Drive the Pan-American Highway

Duct tape can only go so far, so be sure to have at least one...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:50:35 -0500

Duct tape can only go so far, so be sure to have at least one (preferably 2) spare tires if you’re driving thru Patagonia.

A glacier fell in front of us. It seem like we were at the...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:38:09 -0500

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

A glacier fell in front of us. It seem like we were at the right place at the right time for this one.

Some alpacas or llamas at sunset in Argentina.

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:32:56 -0500

Some alpacas or llamas at sunset in Argentina.

We saw penguinos today!

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:26:00 -0500

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

We saw penguinos today!

Driving on the beach can be fun.

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:12:00 -0500

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Driving on the beach can be fun.

The end of the highway! This statue sits at the official end of...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:53:43 -0500

The end of the highway! This statue sits at the official end of the Pan American Highway, located on the island of Chiloé, Chile.

Dog and Jeff and Land Rover in Northern Patagonia (on the...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:50:47 -0500

Dog and Jeff and Land Rover in Northern Patagonia (on the Argentina side).

Kayaking in Pucon. Great view of Volcan Villarrica during the...

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:15:17 -0500

Kayaking in Pucon. Great view of Volcan Villarrica during the brief moment where we weren’t capsized.

Driving (and flying) to foreign countries with a puppy (or dog)

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:43:00 -0500

So what’s it like to drive the pan american highway (or any highway) with a puppy? Is it even possible? Or a huge pain? Yes, it is completely possible, but it does make a few things tricky. Some points of which you should be aware:

Sneaking the dog into a hotel can be tricky. If they find the dog (which may happen when taking him out for walks), you may have to put him in the car for the night. We don’t recommend asking the hotel in advance if they accept dogs. Just do it. And find a good backpack or duffel bag for the dog-sneaking.
Hostels are tougher for the dog. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to bring the dog into the hostel, so you’ll have to keep him stowed away in the car.
Don’t lose your paperwork. If you do, you may very well be stranded at a border crossing or airport. But don’t despair if you are, in most cases, you can simply have a vet create new documentation for the puppy and recross. We were once caught in an airport for half a day because some vaccination paperwork went missing. In the end, we needed to have a vet drive the airport and re-vaccinate him… not a pleasant experience when you’re sleep deprived and passengers are passing in front of you while the dog is whining about the shots.
Keep a small bag full of supplies. Good dog food is available pretty much anywhere, but if you’re planning to explore in your car, it’s good to keep a sizeable supply. Chew toys are key too to ensure he stays quiet some times.
Have a good dog carrier. We use a smaller nylon carrier that’s flexible enough to bend underneath an airplane seat.
If you leave the dog in a hotel during the day, be sure to post a do-not-disturb sign on the door, or inform the front desk that you do not want a turn-down.
Set aside plenty of time to play with the dog. Being cramped up during long car rides is never fun.
Flying tip: when your puppy needs to hit the bathroom, be prepared for some awkward moments in the airplane lavatory and in handicap stalls in airports.

All in all, it’s a bit trickier to do, but it is completely possible. Just relax and enjoy the dog, but keep him in mind when planning ahead. Also traveling with more than one person helps, but isn’t strictly necessary.

Best, John

Third Gringo Loco Joins the Crew

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:17:22 -0500

Hi all, heard about the trip and invited myself along. Chris and John welcomed me with open arms and I joined them in Santiago on the Jan 11th. The goal is still the same, The Pan American highway (in Chile, Highway 5) we reach the end on friday on the island of Chiloe. Our final goal is Tierra Del Fuego. We are still figuring out the final route. Since I got here we spent several days in Santiago, Pucon, Villarria, Pureto Vares, and tonight we are in Pureto Montt. I will upload pictures and more details soon. Best, Jeff

Quito getting some sleep in the car.

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:57:02 -0500

Quito getting some sleep in the car.

The car outside Pucón, Chile. It’s looking dirty.

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:55:35 -0500

The car outside Pucón, Chile. It’s looking dirty.

A happy Jeff at a Chilean brewery. Great tasty beer!

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:54:26 -0500

A happy Jeff at a Chilean brewery. Great tasty beer!

Chris’ collection of phones from various countries.

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:53:20 -0500

Chris’ collection of phones from various countries.

In Peru, there’s desert and beautiful oceans right next to...

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:15:54 -0500

In Peru, there’s desert and beautiful oceans right next to each other.

“Moro” in Arika, Chile. The people are pretty intent...

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:14:18 -0500

“Moro” in Arika, Chile. The people are pretty intent on placing a massive flag on the land they won from Peru.

Panorama of the Peruvian desert.

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:11:47 -0500

Panorama of the Peruvian desert.

Peruvian Fuel is Terrible

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:55:44 -0500

With the middle grade gasoline (marked as “90”), our top speed has topped out at 90 mph (as tested in the desert). Funny thing is, it’s almost three times as expensive.

If you need to drive through Peru, stock up on additives for your gasoline!

Bad Gasoline and Other Fun Facts

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:53:54 -0500

We had our first minor crisis today: our engine abruptly (and jarringly) lost a lot of torque while cruising at 70 mph down the highway. The problem? Bad Peruvian gasoline.

After a few phone calls to the Land Rover dealership and an oil change we decided to carry on and burn the bad tank of gas. To our satisfaction, the bad gas burned through and our engine regained power roughly one hundred miles into the desert highway.

All in all, it was not a fun experience, considering that the Pan American highway is surrounded by desert in Peru.

We recommend bringing extra fuel additives to increase octane (and clean the engine) and possibly a filter for your gasoline if you want to be extra cautious. And just know to be weary of getting pure, unadulterated gasoline in a country with a massive gas tax.

Other fun gas facts:

It’s a lucrative (and illegal) business to smuggle natural gas from Ecuador to Columbia, as the price difference is more than five times. Ecuador apparently subsidizes the price of natural gas so that the poor can cook their food.
Likewise, it’s illegal to import regular gasoline from Ecuador to Peru. Gasoline in Peru is heavily taxed, much more so than it is in Ecuador.
Peruvians call Ecuadorians monos (monkeys) because they produce and consume a large quantity of bananas. Likewise, Ecuadorians apparently refer to Peruvians as chickens because of the Peruvian chicken industry.
If possible, a car bought in the US can fetch a selling price of two to three times.
Peru has lots and lots of sand… And chickens.

Chris and I got PADI certified in three days on the West coast...

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:56:00 -0500

Chris and I got PADI certified in three days on the West coast of Ecuador. Check out Mares dive center in Puerto Lopez. Ask for Xavier. He’s the best!