Stretching over 19000 miles, the Pan-American Highway is the longest road globally, connecting North America to South America. The construction of this scenic road was proposed in the 1920s’, but the early attempts to construct it failed due to lack of funds. However, the need for a road network pushed the concerned countries to get it done, and by 1950 the Mexican stretch was complete and functional.
The Pan-American Highway is 80% paved except for the Darien gap between Panama and Colombia, where there is no road. Despite the Darien stretch being impassable by road, shipping your car is a very logical and cost-friendly option.
If you plan to travel from North America to the south using the Pan-American Highway, you can do it in any long-range off-roader, but not necessarily a 4×4 SUV.
This post will tell you about the road sections with poor conditions and the most suitable vehicles for traversing this historic and fun-filled Pan-American Highway. Let’s begin!
List of sections with roads in poor condition or unpaved
The ‘Pan Americana’ is the ultimate daredevil road trip for road trip enthusiasts. The road is passable but not entirely motorable for ambitious travelers heading northwards to Alaska. There are several signposts along the way, which makes traveling easier. However, several sections are dilapidated and unpaved, making the journey more hectic during the wet seasons. For this reason, you should consider getting yourself a 4×4 SUV with gripping wheels to avoid getting stuck. These sections include;
The Darien gap
Traversing the Pan-American Highway is a possible challenge. However, one of the most significant barriers many explorers have failed to overcome is successfully going through the Darien gap. The Darien gap is located in the vast Atrato Swamp of the Colombian side to the high peaks of the Panamanian side.
The region has sensitive ecosystems like the sensitive rainforests and vast swamps, which are home to several indigenous communities. There have been efforts to upgrade this section of the extensive road, but several factors hindered its completion, including opposition from the indigenous communities.
Has anyone ever crossed the Darien Gap?
Yes! Today, many travelers prefer traversing this 60-mile gap by air or, at the very worst, motorboats. However, some adventurous souls do it the hard way. Trekking! In the 1950s’, the route was passable using 4×4 jeeps and land rovers.
Since then, several things have changed, making it even more complicated to drive through the Darien section than five decades ago. Unlike the successful 1959 Pan-American road expedition, the number of bandits, drug traffickers, and corrupt cops has increased in the area.
How to get through the Darien gap
There are several ways that you can cross the Darien gap, including:
Flying
Air transport is the fastest and most efficient way to cross the Darien gap. Several non-stop planes fly the Panama City and Cartagena routes, making them perfect when hiking through the Pan-American highway.
Cruise ships
You can evade the impassable Darien stretch using a ship from Colon to any Colombian port. Even though this might be the slowest option, it is the most relaxing way to go through Darien.
Speedboats
From Puerto Obaldia, you can opt for a 3-hour speedboat ride to Turbo in Colombia. Opting for a speed boat is only practical for bachelor explorers with little luggage since a motorboat has a low carrying capacity.
How to get your car across the Darien gap
Container shipping is the most reliable and secure method for shipping your car through the Darien stretch. Depending on the price range, container shipping can take between 2 days and three weeks for your cargo to safely reach its desired destination.
- Flat rack container.
Unlike container shipping, a flat rack container is an open-air version appropriate for transporting massive SUVs’ and camping cars because of the increased space.
- Ro-ro: roll-on, roll-off
This is a very insecure method of shipping your car when it cannot fit into a shipping container, and it takes between 1 to 2 days for your vehicle to be delivered.
- Lo-lo: Lift on, lift-off
It is similar to ro-ro; however, with this method, your vehicle is lifted with a crane, which can easily damage your vehicle.
Car selection to drive across the Pan-American Highway
When selecting the perfect car to move across the Pan-American Highway, there are several factors to consider, including; ground clearance, gasoline consumption, fifth wheel camper, and comfort. All of these factors are vital since they genuinely impact the trip.
The Pan-American Highway 80% paved and going for a fully 4X4 SUV is good but not essentially necessary since the unpaved sections are passable except for the Darien stretch. That said, for a 19000-mile journey, comfort is of the essence, and comfortable freewheelers with reasonable clearance and smaller engines compared to SUVs’ are more appropriate.
This will save you thousands of dollars in gasoline fuel and ensure comfort throughout the journey.
The number of people you intend to journey together is also an essential consideration because the amount of luggage automatically increases with passenger numbers. Some of the most appropriate cars include Toyota 4runner, sprinter vans, and a jeep wrangler for SUV enthusiasts.
Toyota 4runner comes with a 4.0L V6 engine with 4×4 capabilities making it the ultimate road trip vehicle. It also has vast legroom and a big enough trunk for luggage. What else do you need?
Sprinter vans have a smaller engine size than the Toyota 4runner and are more appropriate for family or group road trips. Sprinter vans have larger trunks and can carry more than eight passengers. On the other hand, a jeep wrangler is a 4×4 all-terrain beast. It has a massive ground clearance and is also very comfortable.
Conclusion
The initial layout plan for the Pan-American Highway was conceptualized nearly a decade ago, and the fact that it is not entirely paved is heartbreaking.
However, for travel expeditions, daredevils looking to take on the extensive journey from Alaska to Argentina go for it using the Pan –American highway. 80% of this scenic road is entirely paved, but the remaining 20% is passable except for the Darien stretch, where there is no road. This shouldn’t deter your aspirations, as your vehicle has several shipping options in this stretch.
