Planning your trip

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From Drive the Americas

Contents 1 When to Travel 2 Telephone 3 Language 4 Documents 5 Your Vehicle 6 Camping and Hotels with Parking 7 Routes and Distances 8 Currency 9 Weather 10 Travel Health 10.1 Water Purification 10.2 Pharmaceuticals and Vaccinations 10.3 Vaccinations 10.4 Malaria 10.5 Dengue Fever 10.6 Food- and Water-Born Parasites 10.7 Food Allergies

The idea of creating a road that could span North, Central, and South America was first proposed at the Pan American conference of 1889. Today, you can drive almost 50,000 miles (80,467 kilometers) from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to the tip of South America, except for the 54 mile (87 kilometer) Darien Gap in Panama. Due to increasing political stability throughout Latin America and the massive road building efforts in many Latin American countries, there has never been a better time to take to the road. To get yourself in the mood for your upcoming travels, we have recommended books and movies about Latin America. This article should give you a good overview on what you need to do to plan your trip, whether you are driving through only one country or a dozen.

[edit] When to Travel

Since the Americas cover almost every climate of the earth, when to travel is dependent on your location. The most important thing to remember is that may not want to be in the northern reaches of Canada or Alaska during November through January, or Tierra del Fuego in South America during May to October. In Central America, the seasons are not dictated by the temperature, but the rainfall. The rainy season runs from April to November, which may make driving in rural areas difficult. In northern South America, rainy seasons depend on whether you're on the coast, the highlands, or the Amazon. Check out some recommended travel guides for more specific information about weather.

[edit] Telephone

You can buy cheap phones in Central and South America, the best price comes from the company Moviestar. The phone will cost around $30 USD which includes 300 minutes, and refill your account at any Moviestar location or at many convenience stores. Calling USA or Canada costs about $1 USD per half hour. Another option is to use a computer and Skype to call. Calls to the US are $.02 USD a minute. If your family and friends have basic computer knowledge, have them install Skype themselves - Skype-to-Skype calls are free, and the connection seems to be even better than calling a regular phone. You can find Skype at internet cafes.

[edit] Language

Learning the language of the countries you are visiting can make your travels easier and more rewarding. The dominant languages of North and Central America are English and Spanish, and Spanish and Portuguese in South America. Many travelers spend time learning Spanish while traveling, and Guatemala is known as one of the least expensive places to learn. A ballpark price for 4 hours of learning one on one with a native Spanish speaker, including room and board with a local family costs $175 USD a week. Other options include purchasing Rosetta Stone if you have a computer. Pimsleur Spanish Audio CDs are also a great way to learn Spanish in the car during those longer driving days.

[edit] Documents

Lots of documents and paperwork are needed to transport you and your vehicle across borders. You will need:

• Passport
• Driver's License (both from your home country and an International Driver's License)
• Vehicle Registration
• Vehicle Title
• Proof of Insurance

You may need:

• Marriage Certificate
• Birth Certificate
• Visa (depending on your country of origin)
• WHO Yellow Vaccination Card (proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever)
• Proof of finances

You will also need copious amounts of photocopies of all of the required documents every time you cross a border. These can be simply organized by placing multiple copies of each document in a clear sheet protector and collecting these in a binder. That way all copies are organized and you can quickly find the document you need. Store the originals somewhere very safe, and only use them when necessary. It also is a good idea to electronically scan all original documents, and email yourself and a couple of friends or family these electronic copies. That way if there is some catastrophe and you lose all originals and copies, you will be able to access the copies online.

[edit] Your Vehicle

See the vehicle page for more information on vehicle ownership, insurance, and suggested modifications. Also check out the Roadtripper Profiles to see what vehicles other roadtrippers are using for their adventure.

[edit] Camping and Hotels with Parking

There are many camping options in Mexico. Tent camping, car camping, and RV options are found throughout Mexico, and roadtripper recommended options can be found at the Mexico pages. If you are staying in a hotel, it's worth asking if they have a secure parking lot or a night watchman if your car will be parked on the street outside. If not, it may be a good idea to look for a parking lot, as parking at night on the street, especially in cities, is a risky proposition. Recommended hotels with secure parking are also included in the Mexico pages. Additional information about hotels and camping across South and Central America is also available in the Camping and Hotels section.

[edit] Routes and Distances

You may want to plan out your route beforehand, but remember that the road conditions will cause you to drive much smaller distances than you would in the United States or Canada. You can check bus schedules between cities to estimate times of travel, but it's always a good idea to start your driving early in the morning to ensure that you are off the roads before it gets dark.

Watch out for broken glass: If you see broken glass on the street, this is a tip off that people are breaking into cars.

See also more information on roads and driving

[edit] Currency

In general it is a good idea to check for the latest exchange rates before you enter a country, as many of the do not have banks. Make sure you bring plenty of the money to the crossing so you will be able to pay all fees. If you need money exchanged at these crossings, you can usually find men walking around with large wads of cash who are willing to exchange your money. If you don't know the exchange rate, you run the risk of getting ripped off. Useful information on exchange rates can be found at exchangerates.org. Having a hidden stash of American dollars or travelers checks in your car for emergencies can also come in handy in a pinch.

[edit] Weather

Temperatures in Latin America vary widely. The coasts will be very warm, but the highlands through the middle of Mexico and Guatemala are at elevations high enough to be cool during the day, and downright cold at night. Plan on bringing pants, sweaters, and jackets for the higher elevations. It's also worth checking the seasonal rain schedules, as the rainy seasons tend to be sweltering hot.

[edit] Travel Health

The CDC has a wealth of information on travel health, vaccinations, and safety. In particular, the CDC Health Information for International Travel (the Yellow Book) was developed to provide up-to-date and comprehensive information on immunization requirements and health recommendations to protect and promote the health of international travelers.

[edit] Water Purification

In order to avoid getting sick, you will want to either buy purified water or bring a water purifier. It may be worth purchasing a portable water purification system, as drinking bottled water generates a lot of plastic trash. There are quite a few different options for portable systems, all of which are summarized nicely in this Wikipedia article. Boiling, filtration, chemicals, and UV light can all be used to kill many infectious agents. You will need clean water for drinking and washing any fruits or vegetables you may eat along the way. Rinsing your toothbrush with purified water is also a good idea. Be wary of non-bottled beverages that are served in restaurants; they may contain water or ice that has not been purified. Check out this water purifier in our gear review section.

[edit] Pharmaceuticals and Vaccinations

Depending on what countries you plan to visit, there are different diseases to consider, and vaccinations you will need. The CDC has excellent information on their webpage, and breaks the information down country by country. Of course you should consult with your physician or a local travel doctor before any trip, but the following is a list of things to expect.

[edit] Vaccinations

Yellow fever is spread by mosquitos (see map). Although there is an effective vaccine, it can still cause devastating outbreaks in unvaccinated communities. Many countries require proof of vaccination before allowing entrance, so make sure to bring your World Health Organization vaccination card to prove that you are indeed vaccinated.

For many of the countries in Central and South America it is a good idea to make sure that you are up-to-date on the following vaccinations:

1. MMR - Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
2. DPT - Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough), and Tetanus
3. Hepatitis A and B - these requires several shots in series, so be sure to plan ahead
4. Typhoid fever - available as an oral vaccine if you're very needle-averse

[edit] Malaria

Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes, and is most prevalent in rural areas in a band around the equator. The drugs you can take to prevent malaria in Central and South America will depend on the areas you plan on visiting. In general, in Mexico and Central America, both chloroquine and doxycycline are effective. In some parts of South America, the parasite that causes malaria is now resistant to chloroquine, so it is necessary to take mefloquine (also called Lariam) or Malarone (a combination of atovaquone and proguanil). Currently there is no vaccine for malaria. A useful map for location specific malaria is found through the UK's National Health Service's website

[edit] Dengue Fever

Dengue Fever, also known as 'break-bone fever,' is spread by mosquitos. It is more prevalent in urban as opposed to rural areas, and there is no vaccine. The only protection currently is to wear mosquito repelent and long clothes whenever possible. Using mosquito repellent with high levels of DEET and treating clothes with permethrine provides the most effective protection from mosquitos. Outbreaks of Dengue fever are rapidly reported, so check at the CDC's Outbreak notice websites to see if there is an outbreak where you are headed.

[edit] Food- and Water-Born Parasites

As diverse as the landscape, people, and environments are in Latin America, there is an equal diversity of the food- and water-born parasites you may encounter during your travels. Bacteria, parasites, and viruses can contaminate food and drink in non-hygenic kitchens. For a thorough list of all of the things that can make you sick, see Wikipedia's food-born illnesses and water-born illnesses articles. Most travelers will get sick at some point, but most illnesses do not need to be treated with medicines and will resolve themselves within a couple of days. The Yellow Book has an extensive chapter on diarrhea and additional information on symptoms and treatments. One of the most important things you can do is to make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before eating. Well cooked foods are generally safer than raw or undercooked foods.

[edit] Food Allergies

It appears that food allergies are not common, and therefore, not well understood in Latin America. It is always worth asking in a restaurant if the food you are ordering contains a certain ingredient (for example, nuts if that is your allergy), but usually the person taking your order will quickly dismiss your question. It is a bit unnerving, so you will need to be careful when you are eating out. In particular for people with nut allergies, South America can be very difficult. Many soups and sauces in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia are made with a peanut base, even some clear broths. From personal experience (and 4 trips to the emergency room in various countries) even asking if something contains nuts does not help. It is worth bringing a good supply of epi-pens and the accompanying medicines (inhalers, benedryl, etc) in case of emergency.

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