Expeditions

Overland Expeditions

North & Central America - Alaska to Panama

Highlights

Combine the first 2 stages of Trans Americas and you get this ten week ride offering superb riding in the USA and Canada through National Parks, such as Jasper & Banff, Grand Canyon, Arches & Yellowstone. Then Mexico and Central America throws in the latino spirit, visiting ancient Mayan sites such as Palenque and Copan, rain forests in Costa Rica, perfectly preserved colonial Mexican towns and the hustle of local indigenous markets.

Route Map

View North & Central America - Alaska to Panama in a larger map

Is it for me?

Number of Days/Duration	70 days (10 weeks)
Approx total miles	10,000
Accommodation	100% Hotel Bed & Breakfast
Meals Included	All breakfasts and 10 Group Evening Meals
Culture Shock Rating	Moderate
Riding Difficulty	Easy to Moderate

Riding Conditions

Riding the Dalton Highway in Alaska can be challenging as it is a dirt road for most of the way to Purdhoe Bay and in bad weather, conditions are poor. Mexico and Central America has chaotic driving standards, with only partial adherence to generally accepted rules of the road, so beware!

What's Included?

Pre-Expedition:

One Days advanced rider course
One Days preparatory briefing meeting
GlobeBusters guidance handbook
Access to the GlobeBusters forum
One Days FBOS first aid course (Optional)

On the Road:

All accomodation as described
All breakfasts
One group dinner per week
Motorcycle Guide
2nd Motorcycle Guide if group is over 12 riders
Support Vehicle
Detailed daily route notes with GPS information
Air freight of your motorcycle from UK to Anchorage (UK/EU Price Only)*
Sea freight of your motorcycle from Panama to UK (UK/EU Price Only)*

*For a price including bespoke freight requirements please contact us.

Detailed Itinerary

Week 1 - ALASKA

In Anchorage we celebrate the start with a wild salmon BBQ and shooting guns, Alaskan style! Ride the infamous dirt of the Dalton Highway into the Arctic Circle. Arrive at Prudhoe Bay, the most northerly point accessible by road in the Americas. Getting to Prudhoe Bay is a massive achievement in its own right! Join the Polar Bear Club and swim in the Arctic Ocean. Turn south down the Alaskan Highway.

Weeks 2 & 3 - CANADA

The “town” of Boundary marks our entrance to Canada as we head to the frontier town of Dawson City still with its wooden sidewalks, and dirt roads. Pristine turquoise lakes and endless forests line your route through the Yukon. Most riders spot bear and moose from the side of the road. In British Columbia, we take the peaceful and pretty Stewart Cassiar Highway to Bear Glacier, Stewart and Hyder (the most southerly town in Alaska). If you’ve not seen bears yet, you’ll see them feeding at Fish Creek. Then have your own fresh halibut feast at “The Bus”.

Riding south to Jasper National Park, the scenery continues to be massive vistas of nature at its best – mountains, glaciers and forests. Throughout it all are uncongested beautiful winding roads to enjoy. We are now in the Indian territories of old - visit Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump and learn how generations of Indians hunted and preserved the herds, before relaxing by the lakeshore in Waterton National Park.

Weeks 4 & 5 - USA

Glacier National Park and its famous "Going to the Sun" Road will take your breath away as you cross the Continental Divide at Logans Pass. Ride by the bubbling volcanic mud pools and huge herds of bison in Yellowstone National Park. We stay at Old Faithful Inn, overlooking the world’s most famous geyser. On to Buffalo Bill’s home, Cody to see the cowboys of old and marvel at the rodeo antics.

Then it’s more of the USA’s spectacular national parks. See the famous arch in Arches National Park. Wind your way through the striking red monoliths of Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley. Then take a remote dirt road out to the narrowest point of the Grand Canyon (North Rim), a tourist free zone! In Tucson we rest briefly for bike servicing and new tyres.

Weeks 6 & 7 MEXICO

Enter Latin America through a small border post and spend our first night at Nuevo Casa Grandes, over 100 miles south of the border. Copper Canyon is larger than the Grand Canyon and we follow the narrow road that winds its way through the lush and spectacular scenery to Batopilas. Head for the colonial heartland of Zacatecas, the centre of silver mining production and the tiny cobbled streets and pink cathedral of San Miguel de Allende.

Climb high into the steamy cloud forests and tiny mountain villages, before descending to the Caribbean coast and endless miles of deserted beaches. Take a plunge in the ocean for the first time since Alaska! Enter Chiapas Province, once the stronghold of the Zapatista rebels, and visit the breathtaking Mayan ruins of Palenque, before spending our final night in Mexico in another colonial gem, San Cristobal.

Week 8 - GUATEMALA

Head into steamy Guatemala and ride to the small town of Panajachel on the edge of Lake Atitlan, with its stunning volcanic backdrop. Then it’s a short ride into the highlands to visit the famous Indian market at Chichicastenango. Relax for a few nights at the exquisite colonial town of Antigua Guatemala. Dodge the old smoking colourful buses in a hectic ride around Guatemala City to head to the border with Honduras.

Week 9 - HONDURAS & NICARAGUA

Visit the most southern Mayan ruins at Copan. The ride across Honduras takes only a day, but we go off the main Pan American to see local life in smaller villages. In Nicaragua, our first stop is on the main plaza in Granada, where we can sit on the veranda and watch life go by or go boating on Lake Nicaragua. We head to the coast to get our first taste of Pacific beach life and enjoy the best sunsets and fresh lobster.

Week 10 – COSTA RICA & PANAMA

Our penultimate Central American country is Costa Rica. Ride from the palm fringed beaches of the Pacific, past Arenal Volcano to the Caribbean coast for a cocktail on the beach. Stop along the way in the jungle with a chance to walk, raft or zip line through the jungle canopy. Down the coast we cross into Panama on a route used by banana traders since the 1900’s.

Ride over the Bridge of the Americas into our first real city since Tucson and prepare the bikes for freight back home but not before exploring the old city and seeing the huge container ships pass through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal.

Dates & Prices

	2013 (UK / EU) Includes Freight	2013 (Rest of World) Excludes Freight
Start Date	25 July 2013	25 July 2013
End Date	01 October 2013	01 October 2013
Rider Price	£13,995	$20,495
Pillion Price	£7,495	$11,995
Specific Prices	Single Room £4,000	Single Room $6,500
Availability	Available to book now	Available to book now
	Book Now	Book Now

Useful Information

Country/Region Information

The USA and Canada provide some incredible riding through massive landscapes with excellent infrastructure - no problems with the food or language here!

Mexico & Central America are chaotic, lively and colourful countries, with Spanish as the main language through out the countries we travel through. Their infrastructure for travellers is generally good, but road conditions can be difficult and you can encounter checkpoints and borders where unreceipted fees have to be paid!

As these countries are much more poor than North America or Europe, you do need to be mindful of crime and take extra care of your belongings and your person, without being overly paranoid.

Weather Information

We will encounter most types of weather on this trip. Weather in Alaksa can be unpredictable at any time of year and north of the Arctic Circle may mean snow. Tucson in Arizona can be dry heat of up to 45 degrees. We are in Central America in "green season" meaning that it will be warm, humid and rainy.

Visas Information

UK Citizens will require a USA visa in advance unless they purchase a return or onward tickets flying out of the USA beyond Mexico or Canada. No other visas are needed in advance of travel. Other nationalities should check their own requirements, which may be different.

Travel Health Information

You must visit your GP or a specialised travel clinic to get advice on the recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures needed for the countries on this trip. As background, the websites listed below may prove useful.

Foreign Exchange Information

The base currency for this trip is the US Dollar. The US Dollar is readily exchangeable for the local currencies. The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.

USA - US Dollar
Canada - Canadian Dollar
Mexico - Mexican Peso
Guatemala - Quetzales
Honduras - Lempiras
Nicaragua - Cordobas
Costa Rica - Colones
Panama - US Dollar