Complete South
America

Climbing higher into the Andes and across into Bolivia, the air thins and the landscape turns surreal. Open plains, coloured lagoons and isolated volcanic peaks fill the horizon. Road conditions swing between smooth pavement and rough remote track, which is where the expedition character shows. Then the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world, and one of the days riders remember most. North through Oruro and down into La Paz, a city built inside a canyon at over 3,600 metres.

One of the most dramatic transitions of the whole crossing. The road drops off the Altiplano into the green foothills of the Bolivian Yungas, and within a few days snow capped peaks become dense cloud forest, tropical vegetation and warm humid air. The route continues through Coroico into the Bolivian Amazon, where rivers, jungle roads and lowland forest replace the mountains and wildlife becomes a daily sight. A rest day in Santa Cruz closes the section.

East across the vast plains of Bolivia and into the dry forests of the Gran Chaco. Farmland disappears behind you and is replaced by remote roads, scattered settlements and a sense of isolation that defines this rarely visited part of the continent. Crossing into Paraguay, the expedition rides through one of the least populated regions in South America, where enormous distances separate small communities and wildlife often outnumbers people.

The expedition reaches one of the great natural wonders of the continent, with time to explore Iguazú from both the Argentine and the Brazilian side. Powerful waterfalls, rainforest and abundant wildlife make a complete change of atmosphere after the long days crossing the Chaco. Leaving Iguazú, the route runs south across northern Argentina, through the Iberá wetlands and along quiet rural roads towards Buenos Aires.

Crossing the Río de la Plata into Uruguay, the pace of life slows immediately. Coastal towns, rolling countryside and quiet rural roads make this one of the most enjoyable riding sections of the expedition. Through Punta del Este and the Uruguayan interior, the route crosses into southern Brazil, where grassland gives way to subtropical forest and the roads begin to wind towards the Atlantic. The section ends in Florianópolis.

One of the finest coastal rides anywhere in South America. The route climbs into Brazil's Atlantic Forest before dropping towards the Costa Verde, where rainforest covered mountains fall straight into the ocean. Curitiba marks the start of increasingly spectacular riding through winding mountain roads, hidden beaches and tropical forest, on towards Ilhabela and the colonial town of Paraty.

The final section of Stage I follows the legendary Costa Verde towards Rio de Janeiro, with spectacular coastal scenery, rainforest mountains and ocean views for almost every kilometre. Arriving in Rio is a genuine moment: Copacabana and Ipanema, Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. This is the official finish of Stage I, and the start of the Christmas break for riders continuing north.

Leaving Rio behind, the route continues north along one of Brazil's most scenic coastlines, with tropical beaches, colourful fishing villages and the Atlantic as a constant companion. Through Espírito Santo and southern Bahia, past Vitória, Itaúnas, Prado and Canavieiras, the roads are lined with coconut palms, golden beaches and Atlantic Forest. The section ends in Salvador de Bahia, where Afro Brazilian culture and colonial architecture fill the streets.

North from Salvador along the tropical northeastern coastline, where endless beaches, warm water and colourful colonial cities define the ride. Through Aracaju, Maceió, Recife and Natal, the route follows scenic coastal highways lined with palms, sand dunes and fishing communities. The riding is straightforward but the distances are significant, which is exactly what makes the scale of Brazil's coast sink in. Towards Fortaleza the land turns drier and more remote.

North of Fortaleza the scenery changes completely. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a panorama of rolling white sand dunes filled with crystal clear freshwater lagoons, and there is nothing else like it on the continent. Continuing through Parnaíba, Barreirinhas and São Luís, the Atlantic coastline is left behind as the expedition enters the gateway to the Amazon basin. The section ends in Belém, the historic doorway to the Amazon River.

From Belém the expedition takes on one of the great overland adventures in South America, following sections of the legendary Trans-Amazonian Highway. Long distances, jungle landscapes and river crossings replace the coastal scenery of the previous days. Through Breu Branco, Altamira, Alter do Chão, Rurópolis and Itaituba, ferries and remote settlements make the scale of the Amazon basin real. A ferry crossing to Parintins leads to Manaus, the largest city in the rainforest.

North from Manaus through one of the least populated regions of Brazil, following the legendary BR-174 towards the Venezuelan frontier. Dense rainforest gradually opens into savannah, another complete transformation of the landscape. Through Presidente Figueiredo, Rorainópolis and Boa Vista, the riding becomes increasingly remote, with waterfalls and endless horizons that few international travellers ever see. The section ends across the border in Santa Elena de Uairén.

The Gran Sabana is a vast highland region of ancient table mountains, endless grasslands and crystal clear rivers, and the towering tepuis on the skyline make it one of the most distinctive landscapes on earth. Riding through Santa Elena, La Gran Sabana and El Callao, the roads wind across open savannah framed by dramatic rock formations and untouched wilderness. The route then descends towards Puerto Ordaz.

West across Venezuela, where modern cities, fertile plains and Caribbean influence replace the remote wilderness of the previous days. Through Barcelona, Caracas, Araure and Maracaibo, the route follows the country's principal highways across landscapes that run from tropical coastline to agricultural valleys. This is where riders meet the culture and hospitality that most people never associate with the country.

Crossing into Colombia, the expedition climbs into the northern Andes before descending towards the warm Caribbean lowlands. The final days combine spectacular mountain riding with colourful colonial towns, through Cúcuta, Bucaramanga and the beautifully preserved town of Mompox. The expedition finishes in Cartagena, a walled colonial city on the Caribbean Sea, and the right place to celebrate crossing an entire continent.