The panamerican highway is an arduous journey of over 14,000 miles across rugged terrain, mountains, snow caps, impassable roads, unpredictable wildlife and security challenges. April 26, 2017 by kikirvadventures, posted in driving in central america, driving in mexico, guatemala, mexico, overlander, pan american highway, travel, solo woman travel, rv camping, living in an rv, motor home living, traveling with pets, pets in mexico, traveling with a cat, uncategorized, van life. Whatever vehicle is sitting in your driveway will take you the entirety of the panamerican highway. The pan american highway continues south on mexican 85, which is a divided limitedaccess highway until just past the village of hualahuises. The road south is my solo bicycle journey along the panamerican highway from the tip of north america to the tip of south america. I drove here with my sister and brotherinlaw from seattle. The pan american highway is an arduous journey of over 14,000 miles across rugged terrain, mountains, snow caps, impassable roads, unpredictable wildlife and security challenges. What are the best makes of vehicles to drive central and. Updated with new photos and more information, this book provides all the information necessary for safe travel by car or recreation vehicle within mexico and central america. A road stretching from north america to south america through 14 countries. Why the panamerican highway is not the adventure you think it is.
A complete guidebook for doityourself planning, preplanning for and driving. Jul 21, 2016 the centennial bridge now forms part of the pan american highway it used to be the bridge of the americas hence the name, i guess, but it is now the centennial bridge which has carries the road to join the continents. The official route of the pan american highway through mexico where it is known as the inter american highway starts at nuevo laredo, tamaulipas opposite laredo, texas and goes south to mexico city along mexican federal highway 85. Cycling from alaska to argentina panamerican highway bike ride.
The book contains five parts and follows yogersts travels southward. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jan 15, 20 braving the pan american highway of death along the roadway in peru, handbuilt memorials to accident victims occur almost as regularly as the kilometer markers themselves. Driving the panamerican highway to mexico and central america. We set out in january 2011 to drive the panamerican highway and concluded our journey after 15 incredible months on the road. Why drive the pan american highway overland the americas. Travel writer tim cahill wrote a book, road fever, about his recordsetting 24day drive from ushuaia in the argentine province of tierra del fuego. It was suggested at the fifth international conference of american states 1923 and supported and financed by the united states during the 1940s and 1950s.
For the north america portion of the route, see panamerican highway north america the project of a panamerican highway began in or before 1923. Possible encounters with danger during the panamerican. Ever since i was a young lad one item i had in my bucket list was to drive the pan american highway from the north end of the highway at lund, b. The centennial bridge now forms part of the panamerican highway it used to be the bridge of the americas hence the name, i guess, but it is now the centennial bridge which has carries the road to join the continents. The highway between david and santiago in panama has been under construction for quite a while.
Apr 05, 2016 at its fullest extent the pan american highway is a network of roads stretching from prudhoe bay, alaska, to ushuaia, argentina, a distance of around 48,000 kilometres 30,000 miles. You can also read back through my 40,000 mile, 22 month adventure. We left a bit over 16 months ago and have driven 26,000 miles to get here in a 97 toyota. Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the kindle edition of this book. The inter american highway crosses a very diverse set of lands and peoples. After we were able to regroup our finances, we set out on april 30, 2017, to complete our road trip of the americas as we drive all the way from colombia to patagonia to the socalled end of the world driving straight through along the pan american highway would be approximately 6,000 miles equivalent to driving from coast to coast in the usa and then back again, though we most. We left a bit over 16 months ago and have driven 26,000 miles to get here in a 97 toyota 4runner. This made for a 3 hour crossing that should have taken less than 2. A complete guidebook for doityourself planning, preplanning for and driving through 1 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. The objective of this trip is identical to those of all my past tripsto enjoy the physical benefits of daily bicycle travel and to experience local culturescommunitesgeography in a way that only cycling affords. As i write this im in a campground in ushuaia, argentina, the southernmost point on the pan am. If thats not enough to convince you then check out. Jan 16, 2017 the guinness book of world records has called the panamerican highway the worlds longest motorable road, but its not really one single road.
Take a big breath now, youre going to need it, then sit. The panamerican highway is a network of roads stretching across the american continents. In canada, no particular road has been officially designated as the pan american highway. Apr, 2019 resources to drive the pan american highway. While it doesnt officially have a route through the u. Dean will pass through some of the most dangerous places in the world in an attempt to break a world record and end the stigma surrounding mental health. Wikioverland, the encyclopedia of overland travel wikioverland is designed to pick up where the traditional guide books leave off for overlanders. A complete guide for doityourself planning and driving through mexico and central america paperback june 1, 1997 by raymond pritchard author, audrey pritchard author 3. The guinness book of world records has called the panamerican highway the worlds longest motorable road, but its not really one single road. Driving the pan american highway from alaska to argentina is probably the most popular overland route in the world, and as such, is very, very achievable for the average person. A panamerican road trip is something a lot of people dream to do, afterall its the longest road in the world and its guaranteed to fill you heart with adventure and you head will the memories that will last a lifetime. Driving the pan american highway to mexico and central america.
Literally you can choose to do the entire drive and never leave pave. Take a big breath now, youre going to need it, then sit yourself down and buckle up, this is one. The main idea was to create a network of wide roads that would connect the major points of interest. Three men and a lone car blaze the pan american highway route down two continents to cape horn. Read the announcement here on the road chose me you can read all about my ongoing adventure, see my photos and watch my videos. It leads through forests and deserts, through jungles and across high mountain passes. This couple quit their jobs to drive the panamerican.
This article describes the pan american highway s routing in south america from north to south. The biggest headacheshassles will be at the borders and figure anywhere from average of 23 hours to a full day getting through immigration and customs. The pan american highway is a series of roads that connect alaska to ushuaia, argentina, stretching at least 19,000 miles or about 30,000km, with the exception of a 100mile gap between panama and colombia known as the darien gap. Long road south, the pan american highway by joseph yogerst published by national geographic in 1999 excellent for city lovers, lots of information about history, culture, architecture, recommendations about little forgotten towns and attractions close to the highway. Wikioverland, the encyclopedia of overland travel the. Driving the pan american highway is probably the most popular overland route in the world. When it finally turned up, i caught a bus up to deadhorse which is on prudhoe bay this was the start point of my cycling from alaska to argentina bike ride, and also the start of the panamerican highway.
We crossed guatemala via ca2 the pacific highway, a newer and straighter road than the old ca1 the pan american highway. This article describes the panamerican highways routing in south america from north to south. Braving the panamerican highway of death along the roadway in peru, handbuilt memorials to accident victims occur almost as regularly as the kilometer markers themselves. The panamerican highway is a series of routes that passes through mexico, guatemala, honduras, nicaragua, costa rica and panama in north america, and colombia, ecuador, peru and chile in south america.
Aug 21, 2015 pan american highway construction posted on august 21, 2015 by kris cunningham the highway between david and santiago in panama has been under construction for quite a while. According to guinness world records, the panamerican highway is. The richardson pan american highway expedition is perhaps one of the greatest automotive stories of all time. After that novelty period, everything became more businesslike. Based on ucf assistant professor eric rutkows book, we learn about the lost road and the relationships, politics and passions that built it. Cycling from alaska to argentina panamerican highway. During that time we lived in one of the original tiny homes, 200 square feet, a 24 pace arrow motorhome. This couple quit their jobs to drive the panamerican highway. The official route of the panamerican highway through mexico where it is known as the interamerican highway starts at nuevo laredo, tamaulipas opposite laredo, texas and goes south to mexico city along mexican federal highway 85. The richardson panamerican highway expedition is perhaps one of the greatest automotive stories of all time.
The 60mile darien gap leaves the panamerican highway. The project of a pan american highway began in or before 1923. Mar 06, 2020 this was the start point of my cycling from alaska to argentina bike ride, and also the start of the pan american highway. Listed in the guinness book of world records as the longest motorable road in the world, the highway officially takes in mexico, guatemala. In scope and magnitude it surpasses those pioneer automobilists that first crossed the united states at the turn of the century. We met in san francisco eight years ago and married there in 20. This is the beginning of an undivided stretch of the pan american highway which parallels then cuts through the sierra madre oriental mountains. Has anyone driven the panam highway from north to south. With almost 3 weeks since our last border crossing, we forgot how tiring and time consuming these days can be, especially in the central american heat. Describe my travels, my adventures may be, from a neutral point of view verily, how can a single white female, first time traveler in the americas, driving an old rv along the pan american highway be neutral. No paperwork is required in advance and many countries are relatively cheap to travel through. For many driving the pan am equals driving from north to south america and does not necessarily mean sticking to the pan american highway.
We set out to chronicle our experiences in a way that that showed the truth behind a crazy idea. Yogerst traveled on and off with national geographic photographers susie post and melissa farlow for several months in 1998 to make this book. According to guinness world records, the pan american highway is the worlds longest motorable road. If thats not enough to convince you then check out 10 reasons to drive the panamerican highway.
Our blog became a space to encourage other travelers, dreamers, adventurers. Sep 23, 2014 encompassing some of the worlds most spectacular landscapes and almost 30,000 miles of open road across north, central and south america, the legendary panamerican highway is the ultimate road trip. According to guinness world records, the panamerican highway is the worlds longest motorable road. The first section from deadhorse back to fairbanks is known as the haul road, and is a notoriously difficult section. It is listed in the guinness book of world records as the longest motorable road in the world. After being inspired by blogs of other travellers who had the driven the pan american highway, we left our jobs in july 2014 to do the same.
The most beautiful, rugged, wild, colourful, rich in ancient cultures group off countries we have ever visited and driving through them only enhanced the experience. December 26, 2016 december 26, 2016 by kikirvadventures, posted in driving in mexico, mexico, travel, solo woman travel, rv camping, living in an rv, motor home living, uncategorized. Facebook groups such as the panamerican travelers association, animal travelers, women overlanding the world women only. At its fullest extent the panamerican highway is a network of roads stretching from prudhoe bay, alaska, to ushuaia, argentina, a distance of around 48,000 kilometres 30,000 miles.
Dan is an outdoor adventure kind of guy who believes dreams are meant to be lived. We crossed guatemala via ca2 the pacific highway, a newer and straighter road than the old ca1 the panamerican highway. I was curious as what drove others to do this trip and i asked opinions on an overlanders forum a couple of months back, and i finally got to put this together in this blog post, which i think will. Apr 07, 2016 days traveling and overlanding on the longest road in the world, the pan american highway. Blog wander south our panamerican highway adventure. To the right and left of the panamericana, drug wars and civil wars are contended, hollywood films produced and. Ca2 is also preferred by commercial traffic, therefore, until the town of escuintla the traffic is really heavy. To the right and left of the pan americana, drug wars and civil wars are contended, hollywood films produced and computer programmes developed. I dont know if this qualifies as a book for the club but it was one that is close to my heart. From monterrey to hualahuises is about 105 km 65 mi. The most beautiful, rugged, wild, colourful, rich in ancient cultures group off countries we have ever visited and.
We set out in january 2011 to drive the pan american highway and concluded our journey after 15 incredible months on the road. The pan american highway is a system of roads measuring about 30,000 km 19,000 mi long that crosses through the entirety of north, central, and south america, with the sole exception of the darien gap. Tagged driving central america, driving south america, mazatlan, mexico, pan american highway, rv living, sinaloa state, woman driving solo leave a comment alamos november 29, 2016 december 26, 2016 by kikirvadventures, posted in driving in mexico, mexico, travel, solo woman travel, rv camping, living in an rv, motor home living, traveling. The united states, the panamerican highway, and the quest to link the americas eric rutkow. Cost to drive pan american highway the road chose me. Searching for lost memories on the panamerican highway bruce. Possible encounters with danger during the panamerican highway sojourn. We could see quite a difference from the last time we went through there.
July 2009 after arriving in fairbanks, alaska, there was a small delay as the airline had lost my luggage. The panamerican highway is a network of roads nearly 48000 kilometres 29800 miles in total length. Ive set out to drive my jeep wrangler 80,000 miles in a circumnavigation of the african continent. Panamerican highway construction the panama adventure. For indepth information and my day to day bike touring blogs, click the link below. Driving the pan american highway in a motorhome from. A complete guide for doityourself planning and driving through mexico and central america pritchard, raymond, pritchard, audrey on. Everything you need to know to successfully get around with a vehicle is included. Nogales spur mexican federal highway 15 from mexico city. As i write this im in a campground in ushuaia, argentina, the southernmost point on the panam. The idea of the panamerican highway emerged at the f. But if youre planning an epic trip specifically to challenge man and machine, the panamerican highway 30,000 miles of road from alaska to.
The panamerican highway route in north america is the portion of a network of roads nearly 48,000 kilometres 30,000 mi in length which travels through the mainland nations of the americas. Encompassing some of the worlds most spectacular landscapes and almost 30,000 miles of open road across north, central and south america, the legendary pan american highway is the ultimate road trip listed in the guinness book of world records as the longest motorable road in the world, the highway officially takes in mexico, guatemala, honduras, nicaragua, costa rica, panama, colombia. Despite the gap, the guinness book of world records considers the panamerican highway the longest motorable road. This fascinating road leads from alaska in north america all the way to chile in south america. Canada to the south end of the road at cabo virgenes. Two years and 40,000 miles from alaska to argentina dan grec. We invite you to relive with us the adventures and misadventures our family of 7 experienced while motorhoming down the pan american highway from california to argentina in 1978. With the best routes to take, what to expect when crossing the border, helpful spanish phrases, tips on where to stay, and much more, this book is perfect for an adventurous auto trip. They have been working hard and getting a lot done. The main idea was to create a network of wide roads that would connect the major points of interest in north and south america with a single highway. This book provides detailed information by country. No definitive length of the pan american highway exists because the canadian government has never officially defined any specific route as being part of the panamerican highway, while in the united. The concept of a route from one tip of the americas to the other was originally proposed at the first panamerican conference in 1889 as a railroad.
Travel writer tim cahill wrote a book, road fever, about his record setting 24day drive from ushuaia in the argentine province of tierra del fuego. For the north america portion of the route, see pan american highway north america. A guide for overlanding in mexico and central america. The road south is my solo bicycle journey along the pan american highway from the tip of north america to the tip of south america. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Driving the panamerican highway to mexico and central. Panamerican highway is a world in which large regional trade blocs have coalesced around two currencies. Encompassing some of the worlds most spectacular landscapes and almost 30,000 miles of open road across north, central and south america, the legendary panamerican highway is the ultimate road trip listed in the guinness book of world records as the longest motorable road in the world, the highway officially takes in mexico, guatemala, honduras, nicaragua, costa rica, panama. The ultimate road trip driving the pan american highway. Before starting a family, we both wanted to travel, learn spanish and dedicate time to our hobbies of surfing, kitesurfing, yoga and cooking. Panamerican highway article about panamerican highway. On the south american side, the highway terminates at turbo, colombia, near on the panamanian side, the road terminus is the town of yaviza at.