Planning a Multi-Country Business Trip in Latin America
Coordinate your route by hub airports (Bogotá, Panama City, or São Paulo) to minimize flight backtracking. Schedule meetings Tuesday through Thursday to account for the region's slower-paced travel days and intense traffic congestion in major capitals.
- Map your route by flight hubs. Avoid regional puddle-jumpers between smaller cities. Use Panama City (PTY), Bogotá (BOG), or São Paulo (GRU) as your central hubs. If you are hitting three countries, pick one hub and fly spokes out from there to avoid international security checkpoints for every leg.
- Build in a 'Buffer Day'. Never schedule a business meeting on the same day you fly between countries. Regional flights are prone to delays and frequent strikes. Arrive 24 hours before your first scheduled meeting in a new city.
- Verify local 'business etiquette' timing. Lunch meetings are the standard for high-level business in Latin America, often running from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Do not schedule back-to-back meetings during this window.
- Use ride-sharing for safety and reliability. Download Cabify or Uber in every city. Do not hail street taxis for business travel; they are often unregulated, and business hotels will not take responsibility for them.
- Is it safe to bring a laptop and work in public cafes?
- In major financial districts, yes, but exercise the same caution as you would in any large city. Use a privacy screen and keep your bag on your lap, not the floor.
- How do I handle internet connectivity while traveling between countries?
- Buy an eSIM (like Airalo or Holafly) before you depart. Physical SIM cards are often a hassle to purchase and register in local shops.