Epic ExpeditionsLatin AmericaHighlightsJoin the Trans Americas expedition in Tucson and you can still enjoy the best of everything that Latin America has to offer. Ride canyons nestled below alien red mountains, visit the ancient Inca civilization of Machu Picchu, and sip coca tea to the sound of pan pipes in the ancient Inca capital of Cusco. This environment will stop you in your tracks. Ruta 40 and the Argenitine lakes await you and then on to the Land Of Fire - Tierra Del Fuego. Route Map
Is it for me?
Riding ConditionsThis ride covers around 10% of dirt and gravel roads (up to 1,800miles), although as the infrastructure develops, this may reduce in future years. The ride plunges you straight into the chaotic riding of Central America. You should not underestimate being on the road for 14 weeks - this ride is as much about your mental ability to cope with being weary and to pull together in times of unexpected difficulties en route, as it is about being a confident and competent road rider. What's Included?Pre-Expedition:
On the Road:
*For a price including bespoke freight requirements please contact us. Detailed ItineraryWeeks 1 & 2 MEXICOWe enter Latin America through a small border post and spend our first night at Nuevo Casa Grandes, over 100 miles south of the border. Copper Canyon is larger than the Grand Canyon and we follow the narrow road that winds its way through the lush and spectacular scenery to Batopilas. Head for the colonial heartland of Zacatecas, the centre of silver mining production and the tiny cobbled streets and pink cathedral of San Miguel de Allende. Climb high into the steamy cloud forests and tiny mountain villages, before descending to the Caribbean coast and endless miles of deserted beaches. Take a plunge in the ocean for the first time since Alaska! Enter Chiapas Province, once the stronghold of the Zapatista rebels, and visit the breathtaking Mayan ruins of Palenque, before spending our final night in Mexico in another colonial gem, San Cristobal. Week 3 GUATEMALAHead into steamy Guatemala and ride to the small town of Panajachel on the edge of Lake Atitlan, with its stunning volcanic backdrop. Then it’s a short ride into the highlands to visit the famous Indian market at Chichicastenango. Relax for a few nights at the exquisite colonial town of Antigua Guatemala. Dodge the old smoking colourful buses in a hectic ride around Guatemala City to head to the border with Honduras. Week 4 HONDURAS & NICARAGUAVisit the most southern Mayan ruins at Copan. The ride across Honduras takes only a day, but we go off the main Pan American to see local life in smaller villages. In Nicaragua, our first stop is on the main plaza in Granada, where we can sit on the veranda and watch life go by or go boating on Lake Nicaragua. We head to the coast to get our first taste of Pacific beach life and enjoy the best sunsets and fresh lobster. Week 5 COSTA RICA & PANAMAOur penultimate Central American country is Costa Rica. Ride from the palm fringed beaches of the Pacific, past Arenal Volcano to the Caribbean coast for a cocktail on the beach. Stop along the way in the jungle with a chance to walk, raft or zip line through the jungle canopy. Down the coast we cross into Panama on a route used by banana traders since the 1900’s. Ride over the Bridge of the Americas into our first real city since Tucson and prepare the bikes for freight to South America, but not before exploring the old city and seeing the huge container ships pass through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal. Week 6 COLOMBIAWe spend enough time in Bogota for you to collect the bikes, have them serviced and also see some of the city itself. The Gold Museum is a must! As we head to Medellin, be prepared for some of the best mountain riding on the trip. It is ten bends per minute! Ride on through coffee plantations and sugar cane fields and then back to the lush green mountains. Your first experience of riding in the Andes will never be forgotten! We are staying in an old monastery, on a coffee plantation and in sophisticated city hotels. The biggest danger in Colombia will be wanting to stay! Week 7 ECUADORCrossing into Ecuador, we head for the quaint Indian market town of Otovalo. Then it’s a major milestone - The Equator! We can park one wheel in the north and one in the south as we straddle the line with our bikes. Time to explore Quito is followed by two days in the Amazonian Rain Forest, teaming with life. Through to Cuenca we can relax in the thermal pools, before taking a small mountain road to a quiet border and our entry to Peru Weeks 8 & 9 PERUPeru is a contrast to what has gone before and our first day is long desert roads to Chiclayo. Take some time out to visit the Lord of Sipan Museum and learn about the ancient past of this bleak landscape. In the seaside town of Huanchaco, see the traditional fishing methods or explore the adobe ruins of Chan Chan. Travel the tiny dirt road of Canyon del Pato, back into the high Andes. Once south of Lima, it’s the sights that Peru is most famous for. You’ll have time to take a flight over the Nasca Lines, do a day trip to the Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, ride through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, watch condors glide over the Colca Canyon, take a boat out to the reed islands of Uros and stroll through the white city of Arequipa. All this is sandwiched between breathtaking riding on uncongested, high altitude roads, swooping through the peaks of Andes and across the remote altiplano. Weeks 10 & 11 NORTHERN CHILE & ARGENTINATake the Pacific coastal road, skimming the sides of sand dunes and hovering above the ocean. Then head inland to cross the vast expanse of the driest desert in the world, the Atacama. Ride through the Valley of the Moon and pause for wonder on the expansive natural Salt Flats. Settle down to enjoy your first juicy Argentine steak with a glass of full bodied red wine. Enjoy good mountain tracks through red rocks and canyons and ride in the shadow of Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak. Return to Chile and its modern, bustling, cosmopolitan capital, Santiago with time to explore and to prepare the bikes for the final leg. Weeks 12 & 13 PATAGONIA (CHILE & ARGENTINA)After time to rest in Santiago, and a few days to explore the city, we set off south to the famous Ruta Interlagos and the Chilean Lake District. One of many Andean border crossings between Chile and Argentina, takes us to the beautiful lakeside town of Bariloche. Be prepared to think you are in Switzerland! Cross back to Chile to ride the Carretera Austral, an incredible dirt road nestling between the ocean and the mountains, curling around turquoise lakes, passing jagged hanging glaciers and sparkling waterfalls. Stay in the old wooden houses of the original German settlers and pine cabins by the lakes. This section of riding can be challenging, but the region is pristine and stunning. Then it’s the most infamous road in South America - Ruta 40. A gravel road through the heart of Patagonia where the strong crosswinds can battle you for the bike! We rest overnight at a traditional estancia and dine on fresh racked roast lamb. In El Calafate, we divert from the main route to visit the immense ice colossus of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Again, it’s back to Chile to see the soaring granite peaks in Torres del Paine National Park, yet another World Heritage Listed sight. Week 14 TIERRA DEL FUEGOThe ferry, crossing the Magellan Straits to Tierra del Fuego, steams back and forth without respite. We cross from Chile back to Argentina amidst reminders and memorials to the Falklands War. Then all too soon, you’ll ride the final pass – The Garibaldi, before dropping into Ushuaia on the Beagle Channel. It’s straight to the Tierra del Fuego National Park and the “End of the Road” sign. Congratulations! You are one of a tiny handful of riders to have ridden to the most southerly point accessible by road. Time to celebrate! Week 15 ARGENTINATurning north, we re-trace our tracks across the island back to the Argentine mainland and begin our ride on the Atlantic coast road to Buenos Aires. En route, we stop on the Peninsula Valdez, famous for its wildlife to see penguins, sea lions and maybe even whales, as well as visiting old Welsh settlements for tea. Our final nights are across the Pampas, so watch out for the gauchos. In Buenos Aires, it’s a night out at the most famous tango bar in the city, before we take or bikes to the docks for freight and fly home. Expedition PreviewLatin America Playlist from our Official YouTube Channel. Dates & Prices
Useful InformationWeather InformationThe Expedition is run at the optimum time for the best weather possible. However, given we are travelling over two continents, there are some sections of the trip which will not have the best weather conditions. When we arrive in Ushuaia in December - it is their summer - but it is so far south, that summer can still mean snow. You also need to note that we travel through Central America in their rainy season, which does mean a high chance of torrential tropical rains somewhere along this route. The bottom line is that on this trip, it is possible to experience every weather condition - from below freezing to above 45 degrees centigrade heat, from baked searing deserts to flooded Panamanian streets. So be prepared! Visas InformationUK Citizens will require a USA visa in advance unless they purchase a return or onward tickets flying out of the USA beyond Mexico or Canada. No other visas are needed in advance of travel. Other nationalities should check their own requirements, which may be different. Travel Health InformationYou must visit your GP or a specialised travel clinic to get advice on the recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures needed for the countries on this trip. As background, the websites listed below may prove useful.
Foreign Exchange InformationThe base currency for this trip is the US Dollar. The US Dollar is readily exchangeable for the local currencies. The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange. Frequently Asked QuestionsTerms and Conditions of Booking |
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