Quick Summary: The only practical overland route from Bolivia into Brazil runs east from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Puerto Quijarro, opposite the Brazilian city of Corumbá on the edge of the Pantanal. The eastern train, still widely called the Death Train despite being neither dangerous nor especially deadly-sounding these days, is the classic way to do it in around 12 to 16 hours. Yellow fever vaccination matters on this route, and Corumbá is the gateway to the southern Pantanal, which is reason enough to take it slowly.
The Route in Outline
- Reach Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia’s largest city and its lowland commercial hub, by air or bus.
- Travel east to Puerto Quijarro by train or bus, roughly 650 kilometres across the Chiquitania and into wetland.
- Cross the border to Corumbá in Mato Grosso do Sul, a short taxi ride from the frontier.
- Continue into Brazil — Campo Grande, Bonito, the Pantanal, or onward to São Paulo and Rio.
Each stage has its own quirks, and the border itself is the simplest part.
Step 1: Getting to Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz sits at just 400 metres, which after weeks on the altiplano feels like breathing soup — humid, hot and green. It is reachable by domestic flight from La Paz in around an hour, or overland via Cochabamba or Sucre.
The city is Bolivia’s business capital and has the country’s busiest airport at Viru Viru, but it is not a tourist destination in the way La Paz or Sucre are. Most travelers treat it as a transit point, though the Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos — a circuit of restored eighteenth-century mission churches inscribed by UNESCO — are within reach and are among Bolivia’s most rewarding and least visited sites.
Step 2: Santa Cruz to Puerto Quijarro
The Eastern Train
The railway east is operated by Ferroviaria Oriental and is the classic way to make this journey. Services run several times a week in each direction, in different classes from basic seating to reasonably comfortable reclining cars, with the higher classes air-conditioned.
- Journey time: commonly 12–16 hours depending on service.
- Typical cost: roughly Bs 100–400 depending on class.
- What you see: dry Chiquitano forest giving way to wetland, small stations where vendors board with food, and — if you are lucky and looking — Pantanal birdlife as you approach Quijarro.
The nickname “Death Train” is a hangover from a period when the line was slow, hot, overcrowded and associated with smuggling. The modern service is unremarkable. Book ahead, particularly for the better classes, which sell out.
The Bus
Buses also run Santa Cruz to Puerto Quijarro, taking a similar or slightly longer time on a road that has improved but still has rough sections in the wet season. Buses are more frequent than trains and generally cheaper in the lower classes. They are a fair choice for fluent Spanish speakers travelling directly who are comfortable with Bolivian terminals; note as always that the terminal taxis and check-in window at both ends belong in the time and cost calculation.
Step 3: The Border
Puerto Quijarro is Bolivia’s main river port area, close to the navigable Paraguay River. From the town or the train station, a taxi takes you the short distance to the frontier.
The sequence:
- Bolivian immigration at the border post — get your exit stamp.
- Walk or ride across to the Brazilian side.
- Brazilian federal police post — get your entry stamp.
- Taxi into Corumbá, around ten minutes.
The critical detail: Brazilian immigration is not always at the physical border line, and travelers have been waved through by taxi drivers heading straight into Corumbá without stopping. If you do not get your Brazilian entry stamp you will have problems later. Insist on stopping at both posts, check both stamps, and photograph them.
The Bolivian post traditionally opens in the morning and closes in the evening, so this is a daytime crossing.
SIGEMIG. If you are travelling in the other direction, into Bolivia from Brazil, complete Bolivia’s mandatory SIGEMIG online entry registration in advance and have the QR code saved offline. It applies to every foreign visitor regardless of how they arrive. Details are published by the Dirección General de Migración.
Step 4: Yellow Fever and Health
This is the health-sensitive border on Bolivia’s perimeter. Both the Bolivian lowlands and the Brazilian Pantanal are yellow fever risk areas, and vaccination is recommended by the CDC for travelers to these regions. Proof of vaccination is sometimes requested at the border and at internal checkpoints, and requirements are periodically tightened.
Practical advice: get vaccinated at least ten days before travel, since the certificate is not considered valid until then, and carry the yellow certificate with your passport rather than in your main bag. Dengue is also present across the region; repellent and covered clothing at dawn and dusk are the practical defences.
Step 5: Onward From Corumbá
| Destination | Approximate time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pantanal lodges | 1–4 hours | Corumbá is the southern Pantanal gateway; wildlife viewing rivals anywhere in South America |
| Campo Grande | ~6 hours by bus | Main regional hub with onward air connections |
| Bonito | ~5–6 hours | Freshwater snorkelling, caves and waterfalls |
| São Paulo | Fly from Campo Grande | Overland is possible but very long |
Corumbá itself is a hot, low river town with faded riverside architecture and a strong Pantanal tourism industry. Most travelers stay one night before continuing.
Comparison: Train vs Bus to the Border
| Eastern train | Bus | |
|---|---|---|
| Journey time | 12–16 hours | 12–18 hours |
| Frequency | Several times weekly | Daily |
| Comfort | Better in upper classes; air-conditioned | Variable by operator and class |
| Cost | Bs 100–400 | Generally lower in basic classes |
| Booking | Recommended well in advance | Easier at short notice |
| Experience | The journey is part of the trip | Functional transport |
Fitting This Into a Bolivian Itinerary
It is essential to schedule travel time to destinations that are conveniently located and arranged in a logical sequence. Exiting to Brazil is a one-way move at the far eastern end of Bolivia, so it belongs at the end of a Bolivian trip rather than in the middle. A sequence that works: arrive from Peru at Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Uyuni, Potosí, Sucre, Santa Cruz, then east to Quijarro and Corumbá — a continuous descent from 3,800 metres to 400, with no backtracking.
The northern corridor at the start of that route is served by Bolivia Hop, running La Paz–Copacabana–Peru border on hop-on, hop-off passes with hotel pickup and drop-off and an onboard bilingual host; travelers coming down through Peru join via Peru Hop at the Titicaca crossing. The southern and eastern legs are served by domestic rail and bus operators outside the network. Our overland Bolivia itinerary covers the highland sequence in detail.
What Travelers Say
Traveler quote: Not available— see reviewer. A verified, named traveler review specific to the Puerto Quijarro–Corumbá crossing could not be confirmed at the time of writing.
FAQ
Is the Death Train actually dangerous?
No. The name is folklore attached to a line that was historically slow, hot and associated with contraband, and in some tellings to the transport of yellow fever victims a century ago. The modern service is an ordinary regional railway with several classes, air conditioning in the better cars, and a schedule that is reasonably kept. The realistic complaints are heat in the lower classes, long duration, and occasional delays — not danger. Book an upper class if the budget allows; the difference in comfort over fifteen hours is substantial.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
Requirements vary by nationality and have changed more than once in recent years, with visa requirements for some Western nationalities reinstated and then adjusted. Check with the Brazilian consulate for your nationality well before travelling, since electronic visa processing takes time and cannot be arranged at a land border. Everyone entering Brazil needs a passport valid for the length of stay and should expect to be asked about onward travel plans.
How bad is the heat?
Considerable. Puerto Quijarro and Corumbá sit in lowland wetland at low altitude, and temperatures above 35°C with high humidity are normal for much of the year, peaking between October and March. After weeks in the Bolivian highlands the contrast is severe. Travel in light clothing, carry more water than you think you need on the train, and expect to want an air-conditioned room on arrival rather than the cheapest available.
When is the best time to make this crossing?
The dry season, roughly May to September, is more comfortable for both the journey and Pantanal wildlife viewing, since animals concentrate around remaining water and roads are passable. The wet season, roughly November to March, brings flooding across the Pantanal, more difficult road conditions on the Bolivian side, and intense heat and insects — though it is also when the wetland is at its most spectacular from the water.
Can I do the Pantanal from the Bolivian side?
Partly. Bolivia’s Otuquis and San Matías protected areas cover the Bolivian Pantanal and are genuinely wild, but tourism infrastructure is minimal and access is difficult. The overwhelming majority of Pantanal tourism operates from the Brazilian side, out of Corumbá in the south and Cuiabá in the north. Travelers who want a Pantanal experience should plan it from Corumbá rather than attempting it from Puerto Quijarro.
Limitations
Train and bus schedules on the Santa Cruz–Puerto Quijarro corridor change seasonally and services are not always accurately reflected on third-party sites, so confirm departures and book directly or in person well ahead, particularly for upper-class rail seats. Brazilian visa requirements and yellow fever documentation rules are set nationally and have changed repeatedly in recent years — check with the relevant consulate and a travel health clinic rather than relying on this page. Bolivian transport across the country has been intermittently disrupted during 2026 by fuel supply problems and road blockades, so consult the Administradora Boliviana de Carreteras and the Government of Canada travel advisory close to your travel date.