Driving to Chile from Canada with a dog
hello, hello! my name is devo and i'm Canadian wanting to plan a trip to Chile next year. I'd like to drive down over aprx. 8 weeks or so and was thinking on getting a dog for company/ security. we so far will be alone and i was looking for any information about what papers, vaccinations, costs, places to see and stay away from, roads to take (or not..) cities to get Toyota parts in if necessary, basics to take (or what NOT to take), how many types of documentation to have, etc....
this will not be my first trip out of north America but will be my first road trip down to south America.
i'm planning it for next oct./ nov. and will be learning Spanish with in this time too.
thnx for your time and input.
namast'e
devo
0
Comments
What we know so far is that we don't need a visa for anywhere it seems, but we don't know what documentation we need to take a vehicle into any of the countries. The US border security people just don't answer our emails, nor even acknowledge that they have recieved them. Do you know if there are any requirements for removing a vehicle from Canada or taking one into the US?
All the info we can give you at the moment is that Colombia can be a dangerous place for foreigners but that you can drive through it in one day and you can hire a policeman near the border to travel with you. Not really safe to stop anywhere north of Bogota. We intend to wait at the border until around 6am and then just drive until we get to Ecuador without stopping. It can be easily done in one day becuase I have done it on the buses before!
Hope you will agree to share info.
Rebecca
Driving is really dangerous in most Latin American countries, except Costa Rica, which is safe and a lot of fun.
You have to take Cipro with you for Montezuma's Revenge and get Malaria and Typhoid shots. There are more than one type of Malaria shot; see a travel doctor.
Rebrob, you can take a car across the border anywhere in the US if you own it.I don't think there is any problem crossing into Mexico, but it is unbelievably dangerous. Just getting through any border town in Mexico, whether Juarez, Tijuana or Nogales is a problem.
I went with friends to Mazatlan in the sixties, the alleged highways were not
even farm roads, we had to roll rocks out of the way to get through.
Do not assume that they have improved very much; it's Mexico.
I know from Costa Rica that there is a "crime wave" in Nacaragua, how real it is I don't know, as the "Ticos" tend to blame the "Nicos" for any criminal activity.
Good Luck; Mike
i am planning this trip for the end of oct./ '09 so lots of time left to get my ducks in a row as well as learn Spanish.
please feel free to join in/ or use this thread for any informational references necessary.
namast'e
devo
Regarding travel with a dog, have you looked into obtaining a P.E.T.S passport? It takes about 6-7 months and involves getting your dog micro-chipped, vaccinated, and rabies titre-tested...and may be useful...???
I took my cat the U.K. and back from Canada and hired a pet transport company to help me with all the required steps...If you are serious about taking a dog with you I would look into hiring a professional that could help you with the import/export requirements for the countries that you will be traveling through...to avoid the possibility of quarantine.
Traveling from Canada to the US should be fine with a dog, and I have easily passed through the US/Mexico border with a dog from San Diego going to Rosa Rita..I am not sure about South America though.
Good luck and have a great trip!
I was traveling with my girlfriend in a Chilean van in south america for 13 months. We met some Americans who did this trip. They had to drive in colon in Nigaragua for savety, but we met them in Peru, so they made it. They shiped their vantruck by boat from Panama to Ecuador as Colombia is not save. !you need a carnet de passage for ecuador! We were trying to enter from Peru ending negotiation 2 days on the boarder. We tried to bribe, but the price was too high (would have been half of the value of our car what means 2000 Us$)
Don't worry about spare parts in south america if it is not electronical. they repair everything. If you have a high tech van, it is more likely to get in trouble (like the US people we met). We had no pets, but in south america, as soon you open your van, ten dogs are around you hoping to get some food.
have a nice trip
Maarten (Belgium)
hentzenmaarten@gmail.com
I have spent a lot of time in SoAm and personally found Colombia to be the friendliest, most scenic, and least-traveled (by gringos) country down there. But I guess that's what I'm looking for when I travel :)>
I would hate for you (or anyone) to pass through the majority of SoAm without spending time in Colombia based on suspect advice. Then again, if you are looking for a Sunday drive to IKEA, skip Colombia.
Andy
Minneapolis, MN
Take care and enjoy the landscape over there I'm sure it'll be fun!
as for the " sunday drive to ikea..." well i guess if i'm dropping a v6 engine and doing a full solid front axle conversion for better 4x4ing and off roading then may be you've miss construed my intentions.
i'm just thinking on seeing columbia, peru and ecuador (as well as the REST of south america) after being in the country for a few months or so, getting to know the local dialect and NOT being a gringo...
the plan is to be there for a couple of years,.. may be not come back and end up building the restaurant i want to run. (i"m a canadain chef of 17 years)
once again i THANK YOU ALL for as much info. as posibel!!!!
much love to you and your worlds
namast'e
devo
as for the " sunday drive to ikea..." well i guess if i'm dropping a v6 engine and doing a full solid front axle conversion for better 4x4ing and off roading then may be you've miss construed my intentions.
i'm just thinking on seeing columbia, peru and ecuador (as well as the REST of south america) after being in the country for a few months or so, getting to know the local dialect and NOT being a gringo...
the plan is to be there for a couple of years,.. may be not come back and end up building the restaurant i want to run. (i'm a canadain chef of 17 years)
once again i THANK YOU ALL for as much info. as posibel!!!!
much love to you and your worlds
namast'e
devo
http://www.go-panamerican.com/road-tips.php
Latin America is cut in two halves:
1º Mexico thru Panama and
2º Ecuador thru Tierra del Fuego.
Colombia is the major block. No roads possible there and EXTREMELY dangerous. I recommend to investigate in Panama ways to skip Colombia by sea ferries.
The SAFEST CONTINUOUS ROADS are in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. They have international standards, ATM and Gas/Convenience stores on the road, and you can drive safe up to 140kph. Most National Parks' roads arent paved , so its recommended to have a vehicle with 4x4 capabilities and tires' chains in case of slight snow in Andes -Some massive snowfalls may occur between June and September so check weather reports before to go- If you are going thru the Chilean/Argentinian Patagonia. The marvellous Chilean fjords has many ferries for an unforgettable experience. Check for it www.navimag.cl and www.gochile.cl/Info/Xporte/Ferry.asp
PERU-Ecuador: Roads do not meet international standards. Flash protest/riots may block the road with stones. Caution in populated areas. Sorry, your trip ends at the colombian jungle's border .
COLOMBIA: AVOID THIS COUNTRY AT ANY COST. Not recommended to do a road trip the country is still in rural civil war.
Panama thru Mexico: Roads do not meet international standards. Panama is improving fast. Costa rica, some areas. Caution in populated areas. Sorry your trip ends at the colombian jungle's border
WARNING! Costa Rica's myth : paved and safe? NO! be warned of robbery and massive sub-standards roads, never leave your car alone by night, Do not stop in massive populated areas or jungles! Read the Canadian Foreign Affairs website for further Warnings . The same for Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Southern Mexico.
PETS and FOOD: As Argentinian, Chile honors their stragtegic isolation from the Tropical Americas. This country do not permits some pets, fruits and vegetables. Ask details with the Chilean Embassy in your country in order to avoid quarentine for your beloved pet.
I'm in Victoria B.C at the moment, and i'm heading back to Colombia, very very very soon, perhaps at the end of the month. I'm a mutt half Can-half Col, and i have never done the drive all the way down. Now my Can side wants me to have all the paper work in rule and so on and so forth, but my Colombian side just wants me to get in the car and drive. So i'll be hiting the road pretty soon. I let you know how everything goes, or you can be as crazy as i am and jump on board. hahahahahah here is my e-mail (alunafilms@gmail.com) I think I'll do the shipping part-from Panama to Cartagena. and then carry it on.
Now, for the previous parts, like Mex to Pan i got a bunch of opinions from locals to foreigners... but y conclusion is, there are good and bad spots all over the planet. and I think the success of the trip depends on the good use of common sense and trusting your instincts when talking to people, a good judgement of character will help in avoiding problems.
Alejo.
i agree with you in full, the success of the trip depends on the moment and how you react/ act in it, at the time.
trusting instincts coupled with common sense (which is not so common these days, most humans ARE pretty sheepish/ main stream.) and there are some of the worst spots on the planet in the richest cities, so i'm sure i'll be fine, but more information is more choice/ ability to act or not act in the given moment.
part of the plan is to possibly build my restaurant there and possibly not come back,.. we'll see, but to attain this i need some kind of capital,.. so,.. 2- 3 jobs all summer and i'll have enough to live for a year or two and travel the country and find a possible location while working a bit along the way, with some money invested for that time it'll hopefully be enough for the start up needed for the restaurant.
have a great trip, as much as i'd love to just jump on board, (last Minuit travel is SO fun) i've given my word for work this summer,.. so.
namast'e Alejandro
gracias y mucho gusto seinor
IT'S A GREAT THING THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS TRIP.
RIGHT NOW, I LIVE IN FLORIDA, USA. I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS BUT AM ORIGINALLY FROM MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA.
I KNOW COLOMBIA HAS A BAD REP BUT NOT EVERYONE GETS ROBBED OR KIDNAPPED. DON'T SKIP IT JUST BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE HAD BAD EXPERIENCES THERE. IT TRULY IS A GREAT COUNTRY WITH GREAT FOOD, BEAUTIFUL LADIES, AND THERE ARE MORE GOOD PEOPLE THAN BAD. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IF YOU GO IS BE CAUTIOUS, LIKE ANYWHERE ELSE. AND IF POSSIBLE TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.
I ALSO WANT TO DRIVE THROUGH SOUTH AMERICA WITH A COUPLE OF MY FRIENDS BUT I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE DOING IT ANYTIME SOON, MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO. WE'RE THINKING ABOUT STARTING IN MEDELLIN, DRIVE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CHILE, THEN ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AND BACK TO COLOMBIA.
I CAN NOT OFFER YOU ANY INFO REGARDING PAPERWORK BUT I HAVE FOUND A COUPLE OF WEBSITES THAN CAN GUIDE YOU, THE FIRST ONE BELONGS TO A CALIFORNIAN WHO MADE IT ALMOST TO ARGENTINA IN AN OLD MERCEDES. THE SECOND ONE BELONGS TO A COUPLE WHO IS CURRENTLY MAKING THE TRIP IN A CAMPER WITH A DOG. THEY JUST MADE THEIR LAST POST ON THEIR TRAVEL BLOG FIVE DAYS AGO (04/04/09). THEY LEFT AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, YOU'LL SEE IT WHEN YOU CLICK ON "CONTACT US"
BOTH WEBSITES HAVE SOME NICE PICTURES, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THEM OUT AS WELL, THEY'LL MAKE YOU WANNA GO EVEN MORE.
http://www.drivetosouthamerica.com/index.html
http://www.thebrightsideoftheroad.com/home.html
THIS IS JUST SO YOU CAN PRACTICE YOUR ESPA
I would like to get a ride to chile just because i got the experience traveling through some area in central America
Mexico Guatemala Costa Rica and live 5 years in venezuela.
My sister who lives in England did a trip from Alaska to Puerto Montt in a mountain bike and it took her 5 years to reached her goal.
I was born in chile, live in canada for the last 18 years so i guess that makes me a dual citizen.
I think it would be fun to share the cost and drive south
Driven a crossed Canada four times, it makes me to take a longer trip.
that is it for now. Any comments please submit them to my gmail halohaisis@gmail.com
Gracia, ciao Isis
Our website: www.thebrightsideoftheroad.com
You can ship your van from Panama to Cartagena without any problems. Get to know the Caribbean Coast of Colombia before you go any further down south. You most probably stay there for the rest of your life. The problem with Colombia is that you may never want to leave it...
Namaste.
_________________________
all doors are still open for exploration in my world so the more info. the better armed for situations that may or may not arise during this trip.
namast'e
all
devo
Slan Pete
www.thebrightsideoftheroad.com
Very useful information on this web site and I will check out the brightsideoftheroad web site.
Great to find a forum with people doing (or have done) a similar trip to our plans. Im planning on visiting family in Canada, buying a vehicle and driving south as far as poss. Ive done mexico to panama by chicken bus but understand driving will be a completly different experience! Being a UK resident I was planning on selling/trading the vehicle at the end of the trip. Does anyone know if this is possible i.e. to leave a vehicle in Mex/Cen/South America as really not wanting to ship vehicle back to UK.?
Thanks
i thank you all again and hope this page helps many others in return, i've been to all the sites mentioned and followed may other various links off that scenario.
please, keep it al comming,... as for my self, life's changed and a proposal to purchase properties might put the trip a year behind,... sad to say.
but, i AM driven to go.:)
thnx again all
best of love to you in this big wide world
namast'e
devo
www.bumfuzzle.com
when you get on there look at route, then also lookin border crossings, it explains each one they came across
a lot of info
ref a dog dont know but a guy took him and his family around the world with a horse
7 and half years hitch, good book, his wife Kate didnt cope as well as the horse
a bit like my own wife: she didnt cope as well as the vw
divorced now, with a younger model, vw still going well
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