Caravana Pan Americana: how to prepare

What you'll need

Big things

$5,000 reserved for repair costs

In the bus:

10 gallons spare gasoline (on the outside of the bus, not inside!)
A complete First Aid kit, including:

water purification tablets
lots of antiseptic cream
lots of bandages
antifungal powder
diarrhea medicine
asprin
alcohol, iodine, or another disinfectant

Insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%Ð35% strength for adults and 6%Ð10% for children.
A bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin. (Bed nets can be purchased in camping or military supply stores.)
A water filtration system. Camping stores usually carry small hand pumps that will remove most impurities from river water. You can get a good system for about US$130.00.
A set of appropriate power adapters.

In you:

Yellow fever vaccine
Hepatitus A and Hepatitus B vaccines
Rabies pre-exposure vaccination
(This is optional. Some doctors recommend it, some don't. Ask your doctor.)
antimalarial drugs
(the CDC provides a special page on malaria in South America)
Typhoid fever vaccine
You probably need a booster for tetanus-diphtheria.
You may require a vaccine for measles. Check with your doctor.

Month-by-month preparations

February

Start an exercise regimen. Being fit and in-shape will help you avoid illness along the way.
Set up a web mail account for communication from the road.
Get your first Hepatitus A vaccine.
Get your first Hepatitus B vaccine.

March

Get your first typhoid fever vaccine. Available typhoid fever vaccines are good for 2-5 years. Typhoid can be fatal, so get vaccinated. Typhoid vaccines come in one-dose or two-dose varieties. The two-dose variety is cheaper. Depending on the vaccine chosen, you'll require 1-5 weeks for the vaccination regimen.
Get your second Hepatitus B vaccine.

April

If necessary, get your second typhoid fever vaccine.

May

June

Get your second typhoid fever vaccine.
Get a booster for tetanus-diphtheria.
(if necessary, but you probably need one.)

July

Get a pre-exposure rabies vaccination. These vaccinations require 3 injections over a 3-4 week period, and must be performed at least one week prior to travel and must be completed before starting to take your antimalarial drugs (see September.) (This is optional. Some doctors recommend it, some don't. Ask your doctor.)
Get a yellow fever vaccination. The yellow fever vaccine is good for 10 years and is recommended by the CDC for travellers over 9 months old travelling in most South American countries. Some countries may also require vaccines, depending on how we travel. Make multiple copies of your Certificate of Vaccination and include them in your paperwork packets.
You should consult with your doctor to see if you require a vaccine for measles.

August

Get an International Driver's License from your local auto club.
Pack your vehicle, and make a detailed list of everything inside for your paperwork packets.
Attach laminated copies of your licence plates to your vehicle, front and back. Hide your original plate(s) inside.
Construct your paperwork packets.
Get your third Hepatitus B vaccine.
Go to the nearest Brasilian embassy or consulate and get a 90-day visa. This is required. Normal processing time is 48 hours. You will need a passport valid for at least 6 months from date of intended arrival, a visa application, a 2"x2" passport photo, and a printout of your itinerary. The U.S. fee is USD$45, and the Canadian fee is USD$40. You may need a yellow fever certificate. Personal checks are not accepted. Visa applications are available via the consulate web site.
Consulate General of Brasil / San Francisco
300 Montgomery St. Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94104
+1 415.981.8170
+1 415.981.3628 fax

brazilsf@pacbell.net
Go to the nearest Venezuelan embassy or consulate and get a tourist visa. This is required for U.S. citizens. (Canadian citizens do not require a visa for tourism.) Normal processing time is 72 hours. You will need a number of items, which may take you up to a week to collect (see the web site for details.) The U.S. fee is USD$30. This must be in the form of a money order. Visa applications are available via the consulate web site. The consulate in San Francisco is open 9am - 3pm.

Consulate General of Venezuela / San Francisco
311 California Street, Suite 620
San Francisco, CA 94104
+1 415.955.1982
+1 415.955.1970 fax

servicios@consuladovenezuelasfo.org

September

Start taking a prescription antimalarial drug in the middle of September. (You must continue this drug until 1 month after you return from the tropics.) Antimalarials include mefloquine, chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine sulfate.