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Hiring a car for a South American holiday | South America Driving Tips (September 2009)
If you are consider hiring a car for a South American holiday, you would be happy to learn that CarHire4Less operates in the South American countries of Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Uruguay and El Salvador. Our cheap car hire is available in association with Hertz, Europcar, Budget and Alamo. We make hiring a car for a South American holiday very easy. In Brazil, having a driver’s licence from your country of origin is sufficient, but we advise that you also carry a Portuguese translation of your driver’s licence with you. If you want to hire a car in Argentina, Peru or Venezuela, you would have to be able to produce an International Driving Permit. In some cases, authorities may accept a normal driver’s licence, but it is not advisable to take the chance – you are always better off with an International Driving Permit. The continent of South America is far removed from the cultivated driving habits of most Western countries and you need to be vigilant and practice defensive driving. The roads are in generally poor condition in Brazil and there are many accidents. Conditions are even worse in Venezuela, and here you also have to contend with the very high crime rate and the prevalence of Colombian drug gangs, so stay very far away from the border with Colombia. Drivers in both countries drive very aggressively and you are advised to be wide awake and stay well out of harm’s way. Cars claim right of way, not pedestrians, so keep this in mind when on foot! Argentina’s roads are in much better condition, but driving habits are not. The privately managed highways are all tolled. If you are prepared to brave the hostile driving environment on the continent, there is a great deal to see in South America. It is wild, untamed land and awash with natural wonders. Do a lot of research beforehand, buy a good GPS, hire a car and explore the treasures on offer. Brazil is a vast country and cities such as Rio de Janeiro are dazzling and modern, with beautiful beaches, resorts and hotels. Tourists also like to visit the enormous statue of Christ the Redeemer, which stands with arms outstretched, overlooking Rio. Tours of the Amazon are bound to be unforgettable and you simply have to visit the spectacular Iguaçú Falls and Sugar Loaf Mountain. Argentina’s most visited attractions are perhaps its national parks. Los Glaciares National Park covers 6 600 square kilometres along the border with Chile and is famous for its beautiful clear lakes and breathtaking ice fields that hold no fewer than 47 major glaciers. Although not the largest, Moreno glacier is the most spectacular. Venezuela’s natural wonders are also far more impressive than its somewhat drab cities and for the highlight, drive to the North, to the Angel Falls, the highest in the world. For views that will take your breath away, take the cable car up Bolivar Peak in the Sierra Nevada National Park. Use good common sense when driving in South America. Book your rental car ahead of time and plan your route carefully to avoid aimlessly driving around and increasing your odds to be involved in an accident. Drive straight to your destination. Because of the hazardous driving conditions noted, driving at night is not advised. Mexican drivers also do not seem to bother much with using their headlights. There are almost no automatic vehicles in Uruguay; you should be able to drive a car with a manual gearshift! South African drivers may find that they are unusually well prepared for driving in South America, European, Australasian and North American drivers less so. Contact CarHire4Less if you are looking at hiring a car for a South American holiday, so we can set you on your way. |
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