RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Long distance buses will operate again between the neighboring countries, with Paraguay as the first nation authorized to be visited by Argentines, according to a bilateral agreement between the two governments.
On Wednesday, November 17, the coach service began to operate.
The Argentine Ministry of Transportation authorized and enabled the restarting of international land passenger transportation services, with Paraguay as the first country to sign the agreement.
Talks are currently underway with the remaining neighboring countries to resume international bus services suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. As stated by Guerrera’s portfolio, the plan is to “resume services in the coming days” with “greater connectivity.”
These services are aimed at promoting national tourism in order to “substantially boost” the sector, one of the hardest hit during the pandemic and which is now seeking a rapid recovery with the reopening of borders to foreigners and the “Previaje” program to support domestic tourism.
According to the agreement signed by the two countries, services will only be allowed to enter and leave Argentina to and from Paraguay through the authorized safe corridors and in compliance with the health protocols in force.
The control of requirements to prevent infections “will be the responsibility of the operators of international land passenger transportation means” which must, “without exception”, control everything before the beginning of the trip.”
In addition, as indicated in the communiqué issued by the Ministry of Transport, “companies must also collect the locator form of users during the trip” in order to easily track and trace contacts should a positive case of Covid-19 be detected among travelers.
Upon signing the agreement with Paraguay, Minister of Transportation Alexis Guerrera said that the measure is very important for the tourism sector “because it provides land connectivity between both countries” and promotes the industry.
“It is an essential industry to dynamize the economy. We are returning to normality, which was what we were looking for a long time ago and we prepared with great responsibility for this to happen,” Guerrera pointed out.
ALL BUS ROUTES TO PARAGUAY
As of Wednesday, 6 long distance bus companies cover the different routes to Paraguay, using the Posadas – Encarnación border crossing, through the San Roque González de Santa Cruz bridge. The routes are:
From La Plata to Asunción
From Retiro (CABA) to Asunción
From Retiro to Villarica
From Asunción to La Plata
COVID PROTOCOLS FOR TRAVELING BY BUS TO PARAGUAY
Within the framework of the safe corridors authorized and enabled by the national Ministry of Health, anyone wishing to enter the country through any border crossing now opened may do so by proving the following:
- Compliance with the mandatory documentation requirements at the time of entering the country;
- Complete vaccination schedule at least 14 days prior to entering the country;
- Negative PCR test performed in the country of origin up to 72 hours prior to departure;
- Antigen test upon entry, and
- Another negative PCR test between the 5th and 7th day.