18.052 miles ; CUZCO , PERU.

It was a long drive to Cuzco , good roads but one curb after another.but finally we got here , it is a nice city but it is so cold , because of height 3300m .

16.987 miles ; PACIFIC COAST PERU.

Driving the deserts of Peru for 3 days , big country , we are driving medium 500 miles a day to get in Cusco for visiting Machu Pichu .

16.254 miles ; SALINAS , GUAYAQUIL

We've been in the country 3 days. Leaving Colombia was a great relief from the shear fact the roads were like riding on air. Luc never trade the Suburban for the new Ford either! Twenty four toll booths (I counted) at between 4 and $6. Ecuador 4 at $1.00 each for brand new roads! Americans, did you ever wonder where the $1 coins went? They are all here as this country uses the dollar for currency. Okay, on the way to Quito we crossed the equator. A 5900 meter volcano with snow on the top and the lower valley had many green houses with masses of flowers. Quito was 4 million people strung out in the valley between the mountains. Similar to Colombia there is not any trash in the city. The graffiti artists are not present either. The country is not covered in trash of any amount. Quito had a very vibrant night life and a beautiful old city. Also a tram that took people to 4100 meters. Cold winds were blowing.
Leaving Quito toward Guayaquil is one main mountain range to go through before driving at least 75 kilometers through "Dole" banana plantations. Flat area with other smaller rice and corn acreage. Guayaquil is a lower city where the river enter into the ocean. Ecuador's main port town. A great new Malecon, but the city was difficult to find restaurants. Enjoyed visiting with locals at the square. Eleven year old Pedro offered to show us the bars !!, we declined. Left town rather early heading Northwest to the beach area of Ecuador..Salinas, Water temperature around 25 C, beaches are 80% light brown sand with the occasional black vulcanic sands added. Short on people as the season is from Dec through Feb, and then Easter week. Lots of Condos and townhouse in highrises empty. Night life later... Mark

15.902 miles ; QUITO EQUADOR.

The tenth border , Colombia – Ecuador , was the quickest until now , only 25 minutes . looks impossible . A good change , the roads are very good in Ecuador, a very organised country.
Quito is warm at daytime and pretty cold at night , just see some photos in the link .

15.657 miles ; SOUTH COLOMBIA.

Colombia is a beautiful country with a lot of bad roads ,it is the only country that i know where you pay for using the roads, full of holes .
Nice cities like Kali ,changing climate each 100 miles , from cold to hot , humid to dry , because of the change of hieght.

14.985 miles ; MEDELLIN.

We left a small cattle/ranching town of Cauasia. It had rained all nite. 50 kilometers down the road we encountered a mud slide. All traffic both directions stopped. Fortunately a small town was at hand and Luc was able to change oil in the suburban while waiting. From here it was mountain driving roughly 4000meters high. Medellin lies in the valley along the river Medellin, 3 million plus people. Seventy five percent of the homes have mountain views! Not much on paint being mainly natural red brick in color, tin or tile roofs. The citie’s above ground tram runs the length of the valley with one Historical spur going up through the “favela” to Arbi, A National Park. This Cable Car Tram is world reknown and has been observed by nations around the world as a way for city residents to access their homes. The unique temperature and elevation produce trees and plant specimans know only to Arbi. Luc and I both agree that this is the longest tram we have been on. Medellin was home to the Panamerican Games, the sport complex is well maintained and used quite extensively by city residents, with a tram stop next door. The local markets and street vendors were packed..It was Saturday, however. Loud Salsa music continues on into the morning as nite clubs don’t close until 4:00am.

14.617 miles ; CARTAGENA , COLOMBIA.

After two days in customs and port offices , finally I got mi car back , that was shipped in Panama 8 days ago. Back on the road today to Medellin .

14.607 miles ; CUNA ISLANDS.

The Cuna islands are a group of islands between Panama and Colombia , with autonomous government and habited with the Cuna Indians . The climate is tropical and the watertemp. Is 35 dgr/celcius and it is one of the most beautiful places in the world .
The boat trip was a 5 days trip from Portobelo Panama , on a sailboat with 11 people and we got of in Cartagena ,Colombia.
Please see photos in link : more photos.

14.520 miles ; PANAMA CITY.

Lying around Panama City for 48 hours. Lined up a cargo ship for the car and a sail boat for us through the San Blas Islands and into Cartagena. Three million people here and almost as many banks, a very progressive city. Weather has been warm, not any excessive humidity. Heading to the Atlantic Coast tomorrow. Dollar beers and cheap food, but ready to sail onward into South America. Luc only spent 4 hours today being employed by the National Police. Everything moves fast!! Adios until Columbia, Luc’s traveling assistant. Mark

14.211 miles ; PANAMA.

The seventh border cross into Panama, without electricity computers don’t work ,another 2 hours stop.
First welcome with the radar gun on the Panama road , Ok with a 9 dollar bill.

13.960 miles ; DOMINICAL , COSTA RICA.

After a long drive in the beautiful mountain region of Costa Rica (3200m hi) we met Marks friend in Dominical on the Pacific Coast , he is building a substanable eco mountain village with more than hundred houses hi up in the mountains , we staid in one of the houses in the middle of the jungle , just see the photos.

13.742 miles ; VULCANO ARENAL , COSTA RICA.

The most active volcano in Costa Rica , always with lava coming out of the top.
Beautiful mountains an lakes .see photos.

13.512 miles ; SAN JUAN DEL SUR.

Marks old hometown , he lived here for 7 years and has a lot of friends and rememberies .
Nice little city , good restaurants and bars , lots of Americans.

13.423 miles ; GRANADA NICARAGUA.

A good tip from Mark , thanks Mark , nice town on the lake , not far from Managua airport . A lot of nice little hotels , a got one with a big swimming pool , wright in the center ,for 29 u$ ,Casa Vivaldi , good service .

13.237 miles ; HONDURAS.

One more border , let’s say two borders , in and out on the same day , the road was good but the police and border guys all want dollars , this is the only country I know that corruption is open , they even say how much. I had to drive trough today because Mark is coming in , on Managua airport tomorrow , so I didn’t see very much of the country.

13.112 miles ; LA UNION , EL SALVADOR.

One more border , I am getting used to borders now , this one into El Salvador was quick , only 60 minutes .
El Salvador is doing well , the roads are better than Guatemala and Mexico ,a lot of new buildings ,friendly people, not bad for a country that is coming out of a civil war 15 years ago.

12.919 miles ; ANTIGUA GUATEMALA.

The old city of Guatemala is on 30 km. from the big modern Guatemala City. Dates from 1545 and is in very good conservation , just like it was .

12.845 miles ; LAKE ATITLAN.

After a 2 hours stop on the border , finally on the bad roads of Guatemala . After a long drive In the green mountains, cold weather 3000m hi , finally the Lake Atitlan and tourist city Panajachel , all difficult names , rsss.

12,620 miles ; TAPACHULOS.

Tapachula last city in mexico , just 30 miles from Guatemala , lots of police controles , here the Mexicans do not wont to let the Guatemalans enter in North America .

12580 miles ; CHIAPAS.

The black beaches of Chiapas , this is clean sand , just volcanic sand. I have to say that the people of Chiapas are cleaner than the other Mexicans , no garbage on the road or beaches . First rain in 2 weeks , everything is green and beautiful , see the photos in link.

12453 miles ; TEHUANTEPEC.

700 Miles driving on the N200 Pacific Coast Road , this is the road of the thousand curves and the 10.000 stops and moles , lots of mountains ,lots of little villages .
The pavement is good but very small , attention with the truck drivers , they don’t have very much place to go.
With time to stop in the villages and the beaches , it can be a pleasant drive .

11734 miles ; ACAPULCO.

This is the biggest beach town in Mexico built by Americans and for Americans , but with the dollar down almost no American tourists , good that the situation of the Mexican tourist is bether , so that someone uses the big hotels.

11589 MILES ; ZEHUATENEJO.

Last beers together with Fred ,he is staying for three months in Zihuatenejo, he was a very good travel partner , thank you very much Fred , we will do it again.

11589 MILES ; ZEHUATENEJO.

Finely after a 1000 miles drive , Zehuatenejo , beautiful town ,warm water beaches, lots of restaurants and bars. We will stay here for the weekend in freds friends house.

11036 miles , PACIFIC HIGHWAY.

1000 miles driving the pacific highway , beaches ,mountains, cities , some good roads , a lot of bad roads. I made a selection of photos , to see them click in link ; MORE PHOTOS.

10598 miles ; MAZETLAN BEACH.

Walking by the beach , Fred met on old friend , Pancho , who has a nice restaurant on the beach .
He knew him 20 years ago , and pancho did remember him like it was yesterday . We had some beers and a meal in his restaurant.

10569 miles ; MAZETLAN

On the ship from Baja California to Mazetlan , big city , long beach , lots of bars and restaurants , almost no tourists . this town has a problem , it depends totally on the Americans and they are not coming because of the bad economic situation and rumors of violence in Mexico.

10211 miles ; CABO DE SAN LUCAS.

Cabo de San Lucas is a vacation place for American and Mexican tourists , lots of bars ,restaurants, big hotels ,beaches , good after 3 days driving on roads without decent restaurants.

9789 miles ; MAR DE CORTEZ.

After a day driving through the desert , a nice surprise , nice little city’s and beautiful beaches.
See more photos in link ; MORE PHOTOS.

9456 miles , BAJA CALIFORNIA DESERT.

Hello , back on the road again , now with mi friend Fred from Riverside California ,driving with me through Mexico . After a 2 hours , doing the papers of the car and passports on the Tijuana border , we got into Mexico , Baja California is a big desert with a lot of nice beaches.