Brazil
Visa
Not needed for Dutch passport holders. 90 days maximum stay over an 180 day period, multiple entries add up.
Entry
From Paraguay, Iguaçu border crossing, 2016-07-30
Immigration quick and simple. TIP took about 30 min, because we needed to see people at 3 desks and they were learning how to fill in the documents. No vurther car or paper checks. Note that customs are closed on Sunday.
From Argentina Iguaçu border crossing, 2016-08-03
Straightforward, 5 minutes. No TIP because the old one wasn't cancelled when we left the day before, knowing that we would return soon. We got no 90 days but 87. Apparently the days we already spent in Brazil were subtracted.
From Guyana, Bonfim border crossing, 2016-11-14
Immigration was quick. We were asked how many days we wanted. When we said 60 one of us got it, the other got 26 (90 - the days already spent in Brazil during the last 6 months). We got 60 for the car (same as driver's passport). Customs was not very efficient and took about half an hour.
Exit
To Argentina, Iguaçu border crossing, 2016-08-02
Immigration straightforward. Customs did not want to cancel our TIP, because we planned to return to Brazil the next day.
To French Guiana, Oiapoque border crossing, 2016-10-03
The bridge between both countries that was completed in 2014 still hasn't been opened. Crossing for vehicles is by a boat operated by a private company that can take 8 vehicles and sails once daily , normally at 14:00, not on Sunday. The fee for crossing is between €80 and €200, depending on the number of vehicles crossing. We actually left at 15:30, crossing time was about 30 min. Before you cross you have to get your passport exit stamp from the Federal Police and your TIP exit stamp from Receita Federal. Before you can get on the boat it is checked that you do have the TIP stamp. Getting both stamps, including driving around costed us about an hour. Police is open daily from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. Receita Federal is open Monday to Friday 8:00 to 12:00.
To Peru, Assis Brazil border crossing, 2016-11-21
Procedure was straightforward and took 10 minutes. We only had to wait for customs to return from lunch.
Carnet
Not needed. TIP valid for 90 days.
Insurance
Federacion Patronal Seguros S.A.
Money
ATM's are widely available. We had the best results with Bradesco with our VISA card (BRL 1000 max). Banco do Brasil ATM's refused to dispense at different occasions. The bank independent ATM's found in shops dispend BRL 600 max. only and charge a hefty add-on fee. Furthermore they seem to be more fraud sensitive. Credit cards are wiledy accepted in supermarkets and gas stations. Uplifts are not common.
Diesel
Fuel stations are available in abundance. Most sell Diesel Commun (500 ppm sulphur) and S-10 (10 ppm sulphur).
Corruption
No incidents.
Roads
Generally in good condition, although the relation between importance and quality of the road isn't always clear. We drove the infamous BR-319 in the dry season. It appeared to be better than anticipated. Nearly all bridges had been repaired and the remaining crossings were through a dry river bad without problem. About 400 km of surface is bad: sand, clay, very small pieces of tarmac.
Not needed for Dutch passport holders. 90 days maximum stay over an 180 day period, multiple entries add up.
Entry
From Paraguay, Iguaçu border crossing, 2016-07-30
Immigration quick and simple. TIP took about 30 min, because we needed to see people at 3 desks and they were learning how to fill in the documents. No vurther car or paper checks. Note that customs are closed on Sunday.
From Argentina Iguaçu border crossing, 2016-08-03
Straightforward, 5 minutes. No TIP because the old one wasn't cancelled when we left the day before, knowing that we would return soon. We got no 90 days but 87. Apparently the days we already spent in Brazil were subtracted.
From Guyana, Bonfim border crossing, 2016-11-14
Immigration was quick. We were asked how many days we wanted. When we said 60 one of us got it, the other got 26 (90 - the days already spent in Brazil during the last 6 months). We got 60 for the car (same as driver's passport). Customs was not very efficient and took about half an hour.
Exit
To Argentina, Iguaçu border crossing, 2016-08-02
Immigration straightforward. Customs did not want to cancel our TIP, because we planned to return to Brazil the next day.
To French Guiana, Oiapoque border crossing, 2016-10-03
The bridge between both countries that was completed in 2014 still hasn't been opened. Crossing for vehicles is by a boat operated by a private company that can take 8 vehicles and sails once daily , normally at 14:00, not on Sunday. The fee for crossing is between €80 and €200, depending on the number of vehicles crossing. We actually left at 15:30, crossing time was about 30 min. Before you cross you have to get your passport exit stamp from the Federal Police and your TIP exit stamp from Receita Federal. Before you can get on the boat it is checked that you do have the TIP stamp. Getting both stamps, including driving around costed us about an hour. Police is open daily from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. Receita Federal is open Monday to Friday 8:00 to 12:00.
To Peru, Assis Brazil border crossing, 2016-11-21
Procedure was straightforward and took 10 minutes. We only had to wait for customs to return from lunch.
Carnet
Not needed. TIP valid for 90 days.
Insurance
Federacion Patronal Seguros S.A.
Money
ATM's are widely available. We had the best results with Bradesco with our VISA card (BRL 1000 max). Banco do Brasil ATM's refused to dispense at different occasions. The bank independent ATM's found in shops dispend BRL 600 max. only and charge a hefty add-on fee. Furthermore they seem to be more fraud sensitive. Credit cards are wiledy accepted in supermarkets and gas stations. Uplifts are not common.
Diesel
Fuel stations are available in abundance. Most sell Diesel Commun (500 ppm sulphur) and S-10 (10 ppm sulphur).
Corruption
No incidents.
Roads
Generally in good condition, although the relation between importance and quality of the road isn't always clear. We drove the infamous BR-319 in the dry season. It appeared to be better than anticipated. Nearly all bridges had been repaired and the remaining crossings were through a dry river bad without problem. About 400 km of surface is bad: sand, clay, very small pieces of tarmac.