pan american highway travel guide

The Ultimate Guide To Driving The Pan-American Highway

The scenic Pan-American Highway is the longest road in the world stretching around 15,000 miles from Alaska in North America all the way down to Argentina in South America.

When we finally ditched our comfortable lives in LA and set out on a journey of a lifetime to travel across the Pan-American Highway for 15 months, we had no idea what to expect.

We learned so much along the way about things that can help make this trip easy ( and things that can go horribly wrong ).

Our Pan American Highway guide is here to help you plan an epic road trip and answer any questions you may have – from our personal experience!

If you are thinking about driving the famous Pan-American Highway, here are some tips and things that you should know before heading out on the Pan-American road trip:

Pan-American Route & Map

How long does it take, how much does it cost, crossing the darien gap, best vehicle for pan-american, do you need a 4×4, highlights of the trip, pan-american dangers, what to bring, car insurance, currency & credit cards, must-have phone apps, cell service, traveling with pets, other pan american highway tips.

The Pan-American route is a network of roads that start in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and from there travel south through both North America and South America until its ending point in Ushuaia, Argentina. It’s known as the longest road in the world because it connects two continents north to south.

The Pan-American Highway is approximately 15,000 miles long and passes through 14 countries along the way.

In North America, the Pan-American Highway passes through : the US , Canada , Mexico , Guatemala , El Salvador , Honduras , Nicaragua , Costa Rica , and Panama .

In South America, the Pan-American Highway passes through: Colombia , Ecuador , Peru , Chile, and Argentina .

Although the actual Pan-American route mapped out is around 15,000 miles long, nobody does the exact route without venturing into many detours and side roads. On average, most people end up driving around 30,000 miles during their Pan-American road trip.

In fact, during our trip across the Americas, we spent very little time driving the actual Pan-American Highway because most of the time we were crisscrossing into various attractions along the way. Some of those side destinations often include Belize in Central America and Bolivia in South America.

While some people try to start off their Pan-American road trip in Alaska, it’s so remote and far out of the way that most people start their trip in Canada or the US .

When we set out to venture down the Pan-American highway, we started off in California. We had already spent considerable time exploring Canada and US and we wanted to venture into some new countries starting with Mexico.

A trip across the Pan-American highway can really take as long as you have time ( or money ) for it. Most people that we met traveling along the Pan-American highway do it anywhere from 9 months to 2 years. We ended up spending 15 months on the road traveling from California to Southern Argentina.

If you are short on time , it’s best to plan the route ahead of time and focus on seeing the main highlights. On the other hand, if you have all the time in the world, you’ll probably find yourself venturing into lesser-known areas and going more “off the beaten path”.

We tried to take it slow and see everything under the sun during the first 9 months of our trip but traveling in this style started wearing on us after a while . We felt like we spent more time “living” in these countries and trying to stretch every last penny than seeing all of the best highlights and enjoying the destinations like we would have if we were on a vacation.

When we got to South America, we switched up our approach and only traveled to the main highlights. It worked better for us since we spent less time exhausting ourselves driving to random little towns and we spent more time exploring the top locations.

Again, this just depends on your travel style . We just wanted to see all the top highlights and sooner than later return back home to our old lives in the US.

The cost of driving the Pan-American Highway is highly dependent on your comfort level while traveling. While we try to travel pretty cheaply, we always leave a little room and budget to splurge on things that we love ( like cheese and wine ).

On average, we spent around $2200 in travel expenses per month between the both of us. The biggest expense for us is typically food followed closely by gas.

We cook most of the meals in our campervan and seldom splurge on restaurants but we also don’t eat ramen noodles like college kids. Eating healthy and yummy food to us is a priority but that often comes with a steep price.

Since we travel in a van we rarely pay for campsites or hotels , only on special occasions when we feel like taking a break from van life or when our families come to visit.

The biggest one-off expense of the Pan-American highway for us was shipping our van across the Darien Gap which cost us $1100.

The most expensive single activity of this entire trip was visiting Machu Picchu in Peru. The cost to visit the Machu Picchu ruins is around $250 per person covering a train ticket, a bus ticket, and an entry ticket to get into the ruins. The good news is that we found a cheap workaround from a back entrance that can save you a lot of money. To read more on that check out our Machu Picchu Travel Guide here .

Read Next: VAN LIFE – How Much Does It Really Cost?

Although the Pan-American highway is known as the longest road in the world, there is a section between Panama and Colombia that is not drivable . This section is called The Darien Gap .

For environmental and political reasons, visitors are not allowed to travel into this section. The only way to get your car across the Darien Gap is on a ship. This ship typically takes a few days to get your car across from Panama into Colombia ( or vice versa ) and costs anywhere from $1000 to a few thousand depending on your car size.

There are a few ways to ship a car across the Darien Gap: RORO (roll on/roll off), container, and LOLO (lift on/lift off).

We chose to go with a container because it’s the most secure way to ship. We heard a lot of theft happens during the RORO shipping since you have to give your keys to the port staff and the cars are left unattended.

When you choose container shipping, you drive your own car into a container that gets sealed before getting loaded on a ship. You get to keep the keys and the car is completely locked up until you go to pick it up on the arriving side.

If you decide to ship in a container, first you will need to find a shipping partner to share a container with in order to split the cost in half. We used the Pan-American Travelers Association Facebook group and Container Buddies to see if anyone was shipping at the same time as us. We ended up shipping in a 40 ft High Cube container with another car and paid around $1100 each.

Once you find a shipping partner you will need to arrange a shipping agent who will coordinate everything for you . We shipped our van from Panama City to Cartagena and the two main agents for this route are Boris Jaramillo and Tea Kalalback.

We had originally contacted Tea and everything seemed ready to go when last minute she emailed us saying that we did NOT have a spot on the ship and we ended up losing the non-refundable flights that we had booked from Panama to Colombia.

We then contacted Boris with Ever Logistics and he was super helpful and got us a spot on the next outgoing boat a few days later. His contact email is [email protected].

Passengers are not allowed on this ship so you will need to arrange a flight into Colombia and a hotel while your car ships across. Once your car arrives in Cartagena, you will need to go down to the dock in Cartagena and get it out. This requires 2 days of running around Cartagena to pay various fees and get paperwork signed. 

You don’t need an agent on the Colombia side, just a lot of patience while you run around the city getting paperwork done.

You May Also Like: 50 Van Life Tips For Living On The Road

During our trip along the Pan-American Highway, we met people traveling in all types of vehicles – small sedans, SUVs, motorcycles, vans, trucks with pop-up tents, huge motorhomes, bikes, Unimogs, old and new, you name it . There really is no best vehicle and it really just depends on your travel style and personal comfort level .

We had originally planned to do this trip in our Honda Element SUV. We even converted our Honda Element by adding a bed, solar shower, fan, and fridge. But after a trial month of traveling through the US and Canada, we realized that it was just too tight and crammed for us to enjoy a long-term trip.

Instead, we got a Promaster van and spent 3 months converting it into a campervan . It has made our traveling so much more comfortable and we rarely splurge on hostels or Airbnb’s, saving us a ton of money.

Having a midsize van on this trip also helps us stealth camp just about anywhere. It’s especially helpful in cities where the cops are a little stricter about camping on the streets. Most people just think we’re a working van.

Many people choose to go with smaller vehicles that may be more nimble or get better fuel mileage, but you’re likely to end up spending just as much in monthly expenses since you will need to pay for campsites, hostels, hotels, and Airbnb’s more often.

If you’re worried about having car issues and not finding parts, you might want to look for cars that are sold throughout Latin America . These would include any car or SUV sold by Kia or Hyundai, Ford Explorer, Mercedes Sprinter, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota 4Runner, or Jeep Wrangler.

There are many others sold in North America that are also sold in Latin America, like Toyota Land Cruiser, Ram Promaster (Fiat Ducato/Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxer/Renault Master), Land Rover Discovery, and Mitsubishi Montero, to name a few, but all of these are sold in North America with gasoline engines whereas in Latin America they are only sold with diesel engines. If something goes wrong and you have to find parts for the engine/tranny of these cars, you’re probably going to have to ship the parts in from another country ( speaking from our personal experience ).

If you have a right-hand drive vehicle, note that you may have some difficulty traveling through Central America, especially in Costa Rica. It is illegal to drive RHD vehicles in Costa Rica so many people end up shipping their vans from Guatemala into Colombia, skipping most of Central America for this reason.

A lot of people think that you need a 4×4 van to do this trip. Although there are roads along the Pan-American highway where having a 4×4 is helpful, it is not a necessity .

Our Promaster van is a front-wheel drive. We have driven across some of the most rugged roads in Guatemala and through the sketchiest mountain passes in Peru with no issues.

We did get stuck in a swamp once and had to get pulled out… but that was 100% our own fault .

Instead, what’s really essential in choosing the right vehicle for the Pan-American Highway is getting one that has high clearance, weighs as little as possible, has a good set of all-terrain tires, and isn’t oversized . This combination will get you to 90-95% of the places you want to go.

We’ve seen some really cool 4x4s that can’t go off the paved roads because they’re so overloaded and top-heavy. We’ve also seen many Unimogs that can’t go off the main highways because they don’t fit in any of the side roads or campgrounds, so having a 4×4 doesn’t always help.

Personally, we find it almost impossible to provide one single answer when someone asks us what our favorite country or place has been on this trip. However, there certainly are some places that stand out more than others. Here are some of our top highlights from 15 months of traveling along the Pan-American highway .

We started our trip in Mexico and our plan was to spend 2 months there, at the most. After realizing how much cool stuff there is to see and do, we threw that plan out the window and we ended up spending 5 months traveling through all of Mexico.

We swam in turquoise waterfalls in La Huasteca Potosina , snorkeled in underground cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula , and drove through remote mountain roads to get to some unreal hillside thermal pools , all for only a few bucks each at the most. Thinking of countries that left a lasting impression on us, Mexico is definitely on top of that list.

Central America

After leaving Mexico we ventured into Belize which offers some of the best snorkeling in the world. Although Belize technically is not part of the Pan-American Highway, we just had to visit it.   

Our main mission in Belize was to find the top snorkeling sites. While Caye Caulker is the “go to” fun party island that offers tours to some really amazing snorkeling sites ( and unlimited rum after ), our personal favorite was Silk Caye, a tiny island off the southern coast in Belize. Here we swam with sharks, eagle rays, octopus, and other incredible sea creatures for half the price and half the crowds.

We continued along into Guatemala , one of Joel’s favorite locations. Guatemala is one of the least developed countries in Central America which means rugged jungle adventures, erupting volcanoes, and remote pyramids along with some of the friendliest people we’ve met on this journey. Guatemala is also known for beautiful markets filled with colorful textiles.   We have 5 blankets to prove it.

Another one of our favorites was Costa Rica . Costa Rica is known for its beaches, surfing and some unreal wildlife that looks like a scene from The Jungle Book come alive. While we certainly enjoyed searching for waterfalls in the jungle, our favorite part was seeing all the monkeys, sloths, and macaw birds along the trails.

Overall we loved Central America , but at the same time, the heat and humidity were making sleeping and cooking in our van almost impossible. In our opinion, this is a region that’s best explored in short traditional vacations while going on adventures during the day and recharging at a hotel pool or room at night.  

South America

After crossing into South America, we didn’t really know what to expect of Colombia (it probably didn’t help that we just finished watching Narcos).

Colombia turned out to be one of the most diverse South American destinations with colorful colonial towns, lots of history, culture, amazing coffee, and unique adventures. After spending 2 months traveling through Colombia, here are 15 of our top Colombia destinations that we highly recommend for Overlanding .

One of my personal favorites of our time in South America was Peru ( okay, so maybe I DO have a favorite after all ). Besides visiting the world-famous Machu Picchu ruins , Peru is home to one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, incredible mountain hikes, and a cool oasis city Huacachina hidden between giant sand dunes in the Peruvian desert.

Last ( but not least ) there is the Carretera Austral Highway in Chile , the southern region of the continent. Known for turquoise blue lakes, unique caves, and endless glaciers I couldn’t think of a better way to finish up a trip through the Americas .

We could really go on forever sharing all about our favorite Pan-American destinations, but if you want to read more about our trip highlights, check out our Destinations page here .

This is one of the topics that we get asked about the most and something that our friends and family were really concerned about when we started the trip.

And I’m not gonna lie… we were pretty nervous too .

While I can’t speak for everyone because sometimes unfortunate things happen, during our 15 months of traveling the Pan-American highway we had no major issues and we felt relatively safe.

One of the worst things that happened to us was getting my backpack stolen in Colombia at a Starbucks ( from all places ) while I was working on my laptop and not paying attention.

There are some areas, however, that are known to be more prone to crime along the Pan-American highway and travelers should use more caution while driving through:

• Chiapas, Mexico . We always hear about the crime issues in Mexico due to the drug cartels, but neither we nor any of the hundreds of people we know who went through Mexico ever encountered an issue with cartel violence. Instead, it’s Chiapas, the southernmost state in Mexico, where people have the most issues. This region has long been anti-government, anti-establishment, very poor, and many of the villages thrive on violently extorting money from anybody who passes through. We were held up by angry mobs demanding money for driving on the roads and asked for a “security payment” by an armed “neighborhood watch”. Our friends had their tires slashed and chased by locals demanding money at the threat of violence, and another overlander was attacked with wooden boards with nails. And the saddest of all, two European bikers were found dead with their belongings missing while passing through this region. The cops and military don’t really go into this area so it’s sort of the Wild West down there.
• Peru Coast . We heard there are a lot of car break-ins, armed robberies, and well-organized scams along the Peruvian coast. It’s also one of the poorest areas that we saw along this trip so people are a bit more desperate. While traveling along the Peruvian coast we watched for any warnings left on the iOverlander app and we never left the van completely unattended. We personally had no issues but unfortunately, our friends were not so lucky and had a break into their van and had all of their electronics stolen.
• Costa Rica . This one was really surprising since Costa Rica is basically the 51 st state of the US these days, but Costa Rica is currently a hot spot for thieves and car break-ins. There are thousands of American tourists around every corner, and locals know that tourists carry nice, often expensive things in their cars as they move around the country. Many of the people we know had their cars broken into in Costa Rica, but they weren’t always necessarily only after nice things – our friend’s well-used swimming shorts were stolen right off his side mirror as he made dinner just a few feet away.
• Northern South America . From Colombia through the northern metros of Argentina and Chile, pickpocketing and petty theft are very common in cities. This is why you’ll see many people walking with their backpacks worn on their chest, and sitting at coffee shops with their bags held under their arms. While traveling in this area, just try not to walk on empty streets at night and never put anything into pockets that can’t be zipped or closed somehow. Since we spent very little time in the cities of South America and opted instead for the mountains and more remote areas, we mostly avoided these issues.

Most people who start the Pan-American road trip will pack their cars to the max with emergency and “just in case” items but in reality, you don’t need that much .

Personally, we don’t have a whole lot of stuff to begin with and we also like to keep our living space uncluttered. We decided to only bring the bare necessities which helped us keep the van light for better gas mileage.

Along with everyday necessities like clothing and kitchen utensils, here are some things that you should bring along on the Pan-American road trip :

• Two water tanks . We keep one water tank for filtered drinking water and one for everything else like doing dishes and brushing our teeth that we fill up at gas stations. You could use filtered water for everything but it would be quite costly.
• One spare tire . We actually didn’t even use our spare tire once during our 15 months of driving down the PanAm road so you don’t need more than one.
• Basic tools . Flat/Phillips screwdrivers , an adjustable wrench , duct tape , a flashlight , and pliers – the bare minimum in case you break down in the middle of nowhere. Otherwise, mechanics are everywhere and other overlanders usually carry a ton of tools in case you need to borrow one.
• Fire extinguisher . If you have a stove in your vehicle, you’ll be cooking in small quarters or outside and things can easily tip over and catch on fire. Our friends’ stove actually caught on fire but they were able to safely toss it out and put the fire out before it did any damage. Better to be prepared and keep a small fire extinguisher at hand reach.
• Tow strap . In case you push the limits of your car like we constantly do and need someone to pull you out. They’re super cheap and don’t take up much room.
• Headlamp . 95% of the time, we’re sleeping in places that don’t have much light. Look for one that is dimmable and preferably one that has a red light setting, which helps keep your night vision and doesn’t travel as far so you can be more incognito.

Read More: 85 Van Life Essentials That You Should Be Packing

There are a few countries along the Pan-American highway that require vehicle insurance for international drivers.

In North America, the countries requiring car insurance are: Canada, the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama .

US and Canada have reciprocal car insurance laws so if you have insurance in either country, you can use it in the other as well.

In South America, the countries requiring car insurance are: Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina .

In the US, Mexico, and Chile we purchased our vehicle insurance online, but most of the time you can purchase car insurance right at the border. Peru was the only country where we had to cross the border and drive into the next town to purchase it.

Related Post: DIY Promaster Campervan Conversion Guide

Most of the small businesses in Central and South America operate on a cash basis so for this trip, it’s very important to have a good debit card that won’t charge you crazy ATM fees . We love the Schwab Debit Card because it is free, charges no overseas withdrawal fees, and refunds any ATM fees that we were charged by other banks at the end of the month.

The Schwab Debit card comes with the Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking Account – you can read more about it on the Schwab website.

At some ATMs we have been charged up to a $10 fee to take out the money in a single transaction. Getting this money back at the end of the month has been pretty sweet.

For this trip, you will also need a VISA credit card. Most businesses in Central & South America only accept VISA or Mastercard , but some countries like Peru only accept VISA (when they accept credit cards at all).

We really couldn’t have done this trip without our favorite phone app iOverlander . For us, this app was a total lifesaver.

The iOverlander app was created by other Pan-American overlanders as a place to note all the best campsites, attractions, gas stations, laundry spots, and other useful places while traveling. Over the years it has grown extremely popular and is based solely on reviews left by other travelers. iOverlander is our go-to source to find cheap (or free) camping spots and anything else we may need along the way.

There are also a couple of map apps that can make life on the road so much easier. Google Maps is great because the roads are pretty up-to-date, it gives you accurate driving time estimates, and you can download the map sections ahead of time to use when you’re offline. We also like using the Maps. me app which is amazing for finding hiking trails and figuring out their distance and elevation but is not so great for driving because it likes to give extremely optimistic time estimates and can sometimes lead you down dirt roads that shouldn’t even be on the map.

We also recently found out about the app WiFi Map . WiFi Map lists tons of open WiFi networks in the surrounding areas and for someone like me who works a lot online, this app is super helpful.

A few years ago I signed up for Google’s Project Fi cell phone service and it has been a total game changer for traveling. Instead of purchasing local cell phone chips in each new country, Google Fi automatically connects your cell phone to the local cell providers so you never lose reception while traveling, all at full LTE when available.

We pay around $80 per month for Google Fi service that includes “unlimited” data up to 15 GB for the two of us. The data is still unlimited after 15 GB but it’s much slower.

We use just about all of 15 GB of available data every month. But we also work online, stream shows and slightly obsess over Instagram so most people tend to use a lot less than that. It actually says on their website that less than 1% of users use all 15 GB of the available data so THAT makes me sort of question my life choices.

If you have a pet, you may be wondering if it’s possible to do this trip with your furry little friend.

During our trip along the Pan-American highway, we brought along our indoor cat Minka. We made some special arrangements for her in the van but overall we found that traveling with a pet through Central and South America is very easy .

It took her a couple of months to get used to being in new environments every day but now she absolutely loves it. As soon as we stop she hops out of the van, runs around a bit, eats some grass, and looks at the farm animals from the distance but mostly just naps. She has traveled through 15 countries in our van and every new place is like a new adventure for her.

Many of the people we’ve met during our Pan-American road trip travel with pets – mostly dogs, some cats, and even a couple of guinea pigs – and everyone manages just fine. There are some restrictions on dogs in many of the national parks of South America so it does limit you a tiny bit, but overall it’s not that difficult.

While most countries don’t really care that we have a cat at the border crossings, some countries are tougher than others. The hardest countries for crossing with pets are Belize, Panama, Colombia, and Chile, where they want some kind of paperwork to be done before entering and/or charge a fee for entering with a pet.

Before crossing any borders check iOverlander for any requirements. All of the information in iOverlander gets constantly updated by other travelers so this has been our best resource for border crossings with pets.

I also joined a Facebook group called Animal Travelers specifically created for people who travel with pets. It’s a great place to ask questions about traveling with pets, especially for flying and specific border crossings.

Read Next: 10 Tips & Tricks To Get Ready For Van Life With A Cat

Here are a few tips that we learned ( sometimes the hard way ) that can really help make life easier on this trip:

• Make copies of car registration, passports, driver’s licenses , and any other important documents before tucking them away somewhere safe. Also, make sure to scan and keep a backup online like on Google Drive.
• Apply for an extra license before leaving . This was a big one for us that we easily overlooked. After my wallet was stolen in Colombia and Joel lost his wallet in Ecuador, we were stuck without driver’s licenses which we needed to drive, pay for groceries, and cross borders. We didn’t have any extras so we ended up making laminated copies out of the scans that we had backed up. Thankfully they’ve worked so far at every border and checkpoint!
• Join the Pan-American Travelers Association Facebook Group . This is a public group with thousands of members who are traveling the Pan-American highway, have done it in the past, or plan to do it. If we have any concerns or questions that we can’t find answers to anywhere else, a lot of times we find them by searching this group or by posting a question in it.

The idea of traveling in a car through 14+ foreign countries can seem pretty intimidating ( at least it did for us ), but during our trip, we met so many amazing travelers and overlanders who helped us out with questions and tips along the way.

We hope this guide can do the same for you but if we didn’t cover something fully or if you still have any questions on traveling the Pan-American highway, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments below!  

Looking for more van life inspiration? Here are a few other helpful resources and blog posts that you may like:

• 16 Best Sprinter Conversions For Van Life
• 30 Must-Have Campervan Accessories For Van Life
• 10 Amazing Ford Transit Conversions For Inspiration
• How To Make Money While Living In A Van
• The Ultimate Solo Female Van Life Guide

This post is written by Laura Sausina. Hi, I’m the founder of the Fun Life Crisis travel blog and I’ve been traveling full-time for the past 7 years. Here I share my experiences and tips to help 100,000 people a month plan their adventures around the world! Read more about me here .

Some of the links used in this blog may be affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission when you book through these links which helps support this blog! Thank you!

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136 thoughts on “The Ultimate Guide To Driving The Pan-American Highway”

Very helpful, thank you. I’m a 58 year old (spiritually about 28!) Brit going to do the journey. No mention of buying US 3rd party insurance here though, any ideas? Thanks Andy

Personally, we have not used travel insurance and have gotten pretty lucky with never having any issues on our travels so far. But it is something that I am looking info for future travels and I have heard that the World Nomad insurance is a pretty popular choice. Here is a link to their UK website: https://www.worldnomads.co.uk/

Cheers, Laura & Joel

3rd party insurance is compulsory in US and most South American countries, I believe, isn’t it ?

Hey Andy, sorry I misread your comment. I thought you were asking about travel health insurance.

In US it’s easy to get car insurance as long as the car is registered in the US. There are tons of companies offering car insurance online such as Geiko, AAA, Progressive, State Farm, All State, Liberty Mutual etc.

In North America, the countries requiring car insurance are: Canada, US, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. In South America, the countries requiring car insurance are: Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.

In the US, Mexico, and Chile we purchased our vehicle insurance online, but most of the time you can purchase the car insurance right at the border. Peru was the only country where we had to cross the border and drive into the next town to purchase it.

Hope this helps clarify things.

Hello! First of all, thanks a lot for this great info! It’s truly appreciated and useful. I’m a 30-year-old Argentine national but have lived in Florida for 19 years. I’m planning to tackle this road next year. I have the following questions, any info would be greatly appreciated!

1. Do you think is doable in 3-4 months starting from Florida? I have time constraints due to work/studies.

2. How much did it cost to ship the car from Ushuaia back home? (or perhaps from Buenos Aires or Valparaiso?)

3. Approximately how much did you spend in gas? food? paperwork/documentation?

4. How was your experience during border crossings? Was it expensive?

Thanks a lot in advance! I truly appreciate it.

1. I really don’t think you can do it in that short of time. In 3-4 months you could do the US through Panama, or part of South America, but I don’t think shipping the car to South America and back would be worth the hassle for that short of a trip. There are many overlanders selling their cars in South America for cheap after they finish their trip, maybe buying one of those and doing a few months in SA would be a good idea. 2. It all depends on the size, but from Valparaiso or BA/Montevideo to the US/Mexico, you’re looking at $2k-5k and takes a few weeks to coordinate. There are no shipping options south of that. 3. Our costs were about $1200 (Mexico) to $2500 (South America) per month for two people. This is highly dependent on where you stay, what you eat, and your fuel efficiency. We very rarely paid for places to sleep, cooked 95% of our own meals, and drove a van that got 16 mpg on average. 4. Border crossings are all over the place but usually not bad. Nicaragua was the worst by far because they were so slow, unorganized, and inspected everything, but the other ones were quick and we rarely got inspected or questioned. Usually, borders take 1-2 hours but some were as quick as 20 minutes. Having pets is probably the biggest hurdle because sometimes they want extra paperwork. Entering Mexico is the most expensive at around $100, the rest are usually free or a couple of dollars.

Hope that helps!

Nicolas have you considered shipping to Ushuania and driving back? I am from the UK and looking at riding a vespa scooter the whole route from south to north in early 2022.

There is no place to ship a vehicle south of Santiago, Chile or Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hi! Is shipping your van back to the states from Argentina best or is it easy to sell your van at the end of the trip? Thanks!!

It really depends on the vehicle, timing, and a bit of luck. For us, we tried to sell the van at a huge discount down in Argentina but couldn’t find the right buyer since it’s all about timing. I’ve heard of some people that sell their vehicles for next to nothing to avoid the shipping costs, and have known some people that paid a huge premium to get an expedition ready vehicle that was at the right place at the right time. In general, I noticed that vans were in high demand but only on the very low end of pricing, like under $5k.

Thanks for your response! Thought – what if we started in Patagonia/Argentina and tried to find a van down there to drive back north? Might be luck/timing but maybe could find someone selling in advance…? Not sure how popular the van life culture is down there / enough supply and demand. Mil gracias!

It’s pretty rare for people to sell their vehicles in Patagonia since it’s so far south and there’s so little transportation from down there. Most people sell around Santiago, Chile or Buenos Aires, Argentina since that’s where most international flights land and leave from. Buying a local vehicle with Chile or Argentina plates is super expensive because of their crazy import tax laws, so the best bet is to find another overlander who’s done with their trip.

This is what Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman did for Long Way Up. You should be able to ship a scooter or motorcycle (motorbike) in the cargo hold of an airplane.

Awee , I lived in Florida , was going through the whole process of traveling on the pan America highway , We shipped our Toyota truck in our country in Guyana and we went through Guyana interior , throughout to lethem into Brazil, , into Venezuela Columbia Ecuador Peru Chile Argentina and Brazil back into my country Guyana,Took us three months of nonstop driving, except in the night, We slept in a our truck. every night it was just me and my husband, that’for me was a life time adventure I will never forgot , the sceneries was breathtaking, there is so much to see, but we had to come back because we had four kids so so a good vehicle , know language,, and I have all your documents insurance and everything passport everything in order before traveling,,you would love the trip enjoy , it cost us around 12thousand dollars , and the year 1996 , the road driving is unbelievable ?????

Found your site and have enjoyed our reading so far. We are leaving after next year for 12-15 months like you to go to South America. Our big thing is we will have our two dogs (lab & husky) and the gap is our biggest concern right now. Can we go on any boat with our van? Flying with dogs is not an option (unless emergency). It does not have to be comfortable and we would pay extra for this want but seek beta from those who potentially have made the journey. Thoughts? Thanks for sharing

The only way to ship the car is on a cargo ship but they don’t allow passengers since they’re only for cargo. To get across the Darien Gap, you can either fly or take a sail boat that goes through the San Blas islands. We’ve heard numerous people go on those sail boats with animals, you just have to find the right captain that allows pets. What most people with pets do is get an ESA letter and fly with your pets onboard instead of in a kennel in the storage area. That’s what we did and it was really easy, you just need any ESA letter, a vet letter, and a pet document from Panama – the details of how to get that document is on iOverlander.

great article. I plan to make the drive from Costa Rica to the states. I have a vw wagon which I converted into a camper…I am not into outdoor life, however, I would like to do some sightseeing and take my time…I am retired and time is on my side. I was wondering if I can sleep in my wagon and relax….

That sounds like a very relaxing trip! We spent quite a bit of time in Central America and there is just so much to see and do. Hope you have a great time on your trip!

Is it possible to drive around Chiapas

Yes, you can stick to the northern coast of Mexico as you enter the Yucatan peninsula and enter Belize on your way south, skipping Chiapas altogether.

Always dreamed of driving through the Pan American Highway (Mexico to Argentina and then circle back from Brazil to French Guiana (Circle around the entire continent of South America). I now live in Europe, so I’m not sure when I’d be able to do it. Though I’ve already been to Peru, many other countries all over Latin America have intrigued me (Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Brazil). Hopefully, I’ll be able to fulfill the dream soon, but I prefer to see countries by seeing them one at a time.

hi, am looking to start this journey soon…will be travelling south to north (peru to canada/alaska) any links for insurance please?

Insurance is usually bought on-site at or near the borders at every border you’ll be crossing. The only exception is Mexico through Canada where it’s done online. For Mexico, try Baja Bound insurance. I don’t know about US & CA insurance since we’re from the US and never had to deal with that part

What kind of insurance is he talking about? Car insurance? Health insurance? I never considered insurance…

Car insurance is mandatory in many countries, most can be bought at the borders but some you need to buy online. In some countries they won’t give you a car permit at the border without it, and in some they set up police checkpoints where they check your insurance. It sounds more complicated than it is, you figure it out pretty quickly once you hit the road get a few border crossings under your belt.

Your blog is great! My boyfriend and I are saving to drive from Canada to Argentina, your posts are so helpful! Thanks

Hi Marsha Do share your experience; I am in Toronto and planning to do an Arctic to Argentina trip myself. Thanks,,, Max

Thank you so much for the information. We are saving money for this trip and we want to go when we have enough money. But because of the wet season we don’t know when it is the best time to go. How did you plan that part?

We just went whenever our van was ready. Mexico is nice in October-March, central is good in December-July, the northern part of SA is good in May-September, and the southern part of SA is good in November-March. So it depends on how long you want to go but if you want to do it in about 15 months you could start in Mexico in the fall and hit every place in their ideal time. As for the rainy season, we kept hearing about the rain in Central America but we thought it was blown way out of proportion. CA did not have a bad rainy season since it’s always hot and humid anyway. The rainy season you should really watch out for is in the northern part of SA (Colombia-Peru) where you really can’t do anything between October-April. Many roads are impassable and most hikes are closed or impossible to do.

Hi there. We have been traveling back and forth from Mexico to Canada and have made three trips. We have a 29′ RV (I want to downsize) something missing in your posts was getting an import permit for any foreign vehicles traveling into Mexico. With the RV we could get a 6 month or a 10 year permit. If you are caught without a permit they will impound your vehicle. We paid around 450 pesos for a 10 year permit. The Permits are available at most border crossings in a separate building than Customs. We are enjoying the information you have shared here. Thank you and take care.

Thank you for this bit of info but I wonder if you could clarify what a foreign vehicle really means: one registered in another country (US/CAD) I presume? Also, wouldn’t customs inform people of this import permit? From what you say, it sounds as though it’s not nearly as obvious as it should be. True?

What Peter is trying to say is that Mexico’s border is pretty relaxed and for the most part, they just let you in without really stopping you. They do this because so many people cross the border daily that they can’t stop everybody and check for vehicle permits, it’s up to the driver to stop and get the appropriate vehicle permit to drive in the country. Also, you’re allowed to drive a foreign vehicle without a permit as long as you stay within 26 km of the border. If you just cross without stopping to get the permit, then later on you’ll get to a checkpoint where they’ll ask for your vehicle permit and you’ll have to drive back to the border to get the permit. This is very different from any country south of Mexico where they don’t have these agreements in place to let people roam freely, and in those borders they make you get all the appropriate permits before crossing.

I want to travel via sub or truck from Texas to Costa Rica. Any advice is cc’d welcome and appreciated.

Do you have to go both ways, can you sell your vehicle at the south end of the trip and fly back? If people are selling their vehicle at the south end, is it possible to buy it and drive back north? thanks

Hey Cornelius,

Most people go one way and either ship or sell their vehicles at the end of the trip. We drove from the US to Chile and shipped our van back to the US when we reached the end of the Pan-American Highway.

A lot of people do end up selling their vehicles at the south end because shipping them back costs around $3000-$5000. For that you can check out the PanAmerican Travelers Association Facebook group . A lot of people post their cars for sale on there.

Cheers, Laura

I have a house in Panama and I’m planning on driving down this time what does it cost and what kind of paperwork do you need to cross ryukahr does it need to be translated in Spanish

Hey Steven,

Are you referring to the Darien Gap? It costs around $1000 to ship a van across the Darien Gap. You will need the vehicle title to arrange shipping through an agent on the Panama side.

I’ve seen a lot of mention shipping one’s vehicle FROM Darien Gap but what about in reverse? Is it the same process? And is it possible to catch a sailboat with one’s dogs (flying isn’t an option) to get back to Panama? Also, no one’s mentioned how people get around once their vehicle’s been freighted. Is it easy to rent a car for a day or so?

Yes, plenty of people do it in reverse and it’s the same process. I’ve heard of people going on sailboats with their dogs to do the Panama-Colombia crossing which would be cool since they go through the San Blas islands. We originally wanted to do this but it takes a lot of planning to coordinate the crossings just right. We did the ESA thing for our cat, nobody hassled us and pets fly free in the cabin if they’re an ESA. Cartagena is really easy to get around in a taxis, Panama is a little more difficult because things are more spread out so a rental car would help there.

How much do you have to pay at each countries border crossing to get your car across and does the paperwork needs to be translated from English to Spanish notarized

Usually, you don’t have to pay for border crossings. When you do, it’s only a couple of dollars. You can check the iOverlander app where people leave notes for each border crossing.

The paperwork can be in English, it doesn’t have to be translated into Spanish.

This is Harold and Eva 66 and 67. If we ever would travel S.America, we would like to do this with some other party with similar interests. Anyone out there ?? Greetings, Harold

Yes. We are interested Brian & Shelly [email protected]

Great post. Love the fact you stated all the important details. Thanks

Your trip struck me as “the trip of a lifetime.” Hey, I get lost in my backyard, would my car navigation work out there in the towns and main highways. You guys are fantastic inspirations. Rick

Take a look at Itchyboots’ YouTube channel. She uses a nav system everywhere (South America, Africa, the Middle East) on her motorcycle. Very inspirational!

This post is so inspiring and informative!! Thank you so much!! I’m looking forward to taking more road trips after the pandemic and would love to convert a van.

That is very good.

Thanks for your post. My wife and I are considering driving from Florida to Panama City in a 4X4 pickup with my motorcycle in the bed. Looking to be expats moving to Panama. Will we incur any problems with this? Luggage will be minimal.

In some countries you’re only allowed one vehicle per person so make sure you have the vehicles titled to both names, that way if they say anything you can just do the paperwork under the other person’s name.

Advice: If you’re traveling on a right hand drive vehicle, note that in 2018 Guatemala passed a law that made right hand drive vehicles illegal (as in Costa Rica). Should you get caught driving on the right you could get fined and your car can even be consigned by law enforcment so don’t take that chance.

I’m putting together my 1949 F1 ,with a 2003 Lincoln avaitor drivetrain, what kind of documentation is needed for the vehicle to ship to Colombia, I’m in the US right now.

You just need the car title and registration along with a driver’s license and passport. They’ll ask for Colombian car insurance but you can easily get it in Cartagena if that’s where you’re shipping to.

Hi Laura and Joel I enjoyed reading about your trans-American Highway adventure. It is so informative and current. Thank you very much. I am planning to do this big driving trip. As I am not handy with car repairs, could I ask if the car does break down esp. in SA, are there mechanics available to help with repairs? Once again, thanks Peter

There are plenty of mechanics everywhere but the big problems with breakdowns are finding parts and getting towed anywhere. Unless you drive one of the few vehicles that are sold unchanged throughout the world, you’ll likely have to ship in parts if something goes wrong. Also, our overlanding rigs are usually too big to get towed since they’re used to dealing with much smaller cars in Latin America. Lastly, if you’re in a small town or in the middle of nowhere, there’s pretty much 0% chance you’ll find either of those two things without getting to a major city first. Best thing I can say is if you’re not very familiar with your vehicle and know how to fix things, buy the newest car you can afford for the trip since that’ll give you the best chance of making it without a breakdown

I saw a reference to RHD vehicles in both the article as well as the comments. Am I missing something?

Many people drive Delicas and other cool imported 4x4s that are perfect for a trip like this and are mostly found as RHD. Many people who do the trip also come from RHD countries.

Did you carry much cash or use it in transactions. How is the gas quality?

We hid some cash in our van’s walls in case we needed it but never did. Other than that, we carried very little cash on hand and used our Schwab account to take out money from ATMs anywhere for free. We never had issues with gas quality but we have a gasoline engine, those with modern diesel engines could have issues since they don’t sell ULSD between Mexico and Chile.

2 Questions… Did your van get searched at border crossings and can you carry a weapon for protection?

Our van got searched a few times (maybe 5) but usually not very thoroughly. We did not have weapons other than knives and wouldn’t risk bringing a firearm along as it’s illegal to cross borders with them and they’re illegal in many countries.

Great story and comments! Very intrigued by the prospect of doing this trip as we’re approaching retirement and would like to do it before we’re too old. I noticed that you made no comment as to currency types used. Was the US Dollar good everywhere? Or were you making currency changes in each country you passed through. Thanks in advance for the info and safe travels in the future!

We used our credit card almost everywhere since CCs actually give you pretty good conversion rates. We just made sure to use CCs that don’t have foreign transaction fees. When we needed cash, we took out local currency from the ATMs using our Schwab account which gives us free ATM withdrawals anywhere in the world and refunds us any fees the ATM charges. We never used USD except for El Salvador, Panama, and Ecuador where the dollar is used as their national currency.

I love this! It’s a perfect starting point to plan a trip

I’m hoping to start a big South American road trip in about a year if covid has finally settled down

Any advice on buying a car when you get to SA rather than shipping one? I’m trying to decide between buying a car in the Southern US and shipping it across the Darién gap when I get there or just backpacking Mexico/Central America and then buying a car in Colombia to drive South with.

I speak Spanish reasonably well and have a few close Colombian friends in Bogota and Medellin which should help with the paper work I think.

Buying a car in South America is a great way to do it because most people finish their trip down there and don’t want to deal with the expense or hassle of shipping their vehicle back home. The problem is you have to be pretty flexible as far as timing and what kind of vehicle you buy, but if you’re flexible, you can get some great deals. For instance, we were willing to sell our van for $10k less when it was down there but we didn’t find the right buyer at the right time. There are a few facebook groups dedicated to buying/selling overland vehicles in South America, check those out as they’re the best resources. The best place to find American titled vehicles is around Santiago and Buenos Aires as most people end their trips there and there are people that will title your car in Washington without being there.

I had heard that you can’t have any liens on your vehicle before entering mexico. ie fully own it with no payments.

Is that true?

I’m not sure about Mexico, plenty of people take new cars down there and I doubt they all own their vehicles outright. I know a lot of people take their cars to Mexico with just a registration so I don’t think Mexico cares about ownership. Once you keep going south, many of the other countries ask for the title but let’s just say they don’t know what a US car title looks like or have any way of verifying whether it’s real

Hello, I am Brazilian and I am currently in the USA, I want to drive from Las Vegas to Brazil, my question is regarding the documents to cross the borders, I have a car, insurance and driver license here from the USA all in my name, but my passport is from Brazil. do you believe this is a problem?

No, won’t be a problem anywhere except for maybe in Brazil. A lot of people drive cars titled in countries other than where they’re from.

Do you have to have a drivers license in all of the countries you travel through?

For clarification, I am an US citizen. I have a Utah drivers license. Will I need to get a new license in Mexico, Peru, etc. to drive in those countries?

No, any license will work

If you’re driving then yes you’ll need a license in case you get pulled over and to get the car permit at the borders

Do you have any interest in selling your van to us for the trip?

Hey Matthew,

Yes, we are looking to sell it soon. You can email us at [email protected] to chat more.

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your grand adventure, and all the most valuable information on traveling “do’s and don’ts”.

Thank you, Mike! We’re glad that our post was helpful : )

Hi , thanks for taking all the time to share your fantastic experiences. I’m from Australia. I would start the journey in the US. can I buy a car in the US as a tourist – or do I need a residential address in my name? I encountered this in Holland : There-was-no-way I could register a car in my name unless I was properly registered in a town’s citizens register, for which I needed proof of registered house ownership or … proof of registered house rental for which the waiting lists are so long one just as well books a burial lot.

You need some kind of address to write on the registration papers and get the registration and title sent to, but don’t necessarily have to prove residency. It also depends on the state, I know many foreigners go to the state of Washington since their rules are much more relaxed whereas in Oregon they wanted me to have an Oregon driver’s license to register a car. There are people who offer a service on the panamerican travel association group on facebook where for a small fee they’ll take care of everything and you don’t even have to be there. Otherwise, you can rent a virtual mailbox in a state to use as your home address and register the vehicle there then cancel the service once you get the registration and title delivered.

I’m really interested in knowing how you handled the problem in Chiapas and the right-hand drive issue at the Costa Rica border. Thanks

Chiapas has a deep history of anti-government activities and issues, and as a result it can be kind of lawless at times. Looking back at it now, the best outcome would be to approach that area with caution, stay and park only in secure areas, and be prepared to pay the locals when they violently demand money for no reason. Travel in groups when possible and don’t let your guard down. As for Costa Rica, we don’t have right-hand drive but the common things people do to get through if you do have right-hand drive is to either 1) stop in Nicaragua and head back to ship south from Guatemala or Mexico, or 2) cross the border at night, hide the wheel with stuff, and create a dummy steering wheel on the left side, or 3) pay someone a lot of money to tow your vehicle through the entire country. In my opinion, option 1 is best because once you’ve seen the jungles of southern Mexico through Nicaragua, there’s not much else to see in Costa Rica and Panama and you’ll save yourself from the torture of the never ending heat of Central America.

Holà, looking at driving home to Canada from Costa Rica, the winds seems favourable. This plan is in its early stages so I might add that I am not rushed at all, and that I’m very much looking into networking, forums, and tips that could help over the next months. I am planning the purchase of the vehicle in Costa Rica but so far my biggest barrier in preliminary research is the Insurance situation from Mexico-North…Tips, forum links, experienced persons would be hugely appreciated. Another import question I have is: tent & bnbs, or camper? Is camping more liberating than a well planned route with safe campsites/bnbs?

(i’ve emailed you as well btw)just in case

The best forum for information and questions is the Facebook group “Panamerican Travelers Association”. Most people who are traveling the panam are part of that group so it’s a great place to get updates on traveling conditions or to just connect with others who are also on the trip. The sleeping situation is probably one of the most varied in everyone’s approach. It’s hard to reliably find places to tent camp so that would be hard to do. It’s also hard to consistently find good hotels/hostels/whatever. The more set up your are to sleep in your own vehicle comfortably with some amenities, the easier the journey without having a need to constantly plan ahead or spend half the day looking for a hotel or campsite every time you move.

Hi there, Enjoyed everything you guys posted. One thing nobody bothered to ask was since your trip was going over 12 months how did you get your renewal tags for the following year since you were out of the country? Did you have a friend with access to your mailbox which then mailed them to your current location?

Thank you for your response!

We have permanent plates from Oregon but if we didn’t then I probably would have registered the vehicle as non-operational during the entire trip. That way you don’t have to keep paying for US insurance and the DMV won’t ask for smog checks. As far as the actual paperwork and mail, we had that delivered to our parents while we were gone. And as far as tags go, nobody outside the US knows what kind of tags your plates are supposed to have so nobody will ever notice or care that your tags are expired.

Hi Joel, Thanks for responding. Is there a difference between Oregon and California (This is where my car is registered) when it comes to plate assignment? So none of the countries you guys drove in bothered you guys at all if the car was current or not on its registration? And what I mean by that when you guys crossed the border, if you were pulled over or not by the police, or especially, when you shipped you van from Panama to Colombia? Because that’s kind of risky. I know for a fact in Chile and Argentina they will expect your car to be up to date on its registration year because that comes up when you need to obtain an car insurance policy in either of those counties. If you guys made it all the way down there without a hiccup you guys were incredibly lucky. But then again you guys had backup because your tags were mailed to your parents house so in the event that something were to happen they can easily fed-ex it to you guys.

Once you venture below the US you realize that for the most part, laws are at most a guideline that very few follow. Nobody ever bothered to look closely at any documents, even Chile and Argentina. In Chile their main concern at the border is pets and food, and Argentina didn’t really care about anything including so called mandatory insurance which most overlanders buy from some guy through Whatsapp and is probably fake. The brand Ram and the vehicle Promaster don’t exist south of the US and not a single country cared, they just marked us down as a Dodge Ram pickup truck which is close enough. It’s intimidating at first when planning ahead but once you hit the road and cross a few borders it all becomes much easier.

Hi there, Three of us are thinking of taking our Sprinter Vans along the Pan-American Hwy with our motorcycles on the back to get to those out of the way places our vans won’t go. Do you know if it is impossible to ‘import’ the 2nd vehicle (motorcycle) into some countries as they only allow one vehicle per person?

Like you said, some countries only allow one vehicle per person so it would probably be doable if there were two people per van and each person had their name on at least one of the titles. The other thing would be that you’ll have to do all the paperwork twice, get double the insurances, and in some countries pay fees for each (although it’s never much). What I would probably do is take something that doesn’t fit their bill of what a “vehicle” is and it wouldn’t trigger a need for an import permit. I’m thinking moped, electric bike, pocket bike, maybe even a Honda Ruckus with the plates removed… anything that doesn’t fit their idea of what a motorcycle should look like.

Hi there. Thanks for the info. I am wondering if there are people who want to make the trip south but don’t really want to turn around and do the trip north. Is there any group…. where I might be able to find a vehicle that wants to come back north?

I’ve never heard of anyone that has done the trip both ways. Most people start at the north, head south to the end, then travel back up to Buenos Aires or Santiago and ship their car back home from there. Europeans do it in reverse order quite often, shipping to Buenos Aires, heading south, then north to Canada before shipping back to Europe. Many people decide to sell their vehicles after doing the trip one way and is a great way to get into a vehicle that’s been prepared for overlanding but are typically in immediate need of maintenance.

Don’t you need a permit to take your car into each country? For example, I know when driving to Mexico you pay a fee and then it’s refunded (partially refunded) once you return. Any insight on this? I don’t plan on returning to the US though; I’m moving to Ecaudor.

Yes, you get a permit in each country as you enter, usually called a TIP. Mexico is the only one that actually charges you, the rest are free except for some spare change to make photocopies of documents. When you leave each country, the TIP is cancelled.

How did you get the van back from Argentina!!

We shipped our van from Buenos Aires to Houston via RORO ship (roll-on, roll-off)

can make this trip with a motorhome? (Buss). because of the roads

Absolutely, lots of people do the trip in Class A RVs, converted school busses, and Unimogs. The bigger the vehicle the more restricted you are in cities and remote locations but your comfort level increases drastically. We found that a van was probably the sweet spot between between comfort and access, with anything too much bigger or smaller requiring a lot more planning ahead for sleeping arrangements or road access.

me and my girlfriend were looking to drive the South America portion of the trip with our two cats. What did you guys do with your cat if you wanted to go off for the day exploring? Did you do any hiking in Patagonia?

we’re trying to be as realistic as possible.

The cat was perfectly fine throughout the trip, in fact she actually liked it more than being at a home. At home she just hides all the time, during the trip we was always trying to explore outside the van every time we stopped and wasn’t scared at all. We always made sure we left the exhaust fan on and a window cracked if we left her. We did a lot of hiking in Patagonia and would leave her in the van with extra food and water, she was always fine. Central America was actually the toughest region for her (and us) because it’s so hot and wet so there’s little you can do to cool the car down. All of South America, outside of the northern coast, had pretty cool weather so it was easy to leave her in the car.

Hey Joel, Laura Thank you for this blog! It is very well written and touches all the necessary aspects of Pan American travel. I am thinking of making this trip from Canada to Argentina solo in a 2-DR Jeep Wrangler. Good idea? Bad Idea? How long will it take (3-6 months?) and how much will it cost in total (USD 20,000?) I was wondering if I can may be get in touch with you at a regular basis for some guidance? Max

You can do it in any vehicle including the 2-door Jeep Wrangler but it’ll be a little harder with that car because you can’t sleep in it. It’s a decent choice, it’ll just take a little more planning because every day you’ll have to plan on where you’ll pitch a tent or rent a room to sleep in. If you can afford a roof top tent and have a way of putting it on, that would be a pretty ideal setup. The fastest we heard of people doing it and still having time to see things was about 8-9 months, anything less and you’re really having to skip too many things and spending most of your days driving. If you get a roof top tent, you should be able to do it quickly and cheaply since you can go faster without spending too much time trying to find the right sleeping place and you’ll rarely have to pay for campgrounds so it would very quickly pay for itself. Email us anytime for more

Hi, one of my fantasies has been doing this trip from US all the way until Chile. Every once in a while I do a search on how to do so and today I found your article and got me exited about trying to make it happen. One question, and of course safety is one of my biggest fears for doing the trip, but how you handled Chiapas people trying to bribe you?

Safety’s a big concern for everybody on the trip but once you get going you learn how to stay alert and avoid bad situations, for the most part. Out of all the people we met, we rarely heard of anybody getting into big trouble other than the occasional small theft. As for Chiapas, it’s pretty well known that certain areas are unstable and should be avoided so most people take a different route to avoid that bad area. When we couldn’t avoid it, it sucked paying an angry mob demanding money but there’s little we could do so we just bargained for the three vans we were traveling with and paid.

Hi, I’m curious how you paid the angry mobs when they demanded money. You mentioned you had cash hidden in the van’s walls, but that you never needed to use it. How then did you pay the angry mobs and how much did they demand vs. how much you actually had to pay? Thanks!

They usually had roadblocks set up and you couldn’t get through unless you paid. Every roadblock was different, some wanted $5, others $20. Sometimes we passed through multiple ones on the same day. I don’t know if the situation is still the same there.

Thanks for the info. We are planning Colombia to Argentina in Jan. Just a small point – in some of these countries you legally have to carry a kit in the car, for example in Colombia you must carry a fire extinguisher that is in date, and various tools.

Did you obtain visiting visa for each country you entered prior to your trip or the visas were obtained on arrival at the borders? (Not sure, to enter some of the latin American countries you don’t visas if you have USA passport).

If you are American, you don’t need a visa to enter most countries in Central and South America. The only country that might require a visa is Brazil (or at least they used to, not sure about it now) which is why we skipped it.

I am starting our trip very soon and I live in Colombia. I am a teacher and also plan on continuing teaching on the road through online classes. How reliable is the internet signal with the Google Fi service in countries like Peru and Bolivia?

Having Google Fi service was definitely the easiest option vs buying a SIM card in every new country like many of our friends did. Internet in bigger cities is pretty decent and you can also find a lot of coffee shops and cafes that offer internet. In smaller towns, it’s a bit more challenging so it just depends where you’re planning on traveling to.

Can you bring weapons for just incase purposes?

We personally did not. Every country has different rules and your van gets searched a lot, especially at the borders, so we didn’t risk it by bringing any weapons.

Did the national parks offer cabins as well as campsites?

It depends on each country and National Park. We visited several on our trip and some offered rustic accommodations, others campsites. Which park are you interested in?

Hi guys! I’ve been reading this article over an over. I’m hoping to do it soon. So, here is my thing. I’m living in the US, and anytime soon i want to go back home in Argentina. I have a dog, and a car so I thought driving back would be a great experience. I’m just interested in going back, so if we don’t do anything just driving and sleeping (on what would cost money), and some food and water, how much would you think it gonna cost? Do you pay a fee in every border you cross or some? I have an Argentinian passport so latin america should be easy to navigate. I have a regular suv car, so not like a ban or big car, will it cost about 1000$ to ship it to colombia? (From panama) -approximately- What expenses did you face only from easy food, gas and some campsites to sleep? Thank you!

How much you spend really depends on you. Our average was $2200 per month for two people but it’s hard to say what you would spend. Some quick math: Assuming you drive straight there without too many side trips, it’s about 20,000 miles. Most SUV’s get around 15 miles per gallon, so that would be 1,333 gallons of fuel, and at $5USD per gallon, that’s $6,700USD on fuel total. You could do that trip as fast as 3 months if you didn’t stop much, so $10 a day on food/water/basic necessities would be $900USD. Add in $2000 to ship your car plus flights, plus an extra $1000 for random expenses or emergencies. Add it all together and with minimal stops, driving fairly straight, not accounting for any entertainment or restaurant meals, and assuming you sleep in your car at free spots every night (easy to do 95% of the time), you’re looking at $10,600.

Do you have route coordinates you could share or a resource to pop into mapping software like GAIAGPS?

100% awesome usual information. Gracias! I’m planning to travel in my electric vehicle. I’ve done a lot of research and have discovered that there are more chargers than people might think. But I’ll also carry a range of adapter so I can plug into anything from a regular outlet (SLOW charging) to dryer, welder, and other outlets. Let me know if you know of any resources about EV traveling on the Pan American.

Thanks for your post and the pictures look incredible. Just added this to my bucket list. I do have some questions: 1. Did you have any issues with fuel? I have had issues using mexican gas back in the ’90’s. 2. Could a car be rented at each country to avoid all wear and tear on personal vehicles? 3. Can this be extended by driving back up on the east side of south america?

1. No issues with fuel since we used a gasoline engine, modern diesel engines that use DEF need some modifications to work with the dirty diesel 2. Probably not, the borders aren’t always by big cities so not sure how you’d get into a rental after crossing and how you would turn it in before crossing unless you took a taxi from the nearest city 3. Most people stick to the west side on the way down. You have to go back north because there aren’t any ports to ship from down south, so some people go on the east side on the way up. We did this to save time but the east was very boring, just long stretches on grasslands with very little to see. The northeastern countries are a bit tough to travel though, both physically and politically, so most people stop in Buenos Aires on the East.

How was the gas situation? Were there areas were it was difficult to find fuel?

We brought a 5-gallon gas can and didn’t use it once along our entire trip. It’s good to have as an emergency but the reality is that there’s gas everywhere. I’ve heard sometimes certain places like Patagonia’s route 40 will run out of fuel but we never experienced this. It could also be that we did the trip in a vehicle that can go 350+ miles on a single tank so maybe if you were going to do it in an older vehicle that doesn’t have a good range, then maybe you’d actually put the 5-gallon jerry can to use.

Wow, alot of great information. I’m retiring and hitting the road to live the nomad life.

I have considered travel outside if the states and the Pan American by highway trip interests me. Googling the trip your site came up. I am so glad to find it. Your article lets me I’m know that its not only possible but doable.

Hi, that’s really an amazing article and your effort and time to write it and post it is much appreciated. My wife and I are planning to do half of the trip. Would love to know your thoughts bout it. Planing to ship a 4×4 or a van from Florida to Columbia Cartagena and drive all the way down to Ushuaia Argentina and then Buenos Aries and ship it back (passing by Peru Chile etc.). or we can ship it to Uruguay, then go Buenos Aries, Ushuaia, and then all the way to Columbia and then ship it back to Florida. which one would you recommend? Second, how much would you think it takes to do the trip starting from Columbia or Argentina, the Southern part only and what would be the best time to do it? Countries we are planning to visit ( Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and maybe Uruguay to Sao Paolo) Thanks again and happy new year .

Hi Sam, the order you do it in is more dependent on when you do the trip. Ideally, you’d like to time it so you end up in Patagonia in their summer (December-February) and northern South America during the dry season (May-September). North Americans tend to go Colombia>Patagonia>BA since they come from the north, whereas many Europeans go BA>Patagonia>Colombia since they ship to BA. We know people that did all of South America in 3 months and others that took a year or more, it just depends on how many stops you make and how much you want to drive each day. I would plan for at least 6 months if you have the time and no faster than 3 months if you stick to only the highlights.

Thank You Joel & Laura Is it possible to make the trip without being fluent in spanish?

Hi Michael,

While Joel does speak fluent Spanish and it did help us a lot during the trip, there are plenty of people traveling the Pan-American Highway that don’t speak Spanish. I do recommend learning a few basics so you can purchase food at markets, buy entrance tickets and arrange campsites along the way. There are a lot of great free apps like Duolingo that make learning Spanish fun and easy! Cheers, Laura

Hi there I’m looking for a partner to make this adventure trip, by Chrisler Pacifica or eventually by motorcycle, Super Tenere 1250. [email protected]

This post is so helpful! Thank you! Not sure if you are still monitoring comments – but I just wondered what month you left in? We are trying to plan when to leave for a 12-14 Month trip and will be starting in Vancouver driving straight to Mexico (so leaving out alaska part and quickly through US)

Its hard trying to work a time so that we get to avoid rainy season in Central, but still get the Salt Flats drive in Bolivia – and Patagonia in Summer!

Hey Melissa! We started our trip in Mexico in December where we spent 6 months. Then we crossed into Central America for 4 months and then spent 5 months in South America. If I remember correctly, we finished the trip in March around 15 months later.

HI! First of all thanks for publishing this article. I’m an american living in Argentina looking to make the trip between Ushuaia and Alaska through December 2024 and Febuary 2025. My friends and I will be 21 during this timeframe and are concerned with the cost of insurance due to our age. Do you have any suggestions regarding this issue? Furthermore, we will drive one way and fly back the other, where would you recommend we start? Lastly, is there any page where we could contact other Overlanders looking to sell an American vehicle in Argentina or sell an argentine vehicle in the US or Canada? Kind regards, Dante

Hi Dante, if you’re talking about car insurance, it depends on each country but overall it was really cheap. We didn’t get medical insurance but that’s a bit of a gamble and completely up to you. Most people start in Canada or US but it’s cheaper to start in South America because a lot of people make it down there and sell their overlanding vehicles cheap which are already prepared for the drive. There is a facebook group called Overlanding Buy & Sell – Americas which will be your best bet for buying something, while the group Panamerican Travelers Association is a great place to get info and connect with others doing the drive. Good luck!

Thank you for this article! I’m in a corporate job i’m sick of & would like to quit and do some traveling before my next chapter in life.

1. I’m wondering how much money did you guys have saved up before leaving on this adventure? I have about $25k USD saved right now but not sure how long I can realistically make it. I live in Colorado & think I would go up to Canada first and adventure around there to get used to life on the road and avoid some culture shock as it would just be me.

2. Did you come across very many people doing this solo?

3. Ideally it would be great to document my trip on the various social media platforms and gain a following. I followed your IG and saw you have a pretty large following. Did you guys have that before your trip?

I may have more questions but that’s all i can think of for now. Just concerned doing it solo & how much i need to be able to do this.

1. We had saved up a good amount before traveling the PanAmerican Highway. We averaged $2200 in monthly costs for two people over the course of 15 months. This came out to around $33K for the entire trip. Canada is very expensive for traveling, but Mexico and south of US is much cheaper. 2. We came across solo travelers, couples, people with kids, retired people…it’s really a mix. There are people traveling the PanAmerican solo although they do it in much shorter trips. 3. We had a social media following before the trip but my blog is where I spend my focus on. If you want to grow an IG following for income reasons, making money on the road with brands through IG is nearly impossible as there is nowhere to send products to. Many people start YouTube channels documenting their trips and growing a following on there to make money from video ads.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi, I am wondering if I would need a title for my vehicle to do all the border crossings. I am financing my van so I don’t have it. Is it possible to do a trip like yours without a title?

Hey Dustin! We replied to your email as well. In case anyone has a similar question, legally you’re supposed to have the title to your name or a title that’s not in your name with something called a “poder” which is a notarized letter from the owner saying that they grant you permission to travel with the vehicle outside the country. I don’t think a bank will want to give you this so it’s tough to do the trip with a financed car if you’re doing it the “right” way. I would advise you to get a cheaper vehicle that you can travel with than a nicer vehicle you can’t legally travel with.

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The Pan-American Highway: the ultimate road trip

Jul 22, 2020 • 3 min read

Driving from Alaska to the tip of Argentina is the ultimate road trip ©Thiagofav/Getty Images

Ask your friends what their idea of a cool road trip is and you’ll get some great suggestions. South of France in summer in a convertible. Safari in Africa in a jeep. Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles.

But you can laugh in the face of their puny routes by answering with the Mother of all Road Trips – the Pan-American Highway (PAH). Traveling from the top of Alaska to the tip of Tierra del Fuego , this is the tire-testing, jawdropping, gas-guzzling journey that will impress all your friends.

History of the Pan-American Highway

In 1889 at the First International Conference of American States, the USA proposed closer links to its neighbors via a continent-spanning railroad. The idea never amounted to much but years later, at the Fifth International Conference held in Chile in 1923, a Pan-American Highway was proposed. This time the idea received a more enthusiastic response from the participating nations, though it wasn’t until the sixth conference, in Cuba in 1928, that the proposal was approved.

The suggestion was to have the highway start in Mexico and run south to Buenos Aires , and it was the financial support from the United States that was key to its development, even though the US didn’t have an official part of the PAH running through it.

Creating the PAH was a slow process, with war, money and lack of governmental cooperation providing constant issues, but it’s now possible to travel the length of the Americas (more or less) by car.

First off, there is no one route. The original and only official section of highway runs from Laredo in northern Mexico to the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, but there are many branches that allow you to cover the full Arctic to almost Antarctic distance, adding up to a whopping 30,000 miles/48,000km in total.

North America

Prudhoe Bay in Alaska is the starting point if you’re heading north–south. From here, the PAH continues into Canada where a few different routes head further south into the United States.

It’s here that things get a little confusing as the US federal government has declared ALL interstate roads to be part of the Pan-American Highway. On our map, we’ve chosen the best north–south freeways that link up with the main and official PAH in Mexico, passing through spectacular landscapes, cute small towns and famous cities like Los Angeles , Las Vegas and San Diego on the way.

The original Pan-American Highway begins in Laredo, Mexico , just across the border from San Antonio in Texas, and continues to Mexico City . A separate route runs down Mexico’s western coastline before joining up with the original road in Mexico City.

Central America

From Mexico the PAH passes through every Central American capital, except Honduras’ Tegucigalpa (though it passes just 60 miles/100km south of it), before it hits the only section that can’t be traveled by car – the Darien Gap , an area of mountains and jungle about 50 miles/80km long, lying between Panama and Colombia.

Environmental concerns and the opposition of local people have consistently put a stop to any road building in the area, meaning that this stretch can only be covered by plane, with your vehicle traveling separately in a shipping container. Crossing the region by bike or on foot is not advisable because of the difficult terrain and possibility of dangerous smuggler gangs.

South America

The PAH picks up again in Turbo, Colombia before continuing south, following the western side of South America through Ecuador (including the capital Quito ) and Peru (including the capital Lima ) and on into Chile . Here a branch makes its way to Quellón while the main route heads to Argentina and Buenos Aires .

Another branch then diverges to Uruguay and north into Brazil , passing through São Paolo on the way to Rio , while those determined to get to the southernmost point of the PAH head in the opposite direction to Patagonia’s mind-blowing natural beauty and the road’s final destination, Ushuaia on the main island of Tierra del Fuego , at the bottom of the planet.

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Article first published in February 2015, and last updated in July 2020.

This article was first published Feb 27, 2015 and updated Jul 22, 2020.

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Pan-American Highway

• 1 Understand
• 4.3 By bike
• 6.1 Alaska, United States
• 6.3 United States (Lower 48)
• 7.1 Guatemala
• 7.2 El Salvador
• 7.3 Honduras
• 7.4 Nicaragua
• 7.5 Costa Rica
• 8.1 Colombia
• 8.2 Ecuador
• 8.3.1 Variant via Bolivia
• 8.5 Argentina
• 9 Stay safe

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The Pan-American Highway is a series of routes that passes through Mexico , Guatemala , El Salvador , Honduras , Nicaragua , Costa Rica and Panama in North America, and Colombia , Ecuador , Peru , Chile and Argentina in South America. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest motorable road in the world. While the Pan-American Highway doesn't have a route through the U.S. and Canada , some people start in Alaska and drive/bike to Ushuaia , Argentina , the southernmost tip of South America . It is necessary to bypass the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia by ferry, however.

The Pan-American Highway is about 19,000 miles (30,000 km) long depending on the route you take. There are many options in the United States, Canada, and Mexico because of the large area and number of roads. Central America has only a few roads going north to south, with most of them - especially the Pan-American highway running along the Western (Pacific) shore.

The Pan-American Highway passes through many diverse climates and ecological types, from dense jungles, to arid deserts, some of which are passable only during the dry season, and in many regions driving is occasionally hazardous.

Most of the route passes through Spanish-speaking countries and thus you should definitely make an effort to learn some Spanish. Not only will it be invaluable in case of any problems (and there will be problems on a long trip), but you will be much more able to get to know the locals and experience the culture of places you pass through and stay at.

There are several modes of travel that are used on the Pan-American Highway.

It is possible to use buses down all the way to Argentina from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska , except for the Darien Gap and along the Alaska Highway between Fort Nelson , British Columbia and Tok , Alaska . Buses are less frequent with limited availability in remote areas especially those in the far northern parts of Canada and Alaska; and in the far south such as the Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. They are more possible and frequent, connecting the more populated areas between Canada and Argentina. See By bus under Get around in a country or state/province article and under Get in in a city or town article for a list of available bus companies. It will require multiple transfers to travel the entire western hemisphere between north and south by bus. Except in the United States and Canada there are no trains to travel north and south along the entire western hemisphere.

If you drive by personal vehicle, it is important to know that your vehicle must be shipped from Central to South America (or vice versa) in order to travel around the Darien Gap. While your vehicle is shipped, you can transport yourself by plane or boat. Driving the Pan-American Highway is certainly possible, and many travelers complete the overland journey from North America to South America (or vice versa) .

While most of the territory the highway passes through cannot be considered "bike-friendly" by any stretch of the imagination, every year countless people do successfully travel all or part of the route by bike. Knowing how to fix minor defects is essential if you want to attempt the whole route on your own as help is often not forthcoming on rural stretches of the highway. A firm grasp of local languages (particularly Spanish) is another thing to consider.

Because the route of the Pan-American Highway essentially consists of a number of other famous driving routes (such as the Alaska Highway and the Inter-American Highway) in succession, more detailed planning should be done by researching each of those sections. Furthermore there are numerous alternative routes possible. Here we can only give a summary with links to more details about various subsection of the route where it's named or defined as the "Pan-American Highway" or "Inter-American Highway" from north to south.

North America

The original Inter-American (Pan-American) Highway begins in Yaviza, Panama and goes up north through Central America and Mexico and ends at the US border in Laredo, Texas. From the north it begins from Purdhoe Bay on the Arctic Coast and follows the Dalton Highway, south to Fairbanks, AK and southeast to Dawson Creek, BC on the Alaska Highway. Between the end of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek and Mexico City (where the Interamerican Highway splits into multiple branches) there are multiple routes one can take to reach northern Mexico, through the United States and Canada, from one end to the other. The Pan-American Highway is loosely defined with multiple interstate highways as the "Pan-American Highway" in the United States and undefined in Canada. The below are the most direct and popular routes between Dawson Creek and Mexico City:

Alaska, United States

In Canada, no particular roads have been designated as the Pan-American Highway. The National Highway System, which includes but is not limited to the Trans-Canada Highway, is the country's only designated inter-provincial highway system. However, several Canadian highways are a natural extension of several key American highways that reach the Canada–US border:

• Through British Columbia

Traveling along the Alaska Highway you can go south on BC 37 to Trans-Canada Hwy 16 from Watson Lake and go east towards Prince George on Trans-Canada Hwy 16 or continue on the Alaska Highway (BC-Hwy 97) through Dawson Creek to Prince George. The Pan-American Highway would continue east into Alberta along BC-Hwy 2 from Dawson Creek . But, some travelers may continue south on BC-Hwy 97 towards Vancouver or Osoyoos Lake, through Prince George and Cache Creek , as a more direct route into the "Lower 48" from the Alaska Highway:

• Through Alberta

The routes through Alberta have been designated as part of the CANAMEX Corridor established under the North American Free Trade Agreement as a series of improvements to the transportation infrastructure, including highways to link Canada to Mexico through the United States as follows:

• Through Manitoba
• Through Ontario
• Variant via Saskatchewan

United States (Lower 48)

In 1966, the US Federal Highway Administration designated the entire Interstate Highway System as part of the "Pan-American Highway System", but this has not been expressed in any of the interstate signage. Of the many freeways that make up this very comprehensive system, several are notable because of their mainly north-south orientation and their links to the main Mexican route and its spurs, as well as to key routes in Canada that link to the Alaska Highway:

There are additional spur routes from Mexico to the Canadian border, through the United States:

The following are east-west highways that connect the north-south spur routes to each other. Interstate 90/94 connect along the north while Interstate 80 serves as the middle tier and Interstate 10 along the southern tier. Interstate highways going north & south are odd numbered while the east & west highways are even numbered:

The Pan-American Highway is also the "Inter-American" which is well defined and often also well signed in Mexico as it is through Central and South America. It runs from the US border in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas to the Guatemalan border in Ciudad Cuauhtemoc, Chiapas; through Mexico City which consists of:

Additional branches of the Pan-American Highway from Mexico City, through Northern Mexico , to the US border as follows:

Central America

The Pan-American Highway is well defined through Central America and runs continuously from the Mexican border at La Mesilla, Guatemala to Yaviza, Panama in the Darien Gap as a singular route. In most countries it is numbered as "CA-1" or "Hwy 1" which passes through the major cities in the heavily populated areas of the Central American isthmus. Like the roads in North America (see above) there are numerous other highways not defined as the "Pan-American Highway" (Carretera Panamericana) one can travel on to get across the Central American isthmus from the Mexican border to the Darien Gap.

• Huehuetenango is the largest city and capital of the department of the same name. It serves as a major city and trading center for the Western Highlands and as the first stop if entering from Mexico.
• Cuatro Caminos is a busy intersection with RN-1 which leads into Quetzaltenango (Xela) in one direction and up the hill to Santa Cruz de Quiche in the other. This intersection is 16 km NE of Quetzaltenango.
• Los Encuentros is where the road to Chichicastenango (RN-15) intersects the Pan-American Highway. The turn-off towards Solola and Panajachel (RN-1) is another 3.3 km west of Los Encuentros.
• Chimaltenango is a town 50 km west of Guatemala City. It is also where the main highway (Hwy 14) to Antigua Guatemala begins for traffic from the Western Highlands .
• Jct CA-10 to Antigua is 20 km west of Guatemala City, east of town of San Bartalome Milpas Altas.
• Guatemala City is in the department (territorial division) of Guatemala, and it's the capital of the country. All the main highways start at Kilómetro 0, inside Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (National Palace), in Centro Histórico (Historic Center).
• San José de Barberena

El Salvador

• Candelaria de la Frontera/San Cristobal
• Santa Ana is the second largest city of El Salvador and a very important one in terms of agriculture and coffee production (coffee plantations - called fincas - cover much of the land outside town and up the hills) in Western El Salvador .
• Santa Tecla
• San Salvador is the capital city of El Salvador, approximately in the center of the country in a valley near the base of the San Salvador volcano. The city has a long history, with origins dating back to the Spanish conquest of the Pipil tribes.
• Cojutepeque
• San Vicente
• San Miguel is the third largest city in El Salvador and center of agriculture and production of Eastern El Salvador . It is less cosmopolitan than the capital San Salvador in the West but the surrounding areas of San Miguel are very beautiful with many beaches around the city.

RN-1 passes through the south/southeastern part of Honduras from its border with El Salvador in El Amatillo, through Choluteca, and into Nicaragua at El Espino. The highway goes through:

• El Amatillo
• Jicaro Galan a town 40 km east of El Amatillo border crossing and 12 km north of San Lorenzo at the junction with RN-5 . From here travelers can go north towards Tegucigalpa on RN-5 .
• San Lorenzo
• San Marcos de Colon
• Managua — the capital and principal city of Nicaragua
• Peñas Blancas
• Paso Canoas
• David serves as a major city, transport hub and trading center for the Pacific West Region such as Boquete , Boca Chica , Volcano , hot springs and many other places. It is the first major city from the Costa Rican border at Paso Canoas.
• Santiago de Veraguas
• Goes over the entrance into the Panama Canal from the Pacific on the Puente Centenario
• Balboa is separated from Panama City by the Cerro Ancon (Ancon Hill), one of Panama City's skyline landmarks.
• Panama City is the capital of Panama. Sitting on the Pacific end of the Panama canal it has long been a point of transit for travelers and freight and these days Tocumen Airport has become the busiest in Central America and one of Latin America's most important transfer hubs. This is where travelers make arrangements to ship their vehicle(s) to Guayaquil , Ecuador from Panama City via the Pacific or to Cartagena , Colombia from Colon via the Caribbean. After shipping the car (or traveling without a car) one can fly or sail to South America to continue the Pan-American journey. Therefore, Panama City would be the end of the road for many coming from North America or where the road picks up again for going north from South America.
• Yaviza in the Darien Gap is where the road itself from North America ends or begins in.
• Puerto Obaldía is not on the Pan-American Highway but it is a remote place where travelers go through to get across the Brazo Leon Rio Atrato Bay to Turbo , Colombia via Capurgana , Colombia. Travelers would still have to fly from Panama City to Puerto Obaldia as the village/town is not accessible by road.

South America

The Pan-American Highway officially begins in Turbo , Colombia (nearest to the Darien Gap) and winds its way down towards Santiago Chile through Colombia , Ecuador , Peru and Northern Chile . From approximately 80 km (50 Miles) north of Santiago the highway continues east towards Buenos Aires where it officially ends. Unofficially the route continues south along AR-RN 3 to Ushuaia , Tierra del Fuego in the southern tip of South America. Alternatively the traveler can continue south on the unofficial route from Santiago to Puerto Montt where it splits again to Quellon on Chiloé Island or to Villa O'Higgins along the Carretera Austral . Going north the Pan-American Highway splits in Medellin . One branch goes towards Turbo (nearest to Darien Gap) while the other continues north towards Cartagena as the principal port where the majority of travelers sail to and/or ship vehicles to Panama for the continuation of the Pan-American Highway through Central and North America.

• Tacna is 37 km north of the Chilean border.
• The road (Carretera Interoceanica Sur PE-36A) to La Paz, Bolivia begins at its intersection with Carretera Panamericana Sur (PE-1S) south of Moquegua . Follow signs to Moquegua and then to Desaguadero (border town with Bolivia).
• Arequipa is a city in the Southern Coastal region of Peru just below the edge of the Altiplano, at 2,380 m (7,810 ft) above sea level and surrounded by three impressive volcanoes. It's Peru's second most important city (after Lima), and the second most popular among tourists (after Cusco).
• Nazca or Nasca is a town in Peru's Southern Coast region. It is most famous for the Nazca Lines, a collection of long lines, geometrical figures, and giant drawings in the desert sand that have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The road (Carretera Interoceanica PE-30A) going towards Abancay and Cusco begins in Vista Alegre, the next town south of Nazca.
• Pisco The road (Av Liberatador PE-28A) going towards Ayacucho and Cusco begins in San Clemente, the next town NE of Pisco.

Variant via Bolivia

Try to avoid areas where cartels operate, particularly in the Mexican states south of Texas. Follow the advice for the areas you are planning to travel through.

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• The Pan American Highway: The Longest Road In The World

Last Updated: June 17, 2024 21 Comments

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).

According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world’s longest “motorable road” . However it is not readily possible to drive all the way since the route is interrupted by the 160 kilometre-wide (100 mile) Darién Gap between Central and South America.

The Highway consists of both official and unofficial elements. The official section, which is referred to in Spanish variously as the Autopista / Carretera / Ruta Panamericana, runs from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on the U.S. Border to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

However, as shown on the map there are extensive unofficial sections to both the north and south of this.

The route shown on the map runs through 14 countries:

• The United States
• El Salvador

It also has links to a number of other countries. In the process it passes through all the major climate zones and many varied landscapes including arctic tundra, boreal forest, mountains, prairies, arid deserts and tropical jungles.

Moving from north to south, the route starts at Deadhorse, Alaska near the Prudhoe Bay oilfields and for the first 662 kilometres (414 miles) follows the Dalton Highway to Fairbanks.

The Dalton Highway was constructed in 1974 as a supply road to support the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. It is a challenging drive, with no services of any kind on one 384 kilometre (240 mile) stretch, and was the first road to be featured in the BBC’s World’s Most Dangerous Roads .

From Fairbanks there is a 155 kilometre (96 mile) link to Delta Junction at the northern end of the Alaska Highway, the next part of the route.

The Alaska Highway was constructed in 1942 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, as a wartime project using around 10,000 troops . Its purpose was to link Alaska with the 48 contiguous states through Canada to help defend against a possible Japanese attack.

It was originally around 2,700 kilometres long but as of 2012 had been shortened to 2,232 kilometres (1,387 miles) and is now paved over its entire length.

The Alaska Highway terminates at Dawson Creek, B.C. from where the route shown continues to Edmonton, Alberta. After Edmonton the map identifies two possible routes.

The first goes through Minneapolis after which it follows the Interstate 35 through Dallas/Fort-Worth to the Mexican border at Laredo, Texas.

The second route runs through Calgary, Alberta and Billings, Montana and then connects with the Interstate 25 through Denver, Colorado to Las Cruces, New Mexico and from there on the Interstate 10 to San Antonio, Texas, where it joins the first route.

In practice, given the unofficial status of the routes through Canada and the United States, many other alternatives are possible.

The Mexican city of Nuevo Laredo, just across the border from Laredo marks the start of the official section of the Pan-American Highway.

From there it runs to Mexico City along Mexican Federal Highway 45 and on to the border with Guatemala along Mexican Federal Highway 190.

It then proceeds through Central America, passing through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. With the exception of Honduras, its route takes it through the capital cities of each of these countries, namely:

• Guatemala City (Guatemala)
• San Salvador (El Salvador)
• Managua (Nicaragua)
• San José (Costa Rica)
• Panama City (Panama)

One of the most challenging sections of the route lies in Costa Rica, where it rises to 3,335 metres (10,942 feet) at the ominously named Summit of Death (Cerro de la Muerte).

This summit marks the highest elevation on the Pan-American Highway in Central America. Indeed, following the completion of the Christ the Redeemer Tunnel between Chile and Argentina (see below), it may well be the highest elevation along the entire route.

The route through Central America terminates abruptly at Yaviza, at the edge of the Darién Gap and resumes on the other side at Turbo, Colombia in South America.

All but the most intrepid circumvent the Gap by taking one of the ferries that go from Panama to Colombia or Ecuador, from where they can reconnect with the Pan-American Highway.

In Colombia the route runs through Medellin and Cali before crossing the border into Ecuador at Tulcán.

In Ecuador the highway goes through the capital, Quito. At 2,850 metres (9,350 feet) Quito is the world’s second highest capital city , exceeded in elevation only by La Paz, Bolivia. From there the route heads south to Peru, where it follows Peru Highway 1, which runs the length of the country and connects all major cities in the coastal area, including the capital, Lima.

On crossing from Peru into Chile the highway enters the Atacama Desert, the driest non-polar location in the world . The highway then follows Chile Route 5 through Antofagasta to Valparaiso.

As shown on the map, there is an unofficial branch of the highway that continues on down the Chilean coast on Route 5 terminating in Quellón on Chiloé Island.

At Valparaiso the official route heads east following Chile Route 60 across the Andes Mountains to Argentina, where it becomes Argentina National Route 7 and crosses the Pampas to Buenos Aires.

Before 1980, the border used to be at the Upsallata Pass, which at 3,832 metres (12, 572 feet) made it the highest point on the Pan-American Highway. However, 1980 saw the opening of the Christ the Redeemer Tunnel (Túnel Cristo Redentor) at 3,200 metres (10,499 feet), which became the new crossing point.

The final (unofficial) leg of the Pan-American Highway runs for 3,045 kilometres (1,892 miles) from Buenos Aires on Argentina National Route 3 to Ushuaia passing through Bahía Blanca and Comodoro Rivadavia.

Near its southern end the route goes back into Chile and crosses the Straits of Magellan via a short ferry ride before going back into Argentina and on to Ushuaia, which is located on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, the largest island of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

Argentina claims Ushuaia as the world’s most southerly city , a fact that is disputed by Chile which claims Puerto Williams for this distinction. While the Chilean town of Puerto Williams is indeed farther south , Ushuaia has a much larger population (71,000 vs. 3,000) , so take your pick.

The record for the fastest trip by car from Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay (mostly on the Pan-American Highway) is credited to Tim Cahill and Garry Sowerby in the astonishing time of twenty-three days, twenty-two hours, and forty-three minutes .

Tim wrote about his experience in his book Road Fever . In 2003 Kevin Sanders broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest traversal of the highway by motorcycle , taking 34 days.

No account of the Pan-American Highway would be complete without a discussion of its missing link, the Darién Gap .

This area of undeveloped swampland, forest and mountain straddles the border between Panama and Colombia. Thus far, plans to build a road through the Gap have come to nothing .

There are a number of reasons for this including:

• The sheer difficulty and cost of building a road through such difficult terrain.
• Pressure to protect the rainforest environment
• Concerns by indigenous groups, such as the Embera-Wounaan and Kuna that a road would pose a threat to their traditional cultures.
• And concerns that a road would make it easier for foot and mouth disease to enter North America.

Over the years, the enormous challenge of traversing the Gap has attracted a number of diehard souls.

The first vehicular crossing of the Gap was by the Land Rover La Cucaracha Cariñosa (The Affectionate Cockroach) and a Jeep of the international Trans-Darién Expedition of 1959–60, which took 136 days!

The first crossing by a standard two wheel drive passenger car took place in 1961 with three Chevrolet Corvairs, only two of which made it out of the jungle.

Up to this point, the expeditions had used river boats for some sections. The first fully overland wheeled crossing of the Gap was that of British cyclist Ian Hibell, who rode from Cape Horn to Alaska between 1971 and 1973.

The first motorcycle crossing was by Robert L. Webb in March 1975.

The first all-land auto crossing was in 1985–87 by Loren Upton and Patty Mercier in a Jeep, taking an incredible 741 days to travel 201 kilometres (125 miles).

Ed Culberson was the first to follow the entire Pan-American Highway including the Darién Gap on a motorcycle.

There have also been a number of crossings on foot, including that of George Meegan in 1981, who walked the entire distance from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska over a period of 2,425 days !

The most unusual walker was evangelist Arthur Blessitt who traversed the Gap in 1979 while carrying a 12-foot wooden cross as part of what Guinness World Records recognized as “the longest round the world pilgrimage”.

Also see our other related maps:

• Is This The World’s Longest Continuous Walk? Cape Town To Magadan

Principal References:

• Pan-American Highway
• Dalton Highway
• Alaska Highway
• Pan-American Highway (South America)
• Atacama Desert
• National Route 3 (Argentina)
• The southernmost settlements in the world

Tim Cahill, Road Fever (1991) Ed Culberson, Obsessions Die Hard: Motorcycling the Pan-American Highway’s Jungle Gap (1966) George Meegan, The Longest Walk (1988) Russell Braddon, The Hundred Days of Darien (1974) John Blashford-Snell, Something Lost Behind the Ranges (1994) Ian Hibell, Into the Remote Places (1984) Mark A Smith, Driven by a Dream (2004) Wade Davis, The Rucksack Man (1976) Arthur Blessitt, The Cross (2009) Joseph R. Yogerst, Long Road South: The Pan American Highway (1999) Raymond and Audrey Pritchard, Driving the Pan-American Highway to Mexico and Central America (1998) Brad and Sheena Van Orden, Drive Nacho Drive: A Journey from the American Dream to the End of the World (2013) Ben Cunningham, The Longest Road: An Irish Pan-American Cycling Adventure (2009)

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Nicolás Valencia says

May 20, 2016 at 7:57 pm

I would like to clarify a point related to Chile. In our country it’s known as Route 5, but instead of arriving to Valparaiso, it goes to Santiago. In fact, in a short section, Route 5 is crossed by Route 60 (Valparaiso – Buenos Aires), before arriving Santiago, capital of Chile.

Route 5 cross Santiago as a north-south axis (well-known as “La Norte-Sur”), then continues on down to Puerto Montt. Then, you have to sail the Chacao Channel from Puerto Montt to Quellon, the southernmost city on Chiloe Island.

GeoNie says

November 2, 2021 at 10:14 pm

It’s on the internet dude!! Geez

November 2, 2021 at 10:18 pm

Hey NicolásValencia. Chile looks so beautiful in its beach front glory to that big wall separating Argentina. I envy you guys and will land in Santiago soon

Veronica Philips says

July 9, 2017 at 8:47 pm

Image what can happen on a family road trip, when your son asks the innocent question, “What’s the longest road in the world?” This was a great read, and I’m thinking it needs to be a bucket list item..

Tom Swinburn says

August 13, 2018 at 7:53 am

Meegan traversed 12 miles a day for YEARS to make his journey. Almost seven years in fact. So there were no sick days, no breaks of any kind? I guess I’m going to have to buy his book. The 12 miles a day was the average, but some days he could have walked much further, other days, like in the Darien gap a mile a day would have been tough. And the elevation changes! The feat seems almost superhuman.

August 10, 2019 at 10:06 pm

Without modern technology, navigating, writing and Reading about this would not be possible. Someday like the Jetsons someone will just be able to fly their own personal vehicle the whole way !!

Ian Sarad says

September 27, 2019 at 5:00 pm

I just did a little research and discovered that it’s actually 30,000 km (not miles).

Muhammad Naeem Khalid says

October 28, 2019 at 6:01 pm

Pan American Highway is 30000 KM or 30000 Miles please clarify

Bill Emerson says

February 23, 2020 at 9:57 pm

In 1998 I drove from my home in Kansas City to Panama…..It was a great trip! To return I put my car on a ship to Florida, and then drove back home. Even though I do not speak Spanish, I did not find language to be a problem. In fact, I had virtually no problems. I have always wanted to do another trip thru South America to southern Chile. Is there anything more that I should know?

Regards, Bill Emerson

Andrus says

September 11, 2020 at 3:51 pm

For a trip to south america, Route 40 in Argentina is far more interesting than the pan-american highway. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Route_40_(Argentina)

September 12, 2020 at 10:21 pm

In Argentina, the 5000 km of Route 40 are much more scenic that panamerica highway.

wayne winzer says

April 7, 2023 at 4:00 am

follow transmigratoty route. easier now than then. I drive Wichita to Guatemala every year

Jane Carpenter says

June 16, 2020 at 9:10 pm

Muhammad I think you’ll find your answer here in this article. Although you may not – it’s still slightly confusing! 🙂 https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/4638-pan-american-highway.html

joana galarza johnson says

April 4, 2020 at 1:51 pm

What an interesting article, thank you. I would like to offer one more reason why the Darian Gap’s closure has come to nothing. Colombian drug lords. Colombia’s notorious Pablo Escobar and countless other drug cartel leaders, hid (and had drug distillation industries) at the northernmost tip of South America. In the rainforests.

Also, there is a new book, To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins (2019) about traversing the Pan American Highway on bicycle, from Oregon south to Patagonia. Lovely book.

Stefan White says

April 5, 2020 at 7:01 am

My stepfather was the mechanic of an Inter-American Expedition in 1953 that drove a Sunbeam Alpine non-stop from Fairbanks, Alaska to the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego, using rafts to cross the Gap and sleeping with headhunters in Central America. That would be preceding the claim made here.

June 13, 2020 at 2:43 am

I just came up with about 22,000 kilometers on Google Maps, depending on the specific routes chosen. Clearly, 30,000 kilometers, or miles, is incorrect, since the straight line pole-to-pole distance is only 20,000 kilometers, as measured on Google Earth.

stephen morrow says

March 7, 2021 at 12:59 am

Mileage stated here is way off…19,000 miles is more like it.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-American_Highway

V CLEVE WALSTROM says

August 9, 2021 at 8:38 pm

Danny Liska of Niobrara, Nebraska rode a BWM motor cycle the length of the Pan American Highway (he hiked the Darien Gap) in the early 1960’s . His book Two Wheels to Adventure is a classic that out shines all.

Cleve Walstrom

Waithumbi says

October 3, 2021 at 1:34 pm

It’s a Wonderful article to read, like now when the migrants from Haiti are WALKING through the Darien Gap Jungle.

jane doe says

August 23, 2023 at 2:29 pm

wait a minute – migrant Haitians are walking the Gap? Haiti is an Island in the Caribbean – how do they get from there to the Gap? Something is off…

Gerard Deveau says

February 6, 2023 at 6:15 pm

Great article and comments as well! A Bucket List Adventure for sure God willing.

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• Travel Tips

Guide to Driving the Pan-American Highway

• July 18, 2024

Road trips are a great way to see the world on your own schedule. I’ve made road trips around Bulgaria and Argentina, and they’ve allowed me to visit destinations that I otherwise wouldn’t have gotten to. If you love spending time in the car racing toward a new spot, you’ll love the Pan-American Highway, also known as the longest drivable road in the world. The journey starts in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and ends in Ushuaia, Argentina, covering about 19,000 miles, depending on your route.

The idea for the Pan-American Highway originated in the 1920s. It was conceived as a way to connect the Americas, increase tourism and fellowship between countries, and, according to some accounts, help the emerging American auto industry sell its U.S.-made cars. In 1937, the plan became official when 14 countries signed the Convention of the Pan-American Highway, promising that each country would quickly complete its portions of the highway. Those countries were Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the United States.

After a few decades, the highway was mostly completed except for a section at the border of Panama and Colombia known as the Darien Gap, an area known for treacherous conditions. Construction of this section of the road was shut down in 1975 over environmental and health concerns, and the governments involved didn’t authorize a resumption of the work until 1992. By that time, though, the desire to finish the road was low, so this area was never developed. Travelers wanting to drive the Pan-American Highway must ship their car from Panama to Colombia and fly or take a boat to avoid this section of land.

To learn more about the highway, I spoke with someone who completed the journey. Dan Grec, author of “The Road Chose Me Volume 1: Two Years and 40,000 Miles from Alaska to Argentina” and a worldwide road tripper, gave invaluable insights to anyone wanting to take the journey themselves. “The Pan-American Highway is the longest drivable road in the world, and as such, you can expect to encounter basically everything,” says Grec. “From deserts to glaciers, active volcanoes to stunning beaches, tropical paradise and big cities packed with culture and delicious street food.”

If this sounds like your dream, here’s everything you need to know about the Pan-American Highway.

Route Overview 

Rommel Gonzalez/Getty Images

As mentioned, the drive totals around 19,000 miles, with termini in northern Alaska and the southern tip of Argentina. Like with other long-distance drives, you can decide for yourself (within reason) how quickly you want to complete it.

“I recommend slowing down and enjoying the journey. If you try to complete the length of the highway in anything less than six months, you will just be sitting behind the wheel for 10 hours a day,” says Grec. “Due to road hazards, it’s not a good idea to drive at night, and I always take the advice of locals and other travelers about places to visit or places to avoid.”

Travelers typically start at the road’s northern end, in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. From there, you’ll drive to Edmonton, Canada, then choose between two routes across the rest of Canada and the U.S. Whether you pick the Winnipeg-Minneapolis-Dallas route or the Calgary-Billings-Denver-Albuquerque route, you’ll end up in San Antonio, Texas, to cross into Mexico. You’ll then go through Monterrey and Mexico City and follow the western portion of Central America along the Pacific Ocean. Once you bypass the Darien Gap, you will drive along the west coast of South America through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Once you hit Valparaiso, Chile, head east to cut across Chile and Argentina, making your way to Buenos Aires before heading south to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world.

Planning Your Journey 

filosofistock/Getty Images

A journey down the Pan-American Highway will take a good chunk of time, so you’ll want to plan your seasons well. There’s heavy snowfall to avoid near each end of the route (October to April are the snowiest months in Alaska and Northern Canada, while June to October are the snowiest in Ushuaia) and rainy seasons to plan around in Central and South America. Luckily, you’re on your own schedule, so you can move intentionally to build your ideal journey.

“Because the trip includes so much, it’s important to think about what you want to get out of such an adventure,” explains Grec. “Do you want to taste all the delicious street food and learn to dance the salsa, or do you want to be in the wilderness as far from people as possible? The trip is up to you, and you can get out of it whatever you want.”

The political and social systems in Central and South America can change quickly, so it’s essential to stay informed about the news in each destination you visit. That said, I’ve traveled throughout each country on the South American portion of the Pan-American Highway and can attest that common sense will generally keep you safe.

“While plenty of people will make overly hyped videos for YouTube or tell third or fifth-hand stories about how dangerous it is or how horrible the border crossings are, the reality on the ground is vastly different,” explains Grec. “Treating people with respect and a smile goes a very long way, even when there is a language barrier.” Assuming you’ve done some traveling before driving the Pan-American Highway, you’ll know how to keep yourself safe and avoid trouble.

“In terms of vehicle choice, I recommend something reliable and well maintained with quality tires,” says Grec. “It’s much easier to get spares or parts replaced before you enter Mexico, so be sure to do a thorough service on the vehicle and replace anything that won’t last.” The last thing you want is to be broken down on the side of the highway in an unfamiliar location. 

Places to Stop 

FEBRUARY/Getty Images

“It’s impossible to distill a two-year journey through 17 countries into a couple of dot points, but for me, the highlights were the times I got really remote and saw places I had only dreamed about,” says Grec. If you aren’t in a time crunch, you can venture off the route as he did to experience all that’s on offer in the country you’re in and parts of countries nearby. For example, although the Pan-American Highway technically follows the coast in Peru, you can head inland to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu, one of the New Wonders of the World.

“I hiked up an active volcano in Guatemala where I roasted marshmallows and poked the lava with a stick, and I climbed a 20,000-foot mountain with a glacier on top in Ecuador,” shares Grec. “In Bolivia, I crossed the world-famous salt flats of Uyuni, and in Patagonia, I camped out wild in my tent in the mountains for five months straight, never once sleeping in a real bed.”

The natural beauty found along the route is almost unmatched among driving routes around the world, and the cultural opportunities are excellent, too. “In Mexico, I ate my fill of five-cent tacos, and in Peru, a heaping plate of delicious food was 50 cents,” Grec continues. “Throughout Central America, I visited Mayan ruins, and in the altiplano of South America, I met plenty of isolated farmers who didn’t speak Spanish, only their native Quechua.”

When you take your time, you’ll see that there are hundreds of places to stop along the route, each more exciting than the last.

Accommodations 

simonapilolla/Getty Images

Some travelers who drive the Pan-American Highway choose to live out of the van they’re driving in. Others opt for hostels or vacation rentals, camping, or a mixture of all the above. “I personally much prefer to camp along the way, either out in the wild or at campsites that have the benefit of a hot shower, kitchen facilities, and people to chat to,” says Grec. “It certainly is possible now to make the trip based on Airbnb, staying inside every single night, or going full van or camping life.” It’s up to each person to figure out which path is most comfortable for them.

Travel Tips and Recommendations 

PatricioHidalgoP/Getty Images

“There is a lot of misinformation and fear around travel in Central and South America, especially unguided and with your own vehicle,” says Grec. “My No. 1 piece of advice is to seek out other people who have made the trip and get their advice and input. They will tell you the reality of travel in those parts of the world, how safe they felt, and if they recommend the trip.”

As someone who spends around eight months out of the year in South America, I can confirm that misinformation runs wild. Any destination will have safety concerns, whether you’re in the U.S., Australia, or somewhere in Asia. This holds for Central and South America, but that doesn’t mean it’s somewhere to avoid. “Spoiler alert: I’ve never talked to a single Pan-American traveler that did not have the time of their life,” says Grec.

His other piece of advice is to learn the language. “Learning even basic Spanish will increase your enjoyment tenfold, and once you can really converse with locals, you’ll be able to learn about the real hidden gems that are worth the effort to explore,” he explains. “With your own vehicle, you won’t be stuck with wherever the bus will take you, and instead, you can go wherever you please, on whatever timeline you choose.”

The Pan-American Highway is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s certainly not for everyone. If you don’t enjoy time in the car, you’re better off flying from destination to destination. However, if road trips are your thing, this could be a fantastic opportunity to join a network of like-minded people and experience continents’ worth of new cultures. 

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The Insider’s Guide to the Pan-American Highway

The Pan-American Highway is one of the most iconic and diverse overland routes in the world. Veteran of the Pan-Am and author, LOIS PRYCE, reveals what it takes to ride the length of the Americas

The Pan-American Highway. It’s a name guaranteed to stir wanderlust in any red-blooded adventure rider. What other road trip transports you from the top to the bottom of the world while scaling 15,000ft mountains, cruising the coolest coastlines, traversing dense jungle, and riding the world’s driest desert?

It’s the ultimate iconic ride but it’s a commitment. At approximately 16,000 miles, you’re in for the long haul. It’s not one to be rushed, so pack your panniers, brush up on your Spanish, and settle in for the ride amigo.

First off, I should point out that the Pan-American Highway is not really one official road but more of a concept. In practice, it’s a network of national highways that link together to make a viable route from Alaska to Argentina (well, except for the Darien Gap but we’ll get to that later).

The Beginning

The idea for an overland route running the length of the Americas was first mooted in 1923 at the Fifth International Conference of American States, but it wasn’t until 1937 that a convention was signed, and it wasn’t until the ‘50s that the first section, in Mexico, was completed.

Now the route is universally recognised, if not officially marked, in each country. If you want to be a completist, your starting point is Prudhoe Bay in Alaska and your endpoint is Ushuaia in Argentina, the southernmost town in the world that can be reached by road.

In the early part of the 20th century, around the same time that a Pan-American Highway was being proposed, motorcycles were becoming widely available to the general public. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before a few adventurous souls put the two ideas together. In 1959, American thrill-seeker, Danny Liska, set off from his home in Nebraska, headed up to Alaska, and then made the long journey south, chronicling his expedition in his book, Two Wheels to Adventure.

More riders followed, and in the ‘80s Ed Culberson wrote the classic, Obsessions Die Hard, about his own incredible adventure which went on to inspire an entire generation of adventure bikers. Of course, since then, many thousands have ridden the Pan-Am and it is now so popular that you’ll find yourself bumping into motorcyclists from all over the world on a daily basis, including Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they filmed the Long Way Up in 2019. But the good news is there’s still plenty of wilderness, side trips, and back-country exploration to be found away from the main highway.

Lois on the Loose

I rode the Pan-American Highway back in 2003 as my first solo adventure, which became the subject of my first book, Lois on the Loose. Until then, I’d barely ridden outside of the M25 so I can legitimately state that the Pan-Am is suitable for beginners. There were various reasons I chose this route as my first big trip.

Firstly, by riding the Pan-Am north to south I would begin in English-speaking countries and could easily obtain any spares, tools or mechanical assistance before I entered the less developed nations of Latin America. My second reason was that once I crossed the US-Mexico frontier, there was only one language to get to grips with: Spanish (assuming I didn’t venture into Brazil). Thirdly, for British passport holders, the paperwork relating to visas and bike importation is straightforward. And finally, it looked freaking epic!

The Pan-American Highway is the longest and most geographically varied route in the world because it runs north to south. In contrast, if you travel east to west across Russia, for example, you will essentially ride at the same latitude for 10,000 miles, through largely unchanging scenery and climate. But riding the Americas is like travelling through a real-life geography lesson, encountering every type of terrain and climate you can possibly imagine.

North America

Starting at the top, in the majestic mountain wilderness of Alaska and the Yukon, you head into the lower 48 states via Washington State and North America’s only rainforest, followed by the grand redwood forests of Oregon and Northern California. Once you’re in the Golden State, the legendary Pacific Coast Highway transports you on one of the most spectacular rides of your life. And, if you’re craving some urban action, you’re spoiled for choice along the way, with Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles all vying for your attention.

By the time you’re in Southern California and heading for the Mexican border, the snowy peaks of Alaska are just a distant memory. Technically, the Pan-American Highway crossing into Mexico is in Texas but this is where a detour is most definitely recommended. Stay on the west coast and cross at Tijuana. It may have the dubious status as the busiest border crossing in the world, but, woah… you’ve got a treat awaiting you on the other side, the Baja Peninsula.

I’m often asked what the high point was of my Pan-American journey, and although there are a multitude of moments to choose from, the crossing from North America into Mexico is the one that stands out. This is where the real adventure begins. Suddenly, everything changes. The language, the food, the culture, and the action starts.

The Baja Peninsula is famous for the Baja 1000 off-road race but you don’t need to be a hotshot desert racer to enjoy the wonders of this magical sliver of land. In theory, you can ride the entire 1,000 miles on tarmac along Mexico’s Federal Highway 1 but that would be a terrible shame.

Even for the novice dirt biker, Baja’s network of tracks and trails across high-desert mountains and through wide open plains dotted with saguaro cacti will be one of the defining experiences of your Pan-American adventure. Come the evening, cool off in the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez knowing you’re living the dream.

Mexico is a marvel in itself and really deserves a tour all of its own, but if you’re intent on sticking to the Pan-Am, you will find it by its local name, the Inter-American Highway. Over the years it has sprouted various spurs and side shoots, so this is your chance to freestyle it on your way south. From Baja you take a ferry to the mainland and then Mexico is your oyster. Head to Copper Canyon for some world-class dirt biking, to the Yucatan for paradise beaches and Mayan ruins, or make a detour to Mexico City or Oaxaca for a shot of culture and cuisine.

Central America

Bidding adios to Mexico, you’re officially in Central America now. If you’re on a mission, you’ll be crossing an international frontier every few days as you travel through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Each one is just a few hundred miles from border to border.

Due to their size, the Central American nations often get lumped together as a single entity but they each have their own distinct character, and it’s well worth breaking away from the Pan-American Highway to explore their hidden corners. Off the beaten track, you’ll find ancient Mayan temples, crumbling colonial cities, active volcanoes, white-sand beaches, and jungles brimming with parrots, monkeys, and even jaguars.

By now, with Mexico under your belt, you’ll be fully versed in the vagaries of the local drivers and the variable road conditions. By the time you enter Central America, you’re deep into the tropics, and depending on what time of year you’re travelling, you will likely become acquainted with the region’s intense downpours.

These tend to occur in the style of a short sharp shock, usually in the late afternoon. But they can cause localised flooding and transform a perfectly rideable dirt road into a hellish muddy swamp. The only good news is that it rarely gets cold in this part of the world, so at least you’ll be both wet and warm.

Borders and Bribery

My biggest headache throughout Central America were the border crossings. Even with the relatively straightforward paperwork for Brits, it can often take hours to navigate the maze of offices and collect all the necessary rubber stamps and zillions of photocopied documents. But the main pain are the hordes of fixers that descend upon you as soon as you arrive. It is easy to feel intimidated when you are surrounded by a crowd of yelling, haggling men offering you their dubious services to help you across the border.

Some travellers take a pride in negotiating the formalities themselves and, if you’re fluent in Spanish, this is viable. But the fixers do make the process easier for a non-Spanish speaker. My modus operandi was to pick one out of the crowd (based on whether he had a biro and some command of English) and then follow him around from office to office.

Obviously, you pay for this service so make sure you set a price upfront and if one of them offers to guard your bike for a couple of dollars, take them up on it, especially if you’re travelling solo. You’ll be leaving your bike and luggage unattended for hours so it’s a price worth paying for peace of mind.

Border posts are often sketchy places to be and it is normal to feel paranoid and wonder if you’re being ripped off. The truth is that sometimes you are and sometimes you aren’t. On occasion, I had to slip the odd $10 (£7.50) note to a policeman, but it’s often easier to accept that this is simply how the wheels are oiled and not take it personally.

Mind the gap

In Panama, all Pan-American Highway travellers are forced to a temporary halt. The highway ends just north of the Colombian border and starts again 70 miles south on the other side, in the Colombian town of Turbo. This is the Darien Gap.

Known locally as El Tapon (The Stopper), the roadless Gap has entered expedition folklore as the most impenetrable place on earth. It’s dense jungle, swamp and mountains between Panama and Colombia is infamous for hostile tribes, drug smugglers, and impassable terrain.

The Darien Gap has seduced and defied many overland travellers over the years and only a few motorcyclists have made it through. In 1959, Danny Liska sent his bike ahead by plane and crossed the Gap on foot, which is challenging enough. But it was over 20 years later that Ed Culberson (after several failed attempts) became the first person to genuinely ride the entire length of the Pan-Am Highway, hacking his way through the Darien Gap on his BMW R 80 GS. But what are the options for us mere mortals riding the Pan-American Highway nowadays?

You have two choices, sea or air. When I reached Panama in 2003, the ferry services weren’t running so I put my bike on a cargo plane, which was straightforward to arrange at Panama City airport. But taking a boat is way more fun and in recent years a few Pan-Am riders have hopped aboard small private sailboats to get around the gap.

This method is generally unofficial so it’s a case of making your way to the port and chatting up the captains. All going to plan, you’ll be dropped off in the Colombian Caribbean port city of Cartagena where all the thrills of South America await you down the road.

South America

After the claustrophobic feeling of the Central American jungles, South America opens up ahead of you like a giant adventure playground. If you’re sticking with the Pan-American Highway, you’ll be yo-yo-ing up and down from sea to sky as you travel through Ecuador and Peru, baking in the desert in the morning, and riding through mountain snowstorms by the afternoon.

One detour worth taking is into Bolivia to travel around the shores of Lake Titicaca, and a mind-blowing ride across the legendary salt flats, the Salar de Uyuni. At this point, with just Chile and Argentina left on the list, it’s easy to think you’re on the home stretch, but the fun’s not over yet. The last few thousand miles of the Pan-American Highway are the most challenging of them all. Firstly, you have got to cross the Atacama Desert, the driest place in the world, and that goes for petrol as well as water, so make sure you carry extra of both.

Southern Chile’s stunning lake district is known as the Switzerland of South America and it’s worth taking some time out to explore along the Carretera Austral, one of the most stunning rides in the world. After that you’re on the long straight haul all the way to the bottom on the infamous Ruta 40.

Known in cycling circles as `The Unrideable One, this 1,000-mile gravel highway is gradually being paved, so if you want the full, painful experience, move fast. By now you’re in Patagonia, the flat, barren tip of the continent, inhabited only by anteaters and a few truly hardy souls. The Andes have dwindled away now, leaving nothing to block the fierce winds blasting in off the Pacific at speeds of up to 100mph.

Coupled with the deep gravel and almost total lack of infrastructure, this is a true test of (wo)man and machine. So, when you do finally arrive in Ushuaia, you will definitely deserve that cold cerveza. Stop, take a deep breath, look out to sea towards Antarctica, and make sure you tell someone, anyone, everyone, that you’ve ridden all the way from Alaska.

WANT TO RIDE THIS?

You can ride the Pan-American Highway on any bike. People have done it on Harleys, Yamaha R1s, Honda C90s and everything in between. I rode it on a Yamaha XT225 Serow. It all depends on whether you’re in a hurry and how much off-road action you want along the way. Even if you’re not planning on seeking out every track and trail, it certainly makes sense to have some off-road capability and semi-knobbly tyres, as even major routes south of the border are not necessarily paved or in good condition. In other words, be ready for everything.

One of the biggest challenges of this route is that you also need to be prepared for every extreme of climate and temperature. You will be baking hot, freezing cold, and soaking wet, sometimes all in the same day. Breathable, removable layers and easy on/off waterproofs will help with the huge variations. The main problem I had was carrying all the clothing for every eventuality. Be prepared to chuck out and give away as you go, and buy as you need.

Due to the huge variations in climate and seasons, and the sheer length of the trip, it’s hard to plan this route without ending up somewhere at the wrong time. If you start in Alaska, you’ve got a pretty small window for comfortable riding, but as you head south you will inevitably find yourself in the desert regions in mid-summer, and then hitting the end of the rainy season in Central America. In the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed so you want to arrive in Ushuaia in December or January. Another good reason for this timing is that there’s a regular New Year’s Eve party of overland travellers in Ushuaia, so that’s something to aim for.

IMPORT/EXPORT

British and European citizens can organise tourist visas, usually for three months in each country, and temporary vehicle importation upon arrival at the borders. You’ll need to get your visas in advance and there is no need for a carnet de passage.

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An Epic Adventure Through Chile and Argentina on the Pan-American Highway

August 19th, 2024

Skyblue Overland may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article.

This Chile Argentina travel guide explores the Pan-American Highway, highlighting key routes, cultural treasures, and natural wonders from Santiago to Buenos Aires, Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego. Discover an unforgettable South American adventure.

Introduction

Welcome to the sixth article in our twelve-part series on the Pan-American Highway. This segment of our journey takes us through the southernmost regions of South America, exploring the diverse and stunning landscapes of Chile and Argentina. As you traverse these two countries, you’ll encounter a mix of vibrant cities, rugged mountain ranges, expansive deserts, and awe-inspiring national parks.

This Chile Argentina travel guide provides an in-depth look at the key routes, cultural highlights, and natural wonders of these two remarkable countries. We will explore must-see destinations such as Santiago, the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, and Buenos Aires, offering essential travel tips to ensure your journey is both safe and unforgettable. Prepare to immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage and breathtaking scenery that define this stretch of the Pan-American Highway.

Crossing from Bolivia to Chile: Routes and Logistics

Border crossing.

Crossing from Bolivia into Chile can be a straightforward process, but it’s important to choose the right route and be prepared for the conditions you may encounter:

• Paso Chungara-Tambo Quemado : One of the most popular crossings, this route connects Bolivia with Chile near the border town of Arica. The road is paved and generally well-maintained, offering stunning views of the Andean mountains.
• Paso Ollague : A more remote option, this crossing connects Bolivia with Chile through the Atacama Desert. The route is less traveled and may involve rougher road conditions, but it provides a direct path to the northern Chilean regions.

Logistics and Preparation

• Documentation : Ensure your passport, vehicle registration, and insurance documents are up-to-date and readily accessible. Chile requires proof of vehicle ownership, so make sure all papers are in order.
• Customs and Immigration : Chile’s border controls are strict, particularly regarding agricultural products. Be prepared for thorough inspections and declare any food items you are carrying.
• Altitude Considerations : The border crossings from Bolivia into Chile are often at high altitudes. Ensure you are acclimatized and travel with necessary precautions to avoid altitude sickness.

Chile: Routes, Cultural Highlights, and Natural Wonders

Chile is a country of striking contrasts, stretching over 4,300 kilometers from the arid Atacama Desert in the north to the icy landscapes of Patagonia in the south. This diverse geography makes Chile a must-see destination on the Pan-American Highway.

• Ruta 5 (Pan-American Highway) : Ruta 5 is the main north-south highway in Chile, running the entire length of the country. The road is well-maintained and offers access to many of Chile’s major cities and attractions.
• Ruta 7 (Carretera Austral) : For those seeking adventure, Ruta 7, also known as the Carretera Austral, offers a stunning journey through Patagonia’s remote landscapes. This route is less developed, with some unpaved sections, but it provides access to some of Chile’s most beautiful and untouched regions.

Cultural Highlights

• Santiago : The capital city of Chile, Santiago, is a bustling metropolis surrounded by mountains. Explore the historic Plaza de Armas, visit the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, and take a cable car to the top of Cerro San Cristobal for panoramic views of the city. See our complete Santiago Travel Guide .
• Valparaiso : Known for its colorful houses, steep hills, and vibrant arts scene, Valparaiso is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit destination. Wander through the winding streets, explore the city’s numerous murals, and enjoy the views from the many funiculars. See our complete Valparaiso Travel Guide .
• Atacama Desert : The Atacama is the driest desert in the world, offering surreal landscapes and unique attractions. Visit the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), the El Tatio geysers, and the salt flats of Salar de Atacama. The desert is also one of the best places on earth for stargazing. See our complete Adventurer’s Guide to the Atacama Desert .

Natural Wonders

• Torres del Paine National Park : Located in Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine is one of the most spectacular national parks in the world. The park is famous for its towering granite peaks, turquoise lakes, and glaciers. Popular activities include trekking the W Circuit, wildlife spotting, and boat tours to the Grey Glacier. See our Adventurer’s Guide to Torres del Paine National Park.
• Patagonia National Park : Patagonia National Park is a vast wilderness that showcases the dramatic beauty of rugged mountains, expansive grasslands, and pristine lakes. It’s a sanctuary for diverse wildlife and a haven for outdoor adventurers seeking to experience one of the last great wild places on Earth. See our Adventurer’s Guide to Patagonia National Park.
• Lake District : South of Santiago, Chile’s Lake District is known for its stunning scenery of snow-capped volcanoes, deep blue lakes, and lush forests. The region offers numerous outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Key towns to visit include Pucon, Puerto Varas, and Valdivia. See our Adventurer’s Guide to Chile’s Lake District .
• Chilean Patagonia : The southernmost region of Chile, Patagonia is a wild and remote area known for its dramatic landscapes. Explore the fjords, glaciers, and islands of this sparsely populated region, and visit the southern tip of the continent at Cape Horn. See our Adventurer’s Guide to Chilean Patagonia .

Safety Tips

• Earthquake Awareness : Chile is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is prone to earthquakes. Familiarize yourself with safety protocols and be aware of the nearest evacuation routes in the event of an earthquake.
• Road Conditions : While the main highways in Chile are well-maintained, some remote areas, especially in Patagonia, have rough and unpaved roads. Ensure your vehicle is equipped for these conditions, and travel with extra fuel and supplies.
• Weather Considerations : Chile’s weather can vary dramatically depending on the region. Be prepared for extreme heat in the Atacama Desert and cold, windy conditions in Patagonia. Always check the weather forecast before setting out on long journeys.

Crossing into Argentina: Routes and Logistics

Chile and Argentina share numerous border crossings, many of which are located in remote mountainous areas. Choosing the right crossing point is essential for a smooth transition:

• Paso Los Libertadores : One of the most popular crossings, this route connects Santiago, Chile, with Mendoza, Argentina. The crossing is well-maintained and offers stunning views of the Andes, but it can be closed in winter due to snow.
• Paso Futaleufu : For those traveling through Patagonia, this crossing connects the Carretera Austral in Chile with the Argentine town of Esquel. The route is scenic, passing through the stunning landscapes of the Andes.
• Documentation : Ensure you have all necessary documents, including a valid passport, vehicle registration, insurance, and proof of ownership. Both Chile and Argentina require these documents for crossing.
• Customs and Immigration : Be prepared for customs inspections on both sides of the border. Argentina has strict regulations regarding agricultural products, so be sure to declare any food items.
• Seasonal Considerations : Some border crossings between Chile and Argentina are closed during the winter months due to snow. Always check the status of the crossing before your journey.

Argentina: Routes, Cultural Highlights, and Natural Wonders

Argentina is a country of vast landscapes, from the lush wine regions of Mendoza to the windswept plains of Patagonia. This Chile Argentina travel guide continues south through Argentina, offering travelers a diverse array of experiences.

• Ruta 40 : One of Argentina’s most famous highways, Ruta 40 runs parallel to the Andes, stretching over 5,000 kilometers from the Bolivian border in the north to the southern tip of Patagonia. The route passes through diverse landscapes, including deserts, mountains, and glaciers.
• Ruta 3 : Running along the Atlantic coast, Ruta 3 connects Buenos Aires with the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. The route offers stunning coastal views and access to some of Argentina’s most remote regions.
• Buenos Aires : The capital city of Argentina, Buenos Aires, is known for its vibrant culture, European-style architecture, and lively arts scene. Explore the historic neighborhoods of San Telmo and La Boca, visit the iconic Recoleta Cemetery, and experience a traditional tango show. See our complete Buenos Aires Travel Guide .
• Mendoza : Located at the foot of the Andes, Mendoza is Argentina’s premier wine region. The area is famous for its Malbec wines, and visitors can tour the many vineyards and wineries. Mendoza is also a gateway to the Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas. See our complete Mendoza Travel Guide .
• Cordoba : Argentina’s second-largest city, Cordoba, is known for its colonial architecture, vibrant student population, and nearby natural attractions. Explore the historic Jesuit Block, visit the Museo Emilio Caraffa, and enjoy the outdoor activities in the surrounding Sierras de Cordoba. See our complete Cardoba Travel Guide
• Iguazu Falls : One of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, Iguazu Falls is located on the border between Argentina and Brazil. The falls are part of the Iguazu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can explore the extensive network of trails and walkways that provide breathtaking views of the falls. See our compete Adventurer’s Guide to Iguazu National Park, Argentina .
• Patagonia : Argentina’s Patagonia region is a vast and wild landscape, offering endless opportunities for adventure. Key attractions include the Perito Moreno Glacier, the Fitz Roy mountain range, and the Valdes Peninsula, known for its marine wildlife, including whales, penguins, and seals.
• Tierra del Fuego : The southernmost region of Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, is an archipelago at the tip of South America. The area is known for its rugged beauty, with dramatic coastlines, windswept forests, and remote islands. The city of Ushuaia, located on the Beagle Channel, is the gateway to Antarctica. See our complete Adventurer’s Guide to Tierra del Fuego National Park .
• Driving Conditions : Argentina’s roads vary in quality, especially in remote areas. Ruta 40, in particular, has sections that are unpaved and can be challenging to navigate. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition and equipped for long-distance travel.
• Wildlife on Roads : In rural areas, it’s common to encounter wildlife on the roads, especially in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Drive carefully, especially at dawn and dusk when animals are most active. Be mindful of guanacos, rheas, and other wildlife that may suddenly cross your path.
• Fuel Availability : In remote regions, particularly in Patagonia, fuel stations can be sparse. Always fill up your tank when you have the opportunity and carry extra fuel if possible. Plan your route carefully to ensure you don’t run out of fuel in isolated areas.
• Weather Preparedness : Argentina’s weather can be unpredictable, especially in the southern regions. Be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and conditions, and carry appropriate clothing and gear. In winter, snow and ice can make roads treacherous, so check conditions before setting out and carry tire chains if necessary.

This Chile Argentina travel guide has taken you through some of the most diverse and stunning landscapes in South America, offering a rich tapestry of cultural experiences and natural wonders along the Pan-American Highway. From the arid deserts and bustling cities of Chile to the vast plains and dramatic mountains of Argentina, this segment of the highway promises an extraordinary journey.

In Chile, you’ll explore vibrant cities like Santiago and Valparaiso, witness the otherworldly beauty of the Atacama Desert, and venture into the wilds of Patagonia. Crossing into Argentina, the adventure continues with the cultural charm of Buenos Aires and Mendoza, the breathtaking spectacle of Iguazu Falls, and the remote wilderness of Tierra del Fuego.

As you prepare for this journey, ensure you have all the necessary documentation, plan your route carefully, and take the time to explore the unique attractions and experiences along the way. The Pan-American Highway is more than just a road; it is a journey of discovery, offering a deeper understanding of the rich cultural and natural heritage of South America.

Stay tuned for the next article in this twelve-part series, where we will conclude our epic journey by exploring the final stretch of the Pan-American Highway through Argentina to the southernmost tip of the continent, Ushuaia, often referred to as the “End of the World.” Safe travels and happy adventuring!

What to Read Next:

Exploring the Pan-American Highway: South America Segment –  Colombia to Ecuador

Journey Through North America: Alaska to the USA-Mexico Border on the Pan American Highway

Embark on the Ultimate 21-Day Norwegian Fjords Crossing

Introduction to the Pan-American Highway: History, Significance and Essential Travel Tips

Exploring the Pan-American Highway: Mexico and Central America

The Ultimate Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide: Explore Colorado’s Majestic Wilderness

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Terms of Use:  As with each guide published on SKYBLUEOVERLAND.com, should you choose to these routes, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road closures. While taking a trail, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course,  follow the #leavenotrace guidelines . The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. SKYBLUE OVERLAND LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individuals following this route.

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