“When the road is long, even slippers feel tight.” – Peruvian proverb
Leg 1 – 1,416 miles (2,279 km) We will restart our south bound trajectory at Cartagena, Colombia as Mandy arrives by shipping container from Panama, and we’ll head to Filandia for our first extended break from driving, with a few weeks relaxation at the beautiful Steel Horse Colombia – time to repair us all, and make ready for the final big push! From Colombia, it’s then on to beautiful Ecuador and maybe the Galapagos islands!
Leg 2 – 6,466 miles (10,406 km) From Ecuador, it’s time for the Inca ruins of Peru and more serious UNESCO box ticking, with an obligatory visit to Machu Picchu. Then, the real fun can begin as we don our wellies and push on through the vast expanse of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, driving the infamous and legendary mudbound BR319 Highway to Manaus. After a long loop of Brazil via Rio De Janeiro, we arrive in Bolivia.
Leg 3 – 4,656 miles (7,493 km) – Bolivia is famous for its Death Road, so it would be rude not to sample the dubious joys of the legendary North Yungas Road! Then it’s off to La Paz, the world’s highest capital city at over 3500m asl and incredible rock formations at the Valle de la Luna. A quick dash through Paraguay and then back to Bolivia before entering Chile at the 4486m asl Attacma mountain pass!
Leg 4 2,817 miles (4,534 km) – From Chile, across into Argentina, and we head north for a change, and towards the dramatic northern territories to see the majestic Iguazu Falls before checking in with friends in Buenos Aires and the long drive south to our final destination, Ushuaia – the de facto end of the Pan American Highway. Over 60,000 kms and a million smiles later!
Once the incredible achievement has sunk in, our thoughts will soon turn to the next stage of our expedition, and so we will drive back up to Montevideo, Uruguay to put Mandy in a warm and cosy shipping container, ready for our next great adventure! But where? Who knows...