The idea of this trip is born by accident. On the Guatemalan roads.
We were just arrived at the end of our 3 weeks of holidays, and we came across 2 motorbikes, with German plates. Yes there, in Guatemala. On the other side of the Antlantic.
We instantly liked the idea. To drive, to live, to vibrate on the roads of another continent.
Doing a real travel. A life experience. A daily life on the paths.
Thus the project was growing.
To leave in a van. Better, in a 4×4 van.
After we found our beast, our little Tikal, and after we prepared it, we engaged in the journey of our life.
13 monts on the roads of Americas, from Alaska to Argentina.
But 13 months is finally not so much to browse 3 continents. We realized that we needed to slow down. To take the time to fully live this experience.
Then we decided to cut the adventure in half.
North and Central America then South America in a second episode…
- THE COUNTRIES -
- THE ROUTE -
- THE ARTICLES -
PROJECT WILD – A story about wildlife and its protectors
WILD Here is our project for these 6 months in North America: the realisation of a photo and video report on wildlife and its protectors. From California to Alaska. A s we are told that more than 60% of wildlife has disapeared in the last last 50 years, and that we...
NICARAGUA – From Granada to Ometepe
We leave the sea shore and its refreshing wind to go inside the main land, back to colonial cities. Granada Like Leon, Granada is a lovely town, colonial and very very hot! There are not too much people when we arrive and we leave Tikal in the street, under the sun,...
NICARAGUA – From León to the Pacific coasts : qué calor!
We leave the refreshing mountains for the hot Nicaraguan cities. We heard only good things about León and we are happy to discover this colonial town! We did not really visit the city centers in Honduras, so we will enjoy the urban side of Nicaragua! And so we drive a...
NICARAGUA – Between canyon and cigar factories
It is after our night in an empty hotel parking lot (but with a swimming pool) that we lead to Nicaragua. The border crossing is pretty simple (with the advice from iOverlander) but a bit slow… And the payment in Nicaragua has to be done in US dollars. Yes, you don’t...
HONDURAS – How we survived Honduras – 3rd Part
Or "How we survive Honduras on the Caribbean coast (but we fought against sand flies and they won…)" After a short day of travel we arrive on the Caribbean sea, in Tela. We are the day after Easter. After the flow of tourists that have invaded the beach these last...
HONDURAS – How we survived Honduras – 2nd Part
After our sportive adventures, we decide to get some rest. Find a nice place with internet and nice landscapes. We arrive to Lake Yojoa et drive to the hostel/campground/restaurant D&D Brewery that also makes its own beers. Perfect! We find a place under a tree...
HONDURAS – How we survived Honduras – 1st Part
After a short morning walk to Ipala laguna (still in Guatemala), we drive to the Honduran border. Honduras Ahhhh, Honduras... Many travelers decide to just drive across El Salvador and Honduras to enter faster Nicaragua. Let's say it : those 2 countries do not have a...
GUATEMALA – The Holy Week in Antigua
We were saying it here, we loved Antigua! This town has a splendid architecture and it is nice to live in: freshness and sun, hike and urban walk. On the top of our list! More than as colonial city, Antigua is also known for its Easter celebrations. Fortunately, we...
GUATEMALA – A walk down the streets of Antigua
After some difficulties, we finally left Lago Atitlán... But we had a great motivation, the destination: Antigua. It is for us THE most beautiful town in central America. Without any doubt. Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, you might just like this city:...
GUATEMALA – From Chichicastenango to Lago Atitlan
After a good night of sleep and after having recovered from our emotions of the last day (the full story here), we are back on the road. A nice asphalted road (with holes but still asphalt) in direction of Chichicastenango. Chichicastenango This village is well-known...
GUATEMALA – From Yaxha to Biotopo del Quetzal, our Quetzal quest
After our evening with Fred and Chloe, we wake up in Flores with a dilemma: do we continue the road to Lake Atitlan, or should we go back near the Belizean border to see another Mayan site? We decide to drive first to this Mayan site that we did not visit during our...
GUATEMALA – When Tikal met Tikal
We leave Belize early in the morning and arrive at the Guatemalan boarder. This country is a strong symbol for us: 2 years ago, during our holidays between Guatemala and Belize, it is the country where we had the idea of our trip through Americas. The boarder-crossing...
BELIZE – A lightning passage through Belize
It is early in the morning when we leave Chetumal for the boarder of Belize. There is nobody. We enter, fill all the documents needed, make all the required formalities for the temporary import of the van, eat all the fruits that can not enter the country and take an...
MEXICO – YUCATAN 3/3 – From Chichén Itzá to Bacalar
Chichén Itzá The sun was hitting hard when we left Las Coloradas. After a stop in a cenote to get some refreshment, and after having met new travel friends, Les P'tits Pommés, (we hope meeting them again on the road) we finally arrive in the ruins of Chichén Itzá for...
MEXICO – YUCATAN 2/3 – Looking for the pink flamingos
Here we are, trying to find the pink flamingos. We heard that it is the good season. So we go to Cestun, well-known for the amount of pink flamingos that come there between january and april. Perfect timing as we are in february! We arrive by the end of the day and...
MEXICO – YUCATAN 1/3 – Sea, ruins and cenotes
Campeche We leave the jungles of Calakmul for Campeche. We just make a stop and discover a city full of colours: blue sea, blue sky and plenty of colours in the city center. We walk a few hours in the center and go back on the road to Uxmal. Uxmal We can sleep on the...
MEXICO – STATE OF CAMPECHE – Into the wild in Calakmul
After Palenque, we decide to visit another major site of the maya times: Calakmul. The specificity of this place is that even nowadays it is in the middle of the jungle a there is just one small road of 60km that permits the access. We decide to drive in this...
MEXICO – CHIAPAS – Tikal moves inside Chiapas
We leave Oaxaca region for Chiapas one. The state has a frontier with Guatemala, and it is here where we meet the traditional costumes, the colored skirts and the embroidered shirts that we loved so much in Guatemala. Chiapas is a particular state of Mexico because it...
MEXICO – OAXACA – A break in Oaxaca, discovering the surroundings
We leave Mexico suburbs on a wednesday morning and drive to meet Camille and William from Cap'A in Santa Maria del Tule, in a campground that everyone were talking about, Overlander Oasis, few kilometers from Oaxaca. Santa Maria del Tule We arrive in...
MEXICO – From Mexico Ciudad to Teotihuacán, a journey through time
After the butterflies of Morelia, we take the road to the capital and it is by the end of the day that we arrive in San Juan Teotihuacan where is located the campground from where we will visit the area. Yes, well, little precision, Mexico Ciudad is a small town of...
MEXICO – MICHOACAN – From Patzcuaro to the Monarch Butterflies
Then, it is with a new guitar that we drive to Patzcuaro. Patzcuaro, its lake and its island We decide to take some rest in this kind little city. The campgroung even offers a swimmingpool but the weather is too fresh... no swimming this time. The mornings are foggy...
MEXICO – Tikal has a walk between Colima and Paracho
So yes, you think we are zigzaging in Mexico? Well, it is completely true. But since we took the decision to take our time and divide the travel in two... we really take our time! So we move between sea and mountain, between freshness and heat. Anyway, we visit...
MEXICO – Tikal spends the end-year on the pacific coast
After Guanajuato, we decide to go back to the sea, in order to spend the end of the year with the feet in the ocean. We just forgot the fact that the distances are not really the same as in France: it takes us 2 long days to arrive. We first stop on the parking lof of...
MEXICO – GUANAJUATO – Tikal fell in love with the city of Guanajuato
After more than a week in San Miguel de Allende we decide, with Visiterra, to go to Guanajuato. The region is the country of old silver mines and we decide to make a stop and visit one of them in Valenciana. Inside it is humid, hot and dark (specially when the lights...
MEXICO – GUANAJUATO – The colours of San Miguel de Allende
In the state of Guanajuato, we could not have missed the city of San Miguel de Allende. Everybody talked to us about this place. The city has been declared World Heritage Site in 2008 and should not be missed (so is Guanajuato, we will tell you about it in another...
MEXICO – DURANGO and ZACATECAS : Tikal enters the Mexican lands
Once arrived in Mazatlan after our night on the boat, we decide to go directly into the main land. And we discover the mountains. Or mountain roads to be more specific. It is winding. Tikal is a little bit slow and the road is long. We decide to take the toll road. It...
MEXICO – BAJA CALIFORNIA : Tikal visits Baja California Sur
The sanitary control passed, we enter Baja California Sur. We pass through Guerrero Negro, we do some shopping in a supermarket as full as during a sovietic shop during the communist era, then we take the road back. We lead east. So we have to cross the peninsula to...
MEXICO – BAJA CALIFORNIA – Tikal discovers the north
After we crossed the border, we arrived in a campground near Ensenada. Nobody there. But American prices. It is good to rest for a night, we enjoy our time with Visiterra and Un p’tit pneu plus ploin but the day after, we all decide to go further south. Baja...
CALIFORNIA – Tikal on the Californian coast
Then we leave San Francisco in the morning, following the coast to the south. We drive slowly in direction of Los Angeles. The road is beautiful. Tortuous. Hilly. And the ocean down there is powerful and fantastic. Unfortunately all the roads to enter the national or...
CALIFORNIA – Tikal in San Francisco
And then we arrived in San Franciso. This city is a myth, we could not have missed it! We go straight to the Marina to park the van and walk to the Golden Gate Bridge to enjoy the light of the sunset. After the sun diseappered, we try to find hardly a place to leave...
CALIFORNIA – From Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park
[For those following us on the blog and not on Facebook, we are in Mexico… and for a while, now… but we stil try to catch our late in our articles. But having a good internet in Mexico is sometimes not so easy!] We leave Death Valley without taking the chance to go to...
CALIFORNIA – Tikal facing Death Valley
We leave Las Vegas the belly full and wanting to find some nature again, after so much lights and excess. Death Valley was expecting us. And the weather too, obviously. We arrive in the desert. One of the hottest of the world. And one of the most arid. So we arrive....
NEVADA – Tikal in Las Vegas
We crossed the desert. A good desert, well dry. Where there is actually nothing. Or almost. Few animals, well hidden. And the dirt all over. Or above, we do not know. And we finally arrive here. A feeling of déjà-vu. But no, this is Las Vegas. Here we are. This...
UTAH – Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park
We left Lake Powell, direction Bryce Canyon with the goal to cut through a 4WD dirt track. Less kilometers (even if we spend more time on the road) and much more beautiful landscapes, we did not hesitate at all. The crossing finaly took us much time and we arrive near...
ARIZONA – We turn the Page with Antelope Canyon
So we left Grand Canyon direction Page. After some hours on the road we lead the town’s campground but it seems that there is a lot of activity this week-end and it is full. We learn that there is a Walmart and we can spend the night on the car park. Perfect, it is...
ARIZONA – From Monument Valley to Grand Canyon
We left Moab with the idea of finding a campground where we could spend 1 or 2 nights. After some time on the road, we arrive in a small village, a few kilometers before Monument Valley. Bluff, Utah It was poker strike but we feel immediately well in Bluff (maybe also...
UTAH – Tikal discovering Arches and Canyonlands
We left Jackson Hole under the snow (here) and we arrive in Salt Lake City, 350 km away, with 25 degrees. And it is so good! It is 10PM. No time to search a free bivouac… we are in a city, and it will be complicated again! So we will stay in a campground (showers,...
WYOMING – Let’s see the Grand Teton National Park.
We enter the Grand Teton National Park after a night spent around the south entrance of Yellowstone. The rain has replaced the snow. The park is much smaller than Yellowstone and also less famous but hopefully less crowded! After the visitor center to get a map, we...
WYOMING – Yellowstone, here we are!
We arrive in Yellowstone Park after having met animals but hopping to see others! The park is huge and much visited. We need at least 3 full days to see it. We arrive by the end of the day and go to have a first view of the first kilometers of the park. The sunset...
USA – From Portland to Yellowstone
From grey to green Then we left Portland for Yellowstone. Get some green. And on the road, some nice encounters. Great landscapes. Lunar views. Abandoned factory. And life. Burrowing owl and mooses offered us perfect moments ! Timberline lodge Lime Crater of the Moon...
OREGON – Portland
Third city from Vancouver, we arrive in Portland with a perfect weather, 25 celsius degrees, and, hold on, by day. It changes. We are a bit tired. And this time we want to rest for a while, not move for an entire day, using internet and enjoying a daily shower during...
WASHINGTON – Seattle
For those who will read the entire article, they will win the right to discover two secret images from our trip in Seattle: Trump naked (we thought that it might not be a very good incitation to read the article, so we added another bonus, A plane on a train (because...
CANADA – BRITISH COLUMBIA – Vancouver
After our discovery of the rodeo world, we finally made it to Vancouver. 3rd biggest city in Canada, we can say it, we forgot how it is to see so many people and agitation! We arrive at night, it is dark and there are not many spots on ioverlander to spend the night....
ALASKA – From Anchorage to Haines (2nd part)
We start driving to Haines. From Seward, it is here (by bird) But for us , wingless, it sounds more like this: Fortunately the road is so amazing and the sun is back. From Tok that we now discover by day, the road to Haines Junction is the same but we discover that...
ALASKA – From Anchorage to Haines (1st part)
We leave Denali park to Anchorage in order to find some internet and return to civilization. The landscapes are still amazing. Alaska is great. We take a break on a rest area and spend a new night looking at the sky (again but we cannot get enough of it): We arrive...
ALASKA – Visit of the Denali Park
In the morning at the arctic circle, the view from the van is just unreal: a sky without a cloud, a small fog on the plains and a fresh wind. It is just amazing. We drive back to Fairbanks for a good shower and some laundry (that might easily take half a day). In the...
CANADA – BRITISH COLUMBIA – A sunday at a Rodeo show
Before we write all the articles about our trip in Alaska, here is a small one about what we did yesterday! (almost in direct!) On our way to Vancouver (where we arrive today), we passed near a rodeo show. Yes, we are not big fans of all these games with animals....
ALASKA – Just arrived in Alaska, direction the Dalton Highway
Our arrival in Alaska Voilà, we finally arrived in Alaska. The 25th of august. 20 days after our departure from Halifax, and all this with two breakdowns on the road. We are pretty proud to have successfully traveled these 8000 km so quickly. It was our first...
CANADA – ALBERTA – The Canadian Rockies
At first we thought: we just cross Canada. Fast. Well, as fast as possible (Tikal has its own rhythm). And we arrive in Alaska. Then we will take the time. But finally, the facts are simple. Canada is a big country and crossing such a territory driving 7 hours per...
CANADA – The crossing of Canada
Because words would be useless to describe our Canada crossing trip (We drove. A lot. A lot.) We show it with some pictures: And because all bivouacs are not at the top of "romantisme": We're today in the Rockies and will take the road again to Alaska......
CANADA – QUEBEC – The Saint-Laurent whales
Yesterday we drove to the north, having in mind to enjoy an excursion on the Saint-Laurent river. We arrived around 18h in Rivière-du-Loup and spent the night on the docks with a pretty nice view on the rising sun. In the morning, we arrived too late for the 9h30...
CANADA – Tikal’s return
Today we become again a « trio » as we get Tikal back from the port! 8h30: First, the breakfast and at 9h45 we arrive at the broker, where we pay the 150 $CA fees and go directly to the customs to get the final documents. Everything goes perfectly. The custom lady...
CANADA – The Departure
We wake up with a particular feeling this morning. We did not sleep much and actually not so well. Today our project is getting real. After more than a year combining work and van layout, today everything will become reality. Having just a one way ticket is a bit...