A Guide to Motorcycle Touring in South America: The Darién Gap, Border Paperwork and the Great Roads

For a motorcycle tour of South America, the first decision is how you and the bike will get there. If you're riding down from North America, there's no road through the Darién Gap. The Pan-American Highway stops at Yaviza, Panama, and starts again at Turbo, Colombia, about 106 km (66 mi) away. That's why riders often send their bikes by cargo ship. Once you're on the continent, every border means temporary import papers for the bike. In the south, Ruta 40 has become a well-known adventure-tourism journey, and the Carretera Austral runs through rural Patagonia.

This guide is part of our motorcycle touring destinations series. It covers the planning decisions for a South America motorcycle trip: crossing the gap, paperwork, routes and seasons. For the southern tip, see our guide to planning a motorcycle trip in Patagonia.

Key takeaways- No road crosses the Darién Gap, and there's no active plan to build one.- Chile admits a foreign private vehicle for as long as the driver is allowed to stay.- Ruta 40 runs about 5,194 km (3,230 mi) down Argentina, and its southern part is now largely paved.- The Carretera Austral runs about 1,240 km (770 mi) from Puerto Montt, with ferry crossings along the way.

Getting there: the Darién Gap

By one definition, the Pan-American Highway starts at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and ends near Ushuaia, Argentina. The road breaks between Panama and Colombia. No road crosses the Darién Gap, and no car ferries have run there for decades. That leaves you three options:

We haven't sourced shipping costs or ports, so we don't quote any. If your trip starts further north, see planning a motorcycle trip in Alaska and planning a Baja motorcycle trip.

Border paperwork for the bike

Every country you enter will want the bike's paperwork. Chile is the one example we've sourced:

• A foreign private vehicle, unless it comes from Argentina or Bolivia, enters under a temporary import document called the TITV (Título de Importación Temporal de Vehículos).
• The vehicle can stay as long as Chilean migration lets the driver stay, counted from the day of entry.
• Carry the vehicle's registration to prove ownership. If you don't own the bike, you need notarized permission from the owner, and the permit then runs for the shorter of the two periods.
• You can apply in advance online with Chile's customs service.

Chile's page doesn't mention insurance, and we couldn't read the equivalent rules for Argentina, Peru, Bolivia or Colombia. Check each country's customs site and your insurer before you cross. These terms were checked in October 2026.

On licenses: AAA issues IDPs for US license holders for $20. It won't issue one more than six months before the trip. We haven't confirmed which South American countries require one.

The long routes

How high Ruta 40 climbs depends on the source. The same reference article gives Abra del Acay as 5,061 m (16,604 ft) in one place and 5,000 m (16,404 ft) in another. Either way, it's very high. Plan for the altitude's effect on you and on the bike.

The paving information is dated. In March 2018 the paved section of the Carretera Austral ended at Villa Cerro Castillo. Check current conditions before you plan gravel days.

When to ride

We haven't sourced climate data for the continent, and it covers everything from the tropics to Patagonia. Plan by region:

• Patagonia (Ruta 40 south, Carretera Austral): see our Patagonia trip guide, linked above.
• The high Andes (northern Ruta 40, Bolivia, Peru): check pass conditions locally before every crossing.

Famous rides for inspiration

In 1952, Che Guevara and Alberto Granado set out across the continent on Granado's 1939 Norton 500. Read about the route in Che Guevara's motorcycle journey across South America. If you're planning something even longer, see how to plan a motorcycle trip around the world.

Gear for heat, cold and altitude

A single trip can include passes around 5,000 m (16,400 ft) as well as long low-level days. Pack layers. Leather Collection's riding gear covers jackets, pants, chaps, vests, gloves and boots in cowhide, hand-stitched and made to order, with custom sizes. Add a waterproof layer and a warm mid-layer for the high passes.

FAQ

Can you ride a motorcycle from North America to South America?

Not by road all the way. The Pan-American Highway breaks at the Darién Gap, between Yaviza in Panama and Turbo in Colombia. Drivers often ship their vehicles across the gap by cargo ship.

How long can I keep my motorcycle in Chile?

For as long as Chilean migration lets you stay, counted from the day you enter.

Which country is best for motorbike riding in South America?

We haven't ridden and compared them, so we don't rank them. Argentina's Ruta 40 and Chile's Carretera Austral are two well-known long routes.