i was thinking about boliveia myself. not shur how safe it would be to drive down there.safety verys from place to place.i think going alone would be a bad idea

 

Check out some travel forums. Have you travelled much? Kind of important to know what your experience is. South America is a place (like many others)were people WILL try to take advantage of you. Have you looked into crossing borders with dogs?

 

Fine.....( IF ) you speak spanish and it helps if you have dark hair too.

Try to blend in as much as possible, don't pack the tourist look while traveling.

Have your vet update all your dogs shots & have the papers with you at all times

good luck to you, Farm Boy

 

If you can get past the shoot outs in the Mexican border towns and the corrupt to the core police, I'd say then you have a 50/50 chance of making it back.

 

Beware of a few things..



You should know that the world (including America) is different for women as opposed to a man... that is not chauvinistic, that is just the way it is. I am talking about your safety which is your concern in this post. Travelling alone for a woman (or even two) and especially in that part of the world is very high risk even for American men, (just research some news articles of the past)... not to mention world travel for Americans in general. Consider the recent history of countries down there in regards to women and you should come up with a good idea of the dangers that you'll face. That is not saying that you shouldn't go, nor undermining your capapilities to defend yourself. I think it would be wise to be prudent though in this day and age for anybody. Oh, did I mention the possibility of terrorist attacks?

I am not sure about getting your dogs through at least two borders but that may be difficult in itself what with quarantine laws that may be in existance not to mention the disposition of an errant and arrogant border guard in a far away land.

If you are dead set on going down there though, I would do a lot of research, keep up on current events happening in that part of the world. Consider going with a few more companions, the more the merrier (and safer) especially if they are male companions. Never let your guard down and always watch your back.

Finally, if that is your picture on your profile, You obviously need to be wary of you know what for which I am sure you are aware.

Just being concerned for a fellow survivalist.. and not trying to be foolhardy. :

 

Well, the question here is, which part of south america would you like to go?
For example countries like Chile and Argentina don't have high violence rates, other ones depend much on tourism for a living, like Ecuador or some cities in Peru.
Mexico's border is indeed violent but it ain't like they are gonna look for you and shoot you... Indeed many people will try to take advantage of you, but I bet if you plan ahead a good route, and investigate about the situation and facitilites to the tourists of the countries you'd like to visit you could have an splendid trip!
Remember that many countries, specially in south america depend on tourism, and that the situation in some zones doesn't reflect the overall security of the country, I would, on the other hand, take a closer look on central american countries and those such as Colombia and Venezuela (no blaming intended), but as the situation in there is highly unstable they should be avoided or aproached carefully at least!
I would gladly answer any of your questions regarding this thread, cheers!

 

I would not advise going down there... if you were just flying into a safer city( well safe for south america) then maybe.... but you will most likely be going through some pretty shabby towns and getting gas, food, etc... there are reasons why even mexicans are trying to get out of mexico. Being two females didnt help in your case. There are a lot of really bad guys out there.... A lot of really good ones, but I'd hope you wouldn't find your way to the other.

 

Depends on what type of SHTF deal goes on. The route via car would be unsafe probably, even in non-SHTF situations. Just hope you can see the collapse comin a few days before ... with the economy, you need to just pay attention. Then get all the kids out.

 

plan would be to go via air... get air tickets, no matter how much $$$ and send wife and kids to a safe location overseas. This will have to be done before the airports shut down... and you need to really be able to predict this well. Assuming its an economic collapse, I'd suggest paying close attention to the news. Not what the news people say but what they don't say... if you hear about the dollar starting to slide or our creditors in China and Japan and elsewhere talking about absorbing the default (they might do this) ... I would move right away and make it my #1 priority to send them out.

 

Another thought

If dollar collapses, most if not all of the SA countries will slide into immediate recession. Civil unrest is not uncommon under even minimal economic duress in those countries

 

I had a gf who travelled mexico, costa rica and equador with 3 other blonde haired girls. They had air tickets to arrive, so not the same as you plan. The worst problem was apparantly guys incessantly hitting on them at every turn. Although most could take the hint, in one case some guys threw a stone through their bus window when they were leaving a town one morning. They reverted to not shaving, wearing makeup or washing their hair to be less appealing.

 

Driving to South America? Ahhh.... If you are going to do that, you might want to check on some things like motor vehicle insurance. People from the United States frequently get tagged by local (Mexican) cops for not having insurance or even the right kind of insurance. So you need to check out insurance regulations for every nation to which you plan to pass. Would you also need to get an international car plate or not since you are going to pass through so many nations? I don't think that this will be as simple as driving across country in the U.S. if you do things in a proper fashion.

 

Safe? From what?

 

You have to get through Mexico first. I worked in Mexico for a year (Reynosa) and we had to commute daily from McAllen Texas. We were told not to travel alone in Mexico. We would actually run stop signs when we saw people standing around.

 

I looked at your profile. I predict you'll be a mommy within 10 months of crossing the border.:

 

How hilarious.

Thank you for reminding me why that I have you on my 'ignore' list.

 

I am kind of 'amazonish proportions', am ex-military and I am an 'old girl' and the trip which that you are proposing would have me on constant "high alert".

The world can be a cruel and vicious place, especially to us, m'lady.

It would be academic anyway, for I would be 'armed to the teeth' and would never be allowed to pass through a border checkpoint.

I do not even wish to contemplate what would happen, should I have to actually use one of my weapons, whilst in a foreign country.

 

I'd stay out of Colombia, and venezuela. FARC has been kidnaping people there, particularly Americans. Mexican border towns are almost as bad a Bagdad as well.

 

Although I've never been further south than Belize in Central America, I would not in my right mind let a friend of mine, whether male or female, drive even with their mother to South America. On top of that, I'm not so sure the infrastructure between CO and S. America is in good enough shape for your vehicle to survive the trip. My vote would be to fly to the final location, but that's just my opinion.

 

No, it will not be remotely safe. It will be very dangerous, especially for for 2 women and a couple of dogs.

If you want to experience South America, research the tourist hot spots and go there by plane.

For example, you may be perfectly fine going through Mexico, and Costa Rica too, but in between them is Nicaragua.

There is a huge river that separates Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I am not sure you can even cross by car. The river has untamed jungle for miles and miles and miles on either side. You would need a major 4X4 even if there are roads.

If you are not an experienced off road driver you would most likely get stuck in the mud and be stranded in dense jungle with no hope of rescue. Actually, even if you are, you may get stranded with no hope of rescue anyway.

If you are an experienced off road driver, and you do actually make the trip, it will take you weeks of crawling really bad, pot hole infested roads just to get the same distance you can here in a day or so....with no gas stations in between...so you would probably run out of gas somewhere in the jungle if nothing else got you...You would still need to be rescued.

This is not even mentioning you have no idea where the armed rebels are, and what they will do to you if you accidentally stumble into thier territory. That is only one of dozens of vast untamed Jungle areas that you would have to go through.

Watch the latest Rambo move before you go. It could get *Very* real for you in a heart beat....only Rambo won't be coming to save you in a blaze of .50 cal fire like a Movie.

 

Little horror story about Mexico and the justice system down there.

A guy, white, US citizen, lives in S.D. was driving his convertable down in Mexico just South of T.J. He hit a man driving a cart pulled my a mule.

In the ensuing accident the guy is ejected from his convertable and smacks his head on the rock. He's okay, just a concusion. Police arrive clean up mess everyone goes to hospital.

Next day police arrest white guy for the following:

Causing accident. Not true, night time, guy with mule in middle of road no light sources.

Depriving man of his business. The mule was killed in the accident, cart destroyed.

Killing the mule.

Destroying mans cart.

Breaking the rock on which the white guy struck his head.

Leaving blood on that rock as well.

Blocking a public highway.

Not to mention alot of fines and penalties for cleaning up the mess, mule disposal, ambulance fees, Dr. bills. etc. etc. etc.

Just wait it gets better....

Since this guy is under arrest he is kicked out of the hospital and put in prison, right away. There are no phone calls given or private cells. He has to wait until he goes before a judge to set the court date for the trial.

Three weeks pass, guy finally gets to go before a judge. Busy docket that month, and the next and the next. Trial date set four months from now. Slam the gavel back to the jail.

They dont believe in bail down there due to the severity of the charges and the risk of flight back to the U.S.

Meanwhile his family has found out what has happened to him after he didn't show up for work for a week. They got a fancy lawyer out of Mexico city at great cost, had to pay for his flight from Mexico City to the West coast, first class of course.

Lawyer says nothing he can do until trial date is set. Move for bail, denied, reasons stated above.

Lawyer tells family to pay off guards at prison to get guy private cell. Pay off guards for better meals. Pay off guards for protection.

A month passes Lawyer flies out to talk to judge in case. Lawyer gets judge to agree to let guy out on bail with certain considerartions, i.e. money.

Guy pays judge off, pays lawyer, gets let out of prison with word of advice from lawyer:

"If I were you Senor ******** I would get across that Northern boarder as soon as possible and never, I mean never set foot in Mexico again."

"But what about the trial?"

The lawyer laughed and walked away.

To date this guy has never been back to Mexico. That was forty years ago.

True story.

 

No. Wouldnt do it.

 

Go north instead, drive to Alaska or hide out somewhere in Northern Canada, I think it would be much safer, although much colder.

 

Hi there. South America is pretty large. I won´t advice anyone driving on their own here. There´s a lot of desert roads (in Venezuela) and...let´s say my own personal nightmare is related to a flat tire in the middle of the road, at night. We usually don´t travel at night. It´s too much dangerous, but that´s only in Venezuela. In Colombia, or Brazil I don´t know; personal safety is not the same in every country; city or farm lands; I´d suggest to travel with at least 4 grown up men. Numeric Superiority is good. Personally I would not travel without a heavy duty motorhome wich I could hunker me up with the family (including dogs) near a good, illuminated neighborhood or a police, or military reachpoint. Realize that things (people, culture, ideology, behavior) are pretty different from country to country; I´ve some partners who have been robbed in Rome!. But I know my country, and I know we have to be careful. Concealed carry is mandatory here...so this helps to have some respect from strangers, but there are gangs wich "operate" with police / military uniforms. If your eye is not "trained" (they HAVE to have a plate with his full name and another with their number in the uniform, if not...then they´re NOT LEOs, for example) you can get screwed for this SOABs. Anyway venezuelans are unpredictable!...ask the CIA think tanks.

:

 

Probably not a good idea

Hi Sullom,

May I ask why you're taking this trip? If your motivation is tourism, I would recommend you fly, rather than drive. I'd also recommend that you stick to the more conventional tourist destinations.

The US State Department has a travel advisory web site that might be useful to you. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

Good luck.

 

No it won't be safe,but what is safe in this world.
Take the adventure if you want,just be smart about it,you can make it safer.

 

try walking through east la or spanish harlem or any barrio at night and figure it out.then walk thorough watts or harlem or any ghetto at night and ask if it is safe to drive through africa.
sheesh...either really ignorant or a troll posting.

 

either really ignorant or a troll posting.

Says Sir Onepost? I know women who backpacked S America and Africa, right off the path and came back with their limbs. It isn't safe, correct, but that doesn't stop a lot of people doing it. Adventure is risk, amongst other things. There are some good people out there in the midst of poverty and civil disorder, you'd be quite surprised (or relieved of this "ignorance"). Personally I wouldn't attempt to draw a parallel between the hoodie blacks of London with native Africans.. In Africa straight dudes hold hands, doubt you will see that in Compton either.