How to Drive from the United States to South America

If you want to take a unique vacation and have a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience, consider a road trip from the United States to South America. South America is a beautiful continent with plenty of breathtaking beaches, sights and other attractions. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to drive there from the United States.

Things You'll Need

• Sports utility vehicle
• Road map
• Hotel reservations
• Passport or Visa

Instructions

1. Get a four-wheel drive automobile. Once you leave the United States and enter Mexico, Central America and South America, the roads become rough and rugged. To avoid car or tire damaged, it’s best to travel in a sports utility vehicle or a motor home.

2. Apply for a passport or Visa. It doesn’t matter whether you plan to drive or fly to South America, you can’t enter any country (or return home), without a passport or Visa. Police officers are positioned at each country’s border, in which you’ll have to provide proper identification.

3. Map out your trip. Several U.S routes lead to South America. Rather than wait until the last minute, plan out your trip in-advance. Contact a roadside service such as AAA and ask them to map out a safe route, or get a map of Mexico, Central America, and South America and decide your own route.

4. Take the Pan American Highway. This is the safest route to South America, and this highway extends from Alaska down to lower region of South America. To drive to South America, begin driving on Interstate-35 South in Laredo, TX.

5. Drive during the daytime. South America is a beautiful, but dangerous country. Stay on the main highway, and get a hotel in the evening.

6. Stay away from the Darien Gap. Be aware that the Pan American Highway temporarily stops near the Darien Gap (Panama-Columbia border), which is a dense rainforest with dirt roads and inhabited by dangerous animals. Rather than drive through the rainforest, have a cargo ship or ferry carry you from Panama to Columbia. Ports are located in the cities of Tolu or Turbo.

7. Speak Spanish or bring someone who can. If a situation or altercation occurs between yourself and a border patrol officer, you’ll be able to communicate.