travel adventure alaska to argentina

Alaska to Argentina: Driving the Pan American Highway

If you’ve ever wanted to drive from Alaska to Argentina you are not alone!

The Pan American Highway is a loose collection of highways that makes it possible to do just that. It connects over a dozen countries in a nearly 20,000 miles stretch between North and South America.

Currently there are thousands of overlanders at various stages of completing the drive in part or in whole.

Some drive from Alaska to Argentina. Others drive from Argentina to Alaska.

We started our journey in Florida… so we chose to attempt to drive from Alaska to Argentina.

This is our guide to helping you to plan quite possibly the biggest adventure of your life: completing the drive from Alaska to Argentina.

STEP 1: Motivations

If you haven’t done so already, ask yourself why you want to drive from Alaska To Argentina?

We still haven’t figured out why most people choose to make the drive along the Pan American Highway.

We’ve conducted surveys from those on the road. They’re inconclusive at best.

We’ve made friends on the journey and asked them. Nobody seemed to know either.

The only thing we seem to find consistent among people driving the Pan American Highway is that they all have a desire to try to do something that few people have done.

Some move fast. Some move slow. And some don’t even move anymore because they find someplace beautiful and call it home.

Whatever your reason for attempting to drive from Alaska to Argentina, it’s important that you keep it close to mind and heart. Maybe even jot it on a sticky note and put it on the dash next to the odometer.

God knows the more you drive the more you are going to be distracted from this reason. And if it ever changes, great.

But we believe that such a commitment – 15,000+ miles and potentially years of your life – deserves its own little monument.

Our Motivation

In 2016 we had the vision to drive the Pan American Highway from Alaska to Argentina.

It is really something we can’t quite explain. We just felt a calling in our hearts to go.

And we trusted that we would figure out more about our calling once we got on the road.

At the time we were fostering 8 children in a group home. We also owned a 40-year old fixer-upper sailboat.

And we knew very little, if anything, about what the journey would entail.

But we were inspired by the idea that one day we might hit the road to complete the drive.

We felt it was part of our destiny.

STEP 2: Preparations

Just as people’s motivations vary, so too do their methods of transportation as they drive the Pan American Highway.

Some people drive monster homemade overland vehicles.

Others drive more modest truck campers.

Still more drive vans or smaller vehicles converted for life on the road.

Yet a handful will make the journey on a motorcycle.

The crazy ones bicycle from Alaska to Argentina (we’ve run across a few of those!).

Heck, one guy even walked the whole way (from Argentina to Alaska).

There are as many ways to drive the Pan American Highway from Alaska to Argentina as there are people willing to do it.

Once you know the method of transportation you can get into all of the other details… which are numerous.

How much will it cost to travel in ___? Where will you camp each night? What do you mean I have to ship my vehicle between Panama and Colombia?

Many of these details will sort themselves out on the road. And as long as you keep in mind why you’re making the journey in itself we believe you’ll have the perseverance and endurance to survive trials that might otherwise break you.

Our Preparations

After nearly six months of studying and shopping our options we decided to attempt the drive in a truck camper.

The next six months we shopped for both a truck and a camper. They had to be compatible, durable and… cheap. Honestly, our entire vehicle budget (including purchase, repairs, modifications and upgrades) was $20,000.

We won’t tell you how close we came to maxing that budget in the days before we set out on our journey…

(we had many, many more repairs to make in the first year of our journey so sometimes we try not to think about how much we ACTUALLY spent on our truck camper!).

But we’d love to introduce you to our truck camper if you have a few extra minutes.

Once we had our camper (“Tree Trimmer”) and our truck (“Rocket”) we set to modifying it to make the journey from Florida to Alaska and from Alaska to Argentina.

We’ll share some of those modifications soon.

Essentially we paired a long flat bed with a short-bed camper and created a super-storage vehicle capable of making a trip to the moon and back. Well, not quite.

But we call our truck Rocket because it had 445,000 miles on it when we bought it. That’s enough miles to the moon and on its way back!

With the modifications came the routing, the studying of the itineraries and the saving.

We got pretty good at saving.

But we knew we’d never have enough.

Then we waited for the time to go…

STEP 3: Go!

After nearly two years of preparation and planning, we began the journey to reach Alaska from our home in Florida.

We sold everything that we own. We put what was leftover into our truck and camper. Then we hit the road.

When we began the adventure in spring of 2018 we didn’t have enough money to complete the entire journey.

But that too is part of the excitement of our story.

Every day we have to overcome challenges.

We are inspired to connect with people at every step of the journey and have learned to be dependent upon the kindness of strangers.

We help people everywhere we can, however we can. Our comfort zone is now stretched beyond anything that we could have imagined.

And the value of the relationships with people we have met, served and shared life with is invaluable.

Oh, and Lindsay has Crohn’s Disease and is attempting to be the first woman with the disease to overland in a truck camper from Alaska to Argentina.

Because the disease limits mobility, most people with Crohn’s Disease don’t travel too far from their comfort zone.

There’s really no information out there on how it is even possible to do this.

So we’re forging a way through the unknown to help inspire and inform others on how to overcome obstacles in their lives to pursue their travel dreams.

Whether you want to drive from Alaska to Argentina or not.

The world is not waiting for you to come alive. Come alive now and go!

STEP 4: Adjustments

Things aren’t going to go the way you imagined them – no matter how you imagined them.

And while it could seem easy to advise you to give up your imaginations so you won’t be disappointed, the truth is that your hope for the way things will be when you get there are just as important as actually getting there.

We have always been inspired by adventure and those who have gone before us in exploring the world.

So our first part of the adventure was to get to Alaska from Florida.

You can make it in like 5 days if you drive fast and hard. We took closer to 3 months and 10,000 extra miles. But what a journey that was!

On July 6, 2018 we arrived in Deadhorse, Alaska at the top of the world.

This journey in itself covered twenty states, three Canadian provinces and over 10,000 miles.

It proved to be both exciting and educational.

The Arctic Ocean proved to be cold.

And life proved that there would be more twists and turns in our attempt to drive from Alaska to Argentina than we could ever plan.

That’s good though. Sometimes plans need to be made just so they can be broken.

Life works out better that way…

Where Are We on Our Drive from Alaska to Argentina?

So much has happened over the past few years. Of living full-time on the road. We’re doing a better job of documenting our journey on YouTube. So if you haven’t already done so, please check out our channel and see where the road has led us.

Since reaching Alaska we did turn south. But we ended up spending a winter back in Florida. We spent another summer in Wyoming with a breakdown. And we spent an amazing fall and winter in Baja, Mexico.

But then COVID-19 interrupted pretty much everyone’s plans.

So Argentina is on hold, for now. But as we’re constantly reminded, the South American continent and the country itself is not likely to go anywhere anytime soon…

Just remember, plans are always subject to change. And life is truly more about the journey than the destination.

Cliche. I know.

But once you hit the road you’ll realize some things are cliche for a reason.

Let us help you begin your drive from Alaska to Argentina… or anywhere in between!

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The Pan American Highway: The Longest Road In The World

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”.

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.

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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Victoria’s Alaska to Argentina (Videos) + A Day in the Life

Alongside Greg McCahon’s videos, Victoria Cedillo started a second series following their ride from Alaska to Argentina, offering a fresh and unique perspective on their journey of a lifetime. Watch the first two episodes here, plus her latest video, “A day in the life,” showing what a typical 24 hours is like in 26 minutes…

Main photo by Greg McCahon

In July of last year, Victoria Cedillo and Greg McCahon set out from Deadhorse, Alaska, on a journey toward Argentina. We’ve been following their trip via Greg’s videos—which you can find linked below—and we’re excited to see a new series emerge from Victoria that offers a fresh take on their trip. Victoria is editing these videos on her phone as as they ride. The first two episodes were posted from Ashland, Oregon, about a month ago, some 5,000 kilometers from the start of this incredible story. Find both below, as well as a new “Day in the life” video, all narrated in Spanish with English subtitles available.

I Left Everything to Travel On a Bike (EP.1)

In this first chapter, you’ll see a bit of what it was like to start from Alaska and what helped Victoria carry on through the difficult first 1,000 kilometers.

“This is not a long vacation… it’s getting to know you through what makes you uncomfortable.”

The scariest morning of my life (EP.2)

A few weeks into their bikepacking trip from Alaska to Argentina, Victoria and Greg had quite the adventure in Denali National Park as a landslide blocked one entrance, and the two had half of the park to themselves—without people or cars, and all the nature and wildlife.

A day in the life (Un Dia Completo)

After eight months of traveling by bike, Victoria shared this video showing what a typical full day is like. “In 16 minutes, I tell you what happens in 24 hours. What we eat, our times, how we go to the restroom, how I deal with cleaning and personal care, among other interesting things. I would like to clarify that every day is different, some better than others, and always in a different place, definitely an experience that I would recommend to everyone.”

Follow along on Victoria’s YouTube channel here .

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'A big crazy adventure': Teen who biked from Alaska to Argentina is backpacking his way home

Liam Garner always planned to travel. 

"I always knew that I wanted to go on a big crazy adventure and run away after high school," he said.

At 17, he set off solo on the adventure of a lifetime: biking the " Pan-American highway " from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to the southernmost point in Argentina, Ushuaia.

It took him 527 days, soaking in every destination.

"I've been more than surprised by more than a few countries, and I think everyone else would be, too," he said. 

Now 19, Garner is slowly backpacking his way home to Southern California and sharing the highs and lows of his journey and lessons learned with USA TODAY.

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Why did you want to get away?

"When I was little, I was diagnosed with  Asperger's (syndrome)  and that was a really humongous part in why I've always struggled in school and routine, and I think that was a really big part in why I've become so attracted to the idea of this big adventure away from civilization," he said. "That was always my fantasy in the classroom that could help me get through it a little bit."

What inspired you to take this trip?

"I've always loved nature and camping and all of that kind of stuff," he said. "Before I had a car, I used to bike everywhere. I would just bike somewhere, camp and go back home the next day. And that was originally how I started by bike touring unintentionally, on accident."

"Eventually I did a bigger trip from L.A. to San Francisco, and that one took me eight days," he added. "From that trip, I did a video series that went viral on TikTok and that kind of inspired me. Like wow, people actually care about this, and this is something amazing and really fun for me to do."

Garner was further inspired by Jedidiah Jenkins' best-selling book " To Shake the Sleeping Self ," which chronicles Jenkins' life-changing bike trip from Oregon to Patagonia.

What are some  highlights?

"I'm a first-generation immigrant from Mexico from my mom's side, and getting to go through Mexico and actually really living there for a significant portion of time ... getting to learn the language and see my family and live with them and really connect with the culture was probably the highest point for me," he said. "I've actually seen more Mexico than my mom ever has."

"I was able to see 14 states of Mexico," he said. "Every state was so distinctive and unique, and going on a bike is a special thing because you really get to see the land as it changes, and you get to smell the smells and touch the ground."

What have been your favorite places?

"My top three cities were San Francisco, Medellín and Mexico City. And my top three countries were Mexico, Colombia and Peru, I think," he said, Mexico being his favorite.

"I think it's really easy to create biases about foreign places with all the news ," he said. "It's really easy for people to say, 'Oh, I shouldn't ever go there.' I don't think it's fair for anyone to speak on a place or a person, anything, that they have never actually personally encountered. ... Don't believe what you hear. Go see it for yourself."

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How has your mom taken your trip?

"Progressively as I've gotten farther and farther on my trip and been away from home longer and longer, my mom, I think, has been adjusting more and more to it," he said. "But the beginning phases of my trip, especially like when I first was getting robbed for the first time, my mom was mortified. I think I actually aged her by 10 years legitimately, and I feel really, really guilty about it. But she's been my staunchest supporter no matter what."

How many times have you been robbed?

"We actually just got robbed three days ago. This time, it wasn't me. It was Chloe," he said of his partner, Chloe Zimpelman, whom he met while biking through California. Zimpelman flew out to meet Garner after he completed his bike journey, and the two are backpacking home together. "They stole Chloe's backpack with her passport, her phone and her wallet. Thankfully, we actually found the passport. They had tossed it."

"Me personally, I've been robbed five times on the course of my bike trip," he added. "Hopefully, no more times on the way home."

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What other mishaps have you had?

"In Colombia, I was unlucky and I hit a pothole, going really fast downhill, that I didn't see," he said. "I ended up landing right on my head, and I ripped my ear open from landing on the pavement. I ripped my ear in half."

"I got plastic surgery for that, and I had to get a bunch of stitches in my shoulder, my hip, where I rubbed away the skin, and that actually led to me being in Cali, Colombia, for over a month, in and out of the hospital," he said. His insurance covered most of the medical expenses, and his mom took care of the rest. "It took an entire month plus to actually get back on the bike because it was such a bad injury. I was fully knocked out for about 15 minutes, unconscious."

"But that's the reality, you know," he added. "I knew leaving on my trip that something could happen. And even if something awful, the most awful thing did happen, that was the sacrifice I was willing to make. I couldn't have lived my life not doing this."

Were you scared getting back on the bike?

"Subliminally," he said. "I remember my first week back on the bike, I had a little bit of PTSD, even just biking slowly around the city. I was scared, like my heart was racing. ... I couldn't even control it. It was like a physical fear."

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Who took care of you when you got hurt?

"I was staying at a hostel at the time," he said. "They took care of me, and they actually like rebandaged my wounds and fed me food and shipped packages for me and made phone calls for me."

"People really have been the best part," he said. "The kindness of strangers is the most refreshing, inspiring thing about traveling. ... I don't know if I would have even survived the trip if I couldn't have gotten help from strangers." 

He's also grateful for a fellow cyclist he met while traveling through Oregon, Logan Rekedal. "We decided to bike together for a little bit and after a week of biking together, Logan told me, 'Liam, if you would have me, I'll bike with you as far as Central America," Garner recalled. The two biked together for eight months. "Getting to have a partner through those parts of my trip was amazing."

How much has the trip cost? How do you pay for it?

"My biggest advice for people would be to not get caught up on the money or the idea that (travel) is only for rich people," he said. "I've been living on about $400 to $450 a month, and that's less than my car insurance at home." He started the trip with money he made off TikTok and has been carried by support through the member platform  Patreon  and one-off gifts. 

"If you can save up like a couple grand and work a year and save up some money, you're fine. You can budget travel," he said, adding that bike touring is "by far the cheapest way to travel, if you need it to be."

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What is it like heading back?

"I recognize the streets, and I remember stores and people recognize me and remember me and that's not something that I had on the way down," he said. "Everything was new. For pretty much the year after I left my house, going into Mexico, every single day I was getting farther from home. ... For the first time in over a year, I'm getting closer every day to my house, and that's an exciting feeling."

What do you plan to do when you get home?

"I'm going to write a book," he said, aiming to arrive home this summer. "I'm really excited to write a book, and I'm just as confident to do that as I was to do this trip."

"I would love to do Europe to Asia or Africa, but I think that's going to be a day in the future," he said. "Hopefully I have some opportunities that I don't know about yet waiting for me when I get home." 

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Does this trip count as a world record?

"Technically I am the youngest person to ever start then successfully finish biking the 'Pan-American' unsupported," Garner said. "The reason it’s worded like that is because I started my trip in Alaska at a younger age than anyone who’s ever attempted and succeeded, but I didn’t finish at the youngest age of anyone who’s done it."

Emmanuel Gentinett was the youngest person to cycle the "Pan-American highway," which he started and completed while age 18, according to Guinness World Records . Garner hasn't yet reached out to Guinness, but he may have set another record as well.

"I looked if I could find any info about someone with autism biking the Pan-American and as far as I can tell, there’s no info that exists," he said. "That might be an unintentional record I broke."

What do you want people to know?

"People always ask me, 'Oh, how did you even conceptualize biking for a year and a half? Like that must have been so overwhelming.' For me, I wasn't even thinking about that. I literally was just thinking, 'OK, I'm going to Alaska and I'm going to bike for one day.' And then the second day, 'OK, I'm going to bike today, too.' And every day, I took it day by day, and it became so easy."

"I think if people would just believe in themselves, even if it seems improbable, they might really surprise themselves," he added. "I picked an impossible thing to do just to say I was going to do it. ... If people just picked a goal, whether it was biking across the continent or getting a job, or writing a book or something, and they just said, 'OK, I'm going to do this for a day and see how it goes,' they would probably get it done."

The Pan-American Highway: the ultimate road trip

Jul 22, 2020 • 4 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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One man, one camera, no idea Saturday, Apr 27, 2024

Alaska to argentina, the big one 3 years, 45,000+ miles, -33oc, +45oc, started with my girlfriend rachel, ended solo., alaska to argentina on a honda 90. episode 14 – colombia.

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Behold! The second video using the new and (I hope) improved editing technique.   Keep Reading

A2A Episode 7: Riding Newfoundland, Canada.

This video is the first one that uses the new and improved editing style. I hope you like it. I made a massive effort with this one to teach myself how to use music correctly to add to the footage in most of the video, and not just use it for short sections.   Keep Reading

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Adventure Freeway.. Alaska to Argentina

Alaska to argentina…not your average honeymoon.

Adventures On Two Wheels.. With Tom, Lorna and Charlie The Bear..

Motorbikes, Charlie The Bear and Overland Travel- Our Passion

Tom and Lorna Broadway share a desire for overland travel and a passion for anything with two wheels. Since reading Ted Simon’s Jupiter’s Travels, and then getting hooked to Long Way Round in 2004, Tom has always had adventuring on a motorbike at the top of his list.  For Lorna, her passion and motivation to see the world makes adventure motorcycling the perfect remedy for a desire to explore.  Adventure motorcycling is a something that many people dream of, and for Tom and Lorna it was an idea first borne over a glass of wine, on a rainy night sat at home in the UK. Tom and Lorna hope to show that these dreams can be achieved. From just an idea, to travelling thousands of miles across beautifully diverse countries  and cultures, and all on a motorbike. Is it simple?  Maybe not, but it is entirely possible!

Charlie will always be the original adventure bear.  He has travelled the world on the back of the motorbike and has helped to educate school children on the wonders of travel.  He has climbed volcanoes, swam with sharks and even jumped out of a plane.

Whether you are a serial traveller or a motorcycle nut, we hope that you find some interesting bits on our site that may help or inspire you with your own adventure planning, and remember- you do not need to be Ewan Mcgregor to go on a motorcycle trip!

Enjoy your Travels and Ride Safe.

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Alaska to Argentina; the beginning.

Our Alaska to Argentina (Polar Bears to Penguins) journey needed quite a lot of preparation. This was not just a journey but another life changing event. We decided to downsize and live more simply. So we sold our large luxurious acreage. We had loved living in the shadow of the majestic Rocky mountains just west of the bustling city of Calgary . This had been our home for the last 13years. Now the kids were gone and the place was much too big for the two of us. So with a heavy heart we put it on the market and a few months later it belonged to another lucky family. I thought I would feel envious but instead I felt free and excited.

Adventurouspirits

We then took possession of our new home. A  2009 Titan with a pop-up slide in camper we designed and had built.

This would be our residence and mode of transport for our 18 month journey from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushaia at the southern tip of South America. We named her ‘Chinook’ which is the name given to the Pacific wind that warms Calgary on the mind numbing -30deg winter days. May she carry us safely.

It was quite a change. 35 sq ft. We would have to figure out how to make it work.

 The pop-up provides ample headroom and a comfortable sleeping space over the cab. When it is retracted the vehicle has a lower profile and fits into a shipping container.

A skilled metal worker fabricated and installed carriers for our jerry cans. They also provided extra security. He did a fabulous job.

We removed the bench rear seat and installed a lockable customized lockable storage unit.

It took us ages to find the steel Jerry Cans we wanted. We eventually located some in Faribanks Alaska. Everything is made of plastic nowdays.

We would be spending hours on the road. A functional, comfortable and spacious cab was mandatory.  The Titan seemed to fit all of those criteria.

We decided to do an extended road trip through the states to get familiar with all our new equipment, the feel of driving our rig and adapt to living on the road again. So we headed for Nogales on the Mexico-Arizona border to attend the Overland Expo gathering. On the way we visited a few of the West’s iconic sites.

Janet and I really enjoy exploring new places and spending quality time together. Being on the road really feeds our souls and replenishes our love for each other and the world.

A surprise  fall snowstorm gives us the opportunity to test the cold weather capabilities of the camper

We are drawn the incredible landscapes of the Western and Southern Western US.

adventurouspirits

On returning to Calgary it was time to pack-up move out and head north. Possession date was July 1st, Canada Day. No more excuses time to head north. We spent the first night on the road with friends at their lakeside campground and celebrate Canada’s birthday.

We toast to a successful, fun-filled and exciting overland adventure.

Prudhoe Bay or bust! Our Alaska to Argentina overland journey started at the norther tip of the American Continent. It was a 5000km 1 month road trip from Calgary through western and Northern Canada and then Alaska simply to get to there.

Janet and I really enjoy being on the road and exploring new places. Being on the road means that we can spend quality time together, replenish our love for each other and experience the world through our own eyes.

We took as many small forestry trunk roads as possible. Provincial campsites are wonderful. Simple, affordable and remote they are the perfect overnight stops.

On a short hike we stumble on a rock tucked away under a tree which has a message which is a powerful reminder of why we are doing this trip. Life is short and relationships are precious.

The mighty Peace River has gouged an wide fertile river valley within which a thriving farming community lives.

Every summer thousands of square miles of forrest are destroyed by fires. This is part of the natural process whereby the vegetation rejuvenates itself by cleaning out the dead trees to make way fro the new. Climate change however is possible affecting the natural order of things by making the fires more intense and more frequent, thereby threatening this fragile ecosystem.

Canada is a ridiculously large country, it goes on forever. Endless vistas, comprising of forests, mountains and skies. The days are getting longer as we move north.  We have to cover our skylight with duck tape so that we can get some sleep.

Dawson Creek is located in the dry and windy prairie land of the Peace River Country. As the seat of the Peace River Regional District and a service centre for the rural areas south of the Peace River, the city has been called the “Capital of the Peace”. It is also known as the “Mile 0 City”, referring to its location at the southern end of the Alaska Highway.

For over fifty years, the famed Alaska Highway has been a significant draw for visitors and residents alike. The building of the Alaska Highway is an epic tale that involves mystery, romance, and intrigue.

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour. This significant event forced the American and Canadian governments to reevaluate their security. There was an obvious need to shore up and protect the sovereignty of North America.

Toad River, originally Toad’s River Post, is a highway service community in northern British Columbia, Canada, located at historic Mile 422 on Highway 97, the Alaska Highway, near the confluence of the Toad and Racing Rivers.The Toad River Lodge boasts a “world famous” collection of over 10,000 hats (2016) thumbtacked to the ceiling, many of them donated by passersby on the Alaska Highway.

A unique wedding invitation.

The historic town of Dawson City is famous for its association with the Klondike gold rush. It has been lovingly restored.

The ‘Roof of the World’ highway will take us to Alaska.

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Ultimate bike ride: Alaska to Argentina (and back!)

Liam Garner is on his way home from a "big crazy adventure" that is beyond the imagination of most people. Starting in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, Liam biked his way down the Pan-American Highway to Ushuaia, the southernmost point in Argentina.

Garner, who's 19 now, set off on his trip at 17, taking 527 days to travel the over 18,000 miles. And now he's slowly making his way back home to southern California, along with his partner, who flew down to meet him.

He started doing overnight and longer trips while still in high school, finding them a way to help him past school issues. A recent article in USA Today gives a fuller picture of the trip.

Photo: Liam Garner

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A Seattleite’s epic bike ride from Alaska to Argentina

For many Pacific Northwest bicyclists, the annual Seattle-to-Portland group ride is a major feat. Then there's Gregg Bleakney. He bicycled from Northern...

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For many Pacific Northwest bicyclists, the annual Seattle-to-Portland group ride is a major feat.

Then there’s Gregg Bleakney. He bicycled from Northern Alaska to the southern tip of South America, about a 19,000-mile journey.

The 32-year-old Seattleite was riding for adventure, a young man shedding the 9-to-5 world. But he also was riding for a cause, raising money for the American Diabetes Association through the almost two-year-long bike trip.

Starting from Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay in July 2005, Bleakney pedaled across the Alaskan tundra and down the west coast of North America. In Mexico, he biked through Mayan ruins (and on bandit-infested roads). He traveled through Central America’s steamy rainforests and colonial cities; across the high desert of Bolivia and across dozens of mountain passes in Peru’s Andes, many higher than the summit of Mount Rainier. Finally, after adventures, misadventures and dozens of flat tires, Bleakney ended his epic bike ride this May in the southern Argentina city of Ushuaia.

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He began his journey with his close friend and University of Oregon classmate Brooks Allen. They planned and saved for the trip for years, and biked with memories of Allen’s mother who died of diabetes-related complications a few years before they set out.

Veterans of fund-raising and long-distance bike tours — although nothing as ambitious as this journey through North, Central and South America — the two wanted all the money they raised to go to the American Diabetes Association, not to cover their expenses. So they biked on the cheap, carrying everything they needed on their bikes and staying in ultra-budget hotels, sometimes for less than $5 a night. So far, they’ve raised about $44,000 of their $50,000 goal.

But their trip didn’t always go as dreamed. In Southern Mexico, near the border with Guatemala, they were ambushed on a jungle road, assaulted and robbed at machete-point by a group of masked men.

After the violent robbery, Allen weighed the risks along with the knowledge that more than a dozen other long-distance bicyclists had been robbed, some violently, in Central and South America around that time. For him, the risks outweighed the rewards and he was proud of the thousands of miles he had already traveled. Allen headed home to San Francisco and kept the fundraising going.

Bleakney kept biking southward, battling his fears after the robbery. “That was the low point of the trip … I thought I was going to die,” he said. “It took me months to get through the shock.”

He joined up with other bicyclists, European and American. Old friends flew in to join him, he met new biking companions on the road, and Allen returned to ride with him in part of South America.

Toiling across the brutal, high desert of Bolivia, Bleakney’s wheel rims blew apart. His lungs burned as he rode through pass after pass in Peru that topped 15,000 feet. He lost 40 pounds on the trip: “You just can’t eat enough to keep the weight on.” But Bleakney was fueled by his love of traveling at bike pace, moving slowly and intimately through the landscape, history and people.

His wanderlust hasn’t been quenched by his ride through the Americas. Not long after returning to Seattle and a software sales job, he hopped on his bike and pedaled to San Francisco for Allen’s wedding. Later this summer he’ll be in Europe to photograph and ride in long-distance bike races.

Wherever he goes, he’ll take vivid memories of his Americas’ ride with him. One of those came near the end of the trip, in Southern Argentina’s Glaciers National Park. At sunrise, if conditions are just right, a craggy, iconic mountain called Fitz Roy and other peaks glow fiery red.

“I got lucky, right place, right time,” said Bleakney. “The ‘sunrise of fire’ was amazing; it became even more special when the full moon poked its head out over the top of Fitz Roy just as the peaks were ignited.”

He couldn’t bear to leave the mountain grandeur; he camped another night by the side of a road with a view of the peaks, watching in awe through the moonlit night and another fiery sunrise.

“That morning, while taking some pictures, I noticed the image of a road that I had drawn on my rear (wheel) rain fender in Alaska on the second week of the trip,” said Bleakney.

“At that time, the drawing symbolized the dream of the trip … I looked back at the road I had just come from and its outline was nearly identical to the one I drew on my rear fender two years before. At that point, everything made sense and I knew that I had truly taken the right road.”

Northwest Traveler is an occasional profile of Seattle-area travelers and companies by Kristin Jackson, [email protected] or 206-464-2271.

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Cycling from Alaska to Argentina – The Panamerican Highway

The Alaska to Argentina bike ride is one of the world's great long distance bike touring routes. Here's my experiences after 18 months cycling the Pan-Am Highway.

Panamerican Highway Bike Tour

Back in July 2009, I began cycling from Alaska to Argentina along the Panamerican Highway .

This was a bicycle touring journey which would take me 18 months to complete, finishing in the February of 2011.

It was a cycling adventure which would cover two continents.

Climates ranged from frozen tundras to humid rain forests. Terrain  varied from the salt pans near Uyuni to cactus strewn sands. Punctures would be balanced by acts of kindness, cracked rims by generosity.

It was a true journey in every sense of the word.

Biking from Alaska to Argentina

Although you may be reading these bike touring blogs about the Alaska to Argentina bike ride some years later, you might still find it helpful if you're planning on biking the Pan American Highway.

It includes my diary entries for each day of the PanAm Highway cycle tour, insights, as well as little snippets of travel information you might find useful.

This bike trip took me to some amazing places in central and south America. Even if you're not planning on cycling the entire route, you might still find the detailed information worth reading.

First though…

What is the Pan American Highway?

A Pan-American route was first conceived in 1923. The idea was that it would stretch from the very north to the very south. There is no official route as such, but generally speaking it follows the main roads and highways of each country north to south predominantly on the western side.

How long is the Pan American highway?

The Pan American highway distance from the top of Alaska to the bottom of Argentina is approximately 30,000kms or 18,600 miles. Note: The distance varies depending on the exact overland route taken.

Where does the Pan American Highway begin and end?

The northern point of the Pan-American highway route is Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The southernmost point is Ushuaia in Argentina.

Cycling from Alaska to Argentina on the Trans American Highway

I kept a travel blog when I was cycling from Alaska to Argentina along the Panamerican Highway.

By posting every day, I hoped to document my bicycle tour in a way which would be useful for others.

It also acts as a nice little reminder to myself of of this incredible trip as to where I have been, and what I have done!

Below, I have summarised each month and included links which will take you straight there.

At the end of this post, these is a little section where I answer some FAQ sent in by email on biking from Alaska to Argentina. 

Cycling the Panamerican Highway

Here's some quick links to the bike tour across the Americas country by country. Like many people, I decided to go north-south when bikepacking the Inter-American Highway.

• Cycling North America
• Bike touring in Alaska
• Bike touring in Canada
• Bike ride from Canada to Mexico on the Pacific Coast Highway
• Bike touring in Mexico
• Bicycle touring in Guatemala
• Bike touring in El Salvador
• Bike touring in Honduras
• Bicycle touring in Nicaragua
• Bike touring in Costa Rica
• Bike Touring in Panama
• Bicycle touring in Colombia
• Bike touring in Ecuador
• Bike touring in Peru
• Bicycle touring in Bolivia
• Bike touring in Argentina

And now a more linear breakdown of the bike tour with more in-depth descriptions.

Cycling in Alaska

July 2009 – After arriving in Fairbanks, Alaska , there was a small delay as the airline had lost my luggage. When it finally turned up, I caught a bus up to Deadhorse which is on Prudhoe Bay .

This was the start point of my cycling from Alaska to Argentina bike ride, and also the start of the Pan-American Highway.

The first section from Deadhorse back to Fairbanks is known as the Dalton Highway or Haul Road , and is a notoriously difficult section. I also cycled part of the Alaska Highway, and the odd gravel road or two!

For in-depth information and my day to day bike touring blogs, click the link below.

**Read more about cycling in Alaska**

Cycling in Canada

After resting up in Fairbanks for a few days in order to give my knee a chance to recover, I hit the road once more.

There were some cold, wet days ahead before I crossed into Canada. Then there were some more, cold, wet days!

Along the way I met some other people cycling the Pan-American Highway, some going the whole way, and others doing sections of it.

** Read more about cycling in Canada **

Cycling in the USA

September 2009  – I carried on cycling the Trans American Highway through Canada, where I stayed with some wonderfully hospitable people.

I found a couple of days work on an organic farm sorting out potatoes. Towards the end of the month, I crossed over into the USA, and then started cycling through Washington State and into Oregon.

Special mention to Anne of Guadelupe who was a great Warmshowers host. We kept in touch, and we met up a few years later on a sailing trip.

November 2009 – I carried on cycling along the Pan-American Highway through the USA, and then crossed into Mexico. I took the Baja route, which meant plenty of dust, sand and cactus, and ended the month in Mulege with Bill, another Warmshowers and Couchsurfing host.

December 2009 – After taking two weeks off in Mulege where  stayed at Bill’s place and worked on my websites, it was time to carry on my journey of cycling from Alaska to Argentina.

I had a few days in Mazatlan where I then caught a ferry over to the mainland of Mexico, and carried on down it’s west coast.

January 2010 – After an extended stay in San Blas, Mexico over Christmas and the New Year where I was also recovering from flu, the journey continued ever southwards.

I had ongoing problems changing gear on the bike due to a mechanical fault, and stayed in a mix of campsites, hotels and even brothels (yes, really).

February 2010 – There were some hot days involved in cycling through Mexico along the Trans American Highway, so it was always nice to have a cold coconut or two along the way!

Heading away from the coast, I stayed in San Cristobal de las Casas for a while, and then cycled to the Mayan ruins of Palenque where I met Oliver along the way.

Cycling in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras

March 2010 – Leaving Mexico behind, I cycled with Oliver for a few days into Guatemala where we visited Tikal.

Parting company, I then did a border crossing or two as I rode through El Salvador and into Honduras in this central American stage of my trip. Corrupt officials? – I didn’t see a single one!

Cycling in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama

April 2010 – Central America is quite a compact region, and during this month I managed to cycle through Honduras and carried on through Nicaragua, Costa Rica and into Panama. No, I did not buy a Panama hat!

It was not possible to cycle through the infamous Darién Gap when I was there. Instead, I would spend a few days in Panama City and then leap on a sailing boat for Colombia!

Cycling in Colombia

May 2010 – After sailing from Panama to Colombia , I cycled through this amazing country which I wish I had spent more time in. The people were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and I would go back there in an instant!

June 2010 – After cycling through Colombia, it was on to Ecuador. Think hills, mountains, big plates of food, irritating heel snapping dogs, and stunning scenery.

July 2010 – Ecuador gave a taste of things to come when I crossed the border into Peru. I have to say, that Peru is one of my favourite countries for bicycle touring .

Views and vistas defy imagination, there is a sense of true freedom and remoteness and the landscape is dotted with the ruins of lost civilisations. The cycling itself is tough but hugely rewarding. Again, I would go back to Peru in a heartbeat.

August 2010 – Day after day, Peru never failed to impress me. Of all the countries I passed through when cycling from Alaska to Argentina on the Trans American Highway, this was by far the best.

Rough roads and tough climbs were rewarded by great views and huge plates of food. When wild camping I saw some amazing sunsets. Have a look at some Travel Tips on Cycling in Peru .

September 2010 – I teamed up with Spanish cyclist Augusti for a while when I was cycling in Peru, and we shared many memorable experiences. Leaving Peru behind, it was on to Bolivia, which gives Peru a close run for its money in terms of being a favourite country to cycle through.

October 2010 – My money had started to quite drastically run out at this point, and I took several extended stays in places in order to do a little freelance writing work. I also met President Evo Morales (well, he walked by whilst his bodyguards kept a close eye on me!)

I also cycled across a salt pan – Check the YouTube video !

November 2010 – Not a lot happened in November in terms of cycling from Alaska to Argentina, as I took some weeks off in Tupiza in order to do some writing and improve my bank balance. I won’t leave it so late next time!

December 2010 – I finally left Bolivia, and cycled into Argentina. It was at the stage I realised that it was unlikely that I would reach my final goal of Tierra del Fuego as I was completely broke. Still, I had a good time In Salta for Christmas and the New Year!

January 2011 – After finishing off some freelance writing work, I began my cycle ride through Argentina. Wild camping along the way, I realised that I had to end my trip the following month. As an incentive, I had a job waiting for me back in the UK though.

February 2011 – My trip of cycling from Alaska to Argentina ended in Mendoza with a mix of feelings. I never made my goal of the Tierra del Fuego some 3000 more kilometres away, but I took away with me experiences and memories I will never forget.

Cycling the Pan American Highway

While I never made my goal of the Tierra del Fuego, I took away with me experiences and memories I will never forget. This is one journey that has shaped who I am today as a person, an adventurer, and someone who loves to travel. It's not always possible for everyone to have this opportunity in life so when it does come knocking on your door you should grab it with both hands!

I receive quite a few emails each week asking for advice on the Alaska to Argentina bike ride. As the most recent email had some great questions, I decided to create some useful information on cycling the Pan-American Highway.

Alaska to Argentina Bike Ride FAQ

Although it is some years ago since I cycled from Alaska to Argentina , I still receive emails from people seeking bicycle touring tips . I'm always happy to answer each one, hoping my experiences will help other people.

On this occasion, I thought I would take it a step further. Ben Stiller (no, not that one), who has recently cycled from Akron to Miami, had some great questions. I thought I would use the opportunity to write some useful information on cycling the Pan-American highway.

What was the average amount of money you spent each day?

I was on a pretty tight budget for this trip. Although I didn't keep an accurate account when on the Alaska to Argentina bike ride itself, I believe I spent $13 a day. My basic costs were on food and accommodation.

In North America, I mainly camped and also stayed at Warmshowers hosts especially when cycling the Pacific Coast Route . As I hit Central America, rooms in ‘hotels' became a lot cheaper (less than $10 per night. Half that in a lot of cases).

The amount also included repairs I had to make on the road. It did not include the cost of my flight back home. I have since written this article – How to cut costs on a bicycle tour .

What kind of bike did you use? Or was it multiple bikes?

I used one bike during the Alaska to Argentina bike ride. It was a Dawes Sardar which was the best I could afford at the time.

It had the basics that I need in an expedition bicycle, which are a steel frame and 26 inch wheels.

There are lots of touring bikes out on the market at the moment. I recently reviewed a great handmade British bike – The Stanforth Kibo+ . There is a huge market for expedition bicycles in Europe. If you are in the USA, you might find that your options are limited to Surly.

How was the cell service out of the country? Is there any at all?

I couldn't tell you, as I didn't take a cell phone on this cycle trip! I am led to believe that there is good coverage all over Central and South America. You might even find that mobile data is cheaper in those countries than in North America.

My advice here, would be to buy a SIM card in each country you go through. You can also get global SIM cards through Amazon . They are convenient, but I am not sure that they offer great value.

How did you get past the Darien Gap?

It is not possible to ‘cycle through' the Darien Gap from Panama to Colombia . There are many other options available to get from one country to the other though. All of these options include a boat at some point.

Hundreds of travellers make the journey every year without any problems. In fact, one of the routes has become a ‘must do' in Central America.

This takes you from the Panama coast to the San Blas islands, where you spend some time enjoying the islands. The boat will then take you on to Cartagena in Colombia.

There are many boats and Captains making the trip, some offer a better experience than others.

I used the Sailing Koala boat. I believe the Captain has since bought a new vessel, but uses the same name. You can read about my experience here –  Sailing from Panama to Colombia on the Sailing Koala.

What were any of the major differences when in Canada versus West Coast America versus South America in regard to the society or the people?

There were obvious differences in culture and attitude between people, which is a great thing. If we were all the same, the world would be a pretty boring place!

It's really difficult to describe in just a short paragraph though, and I don't want to generalise. Suffice to say, that 99.999% of people I interacted with were friendly, curious, and helpful to the crazy guy on the bike!

This photo is of me having a beer with the locals in Pallasca, Peru. Tradition dictates that people share the same glass, and pass it around. You can read more about that here –  Cycling from Mollepata to Pallasca.

Were you ever in life-threatening danger?

This is actually quite an interesting question. It is a lot deeper than it first appears.

It really depends on a persons attitude to life in general. For example, a couple of times huge lorries came very close to me when cycling. Is that potentially life-threatening or not?

I once camped close to a family of bears on the Alaska to Argentina bike ride. Was that life threatening or not? I can honestly say that I have never felt that ‘Wow, that was the moment I thought I was going to die'. I prefer to think of it as some situations make you feel more alive than others!

Physically how taxing was the whole endeavour as the months passed?

The most inevitable thing that happens on a long term bicycle tour such as the Alaska to Argentina bike ride, is weight loss. It becomes very difficult, and also a little boring, to be taking in 4000-6000 calories a day.

During my recent 3 month  bicycle tour from Greece to England , I dropped from 85kgs to 81kgs. This might not sound much, but believe me, I was eating ridiculous amounts every day!

My advice here, is to not be afraid to take time off the bike. Take a few days here and there away from the bike and not riding.

Plan on spending a week out every 4 months just chilling. Your body will appreciate it, and you will get to enjoy some of the countries you are cycling through at the same time.

Were you ever robbed, mugged, shot at while crossing through South America?

In all my travels, I have never been robbed or mugged. I have heard of other people bicycle touring that have had things stolen though. (Having things stolen is different than being robbed).

In fact I was more concerned about these things happening to me in the USA than in Central or South America. There are some areas in countries which should be avoided. One notorious stretch is in Peru. Read more about that here – Tips for bicycle touring in Peru .

What's the best strategy for crossing deserts?

I have cycled across a number of deserts on my travels. The toughest one was when cycling in Sudan . In terms of planning, the most important thing to consider, is how much water you will need.

Then you have other considerations, such as navigation and how much weight do you want on your bike. The longest I had to plan for on the Alaska to Argentina bike ride, was 2 days cycling across the salt pans in Bolivia .

Why did you not go the entire way to the end?

That's easy – I ran out of money before completing the Alaska to Patagonia bicycle trip!

Actually, I probably could have continued right until the end by borrowing some more. However, I was offered a well-paid job back in England, and it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down. I realised that it would help fund the next trips a lot more comfortably.

At the time, I was gutted about not finishing the Alaska to Argentina bike ride completely. Now though, I realise it was just another section of my tour through life.

By taking the job, I was able to put a more long-term plan in place. This has resulted in a number of opportunities which wouldn't have other wise occurred. These include sailing from Malta to Sicily, cycling from Greece to England , moving to Greece. and earning a full time living through this site!

If you have any questions about what it's like to bike from Alaska to Argentina or other cycling tours feel free to drop a comment below, and I'll do my best to answer!

One of the reasons I have been blogging since 2005, is to share my bike touring experiences so they might help other people planning similar trips. I also answer a dozen or so emails a week. Here's some of the questions I answered recently on cycling the Pan-American Highway.

Questions answered on cycling the Pan-American Highway

James recently contacted me through my Facebook page about a trip he is planning next year to cycle the Pan-American Highway . Some of my answers turned a bit lengthy, so I decided to make it a blog post!

Question – How much did you spend on supplies to begin the trip? 

Answer- For the bike and the gear, I paid out about the equivalent of $1200. (Some small items of gear I already had, some I bought new).

This didn't get me the best bike, or the best tent – two key elements!

In fact during the trip, I used a total of three different tents due to mishaps.

Key takeaway point –  Spending more on a good quality item upfront and looking after it, is cheaper than cutting costs at the beginning and having to spend more in the long run .

What gear do I use now? Check out this video on bike touring gear:

When I did the trip, this meant a 26 inch wheel bike was the best solution. I'm not sure how things have changed in the mean time, and I know that 700c wheels have become standard for MTB in developed countries, BUT, your bike is probably not going to need any serious maintenance until you get to central and South America .

I'd research availability of parts in those countries, and use that information when it comes to choosing a wheel size for the bike.  

Bike touring is less about efficiency and having the absolute latest gear, but more about having a reliable bike that when it does need repairing, you can easily source parts for, regardless of their quality.

Question –  How much did you have going when you embarked?

Answer – Total cost for the trip – Difficult to define, as I spent more than my own money, and came back in debt haha! I believe that the total cost for me would have been around $7000 – $8000 including bike and flights.

I recently completed a cycle tour across Europe for 2.5 months. During this time I spent 50% of the time in cheap hotel/guestroom accommodation as I wasn't on a budget.

My average expenditure per month on the road (no additional transport or gear costs), was $900.

How much does it cost to cycle around the world ? I believe realistically, your living costs during the cycle trip could quite comfortably be in the $500-$700 per month range, allowing for a mix of wild camping and cheapy hotels from Mexico onward.

You should definitely look into Warmshowers – A hospitality network specifically for cyclists. Lots of great cyclists to meet in other countries who will host you for a night or two!

Question – Sponsorship for bike touring?

Answer – This trip was entirely funded by me, although I did pick up some odd work along the way, and borrowed some money at the end.

You have plenty of time to gain sponsorship (which I suggest you try), but consider what can you offer them? Have you got a great story to share, are you going to film and put videos on YouTube, how is a company giving you some gear going to benefit from the association? Brainstorm on this, but don't be shy in asking companies. Everyone has a marketing budget!!

Question – How far do you cycle in a day?

Answer – The actual cycling, I would say I average between 50 and 65 miles per day depending on terrain. This is quite a comfortable distance to manage. You'll find your own rhythm on this one, but if you do your initial route planning in blocks of 50 miles, I don't think you will go far wrong!

Do you have any questions about bike touring you would like answered? Please leave a comment below or contact me at [email protected]. I might even do a YouTube live stream if there is enough interest!

You might also be interested in these other bike touring blog posts:

• Best Budget Bike Trainer
• Bike Touring Gear
• Best Pedals for Bike Touring
• Touring Panniers vs Bicycle Touring Trailer
• The Best Panniers for Bike Touring
• Choosing the best handlebar bag for touring
• Bike Touring Tool
• Best saddles for bike touring
• Is the Brooks Cambium C17 good for bike touring?
• Brooks B17 saddle
• Bicycle Touring South America

40 thoughts on “Cycling from Alaska to Argentina – The Panamerican Highway”

Thanks for sharing your adventure Dave!! What a journey!! I’m wondering if you have any tips for how to keep your stuff secure while solo touring? i.e. food shopping, going to restaurants, general site seeing, etc. I’ve done some tours in the past but always with others so we always had someone with the gear if we needed.

Hi Zach, Most of the time it is gut feeling – if it is a quiet town I’d just go quickly into a store and not even worry about locking the bike (I’m not saying that was the smartest thing to do!). In bigger towns and cities, I would be reluctant to leave my bike outside a big supermarket at all whether locked or not. In restaurants/cafes I always like to sit somewhere I can keep an eye on the bike. All of the time, I would take off the handlebar bag (with the important things like money in it) and take that with me. I also carry a bike lock which I use when possible.

Great site you have here and loved reading your post of your tours. I’m in the midst of planning my very first bike tour from NYC to Anchorage and have a few questions. On your tour from Alaska to Argentina, how did you plan water for your trip? Are there plenty of areas with lakes, streams, etc where I can use a filter or should I plan on carrying my water? Also, how did you protect yourself from possible bear attacks while riding? Lastly on average how many miles did you ride each day to get to your destination? I’m hoping to turn my bike tour into a fundraising event for type 1 diabetes research. Thanks for all the info on your site. 🙂

Hi Esther, A few quick answers for you! For water : I had my regular bottles as well as a large water bladder. I found places along the way to get water, whether it was from a river which I filtered the water, or from resthouses/campsites/settlements. I always tried to carry enough for the day, plus half of the next day at any one time.

For bears: I did have bear spray with me and never had to use it. To be hinest, the chances are I would have ended up spraying myself with it by accident if I had to use it 😀 I had a couple of sightings of bears, but for the most part I think they are more wary of humans and unlikely to attack unless they sense/need food. I used food containers and hung food from a bag in the tree when camping.

Average miles per day: It really varied depending on the day, and actually I had a terrible time during my first two week of the tour with a knee problem. I found that the 24 hour sunlight encouraged me to cycle for longer, which was not necessarily a good thing. Happy Tailwinds for your tour!

Hi Dave! Such a great blog! Seriously thinking about doing part of your cycle trip early next year! Jealous you had 18 months – I have around 3? So was thinking of doing Columbia-Guatamala or there abouts? What was the weather like when you were there? Were the paths clearly marked or did you just make it up as you went along? Did you get the bike when you were out there or fly with your own? SO many qs so feel free to email me if easier! Thanks! Kate

Hi Kate, Great to hear you’re planning a cycle tour – and I hope you have a fantastic time when there! I’ll answer in brief – but feel free to email me any specific questions to [email protected] . Colombia to Guatemala – Nice section, keep in mind you’ll have to have a boat ride between Colombia and Panama (almost one of the first things you’ll do). Weather: Outrageously hot when I was in Central America! Very humid in parts as well. Route – Made it up as I went along, although after a while there’s only so many options you can really take unless you decide you want to head off on rough tracks through the jungle! It’s a few years since I did the tour, and Google maps has come a long way since, so planning a route is a little easier I think. Bike – I flew out with my bike and gear. However, for a 3 month trip and especially starting in Colombia (big cycling country!!), you could buy a cheapy out there and see what happens. I did meet a couple of people on 50 dollar bikes, so it’s possible, and you’ll almost certainly have a crash course in bike repairs along the way!! 😀

Hi. My grandfather and his brother were the first to make this bike trip-from Buenos Aires to Fairbanks. The Rocasalvo brothers who are both still alive. I have a couple private comments if you can possibly message me?

I would love to hear more about it!

Hey Dave! Super awesome accomplishment! I was wondering..how did you physically prepare for this trip? Thanks for the feedback buddy:)

Thank you very much! Training for that trip mainly consisted of cycling to work and back most days before the trip, and long weekend rides where possible. Mostly, people become fit on the tour. Hope this helps, and that you are planning your own cycling trip!

Dave! Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. I understand that a lot changes while on the journey, but what kind of resources did you use for route planning?

How do you fund all these trips?

Hi Thomas, Basically I work and save! And I’ve done most of that on very low paying jobs. Right now, I have started working online for myself, and am putting together information on how to plan and save for long term travel. Sign up for the email newsletter, and when I release the ebook, you will be one of the first to know!

Thanks Dave for your amazing story. After cycling a 15,000 km tour d’Australia for a year, I’m considering what’s next and longer and I have bookmarked your page!

Congrats on your travels!!! I want to ask you if you would recommend a Mountain or Touring bike to go from Alaska to Patagonia? Regards,

Difficult question to answer! I would recommend a touring bike – but built like a mountain bike! I would choose rigid forks, and v-brakes (others disagree) In my opinion this bike – https://www.davestravelpages.com/stanforth-kibo-expedition-bicycle-travel-the-world-by-bike has great specs for the Alaska to Argentina route.

Hey man I’m super stoked on what you did! I’m in Nicaragua right now and thinking of a less conventional way to travel from here down through South America. How much Spanish did you know? Did you cook you own food most of the time while in central and South America?

Hi Cameron! Sorry for the late reply! I knew a little Spanish, but of course, learned more along the way. The basic phrases are very easy to learn, and then expanding on them is a daily process. In central america, I cooked or made food for myself a lot of the time. In south america, the food was so cheap, that getting a cooked meal in a little village would often cost less than 2 dollars, so i preferred to do that.

I hope you enjoy your trip!

I’ve been longing to do this trip. 2 concerns:

Bears in North America Safety in Central America

It’s a great bicycle trip… so I hope you get the chance to do it! 1. bears in North America – yes, there are some! I haven’t heard of a cyclist being attacked yet. There are various ‘rules’ to follow in bear country, such as hanging food up in a tree, cooking away from camp etc. Follow these, and there is no problem at all. 2. Central America safety – I have travelled through central america many times, and never had a problem. Common sense rules always apply of course! Further south, there is an area of Peru on the coastal route which is best avoided… besides, the mountains are more challenging and beautiful anyway! Hope you get to do the trip, and if you write about it, let me know so I can follow along!

Hi there. I am planning a tour from Vancouver Canada to Anchorage Alaka and back. I am however very concerned about bears as well. Dont really know if i dsre stay out at night at all. Where were you staying…..tenting warmshowers … ? Thank you Vidko

Hi, I wild camped and also used warmshowers. I saw bears on several occasions, but was always careful when i camped to keep the food away from the tent. There are also plenty of official campsites along the route to use if you preferred that 😉

Wow, what an amazing journey! I’m sure you’re an inspiration to a lot of cyclists out there!

Thanks very much!

Wow what an awesome journey! Congrats! We went from the Arctic Circle in the Yukon to Mexico City in an RV in 4 months in 2009, August to November! Such things are always epic.

Great round up Dave! I’m currently cycling in Ecuador. I’m really looking forward to Peru and all the impressive views.

As i look back on it now, I should have spent longer in Ecuador… but Peru!!! Amazing country to cycle through. You are in for a real treat there!

What an epic trip! Amazing really, reminds me of a couple of friends who cycled across from London to Melbourne (obviously a couple of flights along the way). This changes you, doesn’t it?

Hello there Dave,

I am 21, love travelling. I’ve just sailed across the Atlantic and I’ve been looking for inspiration for the next thing. So my next grand idea which I’m trying to figure out the technicalities of is to cycle around the world, I’ve been researching the current female record holder, Juliana burnham who did the 18,000 miles over 156 days. All the website online are awful at telling you the road distance between countries! They all keep telling me as the crow flies. Do you know of a good reliable website that calculates a route distance?

Congrats on sailing the Atlantic! Its something i would love to do, apart from the fact that I only need to look at a choppy ocean to get sick!

A cycle around the world challenge sounds like a great idea for your next adventure. From the sounds of it, you would like to try and do it in as quick a time as possible? There’s a couple of things you will need to do I guess. Firstly, work out what route constitutes an ‘around the world’ cycle ride. For official records, Guinness are probably the people to approach. Once you have the rules in regards to what constitutes a route, you could then start planning it. A speed record is going to rely on mainly sealed main roads, and as such, your best bet would probably be to just use Google maps to work out the exact mileage. A few of the speed record holders and most prominent cyclists have website where you could glean more information.

Personally though, I would say forget the challenge of doing it as fast as you can… Take your time and enjoy the countries you cycle through 🙂

Wow great blog! I am planning a bike tour in about a year and considering the pan American highway. I’m curious: how much bike touring experience did you have prior to this trip? How much money did you start with from Alaska (if you wish to answer this privately please feel free to email me)? Thanks!!

Or better yet, how about how much money did you end up spending during the entire trip?

Hi Kristen, The Pan-American cycle trip is a great one to choose, and I hope you enjoy cycling it as much as I did! In reply to your question – My spend worked out to be 15 dollars a day. This included my day to day expenses, as well as unforseen expenses such as replacing a back wheel, a new derailleur, new tent, chains etc. What this doesn’t cover though, are my additional travel expenses such as flights, and the boat trip from Panama to Colombia. Hope this is of some help, and drop me a line if you need any more info 😉

Wow. Fifteen dollars a day. Not bad. I wonder how much it would be today?

Your adventures are awesome inspiring. I have done a few tours but nothing of this magnitude.

Great blog. I will bookmark and come back often. I love the depth of your post here.

So awesome! You saw so many amazing places in the coolest way possible! I have been seriously contemplating doing this, though I don’t have the ability to do it for 18 months straight. Perhaps chiseling away a few months at a time over the span of many years is more feasible for me! I rode by bike across the continental US and through Europe and bicycle touring became the most enjoyable way to travel and meet people!

Yep, bicycle touring really is the perfect way to see a country, whether it is days, weeks or months at a time 🙂

hey! i’m planning on doing this trip after i graduate university, just wondering how much money you had saved up for your trip before going! also what type of tires/bike/any other important gear you used! would love to hear from you 🙂

Hi Tim, My budget for the trip was pretty small. Take out any flights and start up costs such as gear and bike and it was about 10 pounds a day. When it comes to gear, buy the best you can afford but dont get too hung up about it. My very first trip around New Zealand i bought a 200 dollar bike from a shop and had either cheap or second hand gear! Take a look at my youtube channel about a gear list i took for 1 week. Its not all that different from an extended tour. Hope you enjoy your cycling tour! If you think of any specifics to ask, just drop me a line 😉

This is amazing – my family and I are staying in a hotel in Oaxaca next to the Pan American Highway and I started thinking about what it would be like to bike down the highway from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. I do a Google search and the first website is yours. What a coincidence!

David Briggs New York City

Hi !! Always good to hear from other Dave Briggs’ from around the world! I really liked Oaxaca when I was there last. In regards to cycling the Pan American Highway – Do it! It really is a great long distance bicycle route, and the sights, sounds and experiences will stay with you for a lifetime!

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This 19-Year-Old Biked From Alaska to Argentina

Liam Garner traveled nearly 20,000 miles and documented the journey on TikTok

Julia Binswanger

Daily Correspondent

On August 1, 2021, Liam Garner strapped a tent and sleeping bag to his KHS Zaca mountain bike and started pedaling south. While his peers prepared for their first semester of college, the 17-year-old from Long Beach, California, had another plan: He decided he was going to bike his way from Alaska to Argentina. 

He would start at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the northernmost point in the United States accessible by road. His goal was to reach the southernmost point of South America, Ushuaia, Argentina. His budget was $450 a month.

“I spent the entire month after I graduated just getting the equipment and then I left,” Garner tells CNN ’s Tamara Hardingham-Gill. “It was really rapid. It wasn’t planned out very hard to begin with.”

Garner had already ridden from Los Angeles to San Francisco, a trip he documented on TikTok . Later, according to USA Today ’s Eve Chen, he read To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins, which chronicles the author’s cycling journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and realized he wanted to think bigger.

“I hadn’t ridden a bike in over six months, and I didn’t even have a bike until the month I left,” Garner tells Insider ’ s Aditi Bharade. “It’s good to have blind confidence in yourself, sometimes.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Liam Garner (@liamtheimpaler)

According to Insider , Garner’s mother worried for her son’s safety and had misgivings about the trip. The teen didn’t even let his father in on his plans until he was already in Alaska. Eventually, however, both parents became his “biggest supporters,” he says.

The trip was not without its setbacks, including multiple robberies, intense weather and one severe injury. At one point, after biking multiple days in a southern Mexican jungle with over 100 degree heat, he and a friend who joined a leg of the trip almost called it quits.

“[My friend] talked to me and said, ‘Hey, if it continues like this, and it gets any hotter in Central America, let’s just agree to take a bus because there’s no point in suffering,’” says Garner to NPR ’s A. Martínez. Luckily, when the two made it to Guatemala, the weather had cooled and the pair continued on.

At another point, in Colombia, Garner hit a pothole going downhill and landed on his head without a helmet. “I just remember waking up covered in blood and I didn’t even know what happened,” he says in a series of videos compiled by BBC News . “I had to get over 40 stitches. They did plastic surgery to stitch my ear back together, and that ended up taking an entire month in and out of the hospital.”

Still, Garner has no regrets.

“When I was little, I was diagnosed with Asperger’s,” he says to USA Today . “I’ve always struggled in school and routine, and I think that was a really big part in why I’ve become so attracted to the idea of this big adventure away from civilization.”

Garner is a first generation Mexican-American immigrant, and he says the trip helped him connect with his roots. “My whole family is from Mexico,” he tells CNN. “So crossing the entire country on a bike and reconnecting with my culture and staying with my family and learning the language in the place my family is from was so deeply important to me.”

On January 10, 2023, Garner finally reached his destination, Ushuaia. He had biked nearly 20,000 miles through 14 countries over 527 days.

“I’ve biked through Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, everything from there to here, and now I’m standing here at the end of the world,” he said in a TikTok upon arrival. “When I graduated high school I wanted to do something so absurd and incredibly unbelievable that if I managed to pull it off somehow, I would never be able to doubt myself again.”

Despite the long journey, he decided against taking a quick flight back to California. Instead, the cyclist is currently backpacking his way back home.

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Julia Binswanger | READ MORE

Julia Binswanger is a freelance arts and culture reporter based in Chicago. Her work has been featured in WBEZ,  Chicago magazine,  Rebellious magazine and  PC magazine. 

Wednesday, 1 May, 2024

This 17-year-old cycled from Alaska to Argentina

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Mauricio Ruiz is a writer and journalist who has lived in the US, Belgium, Mexico and Norway. His work has appeared in  Words Without Borders, Catapult ,  The Common ,  The Rumpus ,  Electric Literature ,  JMWW ,  River Teeth ,  Literal Magazine , among others. He’s been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and Myriad Editions Competition in the UK, as well as the Fish Short Story Prize in Ireland. He has received fellowships from OMI writers (NY), Société des auteurs (Belgium), Jakob Sande (Norway), Can Serrat (Spain), and the Three Seas’ Council (Rhodes). His second book, Silencios al sur , was published in early 2017, and his work has partially been translated into Dutch and French. Mauricio Ruiz can be followed on Twitter and Instagram .

Liam Garner, a 17-year-old teenager from Long Beach, California, set out on a 527-day cycling adventure beginning on August 1st, 2021, from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, riding through 14 countries along the Pan American Highway, a network of roads that stretches across the Americas. He made the trip with a KHS Zaca mountain bike carrying a tent, a sleeping bag, about a day’s worth of food and water, some portable batteries, a first aid kit and spare parts for his bike.

After reading a book by adventurer Jedidiah Jenkins, who biked from Oregon to Argentina, Garner decided to bike from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the northernmost point in the United States accessible by road, to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost point in South America. And while many of his school friends were preparing for college, Garner began preparing for the adventure of a lifetime.

“The goal of this trip was to prove to myself that even if I chose something ridiculous and impossible to try, I would do it with enough determination,” Garner said. Knowing he didn’t want to attend college immediately after graduating high school, Garner set out to ride a bike a few weeks before graduation.

I wanted to discover myself and the world. Liam Garner

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Liam Garner (@liamtheimpaler)

Feeling confined in California, Garner knew this journey was a way to find himself. Friends and family expressed concern for his safety as the trial traversed treacherous terrain and cities. “My parents told me no. They were terrified of the idea.” Garner’s family strongly opposed his attempt to complete the trial. However, after Garner’s persuasion, his parents allowed him to at least try.

Garner faced some difficulties along his journey, most of which took him along the Pan-American Highway. There were the everyday aches and pains that all long-distance cyclists are familiar with but Garner also had his passport stolen, was robbed twice, suffered strep throat and a double ear infection. In Colombia, he suffered a severe handlebar collision that left him with 40 stitches, a detached ear and a month of recovery time.

It’s the most intimate way to travel. You have to physically work to get to places. Liam Garner

He has also commented on the fact that some people believe he’s only able to travel this way “because he’s a straight white, rich guy.” He believes, however, this description is not accurate .“I am a first generation Mexican immigrant,” he told CNN. “And I’m not rich. This was self-supported. I’ve seen people of all ethnicities, solo and with partners, in every country that I’ve been in. It’s really available to everyone.”

Garner spent four and half months cycling across Mexico. The experience, he says, was one of the most significant of his life. “My whole family is from Mexico,” he told CNN. “I grew up going to Mexico but I never learned the language. It’s one thing to visit every year, and it’s one thing to live there.”

According to his Instagram account, Garner is currently backpacking north, hoping to walk all the way back home to Los Angeles. He is also doing so in the company of his partner Chloe, a woman he struck up a relationship with while biking from Alaska to Argentina.

When he returns home, Garner plans to write a book about his journey in hopes of inspiring other young people to undertake such a journey. He says he regularly receives messages from people who saw his story on Instagram or TikTok and have felt compelled to do something similar.

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May 1, 2024

Real News, Told Simply.™

Teen Completes Bike Trip From Alaska to Argentina

Ushuaia, Argentina — (Map)

Liam Garner was just 17 years old when he started out on his big adventure – a 20,000 mile (32,000 kilometer) bike trip from Alaska to Argentina. In early January, he finally finished his trip, 17 months after he started.

In 2021, Liam had recently graduated from high school and was looking for a “crazy adventure”. He had some experience biking long distances. His longest trip was biking from Los Angeles to San Francisco. He made short videos of that trip, and shared them on the social media app TikTok. Some of his videos became quite popular.

That bike trip helped him decide to tackle a much longer trip. He’d read a book by someone who had biked from Oregon to Argentina. Liam wondered what it would be like to bike from the point farthest north in the United States all the way to the most southern point in South America.

That meant leaving from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. After preparing for the trip for about a month, Liam set out on August 1, 2021. He had a tent, a sleeping bag, a phone, a first-aid kit, and some spare parts for his bike. Other than some food and water, he didn’t have much else.

At first Liam’s parents weren’t too happy about him taking such a long bike trip by himself. But as he carried on, his parents became his strongest supporters. Liam also got better at making sure he was better prepared for his travels.

Liam wasn’t too worried about the path that he took. “As long as I was going south every day, I knew I was going in the right direction,” he said. After about three months, Liam had crossed the US, going south along the West Coast. By early December, he had reached Mexico.

Mexico was one of Liam’s favorite parts of the trip. His parents came to the US from Mexico, so it felt special for him to return there. But Liam also faced challenges in Mexico.

For several months, Liam traveled with his friend, Logan. The two were robbed in Mexico. At one point, they considered quitting because the incredible heat made biking extremely difficult. But things cooled down once they reached Central America, and they decided to keep going.

Liam doesn’t give up easily. In all, he was robbed five times on the trip. He got very sick more than once. In Colombia, he had a bike accident that left him injured and required surgery. In spite of it all, he kept going. Through rain, sun, heat, cold, deserts and mountains.

Liam finally arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina on January 10, 2023 – 527 days after he started. He had traveled through 14 countries along the way.

Liam, who’s now 19, is backpacking home to California with his girlfriend. When he gets home, he hopes to write a book about his adventures. He also hopes his experience will encourage others to take up biking or start an adventure of their own. “Everyone is capable of amazing things,” he says. “The hardest part is getting the confidence in yourself to attempt something.”

Did You Know…? The fourteen countries Liam passed through on his trip were: USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.

www.cnn.com www.straitstimes.com www.bicycling.com www.bbc.com

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Cycling the Continental Divide, from Alaska to Argentina

The really long way down

Jacob Thompson

The 'big trip' is the dream of a huge number of cyclists. For many that’s just how it stays ­– a dream – while for others it means nothing more strenuous than a week of gentle pedalling along the Loire Valley in France. But for a few intrepid riders it’s about a genuinely life-changing adventure.

Jacob Thompson’s epic three-and-a-half year, 21,125-mile journey from the tip of Alaska to Ushuaia at the bottom Argentina definitely falls into the latter category. BikeRadar found out more about the ups and downs of cycling the Continental Divide .

In July 2006 Jacob left behind a nascent career as a history teacher to set out with two friends – Goat and Sean – and a plan to travel the length of the Americas, following the Continental Divide by bike. The trip had started life as Goat’s plan to cycle the Great Divide Route from Canada to Mexico, but over the course of the next few years at college it evolved. And how it evolved.

With an Xtracycle cargo bike loaded up with all the camping kit, food and equipment they’d need for the huge variety of terrain and temperatures over the next 21,000 miles, the trio set out on their epic journey. For Jacob, the moment of departure is a vivid memory: "The first day we got on our bikes in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and began chasing the southern horizon was definitely life-changing".

The early stages of the ride were riddled with the sort of challenges that would have had most people throwing in the towel and heading home. In the very first week of the trip, Jacob was chased by an Alaskan wolf. Moving from Canada to Montana, the group was caught by an early winter, resulting in a couple of months of cycling through heavy snow.

During a particularly bad blizzard in Montana, they only managed to survive the sub-zero temperatures by being fortunate enough to come across an abandoned hunting cabin fully furnished with firewood.

Spending more than three years travelling through remote areas meant that the friends encountered many challenging and often perilous scenarios. "Living exclusively off a bike for multiple years lends itself to plenty of trying situations," Jacob says. "On the coast of Honduras, we were caught in a tremendous tropical storm and had to hole up in a stick hut until it passed. People lost their lives within a mile from where we were.

"Dozens of times we were woken up with guns pointed at us. Sometimes it was the country’s military, other times it was just nervous landowners – but in every circumstance, once they figured out we were just passing through, the situation managed to resolve itself.

"I suppose the most dangerous experience of the trip, though, was getting stuck between landslides along a route and having to carry my bike across active slides or crumbling cliff edges." But that's not all – the group were even thrown in jail for riding bikes in the Grand Canyon!

Despite the inevitable problems associated with such a trip, the landscapes and communities the trio and their occasional guest riders passed through more than made up for any risk and discomfort. Much of the route followed the mountainous spine of the Continental Divide, offering unique experiences and stunning vistas.

In Guatemala, Jacob and his friends rode and pushed their bikes up Mount Tajumulco – at 4,220m the highest peak in Central America – took some truly amazing photographs, then rode right back down again.

Other memorable events include crossing over into Mexico, where they learnt Spanish, ate tacos and rode through the Copper Canyon. They also pedalled their way across the Salar de Uyuni – a giant salt lake on the Bolivian Altiplano – and made the first descent by raft down the Cricamola River in Panama through the mountainous and near impenetrable Ngöbe-Buglé Territory.

Possibly most memorable of all, and as life-changing and affirming as their departure from Alaska three-and-a-half years earlier, was the final arrival in Ushuaia that signaled both the end of their adventure and the successful achievement of the goals they’d had since their days of dreaming at college.

But it was the Cordillera Blanca of Peru, a mountain range that's part of Andes, that was deemed to be both the literal and figurative highlight of the journey. "A mountain range with 33 peaks over 18,500ft along a 100-plus mile mountain range seemed to me to be the essence of the spine," Jacob tells us.

"The only traffic we'd encounter along the tiny landslide-damaged dirt roads were groups of cattle heading to their next pasture. When we resupplied on food, we’d have to go from house to house looking for our staples, like potatoes and cheese. We'd climb up a mountain range for multiple days and encounter descents that would take 8-10 hours. It was on this mountain range I felt we were truly living the dream and riding the spine."

Setting off on such a long journey makes for tight budgetary constraints, and Jacob and his pals survived on very little, despite the requirements of their weary bodies. "Our budget would fluctuate a bit, depending on the country we were in, but we were usually looking at about 10 bucks a day for everything, which was pushing it considering the huge quantities of food that we would consume," he says.

"It could be rough if someone was sick and we couldn’t afford a hotel. We’d just have to camp out or keep moving, which made recovery tough." Jacob’s teaching job soon seemed a million miles away, and he turned his hand to writing articles and selling photographs to adventure magazines and websites in order to bring in funds to allow the trip to continue.

"It’s impossible to experience this kind of journey, an odyssey both physical and personal, without taking something away from it," he says. "This particular expedition has left a legacy of self-reliance and versatility, and a willingness to adapt to the needs of the moment, meaning that even coming back to real life hasn’t caused too many problems."

"Reintegrating isn’t too difficult. After two-three weeks of anything it becomes the norm," he laughs. Life on the trail was ultimately its own law, with little that could be managed or imagined. Jacob’s advice to anyone contemplating this kind of long haul trip is simple: "For an adventure like this, there's very little you can plan for. Your best bet is to get going and figure it out on the way."

Jacob, Goat and Sean’s experiences will soon be committed to paper, in a book penned by Jacob, on schedule for release early next year. I asked him if reliving such an amazing adventure while writing the book might give him itchy feet to take off again on a new challenge. "I feel very satisfied with the trip and believe that we made the most out of it," he admits. "For the time being, I am definitely enjoying the break. I still ride just about every day – only now I don’t have to haul all my gear around."

As for future plans, he’s hanging up his pedals for a while in favour of paddles. "I plan to work and save up money for another adventure. I’m thinking of an epic sea-kayak trip." An idea inspired almost certainly by his very first sea kayaking experience, where he crossed the notoriously troublesome Darien Gap, passing through the Kuna Yala Comarca reservation in Panama as they went.

Here, despite never having paddled before in their lives, they bought kayaks and strapped their bikes to the back of them, crossing the open ocean between tiny sand bar islands, before finally reaching Colombia over a week later – sunburnt but intact.

Leaving behind his career as a history teacher at Fisher Middle School in Los Gatos, California, is one thing that Jacob has found hard. His goal was to make a difference, to motivate and enthuse his students in the hope that they would make the most of their lives. He speaks fondly of the tutors and staff at the school who helped inspire him.

However, if there’s one thing that’s come of his incredible trip from one tip of the Americas to the other, it’s that this journey is sure to prove inspirational to others. His parting words? "Ignore all the naysayers and discover things for yourself."

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