Each summer many Argentine families drive to the beaches of southern Brazil, crossing the border in Corrientes or Misiones and carrying on to Rio Grande do Sul or Santa Catarina. For a visitor it is a possible but demanding plan: more than a day at the wheel, with a land border in the middle. This guide sets out the beaches within reach, the crossings, what to prepare and the alternatives to driving yourself.
Which beaches are within reach by road
- Rio Grande do Sul. Torres and Capão da Canoa are the first resorts you come to from the south.
- Santa Catarina. Garopaba and Praia do Rosa, Florianópolis, Bombinhas and Balneário Camboriú. Further to drive, in exchange for warmer water than on the Argentine coast and sheltered bays.
For anywhere further north, flying is nearly always the sensible choice.
The border crossings
- Paso de los Libres – Uruguaiana. The one most used from Buenos Aires. You reach it on Ruta Nacional 14 through the provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes and cross a bridge over the Uruguay river. On the Brazilian side, BR-290 heads towards Porto Alegre and BR-101 runs north along the coast.
- Santo Tomé – São Borja. Also in Corrientes, further north. An alternative when the first is congested.
- Bernardo de Irigoyen – Dionísio Cerqueira. A land border in Misiones, useful if you start from the north-east or combine the trip with Iguazú.
Going through Uruguay is possible too, but it adds a second border. No crossing has a fixed waiting time. Queues are longest in January and on the days when Argentine holiday fortnights begin and end.
What to prepare
- Check documents for every passenger. They depend on nationality and must be confirmed with the official migration authority of each country.
- If minors travel without both parents, find out which authorisation applies to them.
- If you drive, the vehicle’s papers and insurance valid in Brazil are your responsibility. With a hire car, ask the company whether it may leave the country.
- Plan an overnight stop, and expect tolls in both countries.
- Pets have their own health requirements, set by each country.
Alternatives to driving yourself
- Flight. There are flights from Buenos Aires to Florianópolis and other southern cities, with more choice in summer. It is the fastest way by far.
- International bus. Long-distance services run to southern Brazil. It is a long ride, border stop included.
- Private transfer. A vehicle with a driver for your group only, door to door. Whether the route is available, and on what conditions, is confirmed when you book, and we do not promise a crossing time. It suits families and groups with a lot of luggage who would rather not drive for two days. For one or two people, flying usually makes more sense. See transfers to Brazil.