Frequently Asked Questions

Will I receive all the local currency?
In every city where we will spend the night, there is the opportunity to stock up on cash in the national currency. However, it is advisable to obtain supplies already in your home country with some cash in any required currency and to be equipped so already connected directly at the border with the matching money.

What about the health benefit plan? Do I need special vaccinations?
In none of the countries visited special vaccinations are required. We recommend you to be guided by the medical notes of the Foreign Office.

Altitude sickness
During this trip you will reach a maximum high around the 2,500 meters. Normally at 3,000 meters symptoms of altitude sickness will start. So during this trip you will not have any problems with the altitude.

Can we participate more than two team members?
Of course, it is also possible with more than two persons to form a team. We have provided a minimum of two people, because the long distances are too strenuous for a single person. The maximum number of team members only depends on the amount of seats in your car. For additional participants incur extra costs for accommodation, flights, transfers and meals. Please contact our team for more information.

Can team members be replaced?
Yes, this is possible. If the vehicle owner (also during the tour) exchanged, then you need to make sure that the new team members were previously registered with us.

Is it possible to arrive earlier or extend your trip?
This is of course possible. Sapa Pana Travel will provide you any individual deals on the days before and after the tour and also for the holidays together. Please contact us if you are interested in an adapted program.

Do I need a visa?
EU citizens do not need visas for the countries we are going to visit. You only need a passport that is valid for at least six months after return.

Which documents do I need?
You need a passport that is valid at least six months after returning, your national driving license and international driver's license, (travel) insurance documents. For the vehicles you need the valid insurance papers, the registration certificate and a Carnet de Passage. The Carnet de Passage can be requested through the ADAC in Munich. For questions about obtaining the documents we can help you.

How should I prepare my vehicle?
You must ensure that your car is in good condition. A couple of months before the tour we will organise a event day on which your car will be checked by our mechanics. Our mechanic team is equipped with mechanical precision parts, the main tools and the necessary know-how to help you. The team cannot bring any spare parts due to the large range of vehicles though. Therefore, you must provide spare parts and type-specific tools for your vehicle yourself. If the vehicle cannot be repaired immediately, then we trail you to the next town, where we find help. If you are more than a day behind schedule, the tour for this period is initially without you. In this case, you need to pay accommodation costs and additional costs incurred itself. Once you catch the tour group again, the journey continues as planned. However, in our previous trips we didn’t have a team that had not reached its goal for the day. There is always a solution!

How long is my car gone?
It takes four weeks to ship vehicles to and from Central America. This means your car is gone four weeks before the trip and comes four weeks after you return to Germany / Netherlands.

Can I ride with a borrowed vehicle?
Generally, it is advisable to drive your own car. If not being driven by your own vehicle, a use permit (power of attorney) the owner is required. The power of attorney must be certified and translated into English, Spanish and Portuguese. Please note that the vehicle must be registered in your name private and not a company name.

How difficult are the driving conditions and road conditions?
The roads used by us are not difficult to navigate, they are all removed and fixed. It can happen that we have to change the route due to construction work and the road conditions are more difficult than expected. Also note that the traffic in South America can not be compared with the German or the traffic in the Netherlands. You should not expect everyone stops at a red light. But do not worry - if you go ahead and are well prepared, you will have a great trip with lots of fun!

Is there enough fuel along the way?
Yes, on this trip, there are gas stations almost everywhere. If this is not the case on certain parts, we will inform you about this in time so that you have the opportunity to take jerry cans with you during that day.

Do we have to drive in column?
No! Before every run the exact route is declared by Leading teams, as well as the departure times of the technical teams. All detailed route information can also be found in the logbook. You just have to make sure that you leave before the technical team, so they can help you in an emergency. During the day you have a lot of freedom, but also the possibility to merge with other teams in a small group. In the evening, all teams can share their experiences and adventures.