Leaving Edmonton, Canada for Ushuaia, Argentina in October

[SilentNoise]

Five of us, including myself, are leaving Edmonton, Canada for Ushuaia, Argentina on our KLRs at the beginning of October. We've got our so-called "non-route" planned, but are not relying on GPS to guide the way (bringing one along, but used mostly just for tracking purposes), because we prefer to have to interact with locals and what not, and as long as we can say, "Are we still going south? OK, cool!", hey, it's all good.

We're leaving Alberta, heading through the States (Montana, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona), do the west coast of Mexico before crossing over to the Yucatan, hitting every country in Central America, ferrying from Panama to Colombia, then down through Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina.

I've been meaning to post up to the HUBB for a while now, and have some spots marked out, but we wanted to see if anyone has any "YOU'VE GOT TO DO THIS" places, roads, experiences, or what have you.

If anyone's interested in following along, or wants to take a look at the idea of the route we're looking at, check out our site. We'll also be posting up during the trip here and there on social media:
Web: The Dirty Canadians | Traveling, adventuring, blogging, and specializing in the ridiculous
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dirtycanadians
Twitter: @DirtyCanadians


Big thanks in advance!

[Rigby]

When in Peru I would recommend riding the 3N rather than the coastal route, 1N. With a few exceptions the 1N is boring and filthy, where as the 3N was an adventure everyday!

Safe travels,

[Tony LEE]

Agreed, the central road along the Andes is never boring. We did a few variations on that including heading up in a half circle to come into MachuPichu region from the north.

All fairly slow going though - as is the route down the bottom of Ecuador through the La Balso border post instead of following the Pan American all the way. Pan American in Peru is straight, flat, boring and incredibly dangerous for bikes because overtaking traffic just overtakes regardless of oncoming traffic and bikers just don't count at all. We only stayed on it for 200km and couldn't wait to get off it and back to the scenic roads.

You will be up at over 3000 metres and up to 5000 metres depending on your route.

Your problem will be to balance sightseeing with the need to keep moving, but you will get plenty of easy riding in Chile unless you choose to take the road down the coast as much a possible in the north. Atacama desert isn't much fun in the hot season while the coast road south of Iquiqui is always nice and cool.

My photo albums of the various stages of our trips might give you a bit of an idea of what to expect, but of course we are in a big camper rather than bikes and speed is rarely in our vocabulary.

Navigate by the seat of your pants if you like - and your Spanish is good enough - but if you have a garmin loaded with free openstreetmaps plus all the database from iOverlander for camping, you WILL have a lot easier time of it.

Our route for the last couple of months since Cusco is at https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php...fillFactor=100

Insurance is mandatory in most countries (but not in Ecuador as it is included in a government scheme introduced early this year) so a bit of research before you hit the road won't go astray

[mollydog]

Wow! What a great trip! You'll have your hands full now and again managing 5 riders. Getting food for 5 can be slow, Hotels may or may not have rooms for you. But often Hotels have "cuartos familiar" (family rooms) ... which are perfect for 5.

I don't know how to use GPS well myself but I see it as a big advantage in places ... like cities. Very handy! Sat pics good when in rural mountain areas on dirt roads.

All on same bike is brilliant. So many KLR's on the road down there ... you may even source parts from abandon KLR's or ones in workshops.

I hope someone in your group speaks good Spanish ... it makes SUCH a difference. If not ... take classes along the way. Mexico (San Cristobal is good),
Antigua or Chela, Guatemala also popular for classes.

October is the PERFECT month to head South ... wish I could be going with you.

[bubbalouiex]

I'm also from Edmonton and rode to Nicaragua 2 years ago and Argentina in 2009.

My 3 recommendations are:
1. Don't cross the Mexico/Guatemala border at La Fronterra (despite Google Maps saying it's possible); you won't get a stamp for Guatemala so you will be there illegally (unless things have changed dramatically in the last 2 years); i had to go to the Belize side to get my passport stamp (pretending I had just arrived in Guat)
2. Go to Semuc Champey in Guatemala (the best place I visited in C. America)...it's so awesome there and definitely off the beaten-path...be careful on the gravel
3. Ruta 40 in Argentina - off the beaten path; really worth it.

[vroom-vroom]

Hi guys! Jalene here...Keith and I are southonabike.com and met you on a ferry ride from Nakusp area in August. We're in Big Bend and trying to decide the route to take through Mexico. Which way did you hear? Any tips?

[ridetheworld]

I couldn't recommend avoiding the 3N in Peru enough, the traffic is utterly horrendous. Peruvian driving is the worst I've seen since India. Try andesbybike.com, which is for bicycles but most of the routes are motorable. I did a lot of their routes and they're all absolutely unreal, certainly forming some of the highlights of 40,000k in South America for me.

[VicMitch]

I met these guys in Chiapas a few weeks ago and they abandoned their plans to go all the way to Argentina. They were going to Tuxtla and turning around due to bike and health issues for a couple of the guys.