Cheers Graham will have a look.

I've managed to sort my route through the US, now starting in Boston and crossing into Mexico at Nuevo Laredo. From there my plan is to head down the west coast of Mexico stopping in Mexico City and then towards Panama City where i shall be flying myself and the bike to Quito and continue my trip towards Santiago.

However i'm struggling to find accurate road maps of central and southern america. Any ideas?

Cheers,
Steve

stevie when are you departing boston? i'm flying in at the end of april to start my trip??

AS for maps i was planning on buying some from the usa when i'm there to save on luggage going unused and hopeful to get better scaled ones for the beaten tracks i hope to take

Graham,
I plan to fly into Boston August 10th and would be entering Mexico within a months time (roughly). The climates further down in SA will be more hospitable by the time i arrive, finishing the trip in early december (very roughly). Are you flying/shipping your bike in? I've had a quote from James Cargo for both. I'm quite keen to work out a route prior to setting off, ive sorted the USA but can't find decent road maps for SA anywhere, oh well, i'll keep trying.
PS.. I assume you will also be needing a B2 visa, as you will not have a return ticket? Very daft idea but it is the law.

Steve

i'll be flying in with hc travel seem to be the best price and ease of use.

Visa wise have done the esta test to qualify for the waiver programme. Then i will sneak in without a return ticket because i land in canada and will enter by road at niagra where i can get the 3 month waiver on condition i declare where i'm heading.

HI Graham and Steve: I have been following your thread and G&S2UP. I have previously communicated, by email, with G&S2UP about his trip. My plans are similar to his and I am wide open about time frame. I have completed most of my research (maps and reading). My wife and I took 7000 mile shake down ride through Mexico to the Guatemalan border, in 2008. We reside in Colorado, USA.
I will offer this information just for your consideration. There are some serious risk problems that exist in three border areas between Mexico and the USA, regarding the drug cartel. Everyone has there own opinion about the degree of the risk that is posed. I prefer to manage the unnecessary risks with a reasonable alternative. The three areas that posed the greatest border crossing risk were Tijuana, Juarez, and Nuevo Laredo. The federalas, military and Mexican government are serious about their efforts to reclaim control of those areas. It still isn't under control. My wife and I were stopped no less than 15 times, within Mexico, by the military at their road blocks. They were very nice and after a short series of questions we were on our way. They were fascinated with the bike.
There are several other better crossings. The one I used was McAllen, TX, not far from Nuevo Laredo. I am sure others have other good recommendations, and I hope others pass there experience on. Customs was easy (8am crossing) and the road (Cuota) was good.

joe,

thanks for the heads up on this as it has raised awareness to me, i knew of the military stops but little of their frequency. I will have to keep an eye on that like you said check the border options.

I was hoping to head through at tijuana but my plan was to get there early a.m and get a few hundred clicks from the border and not stop in tijuana itself.

I'm not sure if you have information on the current state of the mainland ferry crossings? someone told me that one of the services from lapaz is now defunct.


Sounds like another on the road! looks like i'll be a few months ahead but i do plan stopping on the west coast for a few weeks so somehwhere on the road i'm sure we'll meet

I don't have any personal information regarding the route between Tijuana and La Paz. I am sure someone else on the forum has first hand information and will clear the matter up. Good Luck.

Grahan,

Just read this thread. I too am planning to head south in 09. I’m starting from the US, Eastern Washington sometime during the end of 09. If you guys are in the area stop by. Anyway, I thought I’d pass some info regarding the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan. Based on a trip report over at ADVRider Southern Exposure: Seattle to Argentina - Page 2 - ADVrider the ferry just reopened in December. The route down Baja is one that I’m looking into too but I would suggest checking of the ferry status first.
-Jeff

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Moto Treks

Hey Nick and others

I've been planning a trip south from Canada or thereabouts all the way through south america. Done a fair bit around europe and just feel its the right time to get away.

About to trade in my K1200R for probably a KTM Adventure or F800GS and then......

I've done some preliminary planning and reading so i guess the seed is starting to bloom. Im flexible as when to go as I have no ties here and i have no plans as to how long to be away.

Would love to talk more. PM me or email me at craig.s.wake@gmail.com and we can talk more.

Cheers

Craig

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shambolista.squarespace.com
Wingin' it.

Hey Gents!

Sorry for short notice but had a cancellation on the proposed meet for this weekend and what with the weather an all best to call it off i think?!

I met Craig a couple of weeks ago and we got a rough idea of a route! Halifax (Canada), head west, then north and then south down the Pacific coast highway towards Mexico

Seems we quite lucky on the visa front re South America and we're both thinking we can sort a lot of it out when we're in the states!!

chat soon all interested

Nick

Hi my name is Leo and have just arrived in Calgary, and am planning a similar trip from Calgary up to inuvic then down to T.D.f stopping in L.A to see my son in august for the X games, i am looking for a bike at the moment and have no concrete plans or timetable for the trip, maybe doing some of the trans american trail etc. I would love to hear from you or maybe meet up for a , the guy i am staying with has already done most of the world and is a font of knowledge. i look forward to hearing from you, but either way have a great trip and maybe i willsee you on the road.

I'm planning on taking off from Vancouver August-September 09. If Any of you guys/gals are passing by Vancouver or more specifically the Sunshine Coast and wanna meet up with a friendly local. Send me a message. I'm riding a little 225 but love it!

Hi everyone, i am a brit staying witha friend in Calgary, i am in the process of getting ready to do a similar trip, i plan to ride to Vancouver to see some friends about mid april and then head up to Alaska about mid may, i will probably go to Inuvik and then start heading south slowly, i do not have a time scale or general itinary, so am free to meet up with other travellers along the way, please contact me if you would like to meet, thanks.
Regards, Leo

hello nick u still leaving in june ? im up 4 it...give me a bell on 07884 330 257..or mail me on snowdogjohn@yahoo.com...let me know dude..

Hi Steve
I used a Garmin CS60 and found any gps-maps (for free) , look here:
Proyecto Mapear
ViajerosMapas - Mapas gratis para GPS
GPS de Argentina y del ConoSur

hardware:
Landkarten für die ganze Welt vom Reise Know-How Verlag online

Iam also on Tour, may2009 - march2010
Halifax-Alaska-USA-Zentral and Southamerica (Equador,Peru,Bolivia,Chile,Argentina/Terra del Fuego)
Iam the German with a red Honda Transalp XL650V.
see my page: - Fernweh

maybe we see us on the road
Greetings from Germany sends
Ingo