated medical, security, travel risk, and crisis response services to adventurous travelers worldwide. Memberships start at just $129

Global Rescue has created the industry’s most complete travel insurance that was built with the outdoorsman in mind. With minimal exclusions, the IMG Signature Travel Insurance is the perfect add-on to your Global Rescue membership.

To find out more information please visit our landing page at: https://partner.globalrescue.com/freedombikerental

Yes, to secure your booking, you need to pay 50% when booking your rental or tour. Booking is easy with our secure online system.  Just click the "book now" or "reserve online" now button on our website, and in just a few easy steps, you can complete your reservation.  We use Kushki, an Ecuadorian-regulated online payment system.  Please note that you will need to provide a government-issued ID number when you pay through the system, as required by the banking regulations here. Alternatively, you can request to pay via PayPal through the same system; just click the PayPal logo at checkout.

The balance (second 50%) of your rental or tour is due when you pick up the bike in our office in Quito.  The second 50% can be paid in cash (USD only) or with a credit or debit card. We accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, and American Express. 

Please note that due to the current coronavirus crisis, our reservation policy is flexible.  You may change your reservation dates for any time through 2021 with no penalties if you are unable to travel to Ecuador due to coronavirus.  Please see our Vehicle Rental Terms and Conditions, Guided Tour Terms and Conditions, or Self-Guided Tours Terms and Conditions for details.

Deposits are refundable minus 10% of the total rental or tour price only if canceled at least 90 days prior to departure or pick-up date. Cancellations are very costly to us as they impede our planning and ability to sell rentals and tours to other customers. Therefore, cancellations for any reason made less than 90 days before the pickup or departure date are not refundable, nor may they be applied to a future rental or tour.

To protect yourself from this loss of your deposit, it is up to you and your sole responsibility to secure travel insurance that covers cancellations due to health problems, weather, acts of God, family tragedies, or problems with flight departures, etc.  

To get a free quote for travel insurance that will reimburse you if you must cancel your trip (plus provide medical and repatriation coverage in case of an accident), go to https://partner.globalrescue.com/freedombikerental 

Please see our Vehicle Rental Terms and Conditions, Guided Tour Terms and Conditions, or Self-Guided Tours Terms and Conditions for details.

Yes, you may carry a passenger. Passengers are covered under our standard insurance. 

Please note that some of our bikes (Suzuki DR650, SWM RS650R and Husqvarna 701) are configured to use a saddlebag system for carrying your gear. The saddlebag takes the space on the rear portion of the seat, and when using the saddlebags, you will not have room for both a passenger and luggage.  If you are carrying a passenger on your tour, you should select one of our motorcycles that are equipped with panniers.  You can see the configuration of each of our motorcycles when viewing the bike page which you can select from our "Rental" menu.

For all guided tours and self-guided tours, passengers are allowed ONLY if the passenger fee (if any) has been paid in advance.  Any violations of this will be strictly enforced under the terms and conditions of our Rental Agreement.

Yes, our online reservation system will automatically give you a 5% discount for booking 2-3 motorcycles, and a 10% discount when you book four motorcycles.

If you would like to book a tour for your group, please contact us.

Yes, we do. Please see our guided tours page. A guided tour is when you join a group of other bikers and are led by an experienced tour guide. 

Guided motorcycle tours typically cover 120-175 miles per day. We feel this is the right amount to give you time to see the sights, take adequate breaks and to enjoy the riding. This can be a lot of riding in Ecuador's twisty Andean mountain roads. There are tours with some longer days, typically because we will be riding in remote areas and must cover distance to arrive at a decent hotel!

We generally provide a free chase vehicle for carrying luggage on tours where we have 5+ riders.  We offer a "Guaranteed Departure Policy" which means that our tours will depart, even if there is only one participant.  However, we cannot always provide a support vehicle for tours with fewer than 5 riders.   In the case of no support truck, we provide sufficient motorcycle luggage to carry all of your personal gear and clothing for the tour. 

If a tour date has a guaranteed support truck, our web page will indicate that a support truck is provided by showing a small truck icon over the date icon on the tour page.  If you would like to know which tours are currently offered that include a support truck, just shoot us an email and we can let you know!

You can pay for your motorcycle rental reservation deposit using our secure Ecuadorian online payments provider, Kushki -  or if you prefer - by making a wire transfer into our bank account in Ecuador (ask for the banking details).

You may the balance in our office using a credit card (MC, Visa, Amex) or cash.  We issue SRI-authorized receipts for all payments.