Border crossings are probably the most notorious, anecdotal, and dreaded part of overland travel. The bad news is, they just can’t be avoided. But the good news? Border crossings in South America are among the least complicated, and with the right preparation and attitude, you can breeze through them in no time at all!
Visas, Carnet de Passage, Entry Permits
What’s wonderful about traveling South America is that most people do not need visas for any of the South American countries. If you are from Canada, the EU, South Africa, and Australia, luck is on your side: all you need to do is show up at the border, and they’ll give you an entry permit for 90 to 180 days. In most South American countries, you can do this multiple times: if, for example, your 90-day Peru entry permit is running out, all you need to do is cross a border to Bolivia, have lunch, and come back the same day – they’ll let you right back in.