Traveling by car to Brazil is an experience that thousands of Argentines choose every year, not only because of the possibility of sharing expenses among passengers, but also because of the freedom it offers to explore unique landscapes and discover new destinations at their own pace.

However, this adventure brings with it several questions: What is the best route? What are the requirements to go to Brazil by car? How many hours does the trip take? In this article we answer all your questions

Driving to Brazil: borders and main routes

Brazil, with its vast territorial size, borders almost all countries in South America, which gives rise to numerous border crossings. However, for traveling from Argentina, the most used and convenient crossings are concentrated in the following options:

• Paso de los Libres (Corrientes) – Uruguaiana (Brazil):

  • It is one of the most popular for those traveling from Buenos Aires or the center of the country to southern Brazil.

  • It connects directly with BR-290, known as the "International Route", which leads to Porto Alegre and Florianópolis.

• Puerto Iguazú (Misiones) – Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil):

  • Ideal for those in northern Argentina (Misiones, Chaco, Corrientes) who want to reach central or northern Brazil, such as Curitiba, São Paulo, or Rio de Janeiro.

  • The crossing is over the Tancredo Neves International Bridge.

• Bernardo de Irigoyen (Misiones) – Dionísio Cerqueira (Brazil):

  • It is less traveled, but practical if you want to travel to southern Brazil (Santa Catarina, Florianópolis).

  • The crossing is direct and the route connects with BR-282.

Driving to Brazil: Which route is best to take?

Talking about "the best route to go to Brazil by car" is complicated because there is no single ideal option. The most convenient road depends on three main factors: where you are leaving from, where you want to arrive in Brazil (south, center or north) and what kind of trip you are looking for (fast, economical or with tourist stops).

However, below we leave you some popular options:

1. If you are traveling from Buenos Aires (or the center of the country)

• Destination in southern Brazil (Florianópolis, Porto Alegre, Camboriú):

-The most common option is to cross via Paso de los Libres – Uruguaiana. From there, continue on BR-290 to Porto Alegre and then take BR-101, which runs along the entire southern coast to Florianópolis.

-Average distance: 1,600 km (20 hours of travel).

-Important: on the Brazilian side, don't breeze past immigration! The immigration checkpoint is not very well signposted, and the road makes you keep going without anyone stopping you. Pay attention to stop and complete your entry into the country, because if you keep going, you'll have to backtrack to sort out the paperwork, which can cause unnecessary delays.

• Destination in central or northern Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro):

-You can take the same route to Uruguaiana and then head north on BR-116, which goes directly to São Paulo and Rio.

-You can also cross via Puerto Iguazú – Foz do Iguaçu, which is more direct if you want to avoid Porto Alegre.

-Average distance to Rio: 2,300 km (30 hours of travel).

2. If you are traveling from the north of the country (Misiones, Corrientes, Chaco):

• Destination in southern Brazil:

-The most practical option is to cross via Bernardo de Irigoyen – Dionísio Cerqueira if you are heading to Florianópolis or Porto Alegre.

-Important: this crossing has a double customs checkpoint and numerous speed cameras along the route.

• Destination in central or northern Brazil:

-The most convenient crossing is Puerto Iguazú – Foz do Iguaçu, since it leaves you close to Curitiba and São Paulo.

-Tip: From Foz you can take BR-277 to Curitiba and then BR-101 heading north.

3. If you are traveling from southern Argentina:

• Destination in southern Brazil:

-The best option is to cross to Buenos Aires first and take the route to Paso de los Libres – Uruguaiana.

-Tip: This trip is longer, so plan stops to rest and fill up the tank.

• Destination in northern or central Brazil:

-Although you can cross via Uruguay, it is more practical to make the trip through Paso de los Libres or Puerto Iguazú, depending on your final destination.

Requirements to go by car to Brazil from Argentina

1. Vehicle documentation: green or blue registration card, valid driver's license, international insurance, windows etched with the vehicle's license plate, and proof of payment of the vehicle tax.

   If the vehicle is rented, the rental company must give you the Authorization for Circulation in MERCOSUR (ACM).

2. Personal documentation: national ID or valid passport.

3. Documentation for minors: if you are traveling with minors, you must carry the documentation proving parentage and the birth certificate. If the minor travels without one of the parents, legalized authorization is required.

4. Road safety items: 1 kg fire extinguisher, warning triangles, first-aid kit.

5. Entry and exit form (cartão de entrada/saída): an entry and exit form must be obtained at Brazil Immigration for each traveler, although at some specific borders it is possible to do an online pre-migration registration, which generates a QR code to present at immigration, speeding up the process*.

*It is important to keep in mind that, although this pre-registration speeds up the process, it does not guarantee avoiding waits, since there are no separate lines. In addition, pre-registration is not available to all travelers; certain conditions must be met:

• Be over 18 years old.

• Be a citizen of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, or Paraguay.

• Enter Brazil through the border crossings of Uruguaiana, Foz do Iguaçu, Santana do Livramento, Chuí, Dionísio Cerqueira, or Paraíso.

Pay with belo in Brazil!

Although practically everything can be paid for with a credit/debit card in Brazil, there is a simpler, cheaper, and safer option that every Argentine can take advantage of with belo. Through the "Pay with Pix" function, you can pay for anything in Brazil directly with pesos or crypto, without the usual surcharges associated with card purchases abroad

To put it to the test, you'll need mobile data and your phone. You have to log in to belo, fund your account, select the "Pay with Pix" option and scan the QR code shown by the seller. They accept it everywhere! On the beach, in restaurants, at gas stations, and even at some toll booths. The recipient receives reais automatically