Border crossing Chile/Argentina with a dog via Paso Integracion Austral and San Sebastian

A short report about how Peto - my dog - and me crossed the Chile/Argentina borders to and from Ushuaia.




Vet and Senasa in Comodoro Rivadavia
Veterania Huesos
M-F 1000-1230 and 1600-2030, S 10-1230
Tehuelches 172
S45.83435° W67.47831°

Senasa
M-F 0830 - 1330 (or so)
S45.86322° W67.47430°

Welcome to Argentina and border crossing from Chile to Argentina with a motorcycle/sidecar and a dog (Cardenal Samore)

We crossed the border on Wednesday 20April2016 at Cardenal Samore). The crossing was really easy. At the entry check point I got a piece of paper stating my license plate and how many persons. Then to immigration and customs which both stamped this paper. At the exit check point I gave the stamped paper. Since there were no cues it took about 10minutes including all the photo shootings of the officials and by standers. Nobody cared about Peto.

After some 22km there is the international border and after some additional 18km there was the Argentina checkpoint.

The same procedure. At the entry check point I got a piece of paper stating my license plate and how many persons. Then to immigration and customs which both stamped this paper. The border official (who took some pics of Peto and the sidecar) then told me to go to Senasa office. I gave the SAG papers from Chile, had to pay 65ARS (she accepted also payment in CLP - 3000CLP) as a one-time entrance fee for Peto into Argentina and I was done. They kept the white copy of the SAG paper (BTW: The official SAG paper only stated the rabies vaccination details not the parasites. A clear indication that at the Bolivia/Chile border it was pure harassment because with the same paper I can return to Chile). At the exit check point I gave the paper with all three stamps. Since there were no cues it took about 20minutes including all the photo shootings of the officials and by standers.

No copies needed, no other payments required. Nobody asked for vehicle insurance.

The SAG paper from Chile is valid for 10days to leave Chile and enter Argentina. The re-entry from Argentina to Chile is possible with the same paper within 21days (so no need to go to Senasa in Argentina if you move within this time window).

A multiple entry/re-entry is also possible according to the SAG officer. However it might be that you need more official copies. If you plan to do this then ask for more copies or clarify this upfront with the official (The SAG officer in Osorno did not say anything about more copies even though I told her about my intentions).

Based on other travelers info, the time window is more relaxed in the south and is 30days for in both directions also with the note that you might need an official for each entry to the other country (so get several). However, I could not verify this in person.

SAG office in Osorno: S40.57420° W73.13925, Mackenna 674, Osorno, (64) 2232415, http://www.sag.cl/content/oficina-osorno
There was at least one person who spoke fluent German.

ALWAYS triple check ALL data on the paper (they screwed up my passport number and then Peto's vaccination date!)

Osorno- Peto got new toys - Wolfi got new toys - Shattered dreams

The fixing the starter motor on the R1150GSA continued. Peto got new toys and likes them very much. Shattered dreams and life continues. Look what the campground caretaker did to us...

Limache to Osorno (Chile) and then came the starter motor problem

Yep - another problem and this time with the starter motor. It had made trouble for a while and I thought it would be a good idea to open, check and fix it now (quickly!) so I won't have any more trouble down the road (hopefully)...

Happy Birthday to me and I got a present guess from whom...

Now there is a bit of Chile in FFWD mode and I got one year older but did I get any wiser?

Wildlife at the campground and the bike repair continues...

Dogs, cats, birds, lizards and mice and news on the ball joint bearing, oil filter and more...

One tiny mistake and 2 days more work - gearbox repair on a BMW R1150GSA - part II

Puppy love and sorrow. Murphy's law hit me hard this time but see for yourself...

Waiting for spare parts - great opportunity for gearbox repair on a BMW R1150GSA - part I

It became obvious that I would be here for some time to get my spare part for the front fork. What a great opportunity to figure out whether my gearbox had some issues as well.

Lagunas, Flamingos and another way to enter from Bolivia into Chile with a dog and a sidecar

Beautiful scenery, catastrophic track especially with a broken front fork but nonetheless I found an innovative way to enter Chile ;)

Some more info on crossing the border from Bolivia to Chile with a dog.

Your pet needs to be vaccinated against internal and external parasites (my dog got medicine designed for swines but I only figured that out later)!

Based on my (horrible) experiences here is what I recommend:
1. Your pet needs a health certificate from a vet stating the rabies information (date, vet who gave the shot) and the vaccination for the parasites (date and vet who gave it). Most likely your vet is incompetent so you need to make sure everything is ok, even the tiniest details! This paper is supposed to be valid for 30 days but I would not go beyond 10 days! The parasite treatment and the health certificate together were 80BOB.

2. Besides that you need an export permit for your pet from the Bolivian Senasag. This paper must state the rabies info (date and vet), the parasite info (date and vet) and better put ALL info you have about your dog into THIS paper (like all vaccines with date and name of vet, and whatever else you can imagine). This paper is supposed to be valid for 30 days but I would not go beyond 10 days!

Note that there is only one vet in Potosi who can make this export permit and this vet might be out on an inspection (or coffee). Better reserve time for this! Most likely this vet is incompetent (or lazy) so you need to make sure everything is ok, even the tiniest details!

Senasag Potosi: S19.55927° W65.76094°
(check their webpage http://senasag.gob.bo/ for other locations, there is no Senasag in Uyuni!)
The paper costs 50BOB and you need to pay at the bank and come with the receipt to the Senasag office.

The actual border crossing:
Bolivian side does not care at all about pets going in or out.

The Chile SAG has all the power to let you in or not. They can be very very naughty - a level of naughtiness which I would call arbitrariness as well as abuse of the SAG position (Other traveler's stories confirm that in regards to bringing animal products/souvenirs into Chile). Based on my experience there is no proven recipe for dealing with this. If they do not like you, they do not let you in, so be prepare to get access denied with your pet even though you believe you have all papers correct.

Potentially if you have a SAG paper from Argentina you might be able to compare and get a similar paper from Bolivia (just to be sure).

Which way to go from Bolivia to Chile and then this happened again...

If you thought my misery was over, watch this episode...

Phuck you SAG, Senasag - drama at the border Bolivia to Chile

The beautiful landscape and plenty of shit I had to take while trying to get from Bolivia into Chile with my dog...