GT Overlander Blog

Destinations, preparation and overlander life for those who travel overland.

The 3 pillars

All articles

Ruins of the Jesuit mission of Jesús de Tavarangué, in Paraguay, with reddish stone walls, arches and niches, surrounded by lawn under a cloudy sky.

Destinations & Routes

Things to Do in Paraguay Beyond Shopping: 3-Day Road Trip

Paraguay has a waterfall, UNESCO Jesuit ruins and an award-winning crafts town. Here is a 3-day road trip itinerary starting from Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

October 27, 2026

View from inside a car on the road, with Mount Fitz Roy and the snowy peaks of Argentine Patagonia through the windshield

Preparation & Planning

Renting a Car in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay: Border Rules

Documents, deposit, insurance and the IDP you need to rent a car in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, plus how to cross the border legally with a rental car.

October 25, 2026

Old white masonry gas station with a tiled roof, two vintage pumps labeled Super and Premium and an attendant at the door, under a cloudy sky in a small town in Argentina.

Preparation & Planning

Is Gas Cheaper in Argentina Than Brazil? 2026 Fuel Prices

Gas in Argentina now costs more than in Brazil. See the 2026 numbers, diesel grades, ethanol content and how to check fuel prices before you cross the border.

October 22, 2026

International bridge between Brazil and Uruguay, with a stone arch and two towers over the road, cars crossing in the background and a blue sign marking the República Oriental del Uruguay.

Preparation & Planning

Carta Verde Mercosur Car Insurance: Cost and Coverage

Carta Verde Mercosur insurance for Brazilian cars: what it covers, 2026 prices, where to buy it and why it is not valid in Chile. A guide for border crossings.

October 20, 2026

Car with the trunk open and the interior lit up, bedding laid out and a person sitting on the edge, parked at night under a star-filled sky with rock formations in the background.

Overlander Life

Is It Safe to Sleep in Your Car? What Brazilian Law Says

Sleeping in your car isn't illegal in Brazil. Learn what the traffic code says, the real carbon monoxide risk and how to spend the night in your car safely.

October 18, 2026

Close-up of an all-terrain tire resting on a dirt road, showing the tread block pattern and loose gravel in the foreground.

Preparation & Planning

Do You Need a 4x4 for Dirt Roads? What Really Matters

Do you really need a 4x4 for dirt and gravel roads? What matters more: tires, ground clearance, skid plates and breakover angle, plus when 4WD is a must.

October 15, 2026

Red SUV loaded with jerry cans and luggage on the roof rack, parked on the Bolivian altiplano, with a reddish-sloped volcano in the background.

Preparation & Planning

Altitude Sickness on a Road Trip: How to Drive High Safely

How to drive up the Andes without getting altitude sickness: the 500 meter sleeping altitude rule, what doesn't prevent it and the signs it's time to descend.

October 13, 2026

Colonial houses of Ouro Preto spilling down the hillside, with a white chapel with an orange doorway in the foreground and twin-towered churches in the background.

Destinations & Routes

Estrada Real by Car: Caminho Velho Itinerary and Days Needed

Estrada Real road trip on the Caminho Velho, Ouro Preto to Paraty: how many days it takes, the tricky stretches, the passport and the best time to go.

October 11, 2026

Cobblestone street in Purmamarca with musicians playing charango, pan flute and bombo drum, and the Cerro de los Siete Colores in the background.

Destinations & Routes

Quebrada de Humahuaca Road Trip: Itinerary and Altitude

Driving the Quebrada de Humahuaca in your own car: how to climb safely with the altitude, where to get gas, Salinas Grandes, Hornocal and the best time to go.

October 8, 2026

Deteriorated wooden bridge over a muddy river on the BR-319, surrounded by Amazon rainforest vegetation, with fallen logs on the bank.

Destinations & Routes

BR-319 by Car: Manaus to Porto Velho Road Conditions

BR-319 road conditions in 2026: the 405 km dirt middle section, ferry crossings, the dry season window and what to check before driving from Manaus.

October 6, 2026

Ripio road climbing between two rock cuts, with loose gravel filling the whole foreground, a curve sign ahead and a snowy mountain in the background.

Preparation & Planning

What Is Ripio? How to Drive Gravel Roads Safely

Ripio is the loose gravel road of Argentina and Chile. Learn safe speeds, what the law says, the tire pressure debate and where gravel remains today.

October 4, 2026

Well-maintained paved highway curving between reddish rock walls under a blue sky with clouds.

Overlander Life

Is It Safe to Drive in South America? What the Data Says

Is it safe to drive in South America? Homicide and road death data by country, official travel advisories, real scams and what actually lowers your risk.

October 1, 2026

Plan your next trip

Feeling inspired? Download GT and start planning.

Start free