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Panamericana south

July 2019 - April 2020
with our trusted truck camper Esmeralda , we are driving south to Houston , ship the truck to Cartagena , Columbia and take off toward Patagonia. Read more
  • 42footprints
  • 6countries
  • 273days
  • 234photos
  • 3videos
  • 60.7kkilometers
  • 40.1kkilometers
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  • Panamericana south
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    Day 38

    Villa de Levya and surroundings

    August 30, 2019 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We pulled our thicker jackets out, now that we are in the higher Andes. Villa de Levya, a colonial town with a large plaza , is located above 2000 meters. In the nearby national park we visited today , we hiked up to 3600 meters ,and the wind was cold and strong.But the andean forest contains a little bit of everything... cacti, mushrooms, bamboo, pine ,huge colorful flowers and anything in between.Read more

  • Panamericana south
    Day 39

    Crossing the Cordillieres

    August 31, 2019 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Back in the 1980’s, when Colombian riders first appeared on the European professional cycling circuit, Colombian Pro, Lucho Herrera, mentioned that climbs like Alpe d’Huez were too short for Colombians. Yesterday we crossed the Alto de Letras, at 3800m the highest mountain pass road we have ever climbed .
    We marvelled about the many bicyclist, before we found out about this being the longest climb on earth in the bicycling community,more than 80km ,with temperatures of 97 at the Magdalena river to almost freezing on top of the pass.
    Driving in Colombia does take patience, 25 miles per hour average is a reason to celebrate , but usually there is a long lines of trucks laboring up or down the steep hills not much faster than walking speed. On our mountain range crossing from the Bogota to the Meddelin area ,we also visited a Saltmine ,which provided some interesting pictures.    Read more

  • Panamericana south
    Day 41

    Zona Cafetera Colombia

    September 2, 2019 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    After soaking in some local hot springs it was time for an educational session. We went to Hacienda Guayabal and had a coffee tour. We learned lots, from planting, growing, harvesting, drying and exporting the coffee. Colombia is the third largest coffee exporter in the world, growing arabica beans exclusively. We got an opportunity to contribute to the year round harvest.
    After tasting plenty coffee we headed off to Valle de Cocora. Here you feel like you have just entered Switzerland with the bizarre addition of Wax Palms. These palm trees grow up to 60 meters and are the largest palms in the world.
    We took a beautiful hike through the forest to Finca Montaña and then to the House of Hummingbirds. We crossed a raging river many times on shaking hanging bridges and passed through a stunning, sense cloud forest.    Read more

  • Panamericana south
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    Day 48

    From summer into winter

    September 9, 2019 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today we crossed the equator at "Mitad del mundo " in Ecuador. This little monument is where the northern and southern hemisphere connects .And with crossing the equator we are moving from summer into winter. While camping at a beautiful lake on 3700 meters, we prepared ourselves with some "Gluehwein" , the hot mold wine thats typical for the german winter season where we grew up.
    We had crossed into Ecuador a few days ago early in the morning. Based on other travellers reports it could take 6 to 8 hours to get the paperwork done, but while we saw many venezuelen immigrants camping at the border we got us and the truck across with little delay.
    While we enjoyed meeting other overlanders at a campground owned by a german, we escape into the mountains for nature, silence and hiking.    Read more

  • Panamericana south
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    Day 49

    Vulcano Cotopaxi

    September 10, 2019 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    From the national park materials , its described as the highest active vulcano in the world. At 5897 meters the Cotopaxi has a permanent snow cover . As for access to this ecuadorian national park , its a bumpy cobble stone road and i turned on the 4wheel drive to better get through the deep holes in the road . But after rattling along for 20 km we reached this beautiful spot at the lodge tambopaxi, where we spend the night.
    In the morning , we sat down for breakfast ( for the first time on our trip we camped with breakfast included), and the alarm went on and evacuation protocol when the vulcano errupts was initiated. We all got a little bag with water bottle and breathing mask, then piled into their trucks and rattled downhill to the escuela/evacuation center. It was a drill but all the park employees took it very seriously.
    After we got back we hiked up to the refugio, the basecamp for climbing to the top. That was enough for us ,we felt acomplished to have reached almost 16000 feet and climbed down again to get out of the brutal ,ice cold wind.    Read more

  • Panamericana south
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    Day 52

    Banos-waterfalls,rain and smiles

    September 13, 2019 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We had decided to take small roads to Banos, the adventure capital of equador. And small they where, perched into the cliff of the canyon just the size of our truck . It takes a while to negotiate a passing spot when another car comes along .
    Ecuador makes you a happy spender. Fill up the tank of our truck and its 30$ . We had a splurging day in Banos , lunch at the expensive swiss bistro ,then thermal bath . After that we stopped at a wonderful german owned finca for kaffee und kuchen and dinner in the evening . overnight was free in their parkinglot and all together we spent just about 60 $ (yes ecuador uses US dollars ) .
    And while it rained all night and on and off during the day , we enjoyed the waterfall hikes and the young people doing mountain biking ,zip lines and swings .    Read more

  • Panamericana south
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    Day 53

    Cuenca -a fun city to explore

    September 14, 2019 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    This is a popular place to settle for north americans and europeans. Our friend Stephen moved here 5 years ago and we enjoy a nice little apartment for a few days,close to the old town. The diversity here ,between indigenous tribes, mestizos, afro ecuadorians and expats is refreshing and puts a playful feel over the city life. We love the Cafe's, food and roaming around town. The shrunken skulls and cultural exhibition in the indigenous museum also impressed us. For many of the tribes the spiritual and real world are of equal importance . What a concept!Read more

  • Panamericana south
    Day 56

    Beach live in Peru

    September 17, 2019 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Its hard to believe your eyes,when you first see these huge bodies jump straight up out of the ocean, just a hundred meters from the beach. I was reading up on the northern and southern wales...are they meeting at the ecuator? Well some do ,but the south american ones spent summers in patagonia ,but now they are in the warmer waters of Peru to raise the kids. After watching the humpback whales jumping from the beach at the outskirts of town , we started to cook dinner. Just as we 're getting ready to eat a police moto with flashing light stops and the officers knock at the door. "You cannot camp here , but we will show you a safe place to spent the night" . So after we packed up we follow their flashing lights through town to another spot at the beach , where we find other overlanders already camping . " And if you need help the police station is right around the corner" ,says the lady officer before she left. Such nice law enforcement!
    This stretch of northern Peru has beautiful beaches and we suck up the sun again after the cold of the Andes.    Read more

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    Day 60

    Cañon del pato

    September 21, 2019 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Today we left the coast of Peru to head to the Cordillera Blanca, the world’s highest tropical mountain range. The challenge is to make it through Cañon del pato. Up, up, up we go, the road is mostly single lane with areas to pass each other for oncoming traffic. The 54 tunnels are pitch dark, single lane and I did a lot of praying that no truck or bus will face us in the dark. Michael and Esmeralda made it through the 40 km stretch, while I am holding on to whatever I can when I see the cliffs plummeting down 1000 meters. But we arrived safe and sound in the cute mountain town of Caraz.
    We both need a drink while the daughters of our camp host check out the camper.
    Tomorrow we will get to check out some pretty amazing lagoons.    Read more

  • Panamericana south
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    Day 62

    Huaraz

    September 23, 2019 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Huaraz sits more than 3,000 meters above sea level, with the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca range forming its dramatic eastern skyline. We spent time at blue lagoons, picturesque mountain pueblos and wide open spaces just below the glaciers south of the city. We needed an oil change and truck service as well ,and i am always sweating it to get the truck back in one piece. But with renewed fluids we relaxed and exlpored this city a bit more. Its hard to like any peruvian city, loud ,dirty and full of unfinished houses( for tax reasons? ) . But it does grow on you,in Huaraz, the colorfull markets, the exhausted mountaineers coming back from climbing peaks and the many quality restaurants catering to them .Read more

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