SOUTH AMERICA
DISTANCES
  • Buenos Aires - Iguazu Falls - Buenos Aires: 1600 miles
  • Buenos Aires to Ushuaia (Ruta 3): 1900 miles
  • Ushuaia to Mendoza (Ruta 40): 1900 miles
  • Mendoza to Santiago: 225 miles
  • Santiago to O'Higgins: 1400 miles
  • O'Higgins to Antofagasta: 2250 miles (oil change/maintenance in Santiago)
  • Antofagasta to Uyuni: 400 miles
  • Uyuni to Lk, Titicaca: 460 miles
  • Lk. Titicaca to Machala (Ecuador): 1600 miles
  • Machala to Cartagena (Colombia): 1400 miles
  • TOTAL: ~15,000 miles

SCHEDULE  (25 wks; 30 wks max.)
Wk 1-7: ARGENTINA (Iguazu Falls, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Lake District)
Wk 8-11: CHILE (Santiago, Carretera Austral, Ruta 5/7 to Puerto Montt and O’Higgins; north to Atacama Desert; Antofagasta)
Wk 12-14: BOLIVIA (Altiplano, Salar de Uyuni, Death Road, La Paz)
Wk 15-17: PERU (Lk. Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lima)
Wk 18-19: ECUADOR (  )
Wk 20-25: COLOMBIA (Cali, Medellin, Bogota, Cartagena; ship car to Panama or back to the US)

BUDGET (for South America only)
GAS/tolls: $5000
CAR SHIPPING: $7500
CAR INSURANCE: $500
TRAVEL INSURANCE: $600
FOOD: $2000
LODGING (1/week): $500
TOTAL: $21,500

COUNTRY INFORMATION
​Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay

IMMUNIZATIONS (Hep A/B, yellow fever, malaria, rabies, dengue, typhoid; boosts: MMR,); CDC recommendations
TRAVEL ADVISORIES: US State Dept., Canada Travel Advisories
TRAVEL INSURANCE: https://sanborns.com, SquareMouth
GAS: https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/
CURRENCY: https://www.xe.com
ELECTRICITY: plug/socket types, voltage, wattage
WEATHER: https://weather-and-climate.com​​
DOCS: Copies of passport, car docs (registration, insurance, International Driving Permit), health insurance and info, US embassies/consulates; Toyota service info; itinerary, POI; email copies to self and save to iCloud; laminates

RESEARCH PLACES/DESTINATIONS/ATTRACTIONS: Other:
PACKING LIST
  • CLOTHES: shirts ✔︎, pants ✔︎, socks ✔︎, T-shirts ✔︎, tops ✔︎, socks ✔︎, underwear ✔︎; sweatshirt ✔︎, sweat pants, shorts ✔︎, 
  • OUTERWEAR: wool top/sweater ✔︎, fleece ✔︎,  jacket ✔︎, rain/wind jacket ✔︎, poncho ✔︎, sneakers ✔︎, hiking boots, boots ✔︎, wet shoes ✔︎, wellies ✔︎
  • ACCESSORIES: gloves ✔︎, hats ✔︎, belt, scarf ✔︎, head bands, thick socks ✔︎, thermals ✔︎,
  • SLEEP: sleeping bag+pad ✔︎, wool blanket ✔︎, sheets, pillows ✔︎; night wear ✔︎
  • KITCHEN: 45L fridge ✔︎, cooking utensils ✔︎, mess kit, silverware ✔︎, paper plates/cups/bowls ✔︎, stove ✔︎, 12V kettle ✔︎, can/bottle opener ✔︎, sieve, bowl ✔︎, ziplock bags ✔︎, spare plastic bags ✔︎; grill?
  • HEALTH: first aid kit ✔︎, LifeStraw ✔︎, water container ✔︎, neosporin, AlkaSeltzer ✔︎, cold meds ✔︎, cough drops, headache & stomachache meds ✔︎, lip balm ✔︎, hand cream ✔︎, nails+hair trimers ✔︎, knee wrap ✔︎, ankle wrap ✔︎, wrist brace ✔︎, arm swing ✔︎
  • CLEANING: toiletries; microfiber towels, wet wipes, paper towels, TP, kleenex, clorox wipes, detergent, garbage bags, rags
  • GEAR: knife ✔︎, flashlights ✔︎, camp lights ✔︎, bug gear, saw ✔︎, machete ✔︎, hatchet ✔︎, shovel ✔︎, USB car fan ✔︎, camping chair ✔︎, zip ties ✔︎, hand warmers ✔︎, HeatBuddy ✔︎, chainsaw ✔︎, para cord ✔︎
  • TOOLS: first aid kit ✔︎, car tools ✔︎, tire fix kit, electrical kit ✔︎, multitools ✔︎, duck tape ✔︎, WD40, grease; LifeSaver jerry can ✔︎
  • CAR: metric tools ✔︎, Fix-a-Flat ✔︎, tire fix kit ✔︎, bulbs, belt, (starter, alternator?), wiper blades, oil, coolant, washer liquid, air filters, night goggles, NOCO starter ✔︎, triangle ✔︎, high-visibility vest ✔︎, flares, fire extinguisher ✔︎, OBD reader ✔︎, ice scraper ✔︎, blind spot mirrors, tarp ✔︎; belt/hoses; fuses ✔︎, spare key
  • POWER: aux battery ✔︎, inverter ✔︎, power banks ✔︎, chargers, socket/plug adapters ✔︎, extension cord ✔︎
  • ELECTRONICS: iPhone ✔︎, camera, action cams, memory cards ✔︎, selfie stick, laptop ✔︎, thumb & external drives, drone?
  • NAV: online travel advisories, NG maps ✔︎ + offline, iPad apps ✔︎, DK books ✔︎, compass ✔︎, binoculars, dashcam ✔︎
  • COMMS: InReach+ ✔︎, iPhone ✔︎, SIM cards, cell booster✔︎; CB radio ✔︎; walkie-talkies ✔︎
  • ​RECOVERY: safety kit, ARB Tred Pros ✔︎, shackles ✔︎, straps, chainsaw ✔︎, utility gloves ✔︎, chocks, ratchet tie-downs ✔︎, winch ✔︎
  • SAFETY: pocket knife ✔︎, pepper spray ✔︎, document holder ✔︎, money belt ✔︎, window shades ✔︎
  • FOOD: Kind/granola/nrg bars, MREs ✔︎, MountainHouse dry meals, canned soup/veggies/beans/fish, cookies/crackers, nuts/cranberries, tea, hot chocolate, instant coffee/juice, jerky,
  • MISC: pens, sharpie, highlighters, car/country info binder; swag gear (stickers ✔︎, t-shirts, hats), spare glasses, spare watch, lock

CAR mods/gear: tires ✔︎, recovery boards ✔︎, extra gas tank ✔︎ (+chain, lock), power inverter ✔︎, front bumper ✔︎, winch ✔︎, rock sliders ✔︎, snorkel ✔︎, aux battery ✔︎, cell booster ✔︎, LED lights, spotlights ✔︎, radio antenna, bug deflector ✔︎, window visors ✔︎, rain guards ✔︎, bug screens ✔︎, stealth camping shades, sleeping platform✔︎, tie downs✔︎, bungee cords✔︎, CB ✔︎, radio antenna, car vacuum ✔︎, aux power ✔︎, dashcam ✔︎, chainsaw ✔︎

GAS (as of 1/1/22; US$/US gallon)
Argentina $3.57 (5500 miles; $1375 at $75/tank)
Chile $4.60 (most expensive; 4000 miles; $1300 at $100/tank)
Bolivia $2.05 (1500 miles; $300)
Peru $4.33 (1500 miles; $700)
Ecuador $2.55 (1500 miles; $450)
Columbia $2.23 (cheapest)
TOTAL GAS: $4500

—— shipping car to Colon, Panama
Panama $3.37 (cheapest)
Costa Rica $4.20
Nicaragua $4.49 (most expensive)
Honduras $4.28
Guatemala $3.72
Mexico $3.87
https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/

US$1 =
20 MXN (Mexico pesos)
7.75 GTQ (Guatemala quetzals)
24 HNL (Honduras lempira)
33 NOI (Nicaragua cordoba)
600 CRC (Costa Rica colon)
1 PAB (Panama balboa)
3100 COP (Colombia peso)
1 US$ (Ecuador)
3.33 PEN (Peru sol)
7 BOB (Bolivia boliviano)
670 CLP (Chile peso)
38 ARS (Argentina peso)
33 UYU (Uruguay peso)
https://www.xe.com

TEMPS at time of travel (Jan-Jul), highest/lowest, in F
​RA Buenos Aires (Jan-Feb.): 85/68
Ushuaia: 55/40
RCH Santiago (Feb-Mar): 80/50
O'Higgins:
Antofagasta: 70/58
BOL Uyuni (April):
La Paz: 65/40
PE (May) Cusco: 65/38
Nazca: 85/55
EC (Jun): Quito 70/50
CO (Jul): Catragena 90/78
Medellin 82/58
Bogotá 65/50
Cali 86/65

PAN Panama City (
CR San José (Costa Rica)
NIC Managua (Nicaragua)
GCA Guatemala City
MEX Mexico City

HIGHEST: 90
LOWEST: 38
https://weather-and-climate.com​

TOYOTA in Latin America
ARGENTINA: https://www.toyota.com.ar/usuarios/mant_express/_Listado/
CHILE: https://www.toyota.cl/guia-de-compra/concesionarios/
BOLIVIA: https://www.toyota.bo/sucursales
PERU: https://www.toyotaperu.com.pe/concesionarios-toyota/
ECUADOR: https://www.toyota.com.ec/concesionarios
COLOMBIA: https://www.toyota.com.co/campana-cambioaceite/​
 https://www.toyota.juanautos.com.co/form/cita-taller

PANAMA: https://toyotarp.com/sucursales/
COSTA RICA: https://www.toyotacr.com/mantenimiento/contacto
NICARAGUA: https://casapellas.com/sucursales
HONDURAS: https://toyotahonduras.com/talleres-de-servicios/
GUATEMALA: https://www.toyota.com.gt/talleres-de-toyota-guatemala
MEXICO: https://www.toyota.mx/servicio

----------------------------- ORIGINAL --------------------------

Original Plan:
  • Chicago to Panama City (through St. Louis, MO, Tulsa, OK, and Laredo, TX): 4,000mi/6,500km
  • Cartagena (CO) to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego (RA): 15,000km/9,320mi
  • Ushuaia to Iguazu Falls and then to Buenos Aires (RA): 5,000km; ship car back to the US
  • TRIP TOTAL: ~26,500 km/16,500 mi
  • Countries (13): Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay. Countries not visited: Belize, El Salvador, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guyana, Brazil, Paraguay

SCHEDULE  (wks)
Wk 1-2: Central America Mexico to Panama City (10 days), then ship car and fly to Cartagena CO (1wk)
Wk ~3-4: COLOMBIA (Cartagena - pick up rig -- 1wk, then Medellin, Bogota, Cali, etc.)
Wk ~5: ECUADOR (Galapagos?, Quito, Guayaquil)
Wk ~6-7: PERU (Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lk Titicaca)
Wk ~8-9: BOLIVIA (Altiplano, Salar de Uyuni, Death Road, La Paz)
Wk ~10-12: CHILE (Santiago, Ruta 40, Carretera Austral, Ruta 5/7 to Puerto Montt and O’Higgins)
Wk ~13-15: ARGENTINA (Patagonia, Lake District, Iguazu Falls); Buenos Aires (ship car back to US)