FAQs

What is the Pan-American Highway?

The Pan-American Highway is the world’s longest “motorable road,” according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Spanning 16,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina, the fasted record for driving the entirety is 11 days, 17 hours and 22 minutes. Overlanders, cyclists and motorcyclists aren’t the only ones to travel the Pan-American Highway. In 1977, George Meegan walked from the southernmost point of South America to the northernmost point of North America, taking him over 6 years!

How did you decide to overland the Pan-American Highway?

To us, the American Dream is the ability to write your own future—which is why we finally decided to head out on a journey that we’d only dreamed about in the past.

We’d always joked about it. We both love adventure and we are both very spontaneous, which proved to be a good mixture to make this really happen. The jokes slowly evolved into a real conversation, deep research and planning. Next thing you know, we were testing out our new gear and getting ready to hit the road.

Which countries did you travel to?

We overlanded across fourteen countries to the southernmost drivable point in the world, just south of Ushuaia, Argentina. We didn’t stick to the direct route down the Pan-American Highway, instead opting to explore as many places as possible on our way south.

We drove across the United States, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina.

How did you plan your journey?

Prior to our trip, we scoured blogs, travel websites and Instagram to make a giant Google Sheet listing all the amazing places we wanted to go in each country. Along the way, locals and other travelers gave us insider tips and pointed us to their favorite spots. We swapped our Sheet out for pins on Google Maps for ease of use and flexibility, and plotted our route accordingly. iOverlander was our go-to to find camping spots, water, fuel and efficient border crossings—and we added our top finds to the app to pass on our knowledge too.

What was your setup?

We travelled in our trusty 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser, which we equipped with a Smittybilt rooftop tent and all-terrain tires. We cooked on a Coleman two-burner and used a YETI cooler to keep food (and drinks!) chilled. We each brought a backpacking pack for our clothing, which ranged from bathing suits to cold weather gear. We also brought everything from a first aid kit to our favorite spices, storing them in heavy duty bins for easy organization. It was a bare minimum setup compared to what many overlanders bring, but it did the job!

How long did the journey take?

We initially thought we would spend six months to a year on our adventure, but ended up spending over sixteen months on the road! We fell in love with so many diverse cultures and stunning landscapes that it was hard to keep moving at times.

Where did you stay?

Anywhere and everywhere. We wild camped in our rooftop tent at places we’ve only seen in postcards. We stayed at colorful hostels where we connected with fellow travelers. We once stayed in a Mexican family’s extra room when we were invited in after a meal. We stayed in a dilapidated houseboat in Belize. We even ended up sleeping in the front seats of the Land Cruiser a few times when we were stuck on ferries and caught in crazy winds and storms.

Was it difficult traveling with Cooper?

Indeed, traveling with our dog was more tricky than anything else, but well worth it to have our little guy with us along the way. Each border required specific paperwork to “import” an animal, usually requiring a vet visit, runarounds to banks and stamps from government agencies. We also had to skip out on certain national parks and overnight hikes that didn’t allow dogs or would be too difficult with him, but Coops has now been to 38 states and 14 countries!

How did you cross the Darien Gap?

There’s a 60 mile break in the road between Panama and Colombia at the Darien Gap. The gap is known as the most dangerous place in the Western Hemisphere due to drug traffickers, guerrillas and wildlife. We took the route that many fellow overlanders take, which was putting our car in a shipping container in Panama City, Panama and meeting it in Cartagena, Colombia. This was a logistics heavy operation, but after weeks of delays with the shipping company, we were finally reunited with the Land Cruiser in Cartagena!

Did you feel safe?

We took full precautions by not traveling at night and bringing only the bare minimum. We had quite a few run-ins with corrupt cops, but never paid a single bribe by patiently waiting for them to grow bored or making funny jokes to distract them. We did have one scary experience with the cartel in Mexico that left us shaking, but it was all part of the adventure. Overall, 99% of people we met on our journey were excited to hear about our travels and willing to help us with anything we needed!

Would you recommend international overlanding?

Absolutely! If you’re itching to explore the world and want to really experience other countries outside of the main tourist attractions, overland travel is the best way to see it all. You can also stick to a tight budget by staying in (or on!) your vehicle, but beware that gas will add up. This was an adventure that we will absolutely never regret!

What was your favorite part?

This is our most frequently asked question and the hardest one for us to answer! The culture, the food, the people, the landscapes, the crazy adventures and the unexpected moments… I’ve compiled some our favorite moments from Central America and South America. Check it out!