Message Board

Jeinner on September 5, 2008

Hello!

I will like to take a moment and thank you for your web-site it has been not only helpful but inspiring.

What advised can you give us if we are traveling with two girl’s age 5 and 11 besides ear plugs what are your suggestions?

My Family and I are taking this trip next year (2009) mid July from Phoenix, Arizona. I would like to get a convoy of vehicles together for this adventure. Since traveling with a group, the risks decrease but the fun increases, I want to recruit as many vehicles as possible. My final destination will be Heredia, Costa Rica. If there’s any interested parties please contact me at jeinner@gmail.com under the subject line please input “CONVOY”.

Thank you,
Jeinner Robles

Crhiztian David García on August 8, 2008

Hi, I'm David from Colombia and I dream of making this trip too, but I don't have any idea of how much can this cost? Can you please help me with an big estimate? I'll thank any information. crhiztian@hotmail.com

TF on July 29, 2008

Hi guys, loved reading through your report. I noticed that the journal stops after you guys reach Peru... Do you guys plan on finishing the journal?

Z on July 2, 2008

Hello John :) First of all we'll start with the car. It is very unlikely that you will sell it anywhere in south america. They simply do not accept import of any type of used cars. Maybe Paraguay, assuming you have a diesel engine. So you should either plan buying a car that you would not feel sorry leaving on the street, or a car that would be worth shipping back to Canada. We bought a relatively good car, and replaced all sorts of parts that could possibly break or burn out (hoses, wires, spark plugs.. etc). Probably around $5000 for the car and additional $1500 in maintenance. Then we invested additional $750 in alarm systems and other security related items - you can read more if you click "trip planning". We did not set aside a special amount for repairs as we believed that minor maintenance will be inexpensive and major probems will not happen. We though that the trip will last 3 months and the total cost would be $15000. But in reality the duration was 9 months and the cost was double. This amount includes the car, all air tickets, shipping, side trips, everything. Probably the best advice is not to set a firmly fixed goal (like Tierra Del Fuego or smth) because there are so many tempting side trips that you can take. You will be sorry if you drive past without doing/seeing "that thing" because it is very unlikely that you will come back to the same place again. And of course you should have extra money that you can tap into in case of problems or in case you simply want to extend the trip. When to travel? That is a good question :) We thought we'd start in Fall from California (which is spring in SA) and finish in Fall in Argentina.. It did not go as planned. We started late and the trip was longer. It is probably impossible to hit everything at the right time. We were too early to see turtles in Costa Rica, we were too late to see whales and penguins in Argentina, too late to see butterflies in mexico.. But we reached Bay Islands on perfect time and Galapagos as well - low tourist seasons, but very nice weather.. I guess the answer is "Try to plan for something, but do not get upset if that does not work out" :)

Dovi & Zee on July 2, 2008

Hello Grace, tough question regarding AA meetings. We do remember seeing plenty of postings in one of the countries, but we think it was Mexico. There were so many that they even caught our attention... In Managua, Nicaragua you may have a hard time, because the city itself is like a maze. Just take it easy. If there is no meeting today, it will take place "manana" :) Talk to the locals and you will find out. Good luck! If you want, e-mail us the link to the web site and we'll try to translate it for you :)

JD on June 23, 2008

Hi ‘a,

My Girlfriend and I are planning the trip of a lifetime which currently involves us buying a car in Canada and selling it in Argentina. The Pan-American express is obviously going to be the central part of our trip. Any advice or assistance you could send our way on the perils and joys of your trip, when you would advice to travel? What provision did you set aside for security? Repair? Etc… would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
John
jddurie@hotmail.com

Grace on June 8, 2008

I would be grateful to get information about Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Managua. I have found the website, but cannot decipher the time(s) of meetings or locations. My Spanish is below average these days, but I once was very fluent. Meetings in Spanish are fine. I appreciate any help!

Daan on March 2, 2008

Hi, sweet site. good job! great tips! me and a buddy (both dutch) are planning on doing a similar trip, any links or tips and tricks on buying/insuring a 4x4 from the states and driving it down to nicaragua?

daanspits@gmail.com

thanks in advance!

Z & D on February 1, 2008

Awesome photos in Hayden's blog!!!

Hayden on January 4, 2008

Hi everyone. My friend and I are currently in the process of driving from Texas to Argentina. We are in Cuzco Peru at the moment on our way to Bolivia. Check out our blog at http://austintoargentina.travellerspoint.com. If you are planning a trip and need more specific and up to date information about road conditions etc email me at hcarlyon@gmail.com.
We will be posting information about shipping across the Darien Gap in the next few weeks or so.

Regards

Hayden