Many people are eager to travel to South America again and are looking for information about when that will be possible. We will try to keep this post updated with the latest information we get from our local operators in each country.
Argentina
As of Friday October 30, Argentina will allow the entry of tourists across its aerial borders with Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia. Uruguayans may also arrive by sea.
The city of Buenos Aires and its surroundings has left the peak of infections behind and continues to move forward with its plan for the gradual reopening of activities in the City. Hotels, bars, shops and restaurants are already operating, and as of Monday October 26, gyms, outdoor swimming pools and craft fairs will be allowed to reopen with the corresponding sanitary protocols.
What you need to know before boarding:
• The measure allows the entry of citizens and foreign residents of neighboring countries, as from 00:00 on Friday 10/30/2020
• Two routes of entry: Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini International Airport and Buquebus Fluvial Terminal, in the City of Buenos Aires.
• Travelers can only visit the City of Buenos Aires.
• Foreigners from neighboring countries who enter the Argentine national territory must present the following at immigrations:
a) An electronic affidavit that must be completed without fail within 48 hours prior to boarding
b) A negative PCR test performed up to 72 hours before arrival.
c) A medical insurance with COVID19 coverage
• The mandatory health security measures in force consisting of social distancing, temperature taking, use of chinstraps and frequent washing hands are still in full force.
AEP (Domestic airport in Buenos Aires) will be closed through November for improvements, so the operation will be moved to EZE (Ezeiza International airport).
Bolivia
Air borders are open for international and domestic transport. All land, river, and lake borders remain closed.
The wearing of face masks in public places is mandatory and social distancing measures must be respected.
Prohibition on private vehicle use between the hours of 00:00 to 05:00 Monday through Sunday.
Commercial activity is prohibited between from 00:00 to 05:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Air borders are open and commercial flights are permitted to operate, though there are no flights yet to Uyuni. Returning Bolivian citizens, residents and foreigners will be permitted to return to the country with no enforced quarantine upon their arrival provided that they submit a valid certification of the PCR test specifically for COVID-19 with a negative result dated within seven days of the return flight.
Our operator ready to receive the first visitors to Bolivia, having already been approved by the WTTC and having their bio-safety protocols’ manual ready.
Brazil
Brazil opened it’s borders to all tourists on July 30, 2020. Airports throughout the country will be following health and safety protocols outlined by the World Health Organization. New coronavirus cases have been dropping since the beginning of August and are now down to about the level they were in mid-June (as of October 30)
- While Brazil has opened its border to visitors traveling by air, U.S. citizens considering international travel should be aware that foreign travelers entering Brazil by air, for a short stay of up to 90 days, must present proof of purchase of health insurance, in English or Portuguese, that is valid in Brazil for the entire period of the trip with minimum coverage of 30,000 Brazilian reais to an airline agent prior to boarding. Failure to provide this could result in the denial of entry by Brazilian authorities.
Please note that while the Brazilian government is requiring proof of health insurance in order to enter the country, Brazilian private hospitals do not often accept foreign health insurance and visitors to Brazil should expect to pay for private hospital services upfront and seek reimbursement from their travel insurance after treatment has finished. - Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? NO
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? YES
- Information regarding visa extensions for residents and/or tourists:
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? NO
- There is no national curfew in place. However some local jurisdictions have and may enact movement restrictions. U.S. citizens should adhere to local laws and regulations at all times, including COVID-19 related restriction orders.
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? NO
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? NO
- The Brazilian government recommends those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to self-quarantine for 15 days.
The domestic airlines such as Gol , Latam and Azul have not yet completely re- established their flight schedule frequency , but each week the amount is increasing .. the domestic air market has an expectation to be having all the flights back by October. But at the moment aprox 50 % is already back. Some destinations are still waiting the return of flights, such as Tefé and Alta Floresta .
In Rio, Sugar Loaf, The Christ Statue at Corcovado Mountain, AquaRio (Rio's aquarium) and Rio Star observation wheel, will return to operation after five months closed due to the pandemic starting from Saturday 15th August 2020. All touristic attractions are adopting high standards of safety measure and protocols to ensure a safe operation. Since the beginning of July, bars and restaurants have been authorized to operate in Rio de Janeiro (city). It reopened its main attractions on August 15th. Access to the sand on the beaches is allowed, but only for exercise and individual sports.
To guarantee everyone's safety at this time, special events will have modifications: The New Year will not have a public presence and will be broadcasted online, to reflect feelings of hope and wishes for a better future. For Carnival, the decision was to postpone the samba school parades.
Paraty and Ilha Grande reopened on August 01st. Access to the island is only through Angra dos Reis, and at the Santa Luzia wharf, the temperature is checked when boarding and disembarking. Búzios reopened on August 01st. To pass the entry barrier, you must present the QR code of a confirmed booking.
Some beaches in Salvador are open from Tuesday to Friday since September 21st. The beaches of Porto, in Barra, Buracão and Paciência, in Rio Vermelho, will remain closed. Restaurants and bars are open since August, with space between tables and a maximum of 6 people per table. Porto Seguro, Arraial d’Ajuda and Trancoso reopened August 7th. The main measures adopted are: temperature measurement upon arrival, visitors can only enter with confirmed bookings, bars and restaurants are open until 10 pm and beach huts until 6pm. Visitors are only allowed to enter Itacaré with a confirmed accommodation reservation. Beach huts and restaurants can receive 50% capacity and operate until 5pm. Chapada Diamantina reopened in October 01st, but there is still no forecast for the reopening of the Chapada Diamantina National Park. It will be necessary to show a negative test for covid-19 done no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba reopened September 3rd. Access is only be allowed to visitors with confirmed bookings. Maraú Peninsula reopened September 01st. Its necessary to show a negative test (PCR or serology) for covid-19 done no more than 72 hours prior to arrival.
Elsewhere in the country, some lodges in the Amazon and Pantanal have opened, as well as facilities elsewhere – all following safety protocols mandated by the government. Conditions in Manaus have improved considerably and are almost normal now. The Brazil side of Iguassu Falls is open, but visitors can’t cross the border to visit the Argentine side of the falls yet.
Fernando de Noronha in this stage is only allowing people who have already been infected and are cured to visit. Visitors will need to send the positive RT-PCR test or the IGG test to departure to the island's administration, attached with the Environmental Preservation Fee (TPA), available online .
In Fortaleza, beach huts, bars and restaurants are open. The village of Jericoacoara reopened August 8th. In this phase, restaurants can open until 6 pm, with 50% of the capacity. Jericoacoara National Park is also open for visitors, following health and safety protocols.
The pousadas and restaurants in Ouro Preto are open. The churches, however, remain closed. A barrier at the entrance to Tiradentes only allows visitors with confirmed bookings to pass through it.
São Paulo: São Paulo (city) its been reopening in stages since June. Bars and restaurants can operate 6 hours a day, until 10 pm. Main attractions remain closed.
Chapada dos Veadeiros reopened on August 18th.
Chile
We are delighted to inform you that as of Nov 23rd, Chile's borders will open to travel! Requirements for non-resident foreigners entering Chile
- All foreign tourists in order to board a plane and arrive to Chile must comply with three requirements: a PCR taken 72 hours before boarding the plane, a mandatory health insurance that covers the associated costs with COVID-19 and their Health Passport that must be completed at www.c19.cl.
- Tourists will not have to be quarantined, but they will be controlled through an application that will monitor them constantly to trace their whereabouts and the presence of any symptom that requires attention. More details about this to be informed once released by local authorities.
- At the moment, only air travel to the Arturo Merino Benitez Airport will be allowed. Land and sea borders will remain closed until health conditions allow their reopening.
- All foreigners entering the country must comply with the country’s sanitary measures such as the use of masks, prohibition of movement in quarantined communes or respect for curfews.
- Please note that if a traveler does not have a valid PCR test, this will have to be done in Chile and thus isolation while waiting for results will be enforced at travelers' expense.
- Flights to Easter Island are suspended until March 31st, 2021.
Colombia
The travelers coming from the following countries are allowed to enter Colombia:
- North America
- United States of America
- Mexico
- Central & South America
- Brazil
- Bolivia
- Ecuador
- Guatemala
- Republica Dominicana
Requirements to enter the country
To enter Colombia you need:
- Download and register on the app "CoronApp-Colombia".
- Fill in an on-line migration form.
- proof of a negative PCR test is no longer required.
Here are the currently most important key points for relaunching tourist activities in Colombia:
- Hotels: After implementing all necessary measures regarding biosecurity protocols and having those checked by the responsible authorities, various hotels are now receiving guests again.
- National Air Traffic:
On the following routes, flights will be available again from September 01st (current status):
Bogotá - Cali – Bogotá
Bogotá - Cartagena – Bogotá
Bogotá - Barranquilla – Bogotá
Bogotá - Pereira – Bogotá
Bogotá - Santa Marta - Bogotá (as of September 07th)
Bogotá - Bucaramanga – Bogotá
Bogotá - Cúcuta – Bogotá
Bogotá - Montería – Bogotá
Bogotá - San Andrés – Bogotá
Bogotá - Medellín – Bogotá
Bogotá - Villavicencio – Bogotá
Bogotá - Pasto – Bogotá
Bogotá - Leticia – Bogotá
Medellín - Barranquilla – Medellín
Medellín - Cali – Medellín
Medellín - San Andrés - Medellín
Flights to La Macarena are not yet enabled. The national parks have not yet announced their openings. Caño Cristales as a national park is still closed. For them everything is still uncertain and complex. Their operation depends on official government permission to open, and to this day there is no authorization for either commercial flights or visits to the Caño Cristales Park.
Biosafety protocols for international flights to Colombia
Travelers must not show any symptoms of illness prior to traveling. They will be monitored upon arrival.
In order to make easier the immigration process, passengers must fill the online form CheckMig (www.migracioncolombia.gov.co) between 1 and 24 hours prior to flight departure and should wear a face mask in airplanes and airports. Within Colombian air terminals, the minimum distance of 2 meters must be respected; on the arrival of a flight, the use of conveyor belts will be maximized; and the access to the airport terminal must be done 3 hours before the international flight.
Some measures on airplanes are: on short flights, toilets should not be used; if the flight is less than two hours, the cabin crew will not perform service on board; on medium and long flights (more than 2 hours) it is recommended to have available several face masks and replace them throughout the flight; and passengers must remain in their assigned seat at all times.
For return flights Covid test depends on the regulation for each country. In the case of the USA this is not a requirement therefore no test is required to return to the USA.
Ecuador
NEW ENTRY PROTOCOLS to visit ECUADOR, approved by the National Government and valid as of Aug. 15, 2020:
Entry requirements to Ecuador Mainland:
- Original passport (valid for at least 6 months).
- Medical and travel insurance (both are expected to become mandatory for the mainland. They are mandatory to go to the Galapagos).
- Negative PCR test result, carried out in your country of origin, up to 10 days before your arrival in Ecuador and without presenting symptoms.
- Present a voucher or invoice that proves that they are entering Ecuador with previously contracted tourist services.
- Present the completed Traveler's Health Card.
- Submit the completed Special Immigration Form.
TRAVELER’S HEALTH CARD
Passengers must fill out and sign, prior to disembarking, the “Traveler’s Health Record,” which will be delivered by the personnel of the Ministry of Public Health.
SPECIAL MIGRATORY FORM
Passengers must sign a letter of commitment (Special Immigration Form), which states that they agree and comply with the general government provisions regarding the mandatory preventative COVID19 quarantine.
PCR TEST
Passengers must present their negative PCR test result, performed up to 10 days before the trip. * In the case that a traveler is presenting symptoms of COVID-19 when entering the country, the Ministry of Public Health will activate the established protocols.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE MANDATORY PREVENTIVE QUARANTINE (APO)
Passengers who do not have a negative PCR test and/or symptoms related to COVID-19 must comply with the APO for a period of 10 days and 9 nights or until they receive a negative test result from a new PCR test. In the case that the passenger continues to show symptoms on the 10th day, they will have to extend their stay for 3 more days. Passengers who enter the country without a PCR test will immediately begin their APO in an authorized accommodation and a PCR test will be performed by a laboratory that has been approved by the Ministry of Public Health, and will comply with the APO until a negative test result is delivered.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
All costs involved in complying with the APO (PCR test performed at the Ecuador airport, transportation, accommodation, food, etc.) will be the responsibility of the passengers.
In case of violation of the APO or providing false information in the "Traveler's File," passengers will be subject to administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions, established in conjunction with the current regulations.
Passengers must keep their travel agent or local operator informed about any conditions and news that may arise upon arrival in the country.
Protocols will be constantly evaluated and may be modified according to the evolution of the health situation in Ecuador.
Before starting the trip to the Galapagos province, national or foreign tourists must have:
- Travelers must present their negative PCR test (physical document) up to 96 hours (4 days) before entering the Galapagos Islands.
- In the event that the PCR test, from the travelers’ country of origin, has passed the date of validity, the passenger must perform a new PCR test. In this case, the passenger must stay in a hotel, either located in Quito or Guayaquil, until they receive the new test result*. We suggest a stay of 3 days and 2 nights in either of the cities mentioned above before planning to fly to the islands
- *If the test result is positive, the passenger will have to quarantine for 10 days and 9 nights in continental Ecuador.
- In the case that the passenger continues to show symptoms on the 10th day, they will have to extend their stay for 3 more days.
- Flight tickets (roundtrip) to the islands
- Passengers must carry their "Health Declaration" form that they filled out upon entering the country.
- Passengers must present a voucher or invoice that proves that they entered Galapagos with contracted tourist services.
- Passengers must have the safe-passage document approved by the Ministry of Tourism, which has been issued by the service operator in Galapagos.
- Transit Control Card issued by operator.
- Galapagos National Park entrance fee must be prepaid operator.
- must have travel and medical insyrance
PROCESS FOR PASSENGERS DEPARTING TO GALAPAGOS FROM QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL AIRPORTS
When disembarking from the aircraft, passengers must cross through the different disinfection points within the airport.
The Ministry of Public Health will take passengers’ temperature before entering the airport. If the passenger has a fever at the airport, isolation protocol will be activated and they will not be able to enter the islands until they are reviewed by a doctor and their entry is approved.
Passengers will pass through immigration control.
Passengers must collect their luggage at the airport.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
- Masks are mandatory.
- Passengers should avoid wearing metal and packing objects that are not allowed in carry-on luggage.
- It is recommended that passengers avoid heavy carry-on luggage. Allowed weight is 5 kg (11 lbs). (subject to change)
- Passengers should have all documents, indicated in the "Requirements for the entry of passengers" section, with them.
- Passengers must comply with the physical distance at all times: at least 2 meters (6 feet).
Important: Passengers must abide by the regulations of the Galapagos National Park, the Galapagos Government Council, the Ministry of Health of Ecuador, and the Airports.
Guyana
Guyana is once again ready to welcome international travellers. Guyana’s international airports reopened to commercial flights on October 12. Eastern Airlines, American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, and Suriname Airways are all currently offering service from the U.S. to Guyana. JetBlue recently launched its new nonstop service between New York (JFK) and Guyana (GEO). Flights will initially operate up to four times weekly. Caribbean Airlines is offering twice weekly flights between Toronto and Guyana with connections available from Trinidad and Barbados. Trans Guyana Airways is also offering service from Barbados and Suriname.
While travelers can visit most parts of the country, non-essential travel into or out of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) is still not yet permitted. (not many tourists go there anyway)
Current entry requirements are:
- Do a molecular biological PCR test within 7 days of travel.
- Your test must be negative. If the test was done within 72 hours of travel, you will not be required to do another test upon arrival.
- If the test was done within 4-7 days of travel, passengers will be retested upon arrival in Guyana. NB. The passenger will bear the cost for the second test:
- A cost of US$85.00 is payable at check-in with partnering airlines.
- If payments are not made during the check-in process with airlines, a cost of US$85.00 or equivalent of G$16,000.00 will be payable upon arrival to Guyana.
- Cash and all major Credit Card are accepted.
- Advance payments can be made using this link https://covidtestingguyana.com/
6. Present your travel documents and negative PCR test result to airline representative at the time of checking in and at boarding and upon arrival in Guyana.
Peru
On October 13, Peru received the Safe Travels seal, the world's first safety and hygiene seal for tourism in the face of COVID-19. The recognition was delivered to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism in Machu Picchu. This is the first international health and safety certificate for world tourism. The “Safe Travels” Seal was created by the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) with the aim of contributing to the responsible and safe reopening of tourism, once it is determined that the appropriate conditions exist.
Beginning on Nov. 1, international flights up to eight hours long will be allowed from 25 cities to Lima, including six in the U.S.: Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Miami, Houston and Atlanta (United States); Mexico City and Cancun (Mexico); La Habana (Cuba), Montego Bay (Jamaica), Punta Cana (Dominican Republic); Cartagena (Colombia), San Jose (Costa Rica), Toronto (Canada); Río , Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Foz de Iguazu and Porto Alegre (Brazil); Buenos Aires, Rosario, Mendoza, Cordoba and Tucuman (Argentina); y San Salvador (El Salvador). These routes are added to the 11 that restarted on Oct. 5, including Guayaquil, La Paz, Quito, Bogotá, Santa Cruz, Cali, Medellín, Panama, Asunción, Montevideo and Santiago.
Machu Picchu opened on Nov. 1 at 30 percent capacity to visitors. Other museums and archaeological sites in the country were reopened in October at 50 percent capacity and with strict biosecurity measures in place. Foreign travelers are allowed to arrive in Peru without quarantine if they have a molecular test (PCR) that indicates they do not have coronavirus. For more information, visit www.peru.travel/en.
-The passengers will be required to have a molecular test certificate no older than one week that ensures that they are not carriers of COVID-19.
-Health protocols are being specified and must be implemented by the airlines.
-The number of flights will be determined by demand and, in other cases, established by the Government for health control issues.
- right now only people from neighboring countries (within a 4 hour flight) are allowed to come.
These conditions may vary and will be confirmed during the following weeks. We will keep you informed about the following government announcements in this regard.
Peruvian authorities have confirmed that the official capacity for Machu Picchu will be 675 people per day. Visitors will be asked to enter in groups composed of a maximum of eight visitors with an official guide, and to comply with minimum social distancing of 1.5 to 2 meters.
The announcement of the reopening of tourist attractions in Cusco adds to the start of operations of museums and archaeological sites in Lima and Lambayeque, also on October 15. Places such as the Túcume Museum (Lambayeque) and the Huaca Rajada Archaeological Complex (Chiclayo), as well as the Real Felipe Fortress and various museums in Lima, can be visited.
Likewise, the Ministry of Tourism reported that it is estimated that Machu Picchu would reopen to the public in November with 30% of its capacity. We will keep you informed about the next government announcements in this regard.
The announcement of the reopening of tourist attractions in Cusco adds to the start of operations of museums and archaeological sites in Lima and Lambayeque, also on October 15. Places such as the Túcume Museum (Lambayeque) and the Huaca Rajada Archaeological Complex (Chiclayo), as well as the Real Felipe Fortress and various museums in Lima, can be visited.
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