Questions re. Visas: US citizen crossing into Pamana, Brazil, Bolivia, Para & Chile
 

Hello Folks -

I'm leaving in just a few short months from North Carolina and riding South and I have a few questions about Visas. The US State Department says that I need visas for Panama, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Chile.

It looks like a I can get the visa for Chile at the border. Is this correct? Can I get visas for Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay at the borders too or do I need to have these in place before i go?

Panama would issue me one at the airport if I was arriving by air - what about crossing by land? The consulate says theres a 60 working day wait and their (PA) website doesn't give details for requirements for US citizens. Have any US citizens made this crossing recently? Whats your advice?

Most of the info on the web is relating to entering by air and its hard to get clear info on land crossings. Many countries require return flight info as well as hotel reservations. Thats not gonna happen... (except Panama to EC)

Americans - Whats been your experience?

dp

You get a tourist permit at the border crossing into Panama.

Bolivia issues the Visa at the border.

Can't speak about Paraguay.

If you want to go from BA up to Brazil via Iguazu, you can get the visa at the border. Otherwise, you have to get it from the Brazil embassy here in BA (or over in Uruguay) in order to enter via other routes. Can't speak of the crossings from Bolivia or Paraguay into Brazil.

But don't worry - you haven't even left home yet. You'll figure this out as you go - and talk to other travelers along the way (backpackers are travelers too, and more plentiful than moto riders).

For Paraguay you can get your visa at Paraguay's Embassy in Buenos Aires which is near subway station Callo on the D line. (You need $100 US in US currency and a passport sized photo of yourself). If you want to cross from Bolivia into Paraguay than I think you can get your visa at the Paraguayan Embassy in La Paz.

somos todos americanos
 

Yep, Chilean visas (or tourist cards) available for US citizens at the borders. I crossed from Bolivia to Chile with a US pillion and we had no problems. Bolivia have added the reciprocal $100 fee since I was last there, but I keep hearing that the visas can be bought on the spot. The same pillion sorted her Brazillian visa at the embassy while we were in BA - easy enough, and saved any messing later. Paraguay, dunno. Bottom line - keep talking to other travellers, and the worst that can happen is you have to pop back to the last major town and find an embassy or consulate. No big deal, nothing to worry about at all.

Suerte, Dan

Gracias Yall!
 

Thanks for the replies. It's looking like I can get a lot of the SA visa stuff taken care of at the borders. I guess I'll need to get my visa for Brazil in Quito because I'll be entering the country from Yurimagas Peru, headding down river to Iquitos and then Manaus, so the border crossing will be on the river.

The big question mark is still Panama. Anyone know if I can get my visa for Panama at the border or do I have to get it in San Jose CR - or in the USA before I go?

Americans don't need a visa for Panama. You don't even need a passport. Your drivers license and birth certificate will get you into Panama. A passport is easier, though. Crossing into Panama from Costa Rica is easy.