Alaska to Panama
This overland adventure will give you an in-depth introduction to the abundant wildlife, outstanding natural beauty, fascinating people and rich history of North and Central America!
17 WEEKS = £2195 + £795 Local Payment (LP)
Tour start date in Anchorage: 21st May 2008
Tour end date in Panama: 15th September 2008
Overview
ALASKA - CANADA - USA - MEXICO - BELIZE - GUATEMALA - EL SALVADOR - HONDURAS - NICARAGUA - COSTA RICA - PANAMA
If you have a love of the outdoors and a passion for culture then this is definitely the expedition for you!
From the arctic tundra to bear watching in Yellowstone National Park, from the buzz of Mexico City to the pristine beaches of Honduras, and from the Grand Canyon to the Panama Canal, this is the trip that goes in depth into north and central America!
Click here to see a detailed route map with highlights
You can also download the route map as a PDF
Highlights
- Arctic tundra
- Denali National Park
- Jasper & Banff National Parks
- Yellowstone NP
- Grand Canyon
- Las Vegas
- Teotihuacan
- Tikal ruins
- Islands of Belize
- Islands of Honduras
- Lake Managua
- La Fortuna
- Panama Canal
What's Included (and What's Not)
We of course realise that not everyone is going to visit every ruin, raft every river and hike every trail along the way so we have left most of these activities as optional and therefore kept the kitty payment to a minimum.
Included
- Services of your expedition leader/ driver
- Use of expedition vehicle and equipment
- Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to our truck
- An average of two meals a day while camping (usually breakfast and dinner)
- All camping and hotel costs
- Compulsory ferry tickets
- All entry fees to National Parks that we visit in the truck as a group including Denali, Jasper, Banff, Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon.
Not Included
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal spending money
- Visas
- Border taxes
- Lunch
- Meals while in hotels
- Entrance fees to optional sites and parks
- Any optional activities
- Any unforseen contingency route expenses
- Any flights
Optional Extras
Proposed Itinerary
Our proposed itinerary is here to give you a rough idea of where we will be going and what we will be doing during our expedition. This itinerary is the ideal route we would like to take providing all political and environmental situations are acceptable during the time of our travels. Obviously things can change and we may have to take an alternative route at some stage which is easily achieved in the Americas.
Week 1 & 2 : ALASKA
Nowhere
on earth conjures up such vivid images as Alaska. The natural splendour
and abundant wildlife make Alaska the perfect place to start our expedition
through the Americas.
Anchorage is our meeting point and is Alaska’s only true city, but even
here wild moose still chomp through suburban flower gardens and graze alongside
the highways. A short drive away the tiny port town of Whittier is set impressively
amongst mountains, glaciers and a glistening fjord from where we have the chance
to explore the Prince William Sound by cruise boat. Breaching humpback whales,
pods of orcas, porpoises, seals and sea otters are all common-place here as well
as over 200 species of birds. Keep an eye out for bears on the shore!
We now head north for the interior heart of Alaska taking in the dramatic remains
of the Independence Mine along the way.
A thousand lakes and tundra capped hills line our way to the wonderful Denali
N.P., alive with browsing bears, lone wolves and herds of grazing moose and caribou.
We base ourselves here for a couple of days allowing time to explore the magnificent
hiking and biking trails on offer.
We
feel that our journey through Alaska would be incomplete without a visit to the
far north so we continue on to the town of Fairbanks where we prepare and provision
ourselves for the Dalton Highway. This desolate road will take us into the arctic
circle, onto the tundra and up to the town of Deadhorse where you have the option
to take a tour around the US’s most productive oil fields and stand on
the frozen Arctic Ocean. This northern route has proved to be a wildlife viewing
highlight with grizzly bears, musk ox, arctic fox, caribou, moose and black bears
being spotted.
Returning to the south we head towards the Canadian border and find the quirky
settlement of Chicken. Fewer than 20 people reside here but travellers are well
catered for at their infamous bar. Remember ‘What happens in Chicken stays
in Chicken!’
The Top Of The World Highway now takes us east to Canada.
Week 3 & 4 : CANADA and ALASKA
Our
first stop in Canada, Dawson City, made famous by the Klondike Gold
Rush, remains evocative of it’s past and is well worth exploring.
From here the Klondike Highway takes us along a wonderful road running
through almost utter wilderness (8 black bears spotted in one day on
this route) before returning to Alaska’s south-east and basing
ourselves in the picturesque town of Skagway.
From here you have the option of undertaking the 3 day Chilkoot Trail which leads
you through a giant wilderness museum tracing the steps of the Klondike bound
prospectors. You can return to Skagway via the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway,
undoubtedly the most stately way to see the dazzling scenery hereabouts.
The glorious river and mountain landscapes of the Skeena Valley now take us south
towards the Canadian Rockies.
Jasper N.P. offers us wonderful hiking and stunning camping amidst craggy peaks
and the worlds 2nd largest glacier fed lake, Maligne.
Banff N.P. is good for rafting, kayaking, fishing, wildlife viewing, walking
and hot springs. Lake Louise has to be seen to be believed!
We continue on to Calgary for a taste of city life before crossing over into the lower 48.
Week 5, 6 & 7 : USA
Glacier
NP offers a good introduction to US Parks and lives up to its name
by offering stunning glacier-filled landscapes.
Dropping down into the state of Oregon we explore Hells Canyon National
Recreation Area. At nearly 8000ft deep this is the deepest canyon in
North America and the Snake River has been flowing through it since
the beginning of time. Jet boat tours through the canyon are awesome!
We continue on to Yellowstone NP, prime Grizzly Bear country! Bison
are also common around here. This park also accommodates more than
half the worlds geysers which put on an amazing display.
Just south of here we enter Grand Teton NP, a fantastic surprise with
great camping, crystal lakes and dramatic jagged peaks. Wildlife is
also abundant here.
A days drive away is Salt Lake City, the Mormon’s H.Q., offering
us a good insight into the way of life around here and also the possibility
of catching a Utah Jazz basketball game.
We continue south along the scenic central corridor and reach the fabulous
Bryce Canyon N.P. Hiking through the canyons and Grand Staircases (a
series of step-like uplifted rock layers) is amazing with pink cliff
formations, wondrous pinnacles and points, steeples and spires, cliffs
and crevices and odd formations known as hoodoos ,all well worth exploring.
Crossing into Arizona we arrive at the north rim of the Grand Canyon
and spend a few hours marvelling at this massive slice carved into
the desert floor. However, the multi-coloured rocks and cliffs are
best appreciated by hiking down to the canyon floor from the south
rim where you get to camp overnight alongside the Colorado River.
On our way to Las Vegas we have the chance to visit the Hoover Dam
where we can take a fascinating tour through one of the world’s
tallest dams.
A short drive away we enter Nevada and reach the gambling capital of
the world, Las Vegas. Whether you gamble or not, this city is an oasis
of bright lights that should not be missed.
Week 8, 9, 10 & 11: MEXICO
Our
journey down to Los Mochis takes us through magnificent cacti filled
desert scenery where you have the option of partaking in an epic train
journey, the famous Chihuahua al Pacifico, which takes you through
the spectacular scenery of the Sierra Madre and Copper Canyon before
reaching the small town of Creel where you have a day to explore the
area before returning to the coast.
Winding roads with vertical sided canyons now lead us up into the beautiful
colonial heartland of Mexico where we pass through numerous sleepy
towns en-route to the pleasant and lively town of Zacatecas. This compact
cobble-stoned town offers historic churches, convents and ruins making
a pleasant days outing.
The
ruins of Teotihuacan are our next stop and are mysterious relics of an ancient
civilisation. This site also contains the worlds 3rd largest Pyramid.
From ancient to modern we now reach the capital, Mexico City. Far from
being the dirty squalor that so many think it is, this busy metropolis
is clean and welcoming, filled with a rich history and pulsates with
energy making it well worth a few days exploration.
Cactus-filled valleys and wide open plains lead us to the charming
city Oaxaca, a mixture of colonial glory and indigenous market-places.
This world heritage site is crammed full of culture with wonderful
museums, churches and markets. The surrounding area offers inspiring
archaeology in the form of the Monte Alban Ruins, featuring pyramids,
walls, terraces, tombs, staircases and sculptures, all remnants of
the ancient capital of the Zapotec culture.
We
now head for the Chiapas highlands and the Sumidero Canyon where you can take
an exhilarating boat ride through the steep sided cliffs giving you the chance
to pass by several waterfalls, enter caves and even pass by some quite large
crocodiles.
The quaint town of San Pedro de las Casas is close by and a real relic
of the past. A day here is great fun.
We continue on to Palenque, perhaps the most beautiful of all the Maya
ruins in Mexico. Set amongst lush jungle the ruins are a warren of
exploration and will keep your camera busy all day.
We
now head into the Yucatan Peninsula and visit the ruins of Chichen Itza before
reaching the famous beach resort town of Cancun where we have time to enjoy
the white sand beaches and fine restaurants lining the waterfront.
Week 12: BELIZE
We enter this small country from the north and our first stop is at
Orange River. A boat trip through the jungle here will afford you the
opportunity to see crocodiles, iguanas, turtles, coatis, howler monkeys
and plenty of birds but the real adventure is arriving at the Lamanai
ruins hidden in the dense jungle at the end of the boat journey.
Belize
City will be our next base where you have the option to explore the
beautiful Caribbean-style island cayes just offshore. This is a fantastic
spot for diving and fishing. Those who stay on the mainland can visit
the close-by baboon sanctuary or just laze on the beach.
Week 13: GUATEMALA
We enter Guatemala in the lush lowland jungles where we can explore
the once lost Mayan cities and pyramids of Tikal that lie hidden beneath
the tree canopy.
Narrow jungle roads now lead us south through beautiful scenery of
sheer-sided hills and thatched roof homes offering us an insight into
the real Guatemala.
These
central highlands lead us to Lake Atitlan, commonly referred to as the Most
Beautiful Lake in the World. The two volcanoes and numerous traditional villages
that surround the lake are best explored by boats which traverse the lake daily.
The colourful market town of Chichicastenango is also close by offering some
bargain buys and interesting Maya Shrines.
Week 14: EL SALVADOR
Crossing into this lively and perhaps most friendly of the Central
American countries we follow the coastline and base ourselves at the
surf beaches close to La Libertad. Surfing and fishing are the order
of the day.
The capital San Salvador is a lively place where we have a day to explore
this once war-torn city.
A short drive away we reach Suchitoto, a treasured colonial town and
buzzing cultural centre with good hikes to nearby waterfalls.
Week 15: HONDURAS
We
head straight for the wonderful Bahia de Honduras where we base ourselves
at a camp on the north coast close to La Ceiba. From here you have
the option of visiting the nearby Bay Islands where the diving is spectacular.
White sandy beaches, coconut palms and gentle sea breezes typify these
islands and the clear waters, rich reefs and intriguing underwater
caves make this an idyllic location to undertake a dive course. Actually,
this is possibly the cheapest place in the world to do an open water
course. Those who choose to stay ashore can keep busy with jungle trekking
and boat tours.
From here we now leave the coast and follow the back roads through
the countryside and get a real appreciation of Honduras’ fabulous
landscapes en-route to the Nicaraguan border.
Week 16: NICARAGUA
The colonial town of Leon is our first stop and is base camp to the
world’s only volcano boarding tours. It is definitely a black
run!
Winding our way through coffee plantations and pine forests we skirt
past Lake Managua and arrive at Volcan Masaya, one of Central America’s
most active volcanoes. Situated in a National Park the area offers
great hiking around 2 volcanoes, 5 craters and a beautiful lake. Close
by we visit the town of Masaya, famous for it’s Indian arts & crafts
and leatherwork.
Our
next stop is the charming city of Granada, situated on the shores of the vast
Lake Nicaragua. The city’s cobbled streets and laid-back attitude make
it a great place to hang out for a while. From here we can explore the lakes
volcanic Ometepe Island. The lake itself is amazing in that it is a freshwater
lake full of saltwater fish. These fish exist in no other lake in the world.
Week 17: COSTA RICA & PANAMA
We head straight for the pristine cloud-forests of Monteverde where
hanging bridges offer dramatic walks through the jungle canopy. For
those seeking more adrenalin you can even go ‘Sky Trekking’ (flying
by zip wire through the forest).
We continue inland and marvel at Volcan Arenal, Central America’s most
active and perfectly formed volcano. From our base here in La Fortuna you have
the option of undertaking numerous wonderful excursions including volcano trekking,
sky trekking, turtle watching, boat tours through pristine jungle, rapelling,
bungy jumping and wildlife watching tours.
Back down on the Pacific coast our last stop in Costa Rica is at the well-renowned
Manuel Antonio beach where you have the option of spending the day in Manuel
Antonio N.P. with plenty of wildlife and pristine beaches on offer.
Entering Panama we head directly for the beaches of Santa Clara where we have
the opportunity to enjoy the surf before reaching Panama City, the capital, where
the worlds greatest short-cut and engineering marvel, ‘The Big Ditch’ or
Panama Canal is something that has to be seen to be believed. This lively city
affords us an amazing end to a fantastic journey!
