Getting into Argentina from Bolivia
 

Can anyone give us some advice about crossing the border to Argentina.

we are in the process of getting two bikes to tour around bolivia and then wanted to take them to argentina via Villazon. If we get there what will we need. Will the vehicle documents be enough and our large grinning smiles?

Thanks

Tom

You will need insurance at this border crossing
 

My wife and I crossed at this border about 6 weeks ago and it ended up being the longest border crossing we have done so far on our trip (15 or so borders) at 5 hours. It would have gone well except for one thing, they did not want to let us through without insurance that is valid for Argentina. So we ended up walking into the border town in Argentina (La Quiaca I think) desperately trying to find an insurance company that was open (there are three in town). Turns out they we all shut from 12:00 to 17:00 so we waited and waited until we decided it was time to start begging the border official. He was a nice guy but was very reluctant to let us through. Finally he did when we argued that it was getting dark and it would be unsafe for us to ride.

A few weeks later we went into Argentina from Paraguay and they did not ask to see our insurance, go figure.

All this to say that in addition to your drivers license, vehicle ownership papers and registration (one of the few borders that asked for this by the way) you will need insurance. I tried to bluff my way out of it at first with an insurance card we obtained in Colombia but he didn't bite. Other than that the crossing was straightforward and if you like dirt you will enjoy the ride from Tupiza to Villazon (2 hours at most).

Cheers,

thanks brian!
 

thank you for that advice. the only thing we need now is two motorbikes!!! we are in la paz and will hopefully be able to sort something out at the market in el alto....unless the hubb helps us out!

thanks again

Tom and alison

Of the 8 or so crossings that we made betweeen Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, the crossing at Villazon was probably the most striaghtforward. All the people you need to see, except the Policia, are in one room. We did have all the paperwork including insurance though, which they did ask to see.

Arriving in La Quiaca was pretty odd, having not seen much tarmac for a little while. Such a contrast from just a few miles over the border

I would be prepared to wait along time at Villazon. It is a slow border because they check everyone methodically for drugs. I did not have any problems with insurance but I crossed it several months ago.

Villazon is indeed a very slow border due to the masses of Bolivian workers crossing the border one way and the other to make some few pesos.

You can cross the border in Bermejo/Aguas Blancas, 200 km south of Tarija. It will take only a few minutes across the bridge, no queueing up, easy money exchange, cooperative clerks. The road from Tarija is very recent and fun to ride in the hills. You might be slowed down by a few shepards still considering the asphalt road as a pastoral path.

From there you can reach Salta or head to Formosa, whatever direction you prefer.