Driving through South America
Replies: 6 - Last Post: Nov 13, 2012 1:42 PM Last Post By: Tryfan
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Driving through South America
Hi.Me and my friends (there's eight of us) are planning an adventure of a lifetime. For the World Cup in Brazil 2014, were thinking about flying in to the states (Texas or similar) buying a couple of second hand cars and driving all the way down to Brazil.
Does anyone have any experience, knowledge or recommendations for this trip? I'm thinking safety, moneywise, things to do, things not to do. All feedback is appreciated. We don't even know how long it would take, but were thinking it might be around 4 weeks +?
Obviously we are still only brainstorming around the subject ;)
1
Can you please do a SEARCH on this topic first. Unfeasible for soooo many reasons...Not the least of which, is that you can't actually drive from Central America into South America as that little skinny part is all jungle...
You'd need, like, MONTHS to get there even if you could drive across that bit.
You can't take a car across borders without all manner of hassles, let alone insure it.
If you're in an accident, I don't think you'll enjoy the jails that much (guilty until proven innocent and all that...unless you speak Spanish and know how to pay off the cops)
High proportion of drunk drivers, terrible roads, unsafe buses careering at high speeds, etc, etc
And all that sort of thing... But hey, do a search.
4
So, assuming that you have now done some research on how to cross the Darien, you can make a couple of key decisions:1) Do you want to drive from North America through Central America, then take the vehicle by sea to Colombia, and then to Brazil, or do you want to ship the vehicle to South America and then drive to Brazil?
2) re North America, what are your plans for security in Mexico? Although it is unlikely that you will have problems, you should know that the main routes south from the USA are much less safe than a few years ago.
3) Once in South America, you have a choice between travelling the “Western” route i.e., Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and then either directly to Brazil or via Argentina; and the “Eastern” route via Colombia, Venezuela, to Brazil. We have done both, and there are pros and cons to each.
Re documentation, this is a matter of planning and having the right paperwork in place (plus patience and a positive attitude), no problem really.
Re timing, it depends upon whether you want to spend all of your time driving or want to see some of the places you will pass through. If the former, and if you rotate drivers and don't drive at night, you can drive 12 hours a day and cover anything from 250 to 750 Km a day (very variable depending on topography, urban traffic, road blocks, etc. You could probably get from Texas to Brazil (where in Brazil?) in around 2-3 months. If you want to enjoy the trip (it seems crazy not to plan on this) then 6 months is a better estimate.
Before much more thinking, you need to decide what your plans are regarding the vehicles once in Brazil. You will not be able to leave them there unless you import them permanently, which is likely to difficult if not impossible. IN theory, you have to take them back to Texas (or wherever they are registered). Travelling through North, Central, and South America is not problem if you are doing temporary imports, however these operate on the basis that you will be taking the vehicle)s) out of the country again.
All of this is doable –you need to make the key decisions and then plan properly.
These are some “starter” thoughts. Lots more to think about, however this will get you started.
6
I didn't even read the 4 weeks bit!Not a chance mate, just not gonna happen!
As #4 lays out for you it will take you several months and take loads of planning, as there appears to have been minimal planning so far are you up for it still?
I am sorry to come across in such a negative way but, well, I just don't see it happening........
Edited by: Tryfan
