Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuega
 

Hey guys! Looking for some South American travel tips.

I'm thinking about doing a trip from Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuega after I finish grad school in a couple years; however, my trip will be during North American Summer and South American winter (May - August).

I'm wondering if travelling in South America, particularly by motorcycle, during those months is possible? Are there areas to avoid? Are those areas places I otherwise would not want to miss?

Any advice/thoughts/suggestions are appreciated.

Route?
 

What's your intended route? Just straight thru Central America then down the Pacific coast to Tierra del Fuego? If so, then Mexico as far as Oaxaca is one weather pattern, Chiapas to Columbia/Equador is another, and Equador to northern Chile another, then Santiago south another...

If you are going into the interior (Andes or Amazon), there is another set of patterns... and Brazil has 3 different zones as you travel north to south....

So.... you have to decide which way you want to go before we can give you advice in THAT area. Where to avoid? That depends where and when. If you are talking politically.... hey, it's South America... ride it out or stay away! :oops2:

Where not to miss, depends on what you are riding... are you a Cruiser or a Crosser? My favorite places are the most isolated.... another could say what to see without leaving the pavement...

So.... It comes down to "Who are you?" and "What do you want out of life?" Once you answer those questions.... (and some of us didn't KNOW that.... it is the reason we TOOK that ride!), then we can begin to help you...

"WHEN" you go should be the RESULT of all those choices... not the {bracket} it has to fit in!

Don't be discouraged... we are not a hostile group... just a passionate one! :D :clap: :D :clap:

Thanks for the response.

Unfortunately, I'm only able to travel during May through August since I'm planning on law school after grad school.

Perhaps I should have been more specific with my questions. I'm more concerned about the climate/weather conditions and their effects on road conditions. I'm not too concerned about political situations, although a lot can change in two years.

I've done long distance riding before. In 2006 I spent 60 days on the road traveling 18,000 miles all over the US and into Alaska (including a trip to Prudhoe Bay). For my next trip I'm pretty much set on riding a KLR.

In general I'm looking for a bit of everything. I'm down for the tourist spots, but prefer to spend my time out in the countryside. I'm definitely interested in some challenges, but I'm also interested in being safe and not reckless (particularly since I'll likely be traveling solo).

When I first began contemplating this trip, I thought about traveling down the Pacific coast in South America to Tierra del Fuego then back north through Brazil. Generally my plan was as follows:

Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Bolivia (especially the Death Road)
Chile/Argentina
Tierra del Fuego
Argentina
Uruguay
Brazil
Boat ride across the Amazon to Manaus
Venezuela

I originally planned on going during South American summer as I figured it to be the best time to accomplish this trip. Perhaps my assumptions reflect my ignorance on South American travel conditions, so please feel free to disabuse me of any incorrect notions. I'm interested in gathering good information so that I can make proper plans.

Like I said, I'm interested in a challenge, but I'm not interested in being reckless. Some of what I'm interested in:

Andes
Death Road in Bolivia (perhaps this doesn't fit with my requirement of not being reckless, but I don't really care. This is something I definitely want to do)
Atacama Desert
Tierra del Fuego
Rio de Janeiro
Amazon

If this is possible during the time frame I'm able to travel (May - August), then great, if not, then I'll find another trip to do. However, this trip is my first choice.

I don't think covering all that ground in 3-4 months is reasonable, and may not be possible. I didn't appreciate the enormity of South America until I went there, either. I think you need half the distance or twice the time, at least. And that's not taking into account cold weather and short days in the south.

Agreed. Four months would be a breakneck pace. I took eight months to ride the San Francisco to TDF circuit ... sure I could have gone faster, but would have missed a lot. Mexico and Central America themselves were terrific and I spent longer there than I figured.

If I had to do it in four months, I'd think about riding fast thru Mexico and Central America and shipping to Ecuador rather than Colombia (though Colombia is great). Then maybe cutting east from Santiago to Buenos Aires and leaving TDF for another ride. Or cutting out Brazil and shipping home from Buenos Aires.

Ah, decisions. Good luck.

Too, too much
 

Too much distance. Can be done, but you will not have time to even take pictures, much less make friends....:(

Break it up in two or three different trips. Store your bike in Lima or Santiago, or BA and come back and continue. KLR is a great bike 'cause you can get to some fantastic places. Plan no more than 400 km/day, and a rest/repair day every third. (AT LEAST!) Plan a whole day JUST to get thru a border, if it comes out quicker, take it as a present!

Now, look at your time and the map and see what you REALLY can do.... It's NOT a race....

Check out this post:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...overview-40104