RTW 2013-2014 From Chile to Canada and hopefully much more

From Santiago de Chile to Tierra del Fuego and up to Central America - being on a trip around the world, we are right now heading up north for Mexico, USA and Canada.

<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o>We came across the ADVrider forum through our friends in Antigua Julio and Luisa, who travelled last year from Guatemala all the way up to Alaska and back. <o></o>
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Who are we and what have we done before we started this thread on ADV?<o></o>
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We are a couple from Germany, Claudia and Ingo, travelling on 2 BMWs through Latin America. On Santa Clause 2012 we started our adventure in Santiago de Chile. From there we were heading down on the Ruta 40 to “Tierra del Fuego - Fin del Mundo”, the famous place at the end of the world.



Torres del Paine National Park, wind protected camping<o></o>

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<o></o><o>Torres del Paine Nationalpark</o>
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Ushuaia world´s end
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We then took the Ruta 3 east of Argentina to come up to Buenos Aires and Uruguay, visited the Foz do Iguazu, the enormous waterfalls in Brazil, back into Argentina and Chile. From San Pedro de Atacama we popped into Bolivia, continued with Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. <o></o>
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Uruguay, Colonia del Sacramento, save place for the bikes<o></o>
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Brazil, Foz do Iguacu<o></o>
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Argentina, Salar Grande<o></o>
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Chile, Lauca National Park<o></o>
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Bolivia, ferry across the Lago Titicaca<o></o>
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Peru, Lago Titicaca, floating islands <o></o>
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Peru, Machu Picchu<o></o>
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Lima in Peru, not always lucky > puncture<o></o>
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Ecuador Galapagos Islands, Galapagos tortoise<o></o>
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Colombia, coffee farm<o></o>
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From Bogotá, Colombia we shipped our bikes across the Darian Gap to Panama City to continue with the Central American States from there. So back on the road, heading up north again we passed through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador into Guatemala. <o></o>
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Panama, Boca del Toro<o></o>
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Costa Rica, Colibri<o></o>
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Guatemala, Antigua<o></o>
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And now here we are. Just visited Tikal in the north of the country, ready to take the border into Mexico. <o></o>
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Guatemala, Tikal<o></o>
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When we don´t travel, we live in Zurich, Switzerland, but not only for the cheese fondue and chocolate purposes. How old are we? Well, past the age when life is rather difficult, let´s say in our best years, at least this is what we believe: 41 and 52. <o></o>
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For all details and maps, please check our website www.reisemotten.com .<o></o>
(Sorry, only in german)<o></o>
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Claudia and Ingo</o>

the black text reads real bad on the default forum skin (dark grey background). would be better to change it

Good to see you finally made it and you started posting here on ADV

Great pictures BTW , keep them coming !!

It was great meeting you guys and having the chance to take you for a few rides in my backyard

Good luck with the border crossing today and may our trails cross again...

Vayan con Dios ,

Julio

Great trip and pix

It's going to be great following you two along your upcoming travels!

Enjoy

Great pics! Looking forward to much more and a visit in Vancouver.

Hola Julio,

Thank you! And I am sure our trails WILL cross again rather soon.

Hi LethPhaos,
you are quite right, I will try to sort this out. Not 100% sure though how it works as I have just started posting the thread. Will do my best for you and your eyes!

Cheers
Claudia

Hi you two! Yes, thanks, will try to get up to Canada before you start your trip, but I don´t think we can make it on time. Will let you know soon. Look lorward to see your thread here!

Viva Mexico!
Claudia

Thanks! We will keep posting our pics...

Claudia

We had an easy border crossing from Guatemala into Mexico. The aduana and migration at "El Ceibo" was in a new(ish) building and impeccably clean. The ride was fantastic with almost no traffic on the road.

Being in Palenque we spent the day at the archaeological site in the Nationalpark "Palenque" and at the waterfalls "Misol-Ha".

Very nice.

We don't read as many reports of people south to north on ADV. Most are riding south. I'm sure you know you're into raining season big time in Mexico.
Sept can be the rainiest, where as Sept. in the US is the best month of the year for travel weather (cooler and dry).

Up this way (Americans and Canadians), are prepping for their ride south starting in Nov. Generally from Nov-June is the dry season in Central America. Up here, by Oct. the mountains will be cold and most often snow.
Where do you plan on riding in the winter months if you're riding north?

So glad you started a RR! Your pictures are amazing!! I hope you make it to visit us in Vancouver so we can host you before we head back to get the bikes where you last saw them at Girag in Panama. We fly there Sept 23.

Sara

Our trip through Central America was supposed to be in the rainy season. We knew it before and there was no other way to avoid this time of the year. We were quite worried about too much rain though, but in the end we were just so lucky. There was only very little water coming down, mostly in the afternoons and at night. Starting the days early helps a lot. So yes, there is the last risk now riding through Mexico in August/September. Let´s see how it goes.

We don´t know exactly where we will be spending the winter months. One option is to ship the bikes to New Zealand, this would be inside a friend´s big truck (it´s not the friend who is big, just the truck!). We are also thinking of travelling parts of southern Australia. The other possibility is to ship them (or just one) to Asia. Well, don´t know 100% right now.

Cheers
Claudia

Sara, hi how are you? Let´s keep the fingers crossed that your bikes are still there! But yes, they looked quite all right when we saw them back in July I think it was. It all depends on how quick we travel through Mexico...

Enjoy the last few working weeks in BC.

Besos, Claudia

Julio,

just taking the chance, how about meeting up at the Lagunas Montebello? It´s just at the border to Guatemala. For an "Indio"?

Un abrazo
Claudia

We had a fantastic trip through the mountains on our way from Palenque to San Cristobal. When we started at 7am it was already pretty hot. But coming closer to San Cristobal the high altitude worked for us.



On the way to Aqua Azul. An early morning start is worth for the fantastic views in the mountains.



The Agua Azul water falls on the way from Palenque to San Cristobal. In the rainy season the water is muddy and far away from being clear and blue.



Agua Azul Falls



San Cristobal de las Casas: The Hotel "Fray Bartolome" is affordable and we liked the style of the courtyard a lot.

That´s all pics for now. Heading north towards Puebla....

Nice pics , keep them coming !

Enjoying your RR and waiting for more... thanks for share.

Great pictures! Enjoying the RR, subscribed!

San Cristobal de las Casas, an quaint, colonial-style little town. It´s just nice strolling around and enjoying the brightness of the city.




The way through the mountains from Cosamaloapan to Oaxaca.




Just arrived in Puebla!




There is so much to see in Puebla...




Our hotel in Puebla - stunning at night. We just loved sitting at the fountain in the main hall.