Are you hesitant to travel to Latin America due to safety concerns? It's time to debunk the myths and set the record straight. Contrary to popular belief, traveling to Latin America is safe and highly recommended for adventurous souls seeking enriching experiences.
Latin America is a vibrant and diverse region with abundant natural wonders, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality. From the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru to the pristine beaches of Costa Rica, there is something for every traveler's taste. So, pack your bags and prepare for an unforgettable journey through Latin America.
In this article, we will discuss the safety aspects of traveling to Latin America, debunk common misconceptions, and provide valuable tips for ensuring a secure and enjoyable trip. So, let go of your worries and embrace the wonders that await you in Latin America.
Travel Safe to South America - Covid
Argentina: According to the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, Argentina has one of the world’s strictest travel bans, restricting all international visitors indefinitely. Some international flights have resumed, but they are limited, and only Argentine citizens and foreign residents, along with some essential government workers, are allowed at this time.
COVID-19 Pre-Test for Arrival Required: Yes – proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hrs of arrival (or a doctor’s note documenting no symptoms of COVID-19 issued within 48hrs of arrival).
Assuming No Symptoms, COVID-19 Testing Upon/After Arrival?: Travelers and flight crews may be subject to additional testing upon arrival.
Assuming No Symptoms, Quarantine Required?: Persons authorized to enter the country must complete a mandatory self-quarantine for up to 10 days. Passengers must undertake quarantine in a hotel designated by the government in the capital city. After the full quarantine, passengers can then move about freely and attend business meetings, etc.
Brazil: Brazil has the most coronavirus cases in South America as well as a COVID-19 variant that has caused many countries to ban entry of travelers from Brazil and continues to spike cases to record levels in the country (roughly 2 million monthly cases in both March and April), and many hospitals have been at or close to capacity in recent weeks.
Pre-Approval for Entry Required: Yes
COVID-19 Pre-Testing for Arrival Required: Yes, RT-PCR COVID-19 must be taken within 72 hours prior to boarding the flight. The test must be in English, Portuguese, or Spanish to be accepted upon arrival.
Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Required? No
Assuming No Symptoms, Quarantine Required: No
Colombia: Since Jan. 7, 2021, all travelers to Colombia must show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of their departure flight. Passengers also face health screenings at their point of arrival. If they have been allowed to enter the country without the required PCR test (if they sign an affidavit that they could not obtain a result in the required timeframe), they must test upon arrival and quarantine until getting a negative result. Testing and quarantine upon arrival are mandatory for all travelers who cannot obtain a test before their flights.
Pre-Approval for Entry Required: Yes, a negative PCR COVID-19 test was taken 96 hours before arrival
COVID-19 Pre-Testing for Arrival Required: Yes,
A negative PCR COVID-19 test taken 96 hours before arrival is required
The requirement for a negative test will apply to all incoming international passengers.
Only Colombian citizens, residents, and their families, as well as diplomats, will be allowed to board flights without the test result. Subsequently, they will take a PCR test upon arrival at the airport and self-quarantine until they obtain the results or self-quarantine for 14 days.
Assuming No Symptoms, Quarantine Required: No quarantine is required with a negative test. However, people with symptoms or travelers who refuse to take the COVID-19 test must self-quarantine at home for at least 14 days.
Assuming No Symptoms, COVID-19 Testing Upon/After Arrival: No
Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Required? No
Ecuador: Many countries, including the UK, Brazil, and South Africa, are restricting entry for travelers who have visited a variant virus hotspot. Travelers from neighboring countries may also be restricted.
Quito and Guayaquil airports are open, and airlines must verify that all travelers traveling to Ecuador have a negative test result (or proof of vaccination) before allowing them to board. Rapid Antigen testing may also be conducted upon arrival, and if the test is positive, the traveler will be required to isolate in a government shelter for 10 days. Quarantine is not required as long as the traveler has a negative test result and doesn’t display any symptoms upon arrival.
There are special requirements for the Galapagos Islands, where all travelers (even vaccinated) must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 96 hours upon arrival in the Galapagos; this can be the same test if you are transiting directly to the Galapagos upon arrival in Ecuador and your test is within the required timeframe.
Pre-Approval for Entry Required: No
COVID-19 Pre-Testing for Arrival Required: An antigen or PCR COVID-19 test with a negative result was taken within 72 hours before arrival. From 22 Mar 21, exempt from mainland test requirement with a COVID-19 vaccination card with two doses.
Assuming No Symptoms, COVID-19 Testing Upon/after arrival: Passengers without proof of a negative test will be subject to an antigen test upon arrival and face quarantine for 10 days at a government-regulated hotel or accommodations.
Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Required? No
COVID-19 Vaccine Required: Not required.
Travelers possessing proof of having been inoculated with an entire course of an approved COVID-19 vaccine may enter without a negative PCR test only to mainland airports. Proof of COVID antigen or negative PCR test is still required for SEGS and SEST entry.
Panama: Panama requires travelers to register via an online health affidavit and present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or Antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival. Anyone unable to obtain a negative coronavirus test within that time frame can take a COVID-19 rapid Antigen test at the airport upon arrival (cost: $50). Still, if the result is positive, they must quarantine for 14 days in a hotel.
Effective May 3, 2021, travelers arriving in Panama who have been in or who transited through the United Kingdom, India, South Africa, or any country in South America must provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within the last 48 hours and also undergo molecular testing upon arrival (at their own expense). Passengers who test positive will be transferred directly to a hotel hospital for a 14-day quarantine; those who test negative must undergo a 3-day quarantine at a hotel hospital.
Pre-Approval for Entry Required: Yes.
COVID-19 Pre-Testing for Arrival Required: Yes, PCR or Antigen is taken within 48 hours of arrival time, and it is exempt from a vaccination certificate.
Assuming No Symptoms, COVID-19 Testing Upon/After Arrival: Yes
Assuming No Symptoms, Quarantine Required: Americans who have not traveled outside the USA in the past 14 days could avoid quarantine.
COVID-19 Vaccine Required: Effective 24 May 21, travelers with digital vaccine certificates proving that they have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks before their arrival and who have a negative COVID-test in their IATA Travel Pass will be exempt from further testing requirements at the airport.
Peru: Peru After a prolonged state of emergency, Peru began Phase 4 of its economic reactivation on Oct. 1, 2020, including the resumption of a limited number of international flights. The U.S. Embassy in Peru reports that direct flights from the U.S. have resumed, and Americans are welcome to enter Peru;. However, pre-travel testing is required for all visitors, getting a negative Antigen test result upon arrival is necessary to avoid a 14-day quarantine, regional restrictions are in effect, domestic flights are currently limited and the CDC maintains a Level 4: Very High Level of a COVID-19 health advisory for the country while the State Department’s advisory is Level 4: Do Not Travel.
COVID-19 Pre-Testing for Arrival Required: Yes, PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival
Assuming No Symptoms, COVID-19 Testing Upon/After Arrival: If test negative for COVID-19 on arrival, released from quarantine early.
Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Required?: No
Assuming No Symptoms, Quarantine Required: No
All international travelers entering the country must quarantine for 14 days unless they have a negative result from a COVID-19 antigen test taken upon arrival.
How many tourists visit South America?
Central and North America's biggest advantage over South America is its more developed infrastructure, especially air and ground. Improvements in transportation infrastructure are urgently needed. Public investment in infrastructure is vital, and I'm talking about airports, cruise ports, and secondary airports."
The newspaper Elobservador. cr reported that "... For a country that aims to receive 4 million tourists by 2020, air terminals must expand their capacity and improve the capacity of internal services such as Immigration and Customs."
According to the report prepared by the World Economic Forum, The Dominican Republic is the country that has made the most progress in the region (76 to 73), thanks to a global improvement in 11 aspects. Panama had the most significant decline in the region (35 to 47), with falls in nine pillars, including the area with the most significant drop in inland infrastructure (40 to 53) because of reduced efficiency of land transport (40 to 46) and the inclusion of rail data in which it ranks low (98).
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