I enjoy driving vast distances... Have been coast to coast and up an down the height of the east coast several times. I always wanted to take a trip to SA. Has anyone here ever done it? I'm mostly worried about boarder checks, especialy between panima and columbia...
Anyone drive through South America?
- Thread starter capri_auto
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i haven't but it is in my future for sure. Im marrying a girl from Paraguay in May. We both have the dream of doing a trek together. She has obviously already gone coast to coast etc. HAHA she has stories of riding a bus on death road and side swiping another bus on a scout trip. haha shes got a adventous side too.
ive drove all over central america, hitch hiked from china to cambodia, and rode a bike from Kenya to south africa, and south america is just a natural next step.
ive drove all over central america, hitch hiked from china to cambodia, and rode a bike from Kenya to south africa, and south america is just a natural next step.
A lot of information and folks who have done similar expeditions here:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/
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expeditionswest
Guest
I cross the border into Mexico on Feb 10th.
We will drive to Panama, with extra time spent in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Then we fly home for about 5-7 months, before shipping the trucks down to Colombia and driving all the way to Ushuaia. Then another 5-7 months working before shipping to Australia, and eventually completely around the world...
The biggest challenge you will encounter with a trip like this is just making the decision to go. None of us are getting any younger, so Carpe Diem
We will drive to Panama, with extra time spent in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Then we fly home for about 5-7 months, before shipping the trucks down to Colombia and driving all the way to Ushuaia. Then another 5-7 months working before shipping to Australia, and eventually completely around the world...
The biggest challenge you will encounter with a trip like this is just making the decision to go. None of us are getting any younger, so Carpe Diem
Well first thing to know is you cannot drive from Panama to Colombia and even if you could you would not want to. The Darien gap is a VERY dangerous place. You will have to ship your vehicle from Panama City to either the east or west coast of Colombia.
I have spent a lot of time in Latin America and if you have the proper paperwork, patience and money then you can get through eventually.
It is not really bad just a hassle and each border does things a bit differently. You have to have this sticker and you get it over there, then you stand in this line and then pay this fee etc. etc. and all those helpful locals want a tip.
As long as you do not have any contraband and are legal you will be fine.
Stay away from the Coca regions and those places that have had rebel activities. Perhaps you should skip Colombia and Venezuela and do Ecudaor around to Brazil. That is plenty far enough to keep you occupied.
I have spent a lot of time in Latin America and if you have the proper paperwork, patience and money then you can get through eventually.
It is not really bad just a hassle and each border does things a bit differently. You have to have this sticker and you get it over there, then you stand in this line and then pay this fee etc. etc. and all those helpful locals want a tip.
As long as you do not have any contraband and are legal you will be fine.
Stay away from the Coca regions and those places that have had rebel activities. Perhaps you should skip Colombia and Venezuela and do Ecudaor around to Brazil. That is plenty far enough to keep you occupied.
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expeditionswest
Guest
I'm envious. I'm a master student still planning my future (loosely) probably going to academia, which will allow me the time to explore. How long have you been running expeditions? Looks like a dream come true…
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expeditionswest
Guest
Thank you.
I worked for many years in higher-education software development, which was quite successful, and provided the catalyst for starting the Journal and Expeditions West. I have been traveling extensively since my years in the Air Force. It is in my blood...
Education is an excellent career path for supporting expedition travel - best of luck to you.
I worked for many years in higher-education software development, which was quite successful, and provided the catalyst for starting the Journal and Expeditions West. I have been traveling extensively since my years in the Air Force. It is in my blood...
Education is an excellent career path for supporting expedition travel - best of luck to you.
Years ago ( I guess we tried to emulate the trip of the Che ) we rode bikes from Buenos Aires , down to Bariloche , crossed to Chile , up the coast through Peru, Ecuador, Colombia ( the coast ) , boat to San Andres , then Venezuela, Brasil ( Nothern shore ) to Bahia, down to Rio, all the coast down Uruguay ( Punta del Este ) to Montevideo, Colonia then Ferry cross to Buenos Aires.
We did that in a full summer vacation ( Dec - March ).
We were riding Honda XL500 registered in Argentina, we all had ( 3 ) Argentinian ID and was kind of lenghty to cross the borders, but as said before MONEY and patience ( mostly money ) gets you an easy cross.
Back then Paraguay was a tad unstable and certainly we wanted to stay clear from Bolivia ( specially SANTA CRUZ de la SIERRA )
Our dream back then was to make it to California but Panama was an issue so we headed east from Colombia.
We did that in a full summer vacation ( Dec - March ).
We were riding Honda XL500 registered in Argentina, we all had ( 3 ) Argentinian ID and was kind of lenghty to cross the borders, but as said before MONEY and patience ( mostly money ) gets you an easy cross.
Back then Paraguay was a tad unstable and certainly we wanted to stay clear from Bolivia ( specially SANTA CRUZ de la SIERRA )
Our dream back then was to make it to California but Panama was an issue so we headed east from Colombia.
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auboneinc
Guest
Hi Rugbier, Are you Argentine? Baires?
What year did you do your trip?
I lived in Bolivia from '82 to "87 and it was kind of revolted, but what an awesome place to travel and explore.
Cheers
What year did you do your trip?
I lived in Bolivia from '82 to "87 and it was kind of revolted, but what an awesome place to travel and explore.
Cheers
auboneinc said:
I was living in Argentina, BAIRES , 82-85/6.
I know Bolivia is nice , but back the with the COKE issues, Santa Cruz was risky to come close, even La Paz or Sucre ( was there couple of times ) were troublesome.
11 years ago ( my last crazy bike adventure ) we rode from Las Lenas/ Mendoza to Machu then through northern Bolivia, Paraguay then Cataratas de Iguazu, Salta back to Mendoza.
The only trip I regret not doing, my friends went to Tierra del Fuego ( Uhuaia ) and I was sick badly, and I wish I did it.
I am not getting any younger, otherwise, but ... maybe I will do something similar on Defender.
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auboneinc
Guest
Rugbier said:
Yes, I did a lot of memorable trips in Bolivia, by Car, Land Cruiser, Bus, Train, on top of trucks and a little on motorbike (Jawa 350. Definately a poor choice of vehicle). Also had some weird plane rides. ( I was stuck in the city of Trinidad in Beni because of an airline strike, when the strike was over, the first plane to land was on it's way to Cochabamba, but the group of passengers that was going to Santa Cruz was bigger and a bit more aggressive, so Cochabamba gets the finger and Santa Cruz gets a flight.
Luckily I never got into any drugs and I was related to the right people so it was very enjoyableand educating.
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auboneinc
Guest
Rugbier said:
Yes, I did a lot of memorable trips in Bolivia, by Car, Land Cruiser, Bus, Train, on top of trucks and a little on motorbike (Jawa 350. Definately a poor choice of vehicle). Also had some weird plane rides. ( I was stuck in the city of Trinidad in Beni because of an airline strike, when the strike was over, the first plane to land was on it's way to Cochabamba, but the group of passengers that was going to Santa Cruz was bigger and a bit more aggressive, so Cochabamba gets the finger and Santa Cruz gets a flight.
Luckily I never got into any drugs and I was related to the right people so it was very enjoyableand educating.