| When making travel plans, many Americans habitually | | | | communications along your route. You may encounter |
| look across the oceans-usually to Europe, Hawaii, or | | | | people along the way who speak English, but you |
| Asia. And when they can't afford to go that far, | | | | can't depend on this. |
| they often look to places like Florida, the Caribbean, | | | | 2. The Darien Gap: The Darien Gap is a 200 mile |
| or Mexico for their sunny vacations. But what about | | | | stretch of land between Panama and Colombia where |
| South America? There's a vast continent down there | | | | there are no connecting roads. Essentially, this |
| with uncountable wonders to offer, yet so few | | | | densely rainforested area makes a real dividing line |
| North Americans even think about going. | | | | between Central and South America. However, what |
| Travel experts note that this trend is changing. By | | | | you can do is ship your car from Christobal, Panama |
| and large, South America is not the undeveloped, | | | | to Cartagena, Venezuela. Research shipping |
| so-called "third-world" place that it was in past | | | | companies in advance, and find one that is cheap and |
| decades. These days, many South American | | | | reliable. Then, you'll fly from Christobal to your waiting |
| countries are quite modern and developed. Their | | | | car in Venezuela. |
| cities are cosmopolitan and safe-even outside of the | | | | Meanwhile, there are preliminary plans to make a road |
| tourist areas-and their people are extremely warm | | | | through the Darien Gap, so check on the status of |
| and welcoming. In recent years, more and more | | | | these plans when you're preparing for your trip. |
| North Americans have been realizing this, and travel | | | | Other Important Considerations |
| to South America is on the verge of a tipping point. | | | | Every border crossing will be different, but in general |
| That's why now is the time to go. And as an added | | | | you're going to need a stamp for both your passport |
| bonus, we are connected to South America by land, | | | | and your vehicle. At most places, this simply means |
| making this the perfect opportunity for an | | | | stopping and filling out some paperwork to register |
| automotive adventure the likes of which can't be had | | | | your vehicle in the next country. |
| when you stay in the U.S. or Canada. | | | | If you're concerned about your safety as you're |
| Roadblocks | | | | traveling through these countries, you can visit the |
| There are two things that prevent many North | | | | U.S. Department of State's website on International |
| Americans from driving to South America, but there | | | | Travel for specialized tips. In general, you should be |
| are solutions: | | | | okay as long as you observe the usual best safety |
| 1. The language barrier: Spanish is the dominant | | | | practices for traveling. |
| language in most South American countries, with the | | | | All in all, you're going to be surprised by how easy it |
| significant exception of Brazil-by far the largest | | | | is to drive to South America. If you stay on the |
| country (in area and population) on the continent. | | | | major roads, you'll find hotels and restaurants, there |
| While it can take a while to master Spanish, a | | | | will always be gas stations nearby, and the locals will |
| relatively short and cheap course in the language can | | | | be more than willing to help you should you |
| give you the rudiments you need to make necessary | | | | encounter any trouble along the way. |