This is the question I'm desperate to get answered. I've read a lot of post/replies, and they have been helpful, but I havn't found anyone that has personally crossed the mountain passes in South America in May/June.

My worries are with the road conditions in Central America during the raining season (april) and the road conditions crossing the Andes into bolivia and Argentina during May/June.

If anyone has personally made the trip during these time froms please reply.

My understanding is the southern part of Argentina is almost certainly out of the question except for Nov-Dec.

What type of "Volunteer Work" are you planning. This sounds like an interesting way to experiance the various cultures. I've always enjoyed the interactions with locals as much as the counties themselfs and may be interesting in volunteering as well.

weather planning
 

Well, I am not sure about the others but my timing is based on arrival in Ushuaia. To me that is where the most extreme temperatures will be and therefore my priority. That being said, I aim to be there in middle December for summer with a nice slow trip down.

Cheers,
Tina

volunteering
 

The volunteering is actually the focus of my trip - with the bike being a really fun way to get from place to place. I am working on finalizing the details right now but I hope for volunteer at orphanages or groups working with street children in Nicaragua, Peru, Argentina, Brazil and Guatemala for one to two months depending on their needs. Hope to see you on the road!

Cheers,
Tina

P.S. It is still under construction but there will be a lot more information here at my site on my volunteering plans for the trip and why I have chosen the places I have chosen.

‎(There and back again...a ride to the end of the world‎)

I agree, I don't "want" to zoom at all, but the end goal is that I have my bike while I'm in Venezuela and to have it to take my sweet arse time on the way back home after my studies, I just happen to be stuck with a tight timeline to start it all.

If anyone, while taking their time, rides through Belize I'd highly recommend stopping at Cave's Branch Adventure Resort for a day or two. I was there this past summer and the day trips they offer are amazing.

Anyhow, to ye who ask about May/June through the Andes passes... I haven't been there (yet) and there are others who have and could give you good first hand answers, but I can tell you my opinion that I wouldn't even think of going through the Andes on a motorcycle in the dead of their winter. September/October sure (their spring). As far as summer goes (to our Australian), I doubt Argentina would be considered cold by almost anyone's standards during their summers (in fact I've heard Argentinian winters aren't even so bad outside of the Andes, definitely not as bad as Minnesota), but maybe in comparison to the more arid Australian summers it is a bit "cooler", but definitely not cold. Again, I'm just a noOb at adventure riding and these are pure speculations.

Cheers and lets get to planning!
(ps, just thought I'd plug a note of my excitement that the nice FedEx man brought a ton of farkles to my door today, Jesse Odyssey II panniers, bash plate, beak extender, tank bag, GPS mount, and a few other goodies :clap: now if only Holan and Wunderlich would get on the ball with the rest of my stuff)

Thanks for the input about the winter crossing of the Andes. I can't seem to find a single person that has done it but lots of people leave in from the US in the spring so they must cross during our summer months. I closely reviewed the climate table that another gentleman posted and it looks like the rainfall won't be bad but the temperature will. I'm taking an electric vest so hopefully it will work out.

I can relate to the feelings when the things for the trip start arriving :))I'm living the same thing now. Got my GPS last week, ordered my Jessie's today, etc. Ready or not, looks like I'm leaving come March.

Hey,

Im leaving LA early April. Looking to ride down as close as possible to Tiera del Fuego on my 2005 bmw gs1200. Beginning planning stages now. Shout me back if you want to meet up in Hollywood to discuss,
Cheers

Andes crossings
 

When riding from north to south you should avoid being in Peru, Bolivia during their rainy season that starts November and ends around March ... best months for travelling in that latitude are May to August ... get to Ushuaia from November to March ... crossing the Andes is not a problem when you have paved roads but sometimes you will have to wait for snow clearance in some places during the winter months June to August in Chile ... I'm looking for a riding buddy who wishes to get to Ushuaia during March 2009 ... lease him one of my bikes and he covers my expenses ...
Cheers,
Roberto Thomson
Chile Moto Adventures

Hey,
I'm planning on riding out the recession on my BMW GS down to South America. Leaving LA early April. Cheers... mylaemail@gmail.com

Craig,

I'd carry an extra fuel filter. Just read a trip report of 2-up riding in South America on a KTM and they only needed a filter during their trip.

Darien Gap
 

For anyone looking for a way to bypass the Darien Gap should check out stahlratte segeln shuttle panama kolumbien cartagena panama san blas cuba jamaika. This boat has in the past taken bikes and riders and it looks like a holiday/adveture in itself. Linzi.

Leaving Los Angeles to Ecuador
 

I'm planing to tour Colombia and Ecuador in mid Oct. 09, I would be using the starting point of Cartagena, Colombia. I'll be flying in from Los Angeles. Riding south to Bogota. I would ride to Cali then ride to Ipiales (border to Ecuador). From Tulcan, Ecuador I would ride south to Otavalo then to Quito. I'll end my journey to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Please keep me informed on your progress for that if you're there in Colombia at the same time, we can ride together or if some mishap I may be informed. If you're in Los Angeles, Look me up.

south america seasons
 

It's now winter in Chile - Argentina... June!
so from June (even may) until end Nov - dec... you can't ride south of
Santiago.. you will have several mountains passes with snow and freeze your A..
:Beach:
the only thing different with Auz... the toilets here flush normal!