Kristin and Chris
Hometown
San Francisco, CA, USA
Reason for taking this trip
We had been talking about taking a trip ever since we were engaged, and when Kristin’s fellowship was ending and Chris was thinking about changing jobs, we decided now was as good of a time as any.
Why did you decide to drive?
Chris really wanted to be the first to do something. However, we quickly found out that lots of people have driven the Pan American Highway, but we figure we’re probably the first people to drive it in a Honda Element, and definitely the first people to drive it in Honda Element E-Camper/
What type of car are you driving?
A 2008 Honda Element.
Did you make any modifications to your car for this trip?
We had our car converted to an E-camper. This was so we can pop up a camper and sleep up on the roof.
How did you save up or finance your trip?
Once we decided in January of 2008 that we were going to do it, we stopped eating out at restaurants 5 times a week, and just were more careful with our money.
How long do you plan on traveling?
For at least a year - longer if we can find a way to make some money on the road.
Where do you plan on driving?
We’re hoping to drive all the way down to the southern tip of Argentina/Chile, but may have to stop in Buenos Aires for a couple of months before the roads to Tierra del Fuego open up again
What were your family’s and friends’ reactions when you told them about your trip before you left?
They either thought we were super cool or totally insane. At this point almost all of them are very jealous.
Did you speak Spanish before you left your home country? How much Spanish? Are you taking more Spanish lessons as you travel? If so, where and for how long?
We tried to learn a little Spanish using Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur before we left, but we were pretty poor. We stayed in Xela, Guatemala for 3 weeks to take intensive Spanish classes, and plan to take some more classes further down the road.
Do you have a favorite place or country that you have visited during your trip?
It’s really hard to pick. We loved Mexico and were there for 2 months, and still didn’t get to see lots of places. The people in Guatemala were super friendly, and the indigenous cultures there were amazing.
What was the weirdest thing you experienced on your trip?
When we were in the small market town of Chichicastenango for a holiday called Quema del Diablo, or Burning of the Devil, we saw the wildest fireworks display followed by the most bizarre dance of cartoon characters. However, I think Chris getting ‘cleansed’ in a traditional Mayan ceremony while being beaten by herbs and sprayed with beer was probably even stranger/
What was the worst border crossing?
Hands down, Honduras. Chaos, dishonest officials, garbage, the whole works.
Do you have any advice for others who may be considering driving the Americas?
When you’re packing, you definitely do not need everything you think you need. We have been trying to shed belongings since the beginning of the trip, and still have too much stuff.
Would you do it again?
Absolutely.
Do you have a blog?
Yes, it's called The Darien Plan (in honor of what we consider the most difficult part of the trip, crossing the Darien Gap).
Comments
#1 sleeping in your vehicle - safe?
We are thinking about using a van / rv to drive through Central and South America but would like to use the vehicle to sleep in. Does anyone know of anyone doing this or how safe it would be to do so? Any comments welcome.
#2 it depends
My wife and I are currently doing this same trip- we are using a Honda Element converted with a pop-top camper. You can check out our blog about our car and our Pan-American drive. Just so you know, we have been using the camper about 1/3 the time, but we know of others that have been camping in vehicles 100% of the time, such as a couple from Europe traveling in a VW bus from Argentina to the U.S. We also came across two Germans who made custom RVs from an army truck and a German mail truck, and are traveling not only Latin America, but Africa and Asia as well! As far as safety, we make sure to travel only in the daytime and get off the roads as early as possible, and mostly use only campgrounds. However, many people were pulling over at gas stations to sleep overnight, or pulling into a police station and asking if they can park their car there. It is tempting to camp on a empty beach, but make sure to ask around first, those are usually places people run into trouble.
#3 sleeping in your vehicle
We are also doing this. We were a little disappointed by the options for sleeping in our truck. Mexico was the best place for it. Accommodation is so cheap it is worth it to get a rooom most of the time. Plus you always have to worry about safety.