2023 Trans Americas - Alaska to Patagonia

This epic motorcycle tour operates for just over 20 weeks.  It starts in Anchorage, Alaska and ends in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Week 1 – ALASKA
In Anchorage we celebrate the start with a wild salmon or King Crab and shooting guns, Alaskan style! Ride the infamous dirt of the Dalton Highway into the Arctic Circle. Arrive at Prudhoe Bay, the most northerly point accessible by road in the Americas.  Getting to Prudhoe Bay is a massive achievement in its own right! Join the Polar Bear Club and swim in the Arctic Ocean. Turn south down the Alaskan Highway, then take the left turn to Chicken, and ride the incredible Top of the World Highway.

Week 2 – CANADA
The “town” of Boundary marks our entrance to Canada as we head to the frontier town of Dawson City still with its wooden sidewalks, and dirt roads. Pristine turquoise lakes and endless forests line your route through the Yukon. Most riders spot bear and moose from the side of the road.  In British Columbia, we take the peaceful and pretty Stewart Cassiar Highway to Bear Glacier, Stewart and Hyder (the most southerly town in Alaska). If you’ve not seen bears yet, you’ll see them feeding at Fish Creek. Then have your own fresh halibut feast at “The Bus”. If you like dirt roads, there is the optional ride out to a magnificent viewpoint to give you a birds eye view of the massive Salmon Glacier

Week 3 – CANADA
Riding south to Jasper National Park, the scenery continues to be massive vistas of nature at its best – mountains, glaciers and forests. Throughout it all are uncongested beautiful winding roads to enjoy.  We are in the Indian territories of old – visit Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump and learn how generations of Indians hunted and preserved the herds, before relaxing by the lake shore in Waterton National Park.

Week 4 – USA
Glacier National Park and its famous “Going to the Sun” Road will take your breath away as you cross the Continental Divide at Logans Pass. Ride by the bubbling volcanic mud pools and huge herds of bison in Yellowstone National Park.

Onto Buffalo Bill’s home, Cody to see the cowboys of old and marvel at the rodeo antics.  We have three nights here giving your time for an amazing ride out on Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway – the best motorcycle rides in the world? Must come close! An another day to explore the spectacular Buffalo Bill Museum.

Week 5 – USA
Then it’s more of the USA’s spectacular national parks. In Moab, you have the option of riding the dramatic  Shafer Trail, a must for riders who love the unpaved roads. Or head out to see the famous arch in Arches National Park. We have three nights here, so you can do both!  Wind your way through the striking red monoliths of Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley.

We have a night planned on the edge of Grand Canyon (North Rim).  We continue our journey through Zion National Park, before heading into Las Vegas.   We have four nights in Vegas, where we can take the bikes for servicing and new tyres, as well as enjoy the nightlife!

Weeks 6 – MEXICO
Some riders may be joining us in Las Vegas. Head south via Bisbee to enter Mexico 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.

Week 7 – MEXICO
Climb high into the steamy cloud forests and tiny mountain villages, to Las Pozas and the surrealist sculpture garden of Edward James, set in the middle of the jungle.  Then descend 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 8 – GUATEMALA
Head into steamy Guatemala and ride to the small town of Chichicastenango.   Relax for a few nights at the exquisite colonial town of Antigua Guatemala, where we will celebrate Independence Day with the locals. Dodge the old smoking colourful buses in a hectic ride around Guatemala City to head to the border with Honduras.

Week 9 – HONDURAS & NICARAGUA
Visit 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, we stop for a couple of nights on the main plaza in Granada, where we can sit on the veranda and watch life go by or go boating on Lake Nicaragua.

Week 10 – COSTA RICA & PANAMA
Our 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 Las Vegas and prepare the bikes for freight – but not before exploring the old city and seeing the huge container ships pass through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal.

Week 11 – COLOMBIA
We 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!  We head north to Villa de Leyva and Bucaramanga through the Chicamocha Canyon, turning across the flat plains to the UNESCO Listed town of Mompox on the banks of the Magdalena River.  Ride  through coffee plantations and sugar cane fields and through lush green mountains. Your first experience of riding in the Andes will never be forgotten!

Week 12 – COLOMBIA
Our furthest point north in South America will be a two night stop over in Cartagena, on the Caribbean Coast, arguably the best preserved and most picturesque colonial town in South America.  We turn back south and into the mountains for a two night stay in Medellin, former stomping ground of Pablo Escobar.  The road twists and turns the whole way south, where we’ll stay in Salento in the coffee plantation area, and then in a 16th century converted monastery in Popoyan.  The biggest danger in Colombia will be wanting to stay!

Week 13 – ECUADOR
Crossing into Ecuador, we head towards the quaint Indian market town of Otovalo, staying at an historic hacienda. 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 where we have a two night stay.  This is followed by a cracking ride through the heart of the Andes to UNESCO listed Cuenca.  We take a small mountain road towards a quiet border and our entry to Peru.

Week 14 – PERU
Peru is a contrast to what has gone before and you’ll encounter desert!  We head through the Sechura Desert to the city of Trujillo, where you have a day off to head out to the surf beaches at Huanchaco or explore the adobe ruins of Chan Chan. Travel the superb mountain road of Canyon del Pato, back into the high Andes.  We drop back to the coast to visit Chincha in the pisco making region, before heading up into the Andes again, and maybe some of the best roads you’ve ridden to the highland towns of Ayacucho and Abancay.

Week 15 – PERU
It’s a short ride to the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, where you can spend your afternoon exploring the great Inca fortress. We spend two nights here and you have the option take a sight-seeing tour to the ancient Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu.  After, we ride to Cusco, with a free day to explore the city and where we can enjoy a beer at the famous motorcycle adventurers bar, The Norton Rats!  It’s a high altitude ride across the altiplano to Puno on the edge of Lake Titicaca.  You have a free day so you can take a boat out to the reed islands of Uros,  before we take more uncongested roads (well, ok, watch out for llama and alpaca!), to the White City of Arequipa & El Misti Volcano.

Week 16 – NORTHERN CHILE & ARGENTINA
Then over the border into Northern Chile, to Arica, the magnificent Atacama Desert and the stunning and deserted Pacific Coast Road south – superb!  From here, it’s inland to San Pedro de Atacama for a two night stay, with options to ride into the Valley of the Moon, head up to the Tatio Geysers or even do a bit of star gazing at night in the world’s clearest skies!  Ahead waits the mighty Paso de Jama, 4200m high crossing into Argentina, where you can also get to ride on the shimmering salt flats of Salinas Grandes.  Our first night Argentina is at Tilcara, where you can enjoy your first juicy Argentine steak with a glass of Malbec. Our journey south takes us to Cafayate for two nights, at the heart of the high altitude wine region – sipping cold Torrentes wine in the town plaza and watch life go by is a great way to relax on your day off.

Week 17 – NORTHERN ARGENTINA & SANTIAGO, CHILE
A fantastic ride through the Valle del Tafi, with twisty roads through the cloud forest to Catamarca.  A dramatic change in scenery to red rocks and canyons to Villa Union.  Our penultimate night is in Lujan de Cuyo at a small wine lodge, before our ride the next day in the shadow of Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak. Crossing the Andes, we reach Chile’s modern, bustling, cosmopolitan capital, Santiago.  We take our bikes to the freight depot and then enjoy a farewell meal together.

Week 18 – CHILE & ARGENTINA LAKE DISTRICT
After our bikes have been serviced in Santiago, and with a few rest days to explore the city, we set off for the Pacific Coast close to Concepcion.  Then we travel inland to Villarrica, a lovely lakeside spot in the Chilean Lake District. Our road to the border is in the shadow of Volcan Lanin and once in Argentina, we take the Seven Lakes Road for a two night stopover in the beautiful lakeside town of Bariloche.  Be prepared to think you are in Switzerland!

Week 19 – CARRETERA AUSTRAL & RUTA 40
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. Our first night is in the small town of Futaleufu, before riding to the provincial capital of Coyhaique.  This section of riding can be challenging, but the region is pristine and stunning.  We can take a rest at our two night stop close to Puerto Guadal, where you have a free day to chill or take an optional visit to the Marble Caverns.  Then it’s the most infamous road in South America – Ruta 40. A gravel road through the heart of Patagonia where the strong crosswinds will battle you for the bike! In El Calafate, we divert from the main route to visit the immense ice colossus of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Week 20 – TORRES DEL PAINE & TIERRA DEL FUEGO
We return to Chile again to Puerto Natales for two nights, a perfect base to explore the soaring granite peaks in Torres del Paine National Park, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Listed sight.  We will board the ferry, traversing the Magellan Straits to Tierra del Fuego, which 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!  Time to celebrate!

Week 21 – TIERRA DEL FUEGO & PUNTA ARENAS
There are two free days in Ushuaia for you to soak up the atmosphere, before heading back north.  Our final night on Tierra del Fuego is at a remote estancia overlooking Lago Blanco.  It’s a perfect location to reflect on the magnificence of Patagonia.  Our final days ride still has some awesome dirt roads across the island before taking the ferry again and a short ride to Punta Arenas (Chile). We drop of our bikes for freight, have our Farewell Dinner and say our good-byes.

We use 100% hotel accommodation, which is booked in advance. We primarily use good quality 4* and on occasion, 3* hotels.  In bigger cities, this tends to be 4* hotels, sometimes belonging to an international chain; in smaller or more remote places, hotels will be more independent, characterful hotels.  Except in remote locations, almost all hotels we use will have rooms with en suite bathrooms, television, wifi, bar, restaurant and onsite parking.  In warmer climates, hotels generally have swimming pools.  In more remote locations, where choice of accommodation is limited, we aim to use the best available.

We like to favour independent hotels with character where we can.  Here are some typical examples of the types of places we stay:

North America
In the US, we do not use chain economy motels (such as Super 8, Econolodge or Motel 6).  We aim for places that have character and a connection with the local community. So typical examples of where we normally stay are:

• In Cody, we stay in  Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel  where you can sit at the old cherrywood bar, a thank you gift from Queen Victoria to thank Buffalo Bill for bringing his Wild West show to Britain
• In Anchorage, we use the Historic Anchorage Hotel. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places – careful, its supposed to be haunted!
• We love super large pine cabins at Bell 2 Lodge on the Stewart Cassiar Highway in Canada
• And the Ripley Creek Inn in Stewart is stunning –  with its rooms in buildings that originated as prospectors’ cabins, old stores, lodges and even a former brothel!

Mexico & Central America
In this part of the world, many hotels are in keeping with the region.  It could be places with colonial character, or jungle lodges, or even beach cabins, although we kick off in Las Vegas on The Strip and the famous Treasure Island Resort!  But once we head south, things take on a very different feel – here are typical examples of the places we normally stay at:

• In Copan Ruinas, we spend two nights at a small guesthouse ” Casa de Cafe” that serves delicious organic coffee and macadamia nut pancakes on its terrace.
• In Antigua Guatemala, the Hotel Aurora is the oldest guesthouse in the city, built in 1926 by Mariano Castañeda, a local businessman and its beautiful courtyards and enormous rooms make it a perfect spot.
• In Costa Rica, we stay at the wonderful Selva Verde Lodge which began with one woman’s dream of preserving nearly 500 acres of endangered tropical forest and the multitude of species that call it home.

Northern Andes
In this part of the world, accommodation tend to be hotels with colonial character, like old haciendas, converted monasteries or those that typify the places where we stay, such as wine lodges or adobe built rooms. Some of our favourite places to stay are:

• Its great to soak up the history in a converted 17th century colonial mansion in Cusco, just a few minutes walk from the buzz of the main plaza.
• We love to relax at the lakeside hotel in Puno, with a view over Lake Titicaca, and its own private jetty if you wish to take a boat trip to the Uros Islands.
• We have great fun sipping wine at Villa Mansa, a small wine lodge in the foothills of the Andes.
• Another firm favourite is Patios de Cafayate, amidst the vineyards of the winery El Esteco, the original farmstead of this estate founded in 1892.

Patagonia
This part itinerary is primarily through remote locations and the nature of the accommodation will reflect this.   Some places we stay are more basic, than hotels you find in towns and cities.  It may be a pine cabin by a river, bunk rooms on an estancia (local ranch), a simple wooden lodge.  In these places, please don’t expect a television, wifi or even a mobile phone signal – you are hundreds of miles away from anything that can be described genuinely as a town!  Some places do not have single room options.  To give you a flavour for the types of places we do stay at, see our typical examples below

• Terra Luna is a mix of accommodations on the side of Lake General Carrera, you may be in a cabin, a small lodge or even an igloo, all with great views of the water.
• The night before we reach Ushuaia, we stay at Hosteria Kaiken on the banks of Lago Fagnano, with a breathtaking view and time to reflect on the journey.
• On our penultimate night we head inland on Tierra del Fuego to the shores of Lago Blanco and receive a warm welcome from the owners of Hosteria Las Lengas
• Hotel Albatros is our hotel when we reach Ushuaia and we base ourselves here for three nights.  Its a 4* hotel, with great views over the bay, only a few minutes walk to the town centre and secure parking for the bikes.

So in conclusion . . .

We hope that you get a feel for what we offer.  What we don’t promise you is to stop at the best hotel in every town we pull into.  This is not billed as a luxury tour, but we do ensure that you are comfortable, have a clean bed, can get a cold beer and a hot shower.  And remember that sometimes “best in the location” may end up being fairly basic, but this is only on a few remote and “off the beaten track” destinations.

Note for Single Supplement
We draw your attention to the the type of accommodation on the Dalton Highway in Alaska.  In Coldfoot, the accommodation is in portacabin style, with small twin bed rooms and a very small en suite shower room.  In Prudhoe Bay, you must understand that this is a worker’s camp.  Again the accommodation is a portacabin style, with shared bathroom facilities and it may not be possible to have a single room option.  These accommodations are the best (and only) in the area that are able to take our group.  If you book our single room option, we have factored into the price that you may need to share in Prudhoe Bay.

In remote locations in Patagonia, a single room is not always possible, so please note that for this section, there may be up to four nights in this tour where you will not be able to have a single room and also where there are multiple shared rooms (ie three or four riders to a room).  We have already taken this into account in the price for single supplement.

Before you go

• Pre-departure team briefing and ongoing access to the GlobeBusters team for any questions you may have, via additional one-to-one meetings
• GlobeBusters Guidance Handbook with all pre-trip information.
• Assistance with the procurement of visas for each country and provision of Letters of Invitation, if required.
• Daily hard copy route notes with GPS co-ordinates and information about the hotels, the roads and the sights
• Loan SD Card with open source GPS mapping for the region, suitable for Garmin units.

En-Route

• Normally 4* (sometimes 3*) hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, or in remote regions, the best available.
• Accommodation is on a shared bed and breakfast basis (unless single room supplement is paid)
• Local overnight hotel parking charges; parking is at your own risk.
• 20 group evening meals (drinks excluded)
• US National Parks Entry Card
• All en route ferry crossings.

Motorcycle Freight

• Group freight of your motorcycle (including crating, where required, and Customs Clearance) from our UK freight agent to Anchorage (by air) and from Punta Arenas (by sea) to our UK freight agent.
• In transit insurance for your motorcycle, during freight, subject to an excess of £500.
• Freight of your motorcycle between Panama and Colombia

Support Crew

• Motorcycle Expedition Manager to accompany the group.
• Motorcycle Support Rider, where the group is more than 12 riders
• Support Vehicle, equipped with satellite phone, spare fuel, water, tools, selected spare parts and emergency first aid kit, acting as a sweeper vehicle
• Support Driver, with motorcycle mechanical experience and first aid qualifications

Not Included

• Return passenger airline flights or any other travel costs to get to the start and from the finish point for each motorcycle expedition or any internal flights or other travel costs required during the expedition.
• Personal travel, accident and medical insurance,  (covering matters such as medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation, curtailment, loss or damage to property)
• Third party liability or any other motorcycle insurance cover, motorcycle breakdown cover or recovery costs
• Entrance fees to sights and parks, optional excursions or activities, (except where stated)
• Lunches, snacks or evening meals (except where stated). Any meals whilst on board ferries.
• Personal spending money, tips, souvenirs or other extras.
• Personal documentation (eg visas, passport), vaccinations, personal taxes, border crossing fees, motorcycle documentation
• We do not supply riding gear; you must bring your own helmet, jacket, trousers and gloves.
• Costs of motorcycle servicing, additional tyres, motorcycle repair (parts, labour or other related costs), spares, transportation to take your motorcycle to a workshop.
• Fuel, oil & other motorcycle consumables, toll road fees, traffic fines or other charges relating to breach of the law
• Any travel, subsistence & hotel costs to and from the freight depot when you drop off or collect your motorcycle or to and from any UK briefing meetings.
• Freight of the Participant’s motorcycle back to their home county from a place that is not the official end point.
• Additional transportation of you or your motorcycle en route where the Participant or their motorcycle cannot continue beyond the short and temporary assistance offered by GlobeBusters Support Vehicle.
• Transfers to and from the airport at the start and end of the trip.
• Any other item not specifically included in the price.

Please also refer to our Booking Conditions

Flights

For clarity, we do not include your passenger flights.  Once we have confirmed that this tour is a guaranteed departure, it is your responsibility to organise your own flights to and from the start and end point.

You should to book an outward flight to our start point, Anchorage, Alaska to arrive on 22 July 2021.  The earliest leave date is any time on 10 December 2021 from Punta Arenas, Chile.  Only book your flights once we have confirmed that your motorcycle expedition is a guaranteed departure.  We do not refund flight costs if you have booked flights for a tour that has not been notified as a guaranteed departure.

This trip also has an intermediate flight between Panama and Colombia that you will book and pay for once we are in Panama City. Do not book this in advance.

Should you wish to arrive before the official date or stay after the official end date, please simply request extra nights at the time of booking and we can make the reservation at our group hotel.

We understand that booking a motorcycle expedition is a big commitment both financially and in terms of time and preparation.  Here are some of the most common questions we are asked before riders make a booking.  If you wish to meet with us prior to booking to ask more questions, do not hesitate to contact us and we can set up a one-to-one meeting.  In addition, we hold a Pre-Expedition Meeting for the group at our premises between 3 – 6 months prior to the start of the expedition.

What type of bike do I need?
Our expeditions are designed so that you can use your own motorcycle.  We recommend that you use a dual purpose / adventure style bike.  We support any make and model.  Our Support Crew ride the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro or  Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer.  We also have extensive experience with the BMW GS motorcycle range, having ridden them for over 15 years.  What is important is that you have a reliable and robust bike that you are comfortable riding and has been fully serviced prior to the start and has new tyres.

What riding experience do I need?
This motorcycle expedition is not suitable for novice riders. We generally recommend that you are an experienced motorcyclist, who has ridden overseas before and is used to touring. You will enjoy the experience more if your riding is of an advanced standard and by that we mean you have a good command of slow control (eg you don’t dangle your feet or paddle at slow speeds and can U-turn your bike), you are assertive on the road and have good forward planning and hazard perception, you are able to perform safe and precise overtakes and are able ride to the legal speed limits.  You also need to have some experience of riding your motorcycle on unpaved surfaces such as gravel, and dirt as some of the expedition routes are on these types of roads. In addition, if there any roadworks on our route, normally diversions will be on temporary dirt roads.

Please note that our route covers around 10% of dirt and gravel roads (up to 2,000 miles), although as the infrastructure develops, this may reduce in future years.

It remains your responsibility to ensure your motorcycling skills are up to the requirements for this trip.  If you need to improve your off road riding skills, attending a training school such as Adventure Bike Training www.adventurebiketraining.co.uk, Triumph Adventure Experience https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/adventure-experience or BMW Off Road Skills is highly recommended.

How does motorcycle freight work?
Included in your expedition price is freight to and from the UK, but no matter where you are based in the world, we can facilitate freight of your motorcycle.  Freight outside of the UK may incur additional costs – please ask us for a quote, or you are at liberty to organise your own freight and we will provide you with a price that excludes any motorcycle freight costs.

You must take your motorcycle to the appointed freight depot on the given date.  Our freight agent will crate your motorcycle and do all the necessary documents.  Your motorcycle will be air freighted to Anchorage, Alaska.  At the other end, the GlobeBusters Team facilitate the customs clearance of your motorcycle.  Sometimes you must be physically present for your motorcycle to be cleared; sometimes we can do this on your behalf.  When the trip finishes, you will need to ride your bike to our freight agent, who will road transport and then sea freight your motorcycle back to the original leave point, unless you have made alternative arrangements with us.

What about servicing & tyres?
You must ensure that your motorcycle has had a full service prior to arriving and has new tyres.  Tyre choice is your responsibility but we do discuss what some of the options available at our Pre-Expedition Meeting.

Due to the length of the journey, your motorcycle will need to be serviced en route and have a tyre change.  The service point(s) on this expedition will be in Las Vegas (USA), Bogota (Colombia) and Santiago (Chile), where there are authorised dealers for most brands.  You are responsible for taking your bike to the dealer and the paying for the costs of the service and new tyres directly with the dealer.  Costs of servicing, repairs and new tyres for your motorcycle is not part of your tour price.  However, we assist you in making your service appointment, if required.

Is it difficult to get fuel?
We have never had any issue with finding fuel. In certain regions, once en route, we will warn you in advance of any possible fuel shortages or if there is a route with a key fuel stop, where everyone must fill up with fuel to get to the next destination. It is not necessary to fit any after-market large fuel tank or carry fuel bottles, although some riders chose to do so. Our support vehicle also carries spare fuel for emergencies.

What is the average group size?
Our motorcycle groups are normally between 10 – 20 riders (some with passengers).  Our groups are often very international and whilst the majority of riders come from the UK, we also get riders from USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and so on.  Groups are predominantly solo male riders, but every expedition normally has between one to four couples travelling.

Is this ride suitable for a passenger?
We have had other riders successfully complete this ride with a pillion passenger.  Your passenger needs to also be an experienced tourer, used to long distance riding and riding on unpaved roads. Your passenger must ride the motorcycle each touring day – there is no option to sit in the support vehicle as this is only for participants who are ill or injured, or unless the road conditions are too difficult for a rider and passenger to attempt two-up.

Is there a support vehicle?
All our motorcycle expeditions have a dedicated GlobeBusters Support Vehicle, driven by a GlobeBusters Support Driver.  It is capable of carrying two motorcycles and two passengers.  Our support vehicles carry a satellite phone, mobile phone, medical bag and spinal board, spare fuel, water, tools, some spare parts, some spare tyres.  Our support vehicle provides temporary assistance to you if you have a mechanical problem or have had an accident and are injured or if you are ill.

This is not a luggage vehicle – you must carry your own luggage on your motorcycle. For more information, please see our Support Vehicle section.

Do I have to ride in a group?
No! We do not make you ride in convoy. We offer you the freedom to decide how you would like to ride. We give you a road book, GPS co-ordinates and hotel information. You can use this to self-navigate. If you prefer to ride with our Motorcycle Expedition Leader, then you can do this. Occasionally we will ask you to ride in a group when we are crossing a border or if there is a security issue.

What documents do I need?
You will need your original documents as follows:  Passport (valid for more than 6 months after the end of your trip), Motorcycle Registration Document or Title, Driving Licence of your country of residence, International Driving Permits (1926, 1968 & 1949), minimum 3^rd Party Motorcycle Liability Insurance (where available),  Travel / Medical Insurance Certificate (see below).

You should note that we need to request copies of the above documentation, which we have to send to suppliers who are outside the EU and who do not have the safeguards in place with regard to data protection as we have within the EU. These suppliers are for services such as motorcycle freight, hotels, customs clearance, ferry services.  Please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Do I need visas for travel?
UK Citizens will normally require a USA visa in advance, because we are leaving the USA overland into Mexico and do not have a return flight ticket out of the USA. We recommend each person check out the US requirements for the Visa Waiver Programme and visa requirements for the US to satisfy themselves.  http://www.usembassy.org.uk/

US Citizens currently require a visa for travel to Bolivia and although it is possible to buy a visa at the border, it can cause delays.  Therefore we state that you must take this out in advance of travel.  See information here.

The above information is general information and provided in good faith.  It is your responsibility to have the correct visas in place prior to travel.  Other nationalities should check as to the visa requirements.

Are these countries safe?
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) monitors overseas destinations and provides destination travel advice for UK nationals. GlobeBusters monitors the advice from the FCDO and any decisions taken regarding a Tour’s safety and security will use the vast experience of the company’s 17 years of operating as well as the FCDO advice. In the interests of your safety and security, changes may be made to your Tour based on any FCDO warnings given.

We strongly recommend that you read the information about the country you are planning to visit to be fully informed – each country has a summary and general information as well as advice on safety & security, local laws & customs, entry requirements and health, and road conditions.

There are currently warnings and travel restrictions in place about travel to the countries listed in the itinerary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We assume that by the time of travel these will have been withdrawn.

If you are not a UK national please make sure you have checked your own country’s travel advice for your destination/s: The US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov Canadian Foreign Affairs: www.voyage.gc.ca Australian Government Travel Advice: www.smartraveller.gov.au NZ Government Travel Advice: www.safetravel.govt.nz.

What will the weather be like?
This motorcycle expedition is run at the most optimum time for the best weather possible. However, given we are travelling the length of the planet, there are some sections of the trip which will not have the best weather conditions. We are in the Arctic in July, but it can still be unpredictable and there could be very low temperatures and even snow. Equally, we are in Ushuaia in December – early summer – but it is so far south, that summer can still mean snow.  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!

What about my health when I am abroad?
You need to be physically fit and healthy and also take the necessary health precautions.  It is essential for you to consult your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date medical travel information prior of travel, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. For up-to-date medical advice you may wish to use the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad “MASTA”  https://www.masta-travel-health.com/, the NHS website  http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx  or NaTHNaC https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/.

You will be obliged to disclose any medical condition or medication that you are taking to GlobeBusters in advance and to your Tour Manager at the start of your Tour, for health and safety purposes. We provide you with our Emergency Details Form for this purpose and to collect information about who to contact for you back home in the event of an emergency.

Please note that many countries on this route do not have the same level of medical infrastructure nor consistent medical standards that you may be used to.  In particular, emergency services often may be a long distance away, with no co-ordinated response, or sometimes no medical response available within reasonable times. Please do not book this trip if this unduly concerns you.

First Aid Training
It is not a requirement to be first aid trained to participate in this expedition. However, we do strongly recommend that you consider doing a motorcycle first aid course.  Some sections of this trip are remote and hundreds of miles away from medical treatment.  If you, or a rider you are with, are involved in any accident, whilst not riding with or not close to the support team, having first aid skills may make a significant difference to an injured party.

Altitude
When we ride in South America, you will be in areas of high altitude of up to 3,800m (sleeping and 4,500m (riding).  You must think carefully about how fit you are and whether altitude may be an issue. Some pre-existing medical conditions are known to severely worsen at high altitude and be difficult to adequately treat on the ground, leading to more serious consequences.

Disease from Mosquitos
In tropical countries, mosquitoes can spread diseases such as dengue, malaria, yellow fever and Zika virus. Whilst travelling there are several simple measures you can take to reduce your risk of infections spread by mosquitoes: wear suitable clothing and cover up at times of day when mosquitoes are active and use insect repellent on exposed skin.

Travel / Medical Insurance
It is a condition of you travelling with us that you are adequately insured.  Your insurance policy must cover you for the costs of any medical expenses, medical treatment or repatriation needed, due to injury or illness on this trip, including those that occur whilst motorcycle touring, either as the rider or a passenger.  It is important that your insurance company understands that the MAIN PURPOSE of your trip is motorcycle touring, using your own large capacity cc motorcycle or a rental motorcycle.  Your insurance must cover you for the full duration of the trip and for all countries we travel through.

In addition, we strongly recommend that your insurance policy has cover for loss or damage to your personal belongings, delay at your outward or homeward point of departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation and curtailment.

We also strongly recommend that you take out your travel insurance at the time of booking your trip as cover will commence for pre-departure cancellation from the policy issue date. This will therefore provide cover should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious injury. We do not refund your deposit simply because you failed to take out insurance in sufficient time.

What about local currency?
The base currency for this trip is the US Dollar. The US Dollar is readily exchangeable for the local currencies. When you bring US Dollars, it must be in MINT condition or locals will not readily exchange the notes. The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.

http://www.oanda.com/
http://www.travelex.co.uk/

Minimum Numbers
We require a minimum number of 8 riders on this tour.  If we do not have this number of bookings, then we reserve the right to cancel the tour.