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.

Dave Briggs cycling in Colombia with a Bob Yak trailer

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 along the Pan-American Highway

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.

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 from Alaska to Argentina along the Pan-American Highway


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 across the border between Alaska and 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.

 

Cycling the Pan-American Highway
October 2009 – The Golden Gate Bridge, 5 dollar campsites, 2 dollar wine, and plenty of friendly cyclists all made this month of cycling from Alaska to Argentina a pleasure.

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.


Mexico

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.

Dave Briggs

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!

Gran Plaza Tikal


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.


Ecuador

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.


Peru

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.


Bolivia

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!)

President Evo Morales visits Uyuni
President Evo Morales visits Uyuni

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!


Argentina

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!

New Years in Salta

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.


Alaska to Argentina by bike - Cycling the Pan-American Highway

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.

Saving money for my next bike 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.

drop handlebars

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.

The San Blas islands

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.

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!

A bear

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.

Bike Touring Alaska to Argentina: Your FAQ answered about cycling from Alaska to Argentina, including costs, routes, safety and more!

 

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.

Dave Briggs in the Salt Pan of Bolivia

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.

Cycling from Alaska to Argentina

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!

About Dave Briggs and the Dave's Travel Pages travel blog

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:

The Bike

My Dawes Sardar bike - I used this to cycle from Alaska to Argentina
As for the bike – It wasn't ideal but it did the job. I chose a bike that at the time I could easily source parts for, particularly new rims and tyres as needed.

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!!

Stopping at a pork restaurant near Salcedo in Ecuador on my bike tour

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 dave@davestravelpages.com. 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:

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

  1. 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.

    Reply
    • 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.

      Reply
  2. Hi Dave,

    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. 🙂

    Esther

    Reply
    • 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!

      Reply
  3. 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

    Reply
    • 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 dave@davestravelpages.com.
      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!! 😀

      Reply
  4. 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?

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

    Reply
    • 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!

      Reply
  6. 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?

    Reply
    • 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!

      Reply
      • 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!

        Reply
  7. Hi Dave!

    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,

    Reply
  8. 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?

    Reply
    • 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!

      Reply
    • Hi Matt,

      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!

      Cheers

      dave

      Reply
      • 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

        Reply
        • 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 😉

          Reply
  9. 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.

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

    Reply
    • 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!

      Reply
  11. 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?

    Reply
  12. 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?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Hi Laura,

      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 🙂

      Reply
  13. 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!!

    Reply
    • 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 😉

      Reply
      • 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.

        Reply
  14. 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!

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

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      • 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 🙂

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        • 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 😉

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  15. 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

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    • 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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