Che Guvara trail January 2013 Onward
 

Hi there, my names Mat,

Im a british back packer who's going to Beunos Aires in october this year (2012)

The plan, is to learn some language and mayb get a job while i wait for my mate to arrive in January.

From then we plan to buy motorbikes and drive across to Chile, and up the west coast of South America to Columbia Includinge the great sights, cities and cultures along the way.
Me and my friend are both very outgoing and want to fully involve ourselves in the south American way which is why im keen to spend a few months there before our trip really takes shape.

If theres anyone out there, who wants to do this trip, or has already done this trip and wish to offer a few words of wisdom im open to all and any contributions.

This thread is for me to get an idea of what to expect and mayb meet some friendly people in the process, its the first time I've used Horizons and have heard great things about the community here so im confident that I'll get the right info.

Thanks alot guys and girls, hope to hear from some of you soon!

Hasta Luego

Hi man, welcome to HU and then to Southamerican. I went for every country in SA on a Honda 250 cc. I can tell you about routes and places. I wish you can learn Spanish best way I am learning English. Ask me all you wish. Hasta luego (the second name´s Che is Guevara)

Welcome Mat,

Hey, that has a nice ring to it!

Safe travels. Oh, and yes, its Guevara with an e not that it matters much since nobody around here grades for spelling.

I believe you'll find it more difficult for a foreigner to buy a bike in Argentina. Easier in Chile. Plenty of good tips if you search around in the archives.

Best luck!

Cheers,
John Downs

Yep, buy in Chile for sure. New Honda's check my thread on buying bikes in Chile, great dealer I dealt with, otherwise I'm sure there will be a few people selling their US registered or similar bikes around the time you're looking.

Enjoy (but beware!)
 

Mat,

just saying that as my father was held prisoner for 6 days by the military in Peru in 1964 and accused of BEING Che Guevara! And he is a Gringo! I think they were at that forlorne outpost TOO long!

I have ridden Peru (while living there) for 20 years... so any questions you may have... feel free....

Cheers! Toby

Very good Raul Eloy, you only miss the apostrphe: ...Che´s name...

The spelling police prefer "Colombia" if referring to the South American country.

You'll get more responses (and less nitpicking) if you ask specific questions or demonstrate some prior research. At this point, the most I'd offer in the way of advice would be that you should expect plans to change before January: maybe you won't find bikes, or maybe one of you will bail due to sickness, thin finances or a sudden urge to get married and settle down. Be flexible and you'll have a fine time regardless.

Mark

Buying in Chile?
 

Hello I´M DOING IT:

:oops2:You better check out in this same forum (South America) these threads:

1. " Steps to Buying a Used Bike in Santiago Chile. It is explained you ARE NOT allow to drive a moto out from Chile. But read all of the entries because at the beginning it is said is OK, but at the end, it’s recognized you couldn’t. :ban:

2. "Selling the bike dilemma, BA or Paraguay". It shows that Paraguay would be the best option to buy a bike a ride through South America. It is also possible in Colombia .:scooter:

Good luck, Santiago

On the 1. argument don´t know if i´m misreading irony or not, could be. But just made the Ollugua crossing to Bolivia today. Without any problems in less then 2 hours. Even made the head of the adouana in Bolivia almost fall over from laughter when I told him i was trying to get to Colombia on my 150cc Honda NXR. Could be that some people had trouble but I certainly didn´t.

I have no idea though if other countrys would be better or worse

Cheers from "freezing-your-balls-off" Uyuni

Fantasic bit of road that. The NXR is maybe the correct tool for the job. I fell off my 600 Tenere on slippery clay just outside Ollague, twice, and it was a nightmare picking my heavy bike up what with the altitude and all that.

150 cc, good !!!
 

Hello " nouwynck86 ":

For years we in Colombia only had 100´s and 150´s , they brought us everywhere, into the country and into Ecuador and Venezuela as well. No problem, and much less gas and $$$. And at the moment of picking it up from ground, as DUNCH commented, it is a peace of cake.

At this time you should be enjoying the majesty af the Altiplano. I don´t know what kind of tires you have, but if you are going to ride backroads along Bolivia and Peru, and have to change tires on doing that, you´ll enjoy some knobby instead of "street", or indeed "dual purpose" types.

Please enjoy,

Santiago

Mt-21
 

For the backroads in Peru and Bolivia, get som Pirrelli MT21 RallyCross tires. Great traction on gravel and smooth on pavement due to the alternating big knobs up the center. And cheap due to being made in Manaus.

There is a great route right up the center of Peru from Cuzco to Chachapoyas. I've ridden it twice, and even 5 months ago, so if you have any Q's..

Cheers! :mchappy::mchappy::mchappy:

Tires and route
 

TOBY: are you speaking about Cuzco - Abancay - Andahuaylas - Ayacucho - Santa Inés - Huancavelica - Huánuco - La Unión - Caraz - Pallasca - Mollepata - Huamachuco - Cajamarca - Celedín - Chachapoyas ?

It´s my prefered tooooooo, the Andean spine of Peru. Hopping to come back some day. With your MT 21 RallyCross.

Santiago

Thx for the advice everybody. I´m still on the original Pirrelli MT60 ( Don´t shoot me if I get the type wrong out of my head). But it´s getting quite tyred (get it?) so in la paz i´ll probably go for a new back tyre. The front one is still in super shape and seems a good dual purpose. Don´t know if I would change to a hardcore rallycross tyre. Just don´t know if its realy neccisary for the speeds Im doing. Or am I seeing that wrong.
Ooh and the NXR she´s my baby by now. She´s such a small fighting hellcat. Yes there´s a problem with altitude. But it just keeps going so there is one very happy owner right here. Now if I could just find some new brake pads for the front. After the Salar there done for and none to find in Potosi. Should work out in Sucre.

Peace

Close!
 

Cenizo,

Yes, But I go from Ayacucho via Huanta past the Dam to Huancayo. Then from Huancayo down to Satipo and to the German colony of Oxapampa (great food!).

Then on to Puerto Bermudez and Aguaytia and up to Huanuco. From Huanuco, I go the backway to La Union, then cut across the Pastoruri Glacier and into Huaraz.....

The rest... exactly the same.