Have You Got Your Escape Plan Mapped Out?

Trouble in Venezuela and Columbia can potentially complicate your travel plans, especially from the eastern United States. In a recent post regarding the coming economic downfall, I talked about the limitations of air transportation from the "land of the free" to Santiago. Some of you have mentioned driving down and one person has mentioned taking a sailboat. By looking at the maps below (double click to enlarge) you can visualize just how complicated such a trip would be if Venezuela and Columbia were in turmoil.

Of course a war with Iran (involving Israel) or North Korea might also be quite disruptive for Americans. Either way, (1) driving through nine countries where you have to bribe the cops, then (2) shipping or ferrying your car from where the road is cut in Panama to either Columbia or Ecuador, and (3) finding sufficient gasoline or diesel along the way could be complicated and expensive. A motorcycle trip would probably be more tenable but still not easy. Use the calculator at this post to see how far you are away from Santiago or Iquique, for instance, remembering that the distances shown are air miles. If you are taking surface transportation from the Eastern USA you will have a far longer trek.

Plus, if you are sailing/boating and the Panama Canal is complicated by a conflict with Columbia and Venezuela, just take a look at how far you will be sailing, going above the Caribbean Isles at first and then having to get around Brazil and Cape Horn via the Strait of Magellan! Making it to an island like the Bahamas or in the Caribbean, leaving the boat and catching a flight to Chile via Brazil probably makes more sense, but is still complicated. Unless of course you are wealthy enough to live on the island for a long time without working and already have your money offshore. Just pray that it is not hurricane season up yonder (July through November) when you have to leave.

Waiting it out in Canada is not a great option either, unless you happen to be able to get airline service out of Toronto to Santiago, or to Europe or New Zealand and then find a connecting flight to Chile. (But ask yourself: "If America is in a crisis, how will things be in Europe?") You have no sure bet about getting over the border into Canada during a crisis either. In my view, you should be making some escape plans now in case of an emergency probably via Mexico. The border is long and much of it is unguarded if you need to cross over in Arizona or New Mexico. From within Mexico you will have more travel options both by air and with surface transportation. You should at least be thinking about it.

The problem is that the longer you wait the worse your transportation problem could become. If there really is a crisis, all that you are taking for granted now about airline service, gasoline and diesel supplies, boating without restrictions along the coastline, etc. will be different. Your life would be a lot easier if you had your assets offshore and a place of refuge already purchased in Chile. Have you thought about doing that much?