Basics - The Rough Guide to Bolivia - page 34

Crossing the Brazilian border
From Brazil, the main entrance point is at Quijarro , in the far east of Bolivia close to the
Brazilian city of Corumbá , which is the main base for visiting the Pantanal region and also
wellconnectedtotherestofthecountry.FromQuijarroyoucantravelto Santa Cruz bytrain
(13hr 30min-18hr 35min). There's another minor land crossing from Brazil in the far east of
Bolivia at San Matías , a day's bus journey from the town of San Ignacio in Chiquitania. You
can also enter Bolivia from Brazil at several points along the northern border in Amazonia,
most notably from Brasiléia to Cobija and Guajarámerim to Guayaramerin .
Crossing the Chilean border
From Chile there are three main routes, all of them passing through spectacular Andean
scenery. You can travel to La Paz by bus along the well-paved road from Arica on the Pacific
Coast via the border crossing of Tambo Quemado ; take the weekly train from Calama in
Chile to Uyuni via Avaroa ; or cross the border at Laguna Verde in the far south of the
Reserva Eduardo Avaroa on a jeep tour organized from the Chilean town of San Pedro de
Atacama , a route which will bring you to Uyuni.
Crossing the Argentinian border
From Argentina there are two straightforward crossings: from La Quiaca in Argentina to
Villazón in the southern Altiplano (see section on Crossing the Argentine border ), from
wherethereareroadandrailconnectionsnorthtoTupiza,UyuniandOruro;andfrom Pocitos
in Argentina to Yacuiba in the Chaco (see section on Crossing the Argentine border ) , from
where you can travel by road and rail north to Santa Cruz or by road west to Tarija. There's
also a minor crossing at Bermejo , south of Tarija.
Crossing the Paraguayan border
In the dry season (May-Sept) you can enter Bolivia on the arduous bus journey from Asun-
ción in the south of Paraguay to Santa Cruz (roughly 1000km/24hr).
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