Quebec to Panama 2017-2019
(North and Central America)
16 months - solo travel - Suzuki DR650

Information on the Journey

This new trip is done by motorbike.

The first part of my trip by motorbike started by crossing USA from east to west using the Trans-America Trail. It's a very nice route that can be somewhat difficult, especially in the West. However, the scenery is spectacular. This first part of the big trip will be done with my friend Thierry who came from France for 40 days and Alvaro from Spain.

Next, after this introduction to motorbiking, I continue my trip in solo. The goal is to reach Ushuaia, the southernmost city of South America. I am taking as long as it takes to get there. I wish to have a great motorbiking experience, but also, I would like to visit all the numerous countries found between Quebec and Tierra del Fuego where Ushuaia is located. Then, I am going to return to Quebec, with a lot more regions to discovers.

This trip is a great journey exploring the Americas. Even though it's really only one trip, I split it in three parts on this site in order to lighten each section.



Some data

Travelling solo

Quebec to Panama 2017-2019 USA, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica (a tiny region), Panama.
South America 2019-2023 all the countries in the continent, except Venezuela, unless the political turmoil comes to an end.
South America 2024-202x Panama (the mountains), Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Baja California in Mexico, ???)
Regions visited: USA, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama
When? From August 1 2017 to May 14 2019 (with a break in Quebec from April to October 2018)

Timeline:

United States 2 months 5 days
Mexico 4 months 16 days
Belize 18 days
Guatemala 19 days
At home 6 months 24 days
Guatemala 1 month 22 days
El Salvador 1 month 10 days
Honduras 1 month 5 days
Costa Rica 17 days
At home 15 days
Panama 1 month 10 days
Travel Time: 1 year 2 months 4 days
Not travelling: 7 months 9 days
 
Total: 1 year 9 months 13 days


Technical Data

Travellers with a Canadian passport. TIP = Temporary Import Permit. Petrol = 87 octane.

USA (August 2017)

VISA None.
VEHICULE No import document needed.
CURRENCY US Dollar - $US 1 = 1.25 CAD
INSURANCE Included with my Quebec insurance.
PETROL $US 0.55 - 1.05 / litre

Mexico (Octobre 2017)

VISA 6 months, at the border, about $US 50 + $US 30 exiting.
VEHICULE TIP at the border, $US 400 temporary bond.
CURRENCY Mexican Peso - $US 1 = 18.5 MXN - $CAD 1 = 15 MXN
INSURANCE Bought online before entering the country, 6 months $US 190.
PETROL $US 0.90 / litre

Belize (February 2018)

VISA 1 month, at the border, free.
VEHICULE TIP at the border, $CAD 3 fumigation, $CAD 10 road tax, $US 20 exiting.
CURRENCY Belizean Dollar - $US 1 = 2.02 BZD - $CAD 1 = 1.57 BZD
INSURANCE At the border, 1 month $CAD 40.
PETROL $CAD 2 / litre

Guatemala (March 2018)

VISA 1 month, at the border, free.
VEHICULE TIP at the border, $CAD 5.30 fumigation, $CAD 30 moto, $CAD 1.80 bridge.
CURRENCY Guatemalan Quetzal - $US 1 = 7.22 GTQ - $CAD 1 = 5.66 GTQ
INSURANCE Not necessary.
PETROL $CAD 1.30 / litre

Guatemala (October 2018)

CURRENCY Guatemalan Quetzal - $US 1 = 7.70 GTQ - $CAD 1 = 5.87 GTQ
PETROL $CAD 1.12 - 1.35 / litre