Europe has long been a favorite destination for backpackers, but what if  you’d like to get off the beaten path? Adventurous backpackers might want to consider backpacking in South America.

For example, STA Travel is chronicling the journeys of Melanie, a 24-year -old from B0ston who plans to spend four months traveling through 6 different countries.  The first of series, this article discusses the basics of planning for a South American backpacking trip.

This article, from the Aquinian, describes a student’s  journey through Uruguay, Boliva, and Peru.  It is a great description of the ups and downs of life on the road in South America.

There’s so much to see…rainforests, mountains, beaches, and towering ancient cities like Macchu Picchu are just a start.

However, before you go, you need to make sure you know which countries require visas and what you need to do to get them.  Here’s a handy list to help you plan your trip:

• Argentina- No visa required for US citizens staying less than 90 days.
• Bolivia- A visa is required for US citizens to enter Bolivia. You can apply at the border, but make sure you have all of the necessary documents in hand.  For requirements, see Getting a Bolivian Visa For an Ecotourism Adventure.
• Brazil- If your backpacking trip includes time in Brazil, you need a visa and you need to apply in advance (as in, before you leave the US).  For more on getting a Brazilian tourist visa, see Getting a Brazilian Travel Visa To Visit Iguazu Falls.
• Chile-American citizens can get a 90-day visa on the border. You will, however, need a valid passport.
• Columbia- You don’t need a visa for stays under 60 days, but you do need a passport and you must cross into Columbia at an official border crossing. You may also need to show proof of scheduled departure from Columbia, such as a plane ticket out of the country.
• Ecuador-  No visa required for stays of less than 90 days.
• Guyana- No visa is required for stays of 30 days or less.
• Paraguay-You do need a visa to enter Paraguay, and you need to apply in advance at an embassy or consulate.
• Uruguay-No visa required for stays of less than 90 days.
• Peru-No visa required.
• Suriname- You do need a visa, and you must obtain it in advance, not at the border.
• Venezuela- You need a visa or a tourist card to enter Venezuela.

As you can see, planning ahead is important if you want your South American backpacking trip to go smoothly. At RushMyTravelVisa, we can help you research what visas are required for your trip, and help you submit all of the required visa application forms.

Apply for your travel visa today!

Tags: South America, visas

This entry was posted on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 10:18 pm and is filed under Government Regulations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.