This post is right on the money. With the limited amount of time you have, ship to Bogota and go from there. South America is a huge freaking continent with so much to see. Take your time and see things instead of just blasting through.

I spent over a year in South America alone, visited every country including the Guianas, and it still was not enough time. I will go back in the future.

Sure Mexico and Central America are nice, but you guys being from Texas can do that trip quite easily any time you want with minimal expense and really explore Mexico on another trip instead of blasting through there as well to get to SA.

All the really good stuff starts in SA and I would highly recommend to spend the entire 3 to 5 months there. You will still wish you had more time in SA at the end of 5 months. Stay off the Pan American, stay on the back roads routes, explore and really get to see the people and experience the awesome Latin culture of South America. Its a gigantic continent so you will for sure see many amazing things and not get bored, I promise that.

Its also good advice to be prepared to split up along the way. I rode over 2 years solo and couldnt imagine doing it any other way. Everyone is different and those differences will take a toll on the group at some point. Get it out up front to make sure you are still buddies in the end if you split up mid-trip, because it is very likely that you will split up at some point.

No need to hire a guide. You can do this on your own. Start now with some Rosetta Stone Spanish an hour a day for some months, and get the basics down. That little bit of Spanish knowledge will be extremely valuable and is by far the best and most important prep you can do for your trip.

Research blogs here and ride reports on adv to get a rough idea of what you absolutely must see/ride and make a rough, very rough, route plan. That way nothing is set in stone and you can improvise the route when you get down there. That's the only way to fly IMO.

mi dos centavos.

Suerte, Vince

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