Caravana Pan Americana: ramblings of the journey

Route:	Lima - Nazca - Abancay - Arica - La Paz - Santiago - Ushuaia
Date of Trip:	March 10 -24 / 1999
Vehicle:	1988 VW Vanagon

Lima - Nasca: excellent
Nasca - Puquio: paved, some minor potholes, twisty and steep in places, average speed 30 km/hr
Puquio - Abencay: supposedly paved all the way according to press, locals and SAEC but don't believe it... Shortly after Puquio road is under construction (has been and will be for quite a while by the looks of it, we only made it about 50 past Puquio and turned back due to heavy mud ruts, single lane traffic and altitude problems with the van (we do not know the maximum elevation of the road but presume it is over 4700m because we went this high several times with the van and had no troubles)
Nazca - Arica: excellent
Arica - La Paz: excellent asphalt all the way, well maintained as it is a major truck route
La Paz - Copacabana : good asphalt
Arica - Santiago : excellent
Osorno B Bariloche: low pass, about 25 km of gravel when first entering Argentina
Bariloche B Comodoro Rivadavia: pavement all the way, good road, little traffic
Comodoro B Rio Galleos: excellent pavement
Rio Galleos B El Calafante B Puerto Natales B Punta Arenas B Ushuaia: good, except going into the parks where it was very bad washboard for several hundred kilometers... take your time.

Border crossing to Chile slow, took us about three hours, no Chilean money changing available at border, only Peruvian
Take extra fuel when leaving Arica, next unleaded gas is at La Paz (one station only) more than 500 km away.
Carnet/libretta not needed at Chile or Bolivian borders although they did fill them out.
No money changers at Bolivan border crossing but they accept US dollars (needed for tolls beginning at border.)
Maximum elevation of road - 4667m
Take autopista down into La Paz from El Alto (toll road)
La Paz a nightmare to drive in because it is situated in steep valley and roads are steep, and there is no parking except underground where our van was too high, very difficult to find your way even with a good map because of the many one ways and gully crossings, in our opinion only Guatemala City can rival it for confusion.
Copacabana trip well worth it for scenery and tranquillity, ferry crossing (barges) costs 23 Bolivianos each way.
Going south from Arica longest stretch without gas is 368 km (near top end) but don't pass by any gas stations... plenty of small places to pull off and camp for the night
Chilean drivers are well mannered and adhere to all traffic rules.
Speed controlled by radar.... we went through several controls.
If possible, avoid having to fill with gas in northern Argentina as the price is double in the northern section. Fuel up at El Bolson, just south of Bariloche.
Gravel roads on Tierra del Fuego were in excellent condition, wide and well graded

Email me if you wish further details. (tedriehl@yahoo.com or tedriehl@futurenet.bc.ca)

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