Drivers heading for southern Brazil usually weigh up two crossings on the Uruguay river, and Santo Tomé – São Borja is the northern one. The Puente de la Integración links Santo Tomé, in Argentina’s Corrientes province, with São Borja, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is a smaller crossing than Paso de los Libres, with fewer trucks. Its operating hours and requirements can change, so confirm them before you travel.
What sets it apart
- Controls in one place. The crossing works with an integrated border centre, where the authorities of both countries operate in a single complex. In practice you stop once instead of twice.
- Outside the towns. The bridge is not in the centre of either town and has its own access road.
- Less freight. Truck traffic is lighter than at Paso de los Libres – Uruguaiana, which tends to ease the car queue.
Santo Tomé lies on Ruta Nacional 14, north of Paso de los Libres.
When to choose it
The decision depends on where you are going in Brazil and on how each crossing is on the day. In the summer season many Argentine drivers bound for the beaches of southern Brazil choose it to spread the traffic, which also means it can have a queue of its own on peak days. Before leaving, compare the state of both crossings with the migration or border authority.
The procedure
At an integrated centre the order is the same as at any border, only in one place:
- Exit immigration for the country you are leaving.
- Entry immigration for the other country.
- Customs control of the vehicle and luggage.
Each passenger shows their own valid travel document. Whoever drives carries the vehicle papers and the insurance required by the destination country. With children, look at the rules on permits and authorisations in good time.
Delays
There is no fixed waiting time. Queues grow at the start of January, at the mid-month changeovers, on the return from the holidays and on long weekends in either country. The hour matters too. On a long road trip, reach the crossing with fuel, water and time in hand.
Documents and sources
Requirements depend on each passenger’s nationality. They are confirmed by the national migration authority of Argentina and of Brazil, or by a Brazilian consulate. Our guide to documents to enter Brazil explains the general points.
With a driver
A private transfer carries only your group, with stops on request and a vehicle chosen to fit passengers and luggage. Whether the route is available, and on what exact conditions, is confirmed at booking, and we do not promise a crossing time. The other way to travel without driving is a long-distance bus, if a service runs through here to your destination.