Advice needed pls: RTW starting from america
 

Hi Guys,

I am starting my around the world trip in february/march 2024.
I am from Belgium and i am evaluating the 2 options:
- to start in south America. Patagonia seems to be worth visiting from october to March.So i will have 7-8 Months to ride somewhere else. but no idea to start from ( especially to finish in north america)

- to start from the usa, ride the NA before heading to SA. Again, best place to start from?

I have 2-3 years for this continent.. so timing is not a huge deal here.

Any advice guys?

V!
Yassine

Where to start
 

Shipping cold be one factor.

Shipping to Chile is easier than to Argentina

This company has very good feedback:

https://www.intime-ham.com/en/motorc...alparaiso.html

All work and costs are included in their price.

thx ! i will check this one !

In addition to the ease of shipping/import, think about how much of the east coast of South America you want to do. On the west coast, it is easy to go all the way from Ushuaia to the Darien Gap. On the east coast, getting up into Manaus and through Venezuela, or past Belem into Suriname and Guyanas, is much more of an adventure if possible at all.

So if you don't want to double back, then an option would be to ship to Montevideo, cross overland into Brazil (easier than via ports I believe), do whatever you want in Brazil before going back down into Argentina, Patagonia, and up the Carretera Austral into Bolivia/Peru/Ecuador/etc.

If you are starting in February/March, then you'll need to aim for the southern ports - so Miami probably? If starting in warmer weather, then there are good container shipping options to Halifax. So you can start right on the east coast of Canada and go across, then down into the US as you want. My ideal option there would actually be to take the ferry to Iceland, ride around there, and then put your bike on a ship from Iceland to Halifax (no passenger ferries there unfortunately).

welcome here on the Hubb
 

Hey Yassine,

welcome here on the Hubb. Congratulations on starting your journey around the world soon.

I have ridden around the world from 1999 to 2005 and answering your question, i would start in NA. Why? Because clocks run a lot slower in SA and its easier to slow down then to adapt after a long time in SA to the rush in the US. Hope this makes sense to you.

Dont spend too much money overpreparing and enjoy reading up on the places you want to visit.

Saludos mika :mchappy:

Hi mate,

thx for you answer.
I am thinking more and more then to start from NA then drive south.

lets imagine i want to ship from island to halifax.
- Do you have any contact for the shipping?
- In march it will still be very cold in island, no? haha

Lucky you !

based on your experience, i can leave from end of januray anytime from belgium.
If i start from NA, any advice on where to start from?

I am reading a lot, and the list of places to go is huuuge hahaha
even with my 3 years.. not sure i will have anough hahah

Definitely will not be moto riding weather in March in either Iceland or Canada.

Where to start
 

In the first post was stated start feb-march.
The excluded to start for ex in Canada.
Later you say that you can start whenever.
If you start in summer time in (for us in the north)
Then NA have many pros.

You start getting used to some things.
You start in a country (Canada or US) where you know the language.
Where the culture is similar to Europe.
The infrastructure is good.
Shopping malls everywhere. If some equipment is missing. It is just to stop and buy.
No border crossing (Except Canada-USA. Easy one)
You can travel the whole of USA, without border crossing.
And get used to the life on the road.

You take the Spanish and the border crossing in Central America as a later step. And the climate,culture and infrastructure in SA later as next step.

This why I think more people ride from Alaska to Ushuaia than opposite.

Where in NA ? Your choice. I would start in Canada. And after Canada go South. Some supporters of Alaska will disagree.
To ride Dalton Highway to tick that box is not my taste. But will be important to others.
Ride around USA towards Mexico.

Inspiration:

https://www.loispryce.com/books/lois-on-the-loose/

Hello

2-3 years for north and south america?

All you have to consider is climate/weather and the darien gap AND visa depending on your passport.
In the far north and south you have winter, in between rain season that can destroy roads and bridges.

For a generell overview try this tool, it's in german but you can translate in your browser:
https://weltreise-info.de/route/reisezeiten.html
Example:
https://weltreise-info.de/route/reis...ar-n,ar-c,pata

2011 I shipped with InTime Bremerhaven-Halifax with Ro-Ro Ferry and started in june with the Labrador Hwy.
https://www.walleniuswilhelmsen.com/ has Ro-Ro along north to south america.
I would do it again the same way, you can ship to the south of the USA and start in january/february, keep in mind the time it takes to ship, so hurry up.

Starting in the "expensive" part of your route is easier, your budget is loaded and spending money doesn't hurt as much as if you come after 2 years in latin america to the USA.

Forget Iceland on this trip !!!
Top season for Iceland is end of june-august (highland routes open), you can get there easy for good money via ferry from Denmark.

If you ship to Iceland and then to north america you pay for two shippings that are not on the main "motorcycle"-shipping routes, so probably more expensive.

sushi

I start my RTW trip from Toronto at the end of May 24… I head South into the US, across to Denver then take the continental divide trail up to Canada. Across to Vancouver then North from there then I’ll head South back into the US.

I’m no expert and hope I manage to chase the seasons to make to most of the warmer weather in the North.

Like you I’ve no real time limits other than funds so I’ll be wild camping as much as possible and camp cooking.

Good luck..