When making travel plans, many Americans habitually look across the oceans-usually to Europe, Hawaii, or Asia. And when they can't afford to go that far, they often look to places like Florida, the Caribbean, or Mexico for their sunny vacations. But what about South America? There's a vast continent down there with uncountable wonders to offer, yet so few North Americans even think about going.

Travel experts note that this trend is changing. By and large, South America is not the undeveloped, so-called "third-world" place that it was in past decades. These days, many South American countries are quite modern and developed. Their cities are cosmopolitan and safe-even outside of the tourist areas-and their people are extremely warm and welcoming. In recent years, more and more North Americans have been realizing this, and travel to South America is on the verge of a tipping point.

That's why now is the time to go. And as an added bonus, we are connected to South America by land, making this the perfect opportunity for an automotive adventure the likes of which can't be had when you stay in the U.S. or Canada.

Roadblocks

There are two things that prevent many North Americans from driving to South America, but there are solutions:

1. The language barrier: Spanish is the dominant language in most South American countries, with the significant exception of Brazil-by far the largest country (in area and population) on the continent. While it can take a while to master Spanish, a relatively short and cheap course in the language can give you the rudiments you need to make necessary communications along your route. You may encounter people along the way who speak English, but you can't depend on this.

2. The Darien Gap: The Darien Gap is a 200 mile stretch of land between Panama and Colombia where there are no connecting roads. Essentially, this densely rainforested area makes a real dividing line between Central and South America. However, what you can do is ship your car from Christobal, Panama to Cartagena, Venezuela. Research shipping companies in advance, and find one that is cheap and reliable. Then, you'll fly from Christobal to your waiting car in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, there are preliminary plans to make a road through the Darien Gap, so check on the status of these plans when you're preparing for your trip.

Other Important Considerations

Every border crossing will be different, but in general you're going to need a stamp for both your passport and your vehicle. At most places, this simply means stopping and filling out some paperwork to register your vehicle in the next country.

If you're concerned about your safety as you're traveling through these countries, you can visit the U.S. Department of State's website on International Travel for specialized tips. In general, you should be okay as long as you observe the usual best safety practices for traveling.

All in all, you're going to be surprised by how easy it is to drive to South America. If you stay on the major roads, you'll find hotels and restaurants, there will always be gas stations nearby, and the locals will be more than willing to help you should you encounter any trouble along the way.